The Christmas Love Song E-Book

Bartow Sophie

• Herausgeber: Two Hearts Press
• Kategorie: Gesellschafts- und Liebesromane
• Sprache: Englisch

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2025

Beschreibung

Enjoy this steamy small-town romantic suspense series, where family bonds run deep, and the power of love will sweep you away.

Do you hear the bells ring? They’re ringing for us.

Single mother Rachel Adams loves teaching her music classes and singing at Siren’s Song. When the lyrics to a song lead her to uncover a truth about her past, she’s left with a question. Had she sold herself short all along?

Tyler James gave up his music career for his child. Years later, he’s settled with a successful business when he gets a message. One where the town’s saying, ‘ Things happen when they’re meant to happen,’ takes on a whole new meaning. Will he wait patiently, or will he take matters into his own hands?

The holiday season has always been a special time in Swan Harbor. When the festivities are threatened, their little town shares a long-held secret—one that involves a song, bells, and happy endings. Can Tyler and Rachel perform a little magic in time for a Christmas miracle?

You are the words. I am the music. Together … we are the song.
 
Welcome to Swan Harbor
The Christmas Love Song is Book 11 of the Hope & Hearts from Swan Harbor Series. In Swan Harbor, love languages come in many forms. Tyler's and Rachel’s love language involves beautiful music. It’s a friends-to-lovers, single dad, single mom, holiday mystery romance. This is Book 11 of a 15-book complete series.
Purchase a copy of The Christmas Love Song and spend the holidays in Swan Harbor.

Leseprobe

THE CHRISTMAS LOVE SONG

A SMALL TOWN FRIENDS-TO-LOVERS MYSTERY ROMANCE

HOPE & HEARTS FROM SWAN HARBOR

BOOK 11

SOPHIE BARTOW

CONTENTS

Hope & Hearts Series in Order

Some residents of Swan Harbor

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

This book is dedicated to...

My street team;

The Wall-Giennie Wicks-Delaney,

Connector Inspector- Linda Hagerty

Plot Catcher- Maggie Grimes

Sign Crew- Kate Semenyuk

The Clean Up Crew - Jennifer and Teri, whose feedback was invaluable.

And my family, for letting me pursue my dreams.

Inspiration began,

when a lost girl fell for a lost boy

Copyright 2022 by Sophie Bartow

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or used in any manner without written permission of the copyright owner except for the use of quotations in a book review.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, and places are the product of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business or locales is coincidental.

Cover by Kate Semenyuk

FROM DARKNESS INTO LOVE

KITTENS, PUPPIES & LOVE

BROTHERS, HOPE & HEARTS

KISSES, FAMILY & HOPE

A TREE, MISTLETOE & A SUNSET

HOPE, HEARTS & FOREVER

THE MEMORY OF LOVE

THE INNOCENCE OF LOVE

THE FORGIVENESS OF LOVE

THE POWER OF LOVE

THE CHRISTMAS LOVE SONG

THE KISS OF LOVE

THE LESSONS OF LOVE

THE HEART OF LOVE

THE JOURNEY TO LOVE

Hope & Hearts Historical Novellas

GUIDED BY LIGHT - 1952

GUIDED BY HEART - 1964

GUIDED BY LOVE - 1969

WELCOME TO SWAN HARBOR- 1979

FINDING HER LOST HEART- 1983/1990

GUIDED BY A KISS - 1995

SOME RESIDENTS OF SWAN HARBOR

Rachel Adams: She teaches music classes at Siren’s Song and is Tyler’s singing partner. She is bestfriends with Harper and Eden, and the mother to ten-month-old, Riley.

Tyler James: He is a professional singer and the owner of Siren’s Song, a music club located on Swan Harbor’s pier. He is the father to six-year-old, Bethany.

Aiden Jones: He is an English professor at Swan Harbor University and the cousin of Killian and Liam. His story is told in A Tree, Mistletoe & A Sunset.

Harper Taylor: She is a professor at Swan Harbor University in the Education Department. Her parents are Beverly and Greg, and she is sibling to Rod and MacKenzie. She is engaged to Aiden, and best friends to Eden and Rachel.

Eden Fowler: She is a second-grade teacher at Swan Harbor Elementary. She is best friends to Harper and Rachel. Her story is told in The Forgiveness of Love.

Quinn Jones: He is an investigative journalist who has been traveling the globe chasing stories that capture his fancy. He is the brother to Aiden and the cousin to Killian and Liam.

Ben Matthews: He is an attorney and friends with Tyler.

Dawson Phillips: He is the manager of Siren’s Song and a good friend of Tyler’s. His story will be told in The Kiss of Love.

Cameron Hunter: He is an architect with HCI and married to JessicaPrince-Hunter. Their story is told in From Darkness into Love.

Jessica Prince Hunter: She is a social worker at Swan Harbor Hospital and married to Cameron Hunter. Sister to Dylan Prince and best friend to Sadie Martin-Hunter.

Finley Reade: Owns a real estate business in New York City and is investing in real estate in Swan Harbor. Married to Ava King-Reade and father of Liam and Killian.

Ava King: Philanthropist, businesswoman, and mentor to Rachel. She’s married to Finley Reade and the mother of Emma Foster-Reade. Their story is told in Kisses, Family & Hope.

Sally Miller Patterson: Owner of Sally’s Diner, the place to see and be seen in Swan Harbor. Sally is married to Daniel Patterson and mother to Christian Patterson and Tracey Gibson.

Danny Patterson: Married to Sally and the head of neurology at Swan Harbor General Hospital. He’s the father to Christian. His story is told in Welcome to Swan Harbor.

Lois Duncan: She is an ex-spy but is currently working at the Sheriff’s Department, helping with the new computer system. She is married to Rupert. Their story is told in Guided by Love.

Rupert Duncan: He is an ex-spy and is married to Lois. He periodically sings at Siren’s Song.

ONE

QUICK NOTE: If you enjoy The Christmas Love Song, be sure to check out my FREE offer at the end.

With that, enjoy!

* * *

Harbor Cross Nursing Home

August 21

4:00 p.m.

Rachel Adams’ typical music class didn’t have white hair, faded eyes, or use walkers to get around. They were pint-sized individuals, whose attention spans lasted … maybe ten minutes. It was an entirely different experience than playing for the residents of the nursing home. There was something about the looks on their faces that gave her pride. A feeling that had been in short supply for the past couple of years.

“That’s all we have time for today. Does anyone have any suggestions for next time?”

“Close to You,” one person shouted.

“I’m a Believer,” another offered.

“I’ll look into those,” Rachel promised.

“Let’s all thank Rachel for coming today,” Angela, the Activities Director, told the room.

When the group clapped, the butterflies in Rachel’s stomach flipped several times. She loved to sing and enjoyed performing. However, having the attention solely focused on her, still caused her nerves to kick up several notches. Just not as much as when she was singing with Tyler James and his brown eyes were locked on her. Then, her heart rate kicked up for other reasons. Ones she was trying not to dwell on, but take one day at a time.

