Inspirational

A reformed playboy. A woman who trusts horses more than men. And a road trip gone wrong.

Billionaires get a lot of requests for money, but when my great-grandmother asked me to set up a scholarship at her alma mater, I was happy to oblige. Anything to make my GG smile.

But I made the mistake of mentioning that the Bible college where she met her one true love was gearing up for their annual Easter play. GG’s response? Stay in Kansas and lend a helping hand.

Such a terrible idea. Not only is it challenging to run a billion-dollar business remotely, it also means spending more time with Wendy Hall—the beautiful young widow who makes me want to help with more than just the play. So I’ll do my part at the concessions stand, and I’ll see what I can do about the secrets bringing Wendy down.

Easter is a time for new beginnings. A second chance at love might be the last thing Wendy wants, but I’m here to show her it’s exactly what she needs.

She loves the spotlight, he prefers backstage. Can they still play love’s duet?

One of the things I’ve been looking forward to since opening my scuba shop is leading groups to dive in all the amazing spots around the globe. The Galapagos and Great Barrier Reef are calling.

First things first, though. I figure we’ll start off with the Caribbean.

Which is why I’m headed down to spend some time scouting resorts and dive spots on the various islands. I’ve chartered a yacht, complete with a captain who, I’m told, knows everything there is to know about diving down here.

Of course, when I booked the trip, I pictured a grizzled old pirate at the wheel. What else was I supposed to imagine when I was told their name was “Sonny”? Imagine my surprise when I get to the dock and the captain is definitely not a man.

Sunny—short for Sunshine—is the best there is. And she’s got at least ten years on me, so it’s not like there can be anything romantic. Older women have never been my vibe.

So I’ll spend the time with her, alone on the boat, and soak up all the things she has to teach me. And do everything in my power to ignore just how good she looks while she does it.

It’s only three weeks.

What can go wrong?

Inheriting her friend’s Bed and Breakfast in Idaho is a second chance to succeed, but falling for the farmer next door wasn’t in the plan.

A vegan alpaca farmer, a ranch hand, and an accidental pregnancy.

I never questioned my decision to marry Faith the day she turned eighteen.

She needed to get out of her situation at home and, at nineteen, I already knew everything about everything, so in my mind it made perfect sense. We’d been pals for years.

I loved her.

She had no idea.

But she was desperate for somebody to rescue her, and a marriage of convenience with me was a better—safer—choice than anything else she could find.

Since I lived away at college, no one even had to know. It worked great until the end of the semester.

And then she walked out.

And I let her.

I occasionally do some digging, just to check that she’s okay. And every now and then I think about the divorce papers I drew up but never sent.

Now she’s here. Literally on my doorstep. Begging me, once again, for help.

And I hate that I still love her.

Even after fourteen years.

Past hurts and insecurity mean they both prefer the background, but a chance at love shines a light too bright to escape.

He needs a wife. She wants to belong. Nobody has to fall in love.

At the end of summer, sixteen years ago, we promised we’d keep in touch. And I did.

She didn’t.

I spent a year reaching out to her in every way imaginable, desperately clinging to the future we’d planned while we walked hand-in-hand on the beach. When July rolled around again, I waited eagerly, for her family’s return.

They never came.

She never came.

I blamed her. I blamed myself. I blamed my big, involved family who are basically royalty on this island our ancestors found. After a while, I forgave her and moved on.

Of course I did.

Carrying a torch for sixteen years would be ridiculous.

So the fact that she’s come back to the island, apparently to stay? Doesn’t matter to me at all.

Maybe I’ve been asking God why, but I figure He’s got some kind of plan.

I can probably learn to accept her as a member of our little town, but that’s where it has to end.

My heart’s still too shattered to risk breaking it again.

What will it take for an everyday Joe to find love with a former starlet?

A widow, a widower, and some matchmaking daughters.