While the nurse’s aides were passing out an afternoon snack, Rachel collected her instruments. She crammed her sheet music into her folder and then packed it all into her collapsible beach wagon. When she turned around to say something to Angela, her eyes met those of one of the residents, Evelyn Gates.

“Are you feeling alright, Mrs. Gates?” she asked, noticing how pale the other woman had become.

“I, I’m fine,” Evelyn murmured. “I thought I heard something …”

“You thought you heard something?” Rachel prompted.

“Never mind,” Evelyn brushed it off.

“Are you sure?”

“I must have been mistaken. You have a nice day.”

When Evelyn turned away, Rachel felt as if she’d just walked into the middle of a movie and had missed part of the plot. She thought about pushing the issue, but another quick peek showed the older woman looked fine. It was time for her to leave anyway.

Angela met her just outside the door. “Thank you again for doing this, Rach. I hear the residents humming the songs for days afterward.”

Rachel laughed. “That’s a good thing, right?”

“Of course.”

“I knew that.” Rachel mentally regrouped. “I’m enjoying myself too.”

Angela grinned. “You say that like you’re surprised.”

“I am,” Rachel replied with a sheepish smile. “I hate to admit that while Harper volunteered here when we were growing up, I never did. There was something about …”

“Facing mortality,” Angela offered quietly.

“Maybe,” Rachel hummed. “Anyway, I was wrong. The residents are a lot of fun. And to be honest, it’s a nice change of pace.”

“How so?”

“The classes that I teach are toddler and preschool age, and well … when I come here, I don’t have to stand on my head to keep their attention.”

Angela chuckled. “I can see how this would be quite different. Anyway, thank you again. We’ll see you next week.”

Rachel waved and, once more, started toward the front door. She’d just rounded the last corner when someone stepped in front of her and blocked her path.

“If it isn’t little Rachel,” a mocking voice purred in response to her petite stature.

Slowly, she allowed her gaze to track up Devin Hall’s body before meeting his blue eyes. “Well, if it isn’t Mr. Hottie,” she tossed back.

He lifted one black brow in a must-you manner, making her want to double down. Instead, she rolled her eyes. Devin had been her first crush and was very nice to look at. However, since he was the cousin of one of her best friends, she’d never pursued him.

“You missed my music class,” she teased. “It’s Wednesdays at 3:00 p.m.”

“Sorry,” Devin shrugged. “I had patients to see.”

“Excuses, excuses,” Rachel clucked. “But I forgive you … this time.”

“That’s big of you.” He nodded toward her wagon. “Do you need some help?”

Rachel glanced back at her stuff and thought about playing the helpless female, especially since she didn’t do that very often. “I’ve got it handled,” she ended up saying. “See you later, Devin.”

Something told her he continued to watch her until she was out of his sight. Why, she wasn’t sure. But, in a way, it gave her a little thrill to be noticed by a handsome man. Just not as much as when Tyler paid attention to her. She just wished ….

“I heard today was a rousing success,” Sandy greeted her at the front desk. “Will you be back next week?”

“I will. See you then.” Rachel pushed through the doors, surprised to find Harper, Devin’s cousin, waiting for her.

Harper Taylor and Eden Fowler had been her best friends for as long as she could remember. When one needed, the other two were always there to lend a hand, an ear, or to stage an emotional intervention.

The past year had brought about changes in their lives. Her son, Riley, had been born. She’d moved back to Swan Harbor, and Eden and Harper had both found their happy endings. There’d been a subtle shift in the dynamics of their friendship that she was still trying to navigate.

“Did I forget something?” Rachel frowned. “Were we supposed to check another item off your wedding planning list?”

“No,” Harper murmured. “I just dropped off cookies from my grandmother.”

“Did you save some for me?” Rachel asked hopefully. “I’ll take white chunk macadamia, chocolate chip, or peanut butter … I’m not picky.”

Harper held up a small baggie with three cookies inside. “One for you, one for Riley, and one for …”

“Me!”

“Is there a story there?” Harper raised a brow in question.

“No, no story,” Rachel sighed. “Everything is fine.”

However, was that true? Hadn’t she noticed a slight difference in the way he’d been treating her?

Surprisingly, Harper didn’t pursue that topic. Instead, she held up her phone. “Did you listen to Eden’s message?”

“Not yet. Why?” Rachel fished her phone out of her pocket. “Is everything okay?”

“I think so,” Harper stretched out the three words. “See what you think.”

She pulled up her voicemail and Eden’s message.

“Rach, it’s Eden. Quinn and I are going away for several days before school starts. I’ll call when we get back.”

With everything that had been happening in Eden’s life over the last few months, Rachel had become used to her friend’s short messages. But there was something off with this one.

“What’s she not saying?” she asked Harper. “Any ideas?”

“What do you mean, what’s she not saying?” Harper questioned.

“Did you know about this before you got your message?”

“How?”

“Well, hello,” Rachel grumbled. “You’re engaged to Quinn’s brother.”

“Oh,” a Cheshire cat smile crossed Harper’s face, “that.”

“Meaning?”

“I was at Aiden’s apartment, and Quinn came by to pick up some clothes.”

“Did you ask him where he was taking Eden?” Rachel tossed out. “Or what his intentions were toward our friend? We don’t want to see her get hurt.”

“Of course, I asked,” Harper grunted. “He wouldn’t tell me.”

“He wouldn’t tell you?”

“No,” Harper hesitated for a beat, “he wouldn’t. But there was a look on his face …”

“Sally’s Diner for some thinking food?” Rachel suggested. “I don’t have to pick up Riley for a couple of hours.”

“Sally’s or Two Scoops?” Harper frowned. “I’m not sure which sounds better.”

Rachel dropped down onto the bench next to Harper and helped herself to one of the cookies. Who knew how long it would take for her friend to make up her mind? Plus, she needed the kick the sugar would offer.

* * *

Sally’s Diner

August 21

4:15 p.m.

Tyler stepped up onto the sidewalk in front of Sally’s and veered around the bikini-clad women who were blocking the entrance.

“Excuse me, ladies,” he drawled.

“Oh!” the one on his right exclaimed. “Aren’t you …?”

“Tyler James,” they squealed in unison. “Can we have your autograph, please?”

Once upon a time, he’d relished those moments when he’d been recognized. But that was long ago and in another life.

“Sure,” he glanced back and forth between the women, “But I don’t have anything to —"

“Here.” The first one who’d recognized him shoved a Swan Harbor map toward him. Then, the other handed him a pen.

Tyler played the part expected of him for the next few minutes. He even posed for pictures. However, he couldn’t say he wasn’t relieved when they walked away, leaving him to go about his business.

When he stepped into the Diner, Sally Patterson, the owner, was standing right inside the door. “Are you okay?” she asked quietly.

“I’m fine,” he murmured. “Why?”

“You looked uncomfortable, that’s all,” she explained. “I just wondered.”

“I used to enjoy that kind of thing,” Tyler admitted. “These days, though …”

“I can see that.” Sally nodded toward a booth. “Have a seat. What can I get you?”

“A root beer float,” he tossed out, asking for something he’d not ordered before nor had he seen on the menu.

“A root beer float?” Sally repeated. “Invented by the gold miner, Frank J. Wisner, in 1893, right?”

“Well,” Tyler stretched out the word, “I’ve heard that. But I believe the real inventor was Robert McCay Green, on a hot August day in Philadelphia in 1874.”

“Are you saying you’re celebrating root beer float month?”

“I am.” He frowned. “Do you know how to make them?”

Sally’s blue eyes twinkled. “Just watch me.”

While he waited for her, Tyler stretched out one leg and leaned back against the wall. The diner was relatively empty, which was nice. But there hadn’t been much going on at the club. They didn’t open until 5:00 p.m., and his daughter, Bethany, was spending time with her friend Abigail. Was that the problem? Did the quiet give him too much time to think?

“Here you are.” With a flourish, Sally placed the root beer float in front of him. Then she sent him an, I dare you to not like it look.

“It looks like a root beer float.” Tyler tapped the edge of the old-fashioned soda fountain glass. Then he leaned forward and took a whiff of the ice cream confection. “It smells like a root beer float.”

“And?” Sally prompted.

He took a sip of the drink that was made with root beer and vanilla ice cream. It reminded him of summers when he’d been a kid. “It’s perfect, Sally. Nice job.”

Sally preened. “You’re welcome.”

She turned away just as his friend, Ben Matthews, walked in. He said something to her, then slid into the booth.

“Why are you moping?” Ben questioned.

“Moping?” Tyler hummed. “Why would you say that?”

Ben shrugged. “Must be my attorney ESP.” He quieted long enough for Sally to set another root beer float on the table. When he took a drink, something told Tyler it hadn’t been what he’d expected. “What is this sh⁠—?”

“It’s what you ordered, Ben Matthews,” Sally retorted. “Behave and watch your mouth. There are children present.”

“Sorry, Sally,” Ben grinned. “I guess I was expecting something else.”

“Do you want me to bring you another drink?” The look she gave Ben had Tyler wanting to laugh. But he was afraid if he did, he’d be on the receiving end of her temper.

“Nah, I’m good,” Ben grumbled. He hesitated until she was out of earshot and leaned forward. “Now, tell me what this is.”

“It’s summer and childhood memories,” Tyler murmured. “Why?”

Ben wrinkled his nose. “Root beer isn’t my favorite, but I guess I can tolerate it.”

“Then why did you order it?”

Ben shrugged. “It looked good.”

“It is good,” Tyler replied.

“Says you,” Ben grumbled. “Now, tell me, what’s going on?”

“Nothing is going on.”

A smirk crossed Ben’s face. “Oh, so that’s it. You need to get laid?”

Tyler was used to Ben’s forthright ways — mostly. It didn’t mean that he wasn’t glad he’d swallowed before the question had been asked.

“What about Rachel?” Ben went on. “I thought you two were …?” He waggled his eyebrows.

“We’re friends,” Tyler jumped in. “We’re partners⁠—“

“Oh?”

“In music,” Tyler finished.

“It really sounds like you need to get laid,” Ben decided. “Lilly and I are going to Blackbeard’s on Saturday. Why don’t you go with us?”

“With you … and Lilly?” Tyler repeated. “Saturday nights, I’m usually at the club.”

“Do you have to be at the club?”

Did he? Yes, he liked to know that everything was running smoothly. But there had been a handful of times when he’d left the club in the capable hands of his manager and spent the evening elsewhere. A date, though ….

“What about her?” Ben nodded toward one of Sally’s waitresses. “I went to school with her. She’s likable enough and not against an enjoyable evening … if you know what I mean.”

Tyler glanced toward the counter, where he’d last seen the waitress, Heather Ross. However, before she was in his sights, the Diner door opened, and his heart rate kicked up a beat when Rachel walked in.

“She’s a looker, isn’t she?” Ben murmured.

“She is,” Tyler agreed, but it wasn’t Heather he was seeing.

“So you’ll do it?” Ben pushed. “You’ll go out with Heather this weekend?”

There was a part of Tyler that wanted to jump at the opportunity. Except he had responsibilities — his daughter being the biggest one. Plus, something inside was holding him back. Was that from all females, though, or just one?

Again, he glanced across the room to where Rachel was sitting with her friend Harper. She looked up, and their eyes locked. There was confusion in their bright blue depths. Probably just like there was in his brown ones.

However, if he took Ben up on his offer, perhaps it would answer a few questions. Perhaps it would help him figure out what was going on inside.

“Okay,” Tyler finally agreed. “I’ll call her in the next day or two and ask her.”

Ben grinned. “That’s great. Why don’t you just ask her now?”

Once again, Tyler’s attention was pulled to Rachel, and the confusion inside rose higher.

“No, that’s okay.” He turned back to Ben. “I’ll do it later.”

Ben studied him for an extra second before accepting his answer and moving to the next topic. Going out with Heather was a good idea, wasn’t it? Why, then, did he feel the need to ask for permission?

* * *

Sally’s Diner

August 21

5:00 p.m.

Rachel folded her hands into fists so tightly that her fingernails cut into her palms. The milkshake she’d just taken a drink of churned and threatened to come back up. She glanced down at the table and reminded herself of what she’d decided in May. That she was going to take things one day at a time.

“Rach,” Harper snapped her fingers, “what’s going on?”

“Nothing,” Rachel murmured. “I think I’m just tired.”

“Oh?”

“Riley is teething.” She used her ten-month-old as an excuse. “He’s been waking up at night.”

“I’m sorry.”

“It’s not your fault.”

Harper took a couple of sips of her milkshake, and Rachel could see her wheels spinning. Instead of allowing the inquisition to start, she searched for a topic.

“Who’s Devin dating these days?”

“What?” Harper shook her head as if she were trying to clear water out of her ears. “Did you just ask me who my cousin is dating?”

“You know, I’ve always thought he was sexy, but today he looked really good.”

“I think he’s between,” Harper shrugged. “He broke up with that nurse he was dating. Said she got too clingy.”

Rachel snorted. “That sounds like Devin.”

“Rumor has it Allison wasn’t happy.”

“Perils of living in a small town,” Rachel sighed. “It was easier when I lived in Portland. The neighbors weren’t as nosy.”

“Was it?” Harper asked quietly. “Was it really easier living in Portland?”

“You know the answer to that, as well as I do,” Rachel murmured. “Although, if Austin … “

Saying his name no longer caused her heart to flip. Not like it did when she was in Tyler’s company. But if he didn’t want her ….

“Do you miss him?”

“Do I miss Austin?” Rachel hummed. “Not anymore. I meant what I said to Eden in April. I’m in a good place.”

“Even though nothing is going on with⁠—“

“Shh,” Rachel shut her down.

“Ladies,” Tyler greeted them. “Did you try one of Sally’s root beer floats?”

Rachel lifted her glass. “Just a chocolate chip cookie dough milkshake for me.”

“Mine is chocolate fudge,” Harper added. “Should I have tried a root beer float?”

“Heck, yeah,” Tyler grinned. “It’s a root beer float month.”

“Don’t bother,” Ben grimaced. “Unless you really like root beer.”

Harper chuckled. “That makes sense.”

“I like root beer,” Rachel offered. “There are a few more days left in the month.”

“You’ll have to try one,” Tyler murmured.

“I will.”

Their eyes were locked in a duel. His held heat and something else. It was that she didn’t understand.

“Will I see you tonight, Rachel?” Tyler suddenly asked.

She glanced from him to Harper, then back. “Are we supposed to sing tonight?”

“No, I just thought …”

“Oh, okay. I was worried I’d forgotten something.”

“No, nothing.”

“Probably not tonight,” Rachel went on. “But I will be there tomorrow for class.”

“Good. We need to talk about the Christmas program.”

“Right, right. My first class is at 10:00 a.m.,” she explained. “Do you want to talk after that?”

“Sounds good.” Tyler had taken a few steps away from their table when he stopped and turned back. “Rachel, do you want me to take your instruments back to the club?”

His suggestion had the spit drying in her mouth and caused her breath to stutter. Be cool! Be cool! she wanted to shout.

“My instruments?”

“The ones you used at Harbor Cross,” he prompted.

The thought, How did you know I was at Harbor Cross? flashed by, and for some reason, she hesitated. It was only the expectant look on Harper’s face that had her mentally smacking herself on the forehead.

“You want to take my instruments back to the club?”

Tyler grinned. “Don’t sound so surprised,” he teased. “I’m a nice guy.”

“No, I,” she replied, trying not to sound like an idiot. “Thanks. That would be great.”

“Go on,” Harper encouraged. “I’ll be right here.”

Rachel grabbed her keys and walked out of Sally’s with the men. Ben went one way, and Tyler followed her the other. While the silence wasn’t an uneasy one, neither did it feel normal … or at least normal for them.

“Isn’t Eden usually with you two?” he surprised her by asking. “Is she ready to go back to work?”

“I’m not sure,” Rachel admitted. “Eden and Quinn went away for a few days before school starts. Is Beth ready?”

Tyler chuckled. “I think she’s more excited about starting first grade than she was about starting kindergarten.”

“But the most important thing is being in class with her friends,” Rachel guessed.

“That about sums it up.”

When they reached the parking lot, Rachel had taken a couple of steps before she realized Tyler had stopped.

“Uh, Rach?”

She glanced over her shoulder, and the sheepish look on his face practically took her breath. There was something about the way he looked at her with those dark, dark eyes that made her feel as if she was the only thing on his mind. Which was ridiculous, but …

“Is there a problem?”

“I just realized I didn’t drive,” came out in a rush.

Rachel pressed her lips together to keep from laughing, but she couldn’t hold back. “Well,” she took the steps to invade his space, “that’s a problem, isn’t it?”

“Do you have that wagon you use?”

“Yes.”

“I’ll just take that with me.”

“You want to pull the wagon all the way back to the club?” she snickered.

“I offered.”

“Tyler, forget it,” Rachel brushed it off. “You can help me unload tomorrow.”

He grinned. “Okay. I’m sorry.”

“There’s nothing to be sorry about.” Then, before she did something she probably shouldn’t, she took a step backward. When she was close, it was getting too easy to get lost in his dark eyes. Too tempting to want to run her fingers through his thick dark hair or smooth her hand along his neatly trimmed beard. Too difficult to remember that one day at a time motto.

“I’ll see you in the morning.”

It was all she could do to say goodbye and rush back inside. She grabbed her milkshake and took a drink.

Harper squinted her eyes and studied her carefully. “What happened?”

“Why do you ask?”

“Come on, Rach,” Harper tsked. “How long have we known each other?”

“He forgot his car,” Rachel opted for instead of dealing with the twenty questions.

“He forgot his car?” Harper snickered. “Really?”

“Really,” Rachel mused. “What do you think that means?”

A slow grin crawled across Harper’s face. “I’m not sure exactly, but I can definitely say it’s a good thing.”

“You think?” Rachel tried to ignore the breathless quality in her voice.

“I think,” Harper nodded.

Rachel pressed her hands against her stomach and reminded herself, one day at a time. It was just with Harper getting married in a few weeks and Eden and Quinn getting serious, she kept expecting more. Was she asking for too much?

TWO

Siren’s Song

August 26

4:00 a.m.

“Dad, dad, are you awake?”

The voice caused the image in Tyler’s dream to disappear. He kept his eyes closed and willed his body back to sleep. There was a message he needed to hear.

“Dad, dad, I heard them again.”

“Heard what again?” he mumbled.

“The bells.”

Tyler forced his eyes open. It was still dark in his bedroom, but there was enough light from the hallway to see Beth’s face. She didn’t look scared — only concerned.

“You heard bells?” he asked. “What kind of bells?”

“Like the ones Rachel lets me play,” Beth whispered.

“Maybe you were dreaming about playing the bells.”

“Dad,” she stretched the word into three syllables. “I wasn’t dreaming.”

“Okay,” Tyler sighed. “Let’s see if the bells are still playing.”

He sat up in bed and took an extra minute to brush his hand across his face, hoping to wake up a little more.

“Hurry,” Beth pushed.

“Coming, coming,” he grumbled.

It had been three years since Tyler had moved to Swan Harbor, and his club, Siren’s Song, had become a reality. His business anchored one end of the new pier with the seventeenth century Spanish galleon at the other.

With the club located on the first floor, and his offices on the second, he’d decided to turn the third into their home. The building jutted out over the water of Siren’s Cove, with much of the exterior having been around since the original structure. Living on only one floor worked for him and Bethany. However, if he ever married again, they would need the top floor.

The image of the woman’s bare legs, with the edges of a man’s white shirt flapping against her creamy thighs, floated through his head. Just thinking about the vision in his dream caused sweat to pop out on his forehead.

“Dad,” Beth whined. “Hurry.”

Tyler pushed away the last vestiges of the dream and stepped into Beth’s room.

“Okay, punkin,” he placated. “Were you in bed when you heard the bells?” She gave him a look he took to mean, Where else? Which had him following up with, “Where were they?

Bethany pointed to an area between her built-in desk and closet. “Over there.”

“Here?” Tyler opened her closet and shoved a few things aside in order to see all four corners. When nothing looked out of place, he ran his hands over the wall next to her desk, then opened a few drawers. “I don’t see anything. Do you still hear it?”

Beth tilted her head and concentrated for several seconds, before finally indicating no, that she no longer heard the bells.

“Whatever it was, they’re gone now.” He tucked her back into bed. “Try to go to sleep. It will be time to get ready for your first day of first grade soon.”

“‘Kay,” she mumbled, already drifting off.

Just to be on the safe side, Tyler took one more look around, then went back to bed. He stretched out and folded his hands behind his head and allowed his mind to drift.

Why had his daughter started to hear bells, and only at night? Should he take her to the doctor for a check-up? Was his home haunted or otherwise occupied? Or was someone playing a joke on them? However, if that were so, who? And why?

He drifted to sleep and waited to fall back into the dream he’d been having earlier. It wasn’t long before, once again, the woman came to him, yet he couldn’t see her face.

She started toward him, and with every step, the white shirt revealed a little more of her slim body. He wasn’t even touching her, yet he knew how she would feel. Knew how she would smell.

“I’ve missed you.”

“Not as much as I’ve missed you.” She put a knee on the bed and brushed back her hair. “What took you so long?”

He kissed her fingers, then tugged her a little closer. “You know how it is. Now that I’m here, though …”

“Now that you’re here?”

“Let me show you what I want.”

The dream faded, and for a handful of minutes, Tyler hovered between wakefulness and sleep, waiting. In the end, though, it was all for naught, as when he opened his eyes to greet the day, he was alone. Just like he’d been the night before — and the night before that.

You don’t have to be.

Which wasn’t something he was willing to acknowledge right then. He brushed it aside and tried to push away the cobwebs. However, it was only with forced concentration that he was able to stay out of the weeds.

While he helped Beth get ready for school, her constant chatter kept his attention focused. And by the time he was in the drop-off line at Swan Harbor Elementary, he was feeling okay.

“Are you ready for school?” He glanced in his rear-view mirror and tried to gauge her thought processes. “It’s okay if you’re a little … apprehensive.”

“I’m not,” she assured him.

“No?”

Beth rolled her eyes. There was a part of him that hated they were getting ready to enter into that phase of her development. It reminded him of her mother, Kara. Which was fine … to a point. He just didn’t want her growing up too quickly. Life was too short for it to rush by.

“Do I need to walk you in for the first day?” he asked. Except he wasn’t sure if the question was for her benefit, or for his.

“I’m meeting my friends.”

“Well, okay,” he sighed.

“Don’t worry, dad.”

Once again, Tyler fought the need to smile at how grown-up she sounded. “I’ll try.” He pulled into the school grounds and slid to a stop in front. “Have a good day.”

One of the teachers opened the back door and, just before Beth climbed out, she hesitated.

“Beth?”

“I forgot to tell you. I heard the bells again.”

“You did? When?”

“Right before I woke up,” Beth explained. “It sounded like this …” Then she hummed three notes.

There was something about hearing those three notes sung in his child’s voice that caused the hairs on Tyler’s arms to stand straight up.

“That’s it?”

Beth nodded several times. “That’s it. Bye.” Then, just like that, she was gone.

It took him an extra second to regain his wits enough to continue following the line of cars around the loop, and out of the school grounds. Once he had, though, he was at loose ends. For the first time all summer, he had the entire day free, and he wasn’t sure how to spend it.

* * *

Main Street

August 26

3:30 p.m.

Rachel arrived early and tried not to feel guilty about lying about her weekend behavior. Except there’d been something about hearing Tyler on the phone, making plans for his Saturday date that had crushed her. Even knowing that he didn’t belong to her.

She found her favorite bench in the Town Square Park and leaned back. It had started with a phone call.

They’d been bantering back and forth teasingly over what they wanted to do for the Christmas program. Then his phone rang. When he’d answered, instead of his usual business voice, he’d dropped into the one he used that had women swooning at his feet, including her. She’d heard …. “Heather,” Tyler purred. “Thank you for getting back to me. I was wondering if you were available …?” before he’d walked away.

What could she say, though? They’d made no promises. Yes, they’d spent a few evenings with her friends doing ‘couple things,’ but his behavior hadn’t changed. Until ….

The easiest thing would be to just ask. Except, if she asked and didn’t like the answer — what then? It might affect their ability to sing together, and that wasn’t something she was willing to risk.

Until she figured out what to say to him, she’d stayed away from the club. She’d even called in sick over the weekend, something she’d never done.

Chicken? Maybe … okay, yes, she finally admitted to herself. But what was she supposed to do? Nothing … then, anyway.

Rachel knew she was being watched, but didn’t want to open her eyes. She wanted to stay in the little bubble she’d created for herself.

“Do you think she’s sleeping?” a small voice whispered.

Slowly, Rachel opened her eyes to find not only the little girl, but also Tyler, staring at her.

“You’re awake!” Beth giggled.

“I’m awake,” Rachel grinned. “How was your first day of school?”

Beth let go of Tyler’s hand, scampered across the distance, and settled next to her. “It was fun. Mrs. Prince and Ms. Strickland are my teachers.”

Rachel knew from Eden, who taught second-grade, that Molly Prince wanted to spend more time with her twin boys, yet wasn’t ready to give up teaching. Glynnis Strickland was a retired teacher, who’d been willing to job share.

“It sounds like you had a good day, then.”

“Oh, I did,” Beth continued to gush. “Plus …”

While the little girl went on, Rachel’s gaze met Tyler’s. His dark eyes were trained on her in such a way her skin prickled. It made her worry he could see beneath her defenses. Which made her feel more vulnerable than she had since she’d told Austin she was pregnant — and look how that had turned out.

“How are you feeling?” Tyler asked, once Beth wound down and turned her interest to picking wildflowers.

“How am I feeling?” she’d echoed before it dawned on her what he was asking. “Better, thank you. How was your date?”

Tyler’s face flushed. “My date? How did you know?”

Rachel pretended a nonchalance she didn’t feel and lied, “It’s a small town.”

“That, I do know,” he murmured.

Which didn’t answer her question. “And the date?” Rachel surprised herself by prodding. “With Heather, right?” She’d not thought it possible, but his face grew even redder.

“It was okay,” he finally offered.

“Just okay?”

Tyler gave her a crooked smile. “Let’s just say, Heather can be very enthusiastic.”

Rachel’s thoughts went straight to the gutter. She fought it, but her mouth dropped open, and something told her there was a deer in headlight’s look on her face.

He must have figured out what she thought, as he quickly backpedaled, “No, no. Not what you’re thinking.”

His answer had her breath catching. “No?”

“I meant,” Tyler looked down before meeting her eyes once again, “she talks a lot … and loudly.”

Don’t smile! Don’t smile! was on repeat inside Rachel’s head. In the end, she couldn’t stop the laughter that bubbled up.

“I’m sorry, that wasn’t very nice.”

“No, it wasn’t,” he purred in that voice that undid her.

Her breath stuttered, and she fought the pull between them. Especially since it didn’t go with her take one day at a time motto.

“Whah-What brings you guys to town?” she tossed out a simple question.

“We needed to pick up a few more school supplies,” he reported. “Then we’re going for ice cream.”

“Nice.”

“Will you come with us?” Beth jumped into the conversation again.

Rachel returned her focus to the little girl. “Will I come with you?”

“Yes, please!” Beth squealed.

Oh, boy!

Her eyes met Tyler’s, and she couldn’t help but think there was a curious look in his. Was it anticipation because he wanted her to say yes? Or was it fear, she’d say yes?

“Thank you for the invitation, but I can’t this time.”

“Oh,” Beth sighed. “Why not?”

“Beth, honey,” Tyler set his hand on her shoulder, “don’t be nosy.”

“I’m not,” Beth shrugged.

“It’s not⁠—“

“She’s fine,” Rachel assured him. “I can’t, because I’m meeting Harper and Eden in a few minutes.”

“How’s Harper handling everything since the church burned?” Tyler asked. “Have they decided on a plan?”

“That’s what we’re discussing,” Rachel admitted. “To be honest, I don’t know what she’s thinking.”

“The fire was senseless.”

“Agree.”

The previous Friday, when Rachel and Harper had walked into town, they’d found the First People’s Bank on fire. It was located next to the church where Harper and Aiden were to be married, and the wind had caused the fire to spread. She’d heard the bank’s sprinklers hadn’t activated. Definitely senseless.

“Well,” Tyler hummed. “We should get going. Will I see you later?”

“Later?” Then it dawned on her that he meant the club. “I’m not sure,” she hedged. “It depends on what happens with the wedding plans. However, I’ll be there tomorrow.”

“Oh.” The word hung in the air, and Rachel held her breath, waiting, hoping … for what, she didn’t know. “I’ll see you tomorrow then. Beth, tell Rachel goodbye and let’s go.”

Beth skipped toward her and handed her the bouquet of wildflowers she’d picked. “Bye, Rachel. See you later.”

Rachel touched one of the petals, then brought the flowers to her nose. They smelled sweet and had her envisioning running barefoot through a field of them. Her breath caught, and what felt strangely like anticipation zipped through her. Tyler was watching her closely, and the slight blush spread across his cheekbones gave her wistful thoughts. Could he be imagining the same thing?

“Thank you for the flowers. They are very pretty.”

“Just like you,” Beth giggled.

* * *

Tyler watched the interaction between his daughter and Rachel. A part of him wished their relationship was as free as the one Beth shared with her. The other part remembered what had happened the last time he’d tried that.

“Have fun shopping,” Rachel voiced. “I’ll see you later.”

He took Beth’s hand and waved goodbye. Her question about his date had been a surprise. Not so much because she’d heard about it, but because she’d said something. That, he hadn’t expected.

Why was that, though?

You’re friends, right?

Which was true, but not something he was comfortable exploring. Neither were the images that had flashed through his head when he’d watched Rachel bury her face in the flower bouquet. Those feelings were ….

“I like Rachel, daddy.” Beth interrupted his thoughts. “Don’t you think she’s nice?”

“Yes, punkin,” Tyler murmured. “She’s very nice.”

“We should …”

But what Beth was saying faded when they walked past HCI, Inc, the company that had designed his club and home. Before he could second-guess his decision, Tyler directed his daughter inside.

“Why are we going in here, daddy? They don’t have the stuff I need.”

“I’m sorry, Beth, but I just had an idea.”

“Okay.”

“Hi, Toni,” Tyler greeted the woman behind the counter, “is Cam in? I have a quick question for him.”

Toni’s eyes twinkled. “He’s in, but I can’t promise he’s completely in.”

“Jessie still hasn’t had the baby?”

“No,” Toni sighed. “They’re all on pins and needles.”

Cameron Hunter, the architect who had designed his building, was married to Jessie, a woman he’d known since college. And based on Swan Harbor’s gossip line, her baby was overdue.

“Let me page him.” Toni was on the phone for a few seconds, then said go on back.

“Thanks.” He nodded toward Beth. “Would you mind?”

“Not at all.” She leaned over the counter and smiled at Beth. “Would you like to color a picture for me while you wait for your dad?”

Beth looked up at him for approval. “Go on. I’ll be right back.”

“Okay, daddy.” She disappeared behind the counter, and Tyler slipped down the hall.

In a way, he felt a bit foolish for asking the questions he was getting ready to ask. But as a relative newcomer to Swan Harbor, he couldn’t help but think there was more information out there for him to gather. And since the town had a way about her that wasn’t quite understood, he felt more comfortable asking someone he knew.

“Tyler?” Cam greeted him right inside his office. “What brings you to town?”

“School supplies.” Tyler grinned. “You’ll be there someday.”

A look crossed Cam’s face that Tyler understood. It was equal parts fear, anxiousness, happiness, excitement, and every emotion in between.

“Someday,” he sighed. “First, we need to meet her.”

“How’s Jessie feeling?”

Cam laughed. “Guess.”

“Knowing Jess, I’d say grumpy,” Tyler offered.

“That about sums it up.” Cam glanced at his cell phone. “The doctor said if Jessie doesn’t go into labor today, she’s going to induce.”

“Have you picked out a name?”

“Hope,” Cam murmured, “after Jessie’s ancestor.”

“Hope,” Tyler nodded. “That seems fitting.”

Especially since the first Hope had been instrumental in saving Swan Harbor’s hope a few months earlier.

“Anyway,” Cam leaned on his desk, “how can I help?”

“I’m curious about the area where my building sets,” Tyler begin. “What can you tell me about it?”

Cam studied him for a second. “Is everything okay?”

Tyler glanced out the window before once again meeting Cam’s eyes. “Beth has been hearing bells,” he replied. And I’ve been having strange dreams.

“Bells?” Cam’s brows shot up. “Really?”

“I know, I know,” Tyler shrugged as if to say, She’s my daughter. What can I do? “It sounds farfetched. But I’ve read stories about other people hearing bells. Just not in Swan Harbor.”

“Bells can symbolize beginnings and endings, a call to order, or even a command or a warning,” Cam murmured.

“You’ve heard them too?” Tyler guessed.

Cam frowned. “I wasn’t sure if I’d heard anything or not until you said something. But yeah, once.”

“When?”

“It was right after you bought the building,” Cam begin. “I wanted to get a feel of the area when it was dark.”

“And that’s when you heard the bells?”

“It was.”

“Do you remember anything about them?”

Cam held up his right little finger. “What I know about music can fit in here.”

Tyler nodded. “Understood.”

“But I remember thinking they sounded like the bells the music teacher played at Christmas.”

“Handbells,” Tyler murmured.

Cam shrugged. “Maybe.”

“And the building?”

“That area was next to the Moretti family’s marina,” Cam explained. “At one time, the harbormaster and his family lived in there. While it had been updated before you purchased it, much of the main structure is left from the original.”

Which was something Tyler had already known. “But you’ve never heard of anyone hearing bells before?” he went on to ask.

“No.” Cam hesitated. “And since Swan Harbor is … unique, I don’t think someone would keep something like that to themselves.”

“You don’t think they would have kept it to themselves?” Tyler questioned.

“They probably would have set up shop at Sally’s,” Cam replied with a laugh. Then an expression crossed his face that said he’d just thought of something else. “You might try the library. Or …”

“Or?” Tyler prompted when Cam didn’t immediately finish his sentence.

“Or looking in the book that Dylan’s grandmother wrote in the 1960s, called The Origins of Swan Harbor. I know Aiden was reading it when we were looking for a way to save hope.”

“The Origins of Swan Harbor,” Tyler repeated. “Okay, thanks.”

“Anything—?“ Cam was cut off when his phone buzzed. His eyes grew large, and a panicked look crossed his face.

“What is it?”

“It’s time,” Cam whispered.

Before Tyler could say anything, Cam’s father, Clint, stuck his head in the office door.

“Cameron, what are you doing? Let’s go.”

Tyler laughed, remembering feeling just like he imagined Cam felt.

“I need to go.” Cam jumped up and looked around as if he’d lost something.

“Cam,” Clint prompted.

Tyler took pity on the other man and helped steer Cam out the door. “Good luck.”

“We’ll be in touch,” Clint tossed over his shoulder, on their way out the door.

“Are you done with your picture, Beth?” Tyler asked, once the commotion had settled down. “We’d better hurry.”

She looked up with a grin on her face. “I’m hungry. Can we stop at Sally’s for dinner afterward?”

“Sally’s, huh?”

“Yes.” Beth’s brown eyes twinkled. “Think she’d make me one of those root beer floats?”

“I bet we can talk her into it.” The panicked thought, What if Heather’s working? flashed by, but he refused to let it detour him. Besides, he agreed with his daughter. A root beer float sounded pretty good.

THREE

Main Street

August 26

5:30 p.m.

Rachel and Eden stood by as support to Harper, while she studied the church. Yes, the majority of the fire damage had been to the back of the building, but there was still no way it would be ready for weddings in a few weeks. Months … maybe … but not weeks.

“Do you think Swan Harbor’s trying to tell me something?” Harper murmured. “Is she trying to tell me that Aiden and I aren’t supposed to get married?”

“Oh, Harper,” Rachel sighed. “Swan Harbor may be trying to tell you something, but I can assure you that’s not it.”

“No?” Harper sniffed.

“NO!” Rachel and Eden cried together.

“Harper,” Eden exclaimed. “Your connection to Aiden says that he’s your true love.”

“Then what’s she trying to say?”

“Maybe she’s trying to say you shouldn’t be married in that church,” Rachel offered.

“But my parents were married there,” Harper cried. “I’ve dreamed of getting married in there my entire life.”

“Perhaps she’s saying you chose the wrong date,” Eden offered.

“I knew we should have gotten married in the summer,” Harper sighed. “Except, I wanted a fall wedding.”

“This doesn’t mean you can’t take the honeymoon in October and get married later,” Rachel wiggled her eyebrows. “After all, isn’t that the best part?”

“No, it’s no—“ Eden began, then pressed her lips together.

Rachel exchanged looks with Harper, then both turned their attention to Eden. “Is there something you need to tell us?”

“Me?” Eden squeaked.

“Did something happen on the trip?” Rachel mock-whispered to Harper.

“Could be,” Harper hummed.

“Stop!” Eden exclaimed. “This isn’t the time to talk about me.”

Once again, Rachel exchanged looks with Harper. “Then, when is?”

“Later,” Eden grumbled. “Much later.”

Something in her friend’s voice made Rachel want to push, but she decided they needed to focus on one of them at a time.

“What does Aiden think?” she went back to Harper.

“He says whatever I want.” Harper smiled.

A bolt of envy shot through Rachel. It wasn’t that she didn’t want Harper to have what she had with Aiden. The feeling was that she wanted what her friend had. A man who looked at her like she was his everything. A man who loved her for the person she was — not for the person he wanted her to be.

“And what do you want?”

Harper closed her eyes, and a dreamy smile crawled across her face. Rachel could only imagine what she was seeing. Probably the pictures of her wedding she’d wished for since they were kids.

“I want to walk down the aisle with my dad on a white runner. Aiden will be waiting for me, and he’ll smile in that way that makes my knees weak. I’ll want to run to him, but the other part of me will want to take it slow and savor the feeling. I want flowers and candles and you and Tyler singing our songs.” She opened her eyes and glanced up at the steeple with the brass bell hanging inside. “And if I’m really going to wish, I want the bell to chime as soon as Aiden and I walk out of the church as a married couple.”

“That’s a big wish,” Rachel retorted, “unless they’ve fixed the church bell.”

“No, they haven’t fixed it,” Harper sighed. “Like I said, wishful thinking.”

“Do you know what happened to the bell?” Eden asked. “If it’s broken, why don’t they just get a new one?”

Harper shrugged. “I’m not sure, but maybe my—“ Her voice died halfway through when they noticed several women exiting the church building, wearing coveralls. “What the heck?”

“Cleaning up?” Rachel guessed.

“Let’s go see.” Harper started across the street before she’d even finished her sentence, leaving Rachel and Eden to follow.

They found Harper’s grandmother, Terri Patterson, and a few others wearing dirty coveralls and sorting through miscellaneous items.

“Hi, girls,” Terri grinned. “Did you come to help?”

“We didn’t,” Harper replied. “But if you need us …”

Terri turned back to the church and shook her head. “I think we’ve done all we can do for now. It’s a mess in there. I’m sorry, Honey.”

“I am, too,” Harper sighed. “Now, what am I supposed to do?”

“Harper,” Rachel pushed. “Weren’t you just describing the wedding you wanted to us?”

“Yes.”

“Do you think you’ll be happy with anything other than that wedding?”

Rachel forced Harper to maintain eye contact. She knew her friend. Knew that when she’d returned to Swan Harbor, her heart had been pretty bruised. Knew that of the three of them, Harper was the most romantic. Was the one whose parents had a marriage she’d been looking for since they’d been kids.

An expression crossed Harper’s face. One that when she turned back to her grandmother, Rachel wasn’t completely sure what she was going to say.

“How long, Grandma?” Harper questioned. “Did they say how long it would be before the church will be ready for weddings?”

“A couple of months,” Terri murmured, “is what I’ve heard.”

“Which means the church and town would be decorated for Christmas, right?”

Terri waved toward the items that the others had been spreading on the ground. “The church was where the decorations were kept. We’re trying to see what we can salvage.”

Rachel winced, as she knew some of those decorations had been around longer than she’d been alive.

Harper glanced over at the items that were being laid out, then up at the bell. “What then?”

“That’s going to be up to Libby and Rene,” Terri explained. “As the town manager and mayor, they’ll have the final say.”

“Think while you’re putting in an order, you can request a new church bell, “ Harper quipped.

Terri frowned. “Why would they need a new church bell?”

“Because that one doesn’t work,” Harper replied. “Or at least I’ve never heard it.”

“I’ve never heard it either,” Terri stated. “As far as I know, though, it’s not broken.”

“Wait a minute,” Rachel frowned. “If it hasn’t worked in your lifetime, how can you say it’s not broken?”

Terri glanced up at the bell. “That’s what I was told when I was a child.” She shrugged. “As to why it doesn’t work, your guess is as good as mine.”

“Well, technically,” Eden observed, “since the bell is still there, it’s only the sound that needs to be returned.”

“Or maybe it’s the song,” Rachel murmured.

Eden’s brow rose. “What does that even mean?”

Rachel recited some words that had been in her head for the last few months. “That’s not a song, is it?”

“No,” Eden agreed. “Those are just words.”

Then Rachel added a little melody to the words. “You need the music for it to be a song.”

Harper sighed. “So, what you’re saying is I’ll need a Christmas miracle to have the wedding I want?”

“This is Swan Harbor,” Rachel grinned. “Where things happen …”

“When they’re meant to happen,” they all finished.

Which was one of Rachel’s favorite sayings. She just wished the town didn’t take her own sweet time with some things ….

* * *

Siren’s Song

August 26

6:30 p.m.

Tyler took one last look in Beth’s backpack, then set it in easy reach for the next morning. He’d started down the hall to check on her when there was a knock, signaling the arrival of his Monday evening sitter.

“Leah,” he greeted the younger girl. “Beth’s still in the bathtub.”

“Do you want me to check on her?”

He glanced at the clock and decided a compromise was needed. “I’ll just say goodbye to her, then you can get her out.”

“And you’ll be back to put her to bed?” Leah guessed.

“Unless something comes up,” he nodded.

“Okay, not a problem.”

When he peeked into the bathroom, Beth was still entertaining herself, so he didn’t push the issue.

“Leah’s here,” he relayed. “I’ll see you in a couple of hours.”

“Okay.”

He left his apartment and took the stairs down. The closer he was, the louder the music, and the more pride he felt in what he’d accomplished.

Being a business owner hadn’t been his dream. That had been to tour, sing, record, and hopefully make a lot of money. Instead, his life had taken a different turn, and he’d done what needed to be done to give his daughter a good life. One that was much different from what he’d known as a kid.

Did he have the success he wanted? No, but most nights the club was busy enough to keep him in the black, and it was growing. What was next for him?

He’d taken Ben’s suggestion and gone out with Heather Ross. But, as he’d told Rachel, she was too energetic. That she’d not been working when he and Beth had stopped by Sally’s for dinner had been a good thing. Next up would be …

The tails of a long white dress shirt flapping around creamy thighs, bloomed in front of his eyes.

Where had the dream come from? And who was the woman?

Long-time residents of Swan Harbor would tell him that things happen when they’re meant to happen. Which meant the answer would present itself in due time. Or at least he hoped that was true.

“Dawson,” Tyler greeted his manager. “Any problems so far?”

“Nothing we haven’t dealt with before, Ty,” Dawson replied. “Is there anything specific you need?”

Tyler grinned. “I’m doing a little favor for a friend.”

Dawson’s eyes sparkled. “Would that friend be in his eighties and still able to carry a tune?”

“He’s already been after you?”

“A few times,” Dawson admitted.

“Sorry about that.” Tyler glanced across the room and made eye contact with Rupert, who immediately stood and headed his way.

“Not a problem,” Dawson assured him. “My father is in his seventies, and I know how they can be.”

“Plus, Rupert’s an ex-spy, so I’m sure that’s affected some of his personality,” Tyler added quietly before turning to say hello to the person he’d been discussing. “Are you ready?”

“I was born ready,” Rupert quipped. “The question is, are you ready?”

Tyler shrugged. “It’s just music.”

“Oh, but it’s music with me,” Rupert pointed out. “I just hope you can keep up.”

“I think I’ll be fine,” Tyler assured him.

Rupert studied him for an extra second. “Maybe we should put a little wager on it.”

“A little wager?” Tyler laughed. “You want me to bet you on whether I’ll be able to hang with you or not?”

“Damn straight,” Rupert shot back.

“And what would Lois say about this?”

“Bah!” Rupert waved his hand in the direction where Lois was sitting. “We’ve been married almost fifty-one years. If she’s not tossed me over yet, she isn’t going to.”

He’d met Rupert, his wife, Lois, and Glynnis, the sister-in-law, shortly after he’d moved to town. They’d offered to watch Beth while he worked, and a friendship had been made. There’d been times in the last few years when he’d been tempted to ask the other couple questions about long-term relationships — and about long-term love. But he’d chickened out, not exactly sure what questions to ask.

“What did you have in mind?” Tyler grinned, even though the voice inside was warning him. Watch out! Watch out!

“Oh, nothing too difficult,” Rupert stated.

Tyler wasn’t sure he liked the smirk on the older man’s face, but he was too far gone to back away.

“Nothing too difficult?” he hummed. “Such as …?”

Rupert shrugged. “It’s simple, really. If you can’t keep up with me, you have to serenade someone with one of my songs.”

“And if I keep up, you’ll sing one of my songs?”

“Sure. But it isn’t going to happen.”

“Okay, Rupert. You have a deal. What time do you want to perform?”

“Fifteen minutes?”

“Fifteen minutes,” Tyler confirmed.

“A bet?” Dawson repeated once they were alone. “Is there a chance you’ll lose?”

Tyler frowned. “If I do, it’s no big deal.”

Dawson arched a brow and just looked at him.

“I can see the questions bubbling up,” Tyler sighed. “What do you want to ask?”

“Nothing.”

His relationship with his manager had started when he’d been in college. Twenty-five years plus his senior, Dawson Phillips had been the manager of a little club just off campus. When word had gotten out that he could sing, Tyler had been the weekend entertainment. And the rest of the time, he’d waited tables. When he’d needed to hire, there’d been only one person he’d wanted.

“Dawson,” he prodded a bit. “Just spit it out.”

“When you sang at The Cave all those years ago, you had no difficulty flirting. You played the part of the ‘singer’ as well as anyone. Here, you don’t do that.”

“True,” Tyler agreed.

“Has anything changed?” Dawson wanted to know.

“Such as?”

“Is there someone you’d like to serenade?”

The area just below Tyler’s right ear tingled as if he’d been kissed. His breath caught, and the smell of flowers had him turning his head to see who’d walked by.

“Tyler?” Dawson prompted. “Are you okay?”

Tyler took a deep breath and pushed whatever it was away. “I’m fine.”

“Then, I’ll ask again,” Dawson hummed. “Is there a chance you’ll lose?”

“It’s just a couple of songs,” Tyler scoffed. “I could do it in my sleep. Could you handle the curtain for me?”

He wound his way to the front of the club and stepped up onto the small stage. Jimmie, Rupert’s long-time friend, was playing bass, and Sticks was on the drums, leaving Tyler to slip his acoustic guitar over his head.

Once the instruments had been tuned, Rupert asked, “Ready?”