Beyond Promise
Authors: Karice Bolton
Copyright © 2015 Karice Bolton
ISBN-10:0996540202
ISBN-13:978-0-9965402-0-9
All rights reserved. No part of this book may
be reproduced in any printed or electronic form, or stored in an
unauthorized retrieval system, or transmitted in any form without
permission from the author.
This is a work of fiction. Names, places,
incidents, and events either are the author’s imagination or are
used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or
dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
Cover Design: Phatpuppy, Typography: BB
Designs, Female model: Anya Kod, Male Model: Steve Alario,
Makeup/Hair artist: Nadya Rutman, Photography: Teresa Yeh
To contact the author,
please visit her online at
http://www.karicebolton.com
or via
Twitter/Facebook/Pinterest @KariceBolton.
If you’d like to be included on her mailing
list to learn about
new releases,
click here
or
go to Karice Bolton’s
website
You can also text KariceBooks to 313131 to
receive a message from her on release days!
Dedication
Always to my husband and mom. Love you both
so much.
And thank you to the readers of the Beyond
Love Series. I’m so grateful to you all for reading about Brandy,
Gabby, and Lily. They have been so much fun to write, and I can’t
thank you enough for reading about these women and their lives.
FINDING LOVE IN FORGOTTEN COVE
LOVE REDONE IN HIDDEN HARBOR – Coming
Soon
BEYOND CONTROL
BEYOND DOUBT
BEYOND REASON
BEYOND INTENT
BEYOND CHANCE
BEYOND PROMISE
BEYOND the MISTLETOE – Holidays 2015
HIDDEN SINS
BURIED SINS
REDEMPTION
LONELY SOULS
ALTERED SOULS
RELEASED SOULS
SHATTERED SOULS
AWAKENING
LEGIONS
CATACLYSM
TAKEN NOVELLA (A Watchers Prequel)
RecruitZ
AlibiZ
UprisingZ–Coming Soon
Excerpt Finding Love in Forgotten Cove
I glanced around the back room of Gabby’s
Goodies and felt at home as Gabby worked away on a wedding cake,
and I sat sipping tea and doing absolutely nothing. Even though the
outside air was frigid, Gabby had the door propped open to let the
heat from the ovens escape the small space. I’d tucked myself in
the far corner and breathed in the sugar scent that permeated the
air. There was nothing better than being best friends with a baker.
I took in a deep breath and smiled a happy smile. Between the
almost caramel smell of the falling autumn leaves and Gabby’s
sugary confections, I was in my own version of heaven. Not to
mention as wonky as my sniffer had been lately, I was relieved to
be where scents didn’t torment me.
“That’s it,” Emily said, walking through the
door of the workroom. Emily had quickly become Gabby’s right hand
around the shop and they made a great team. Plus, we all loved
Emily. “I’ve had it. I think there is some sort of secret,
underground network for single men where they all get together and
figure out who they can torment next and somehow they pick me again
and again and again. Oh, hi, Lily.”
Emily’s fiery—and often unruly—red hair and
olive complexion made most men and women take a second glance
because she was just that stunning. Of course, she never stood
still long enough to notice others’ reactions, but we did. Emily
had been divorced for almost six years, and she’d only recently
started to try online dating. So far she wasn’t singing any
praises.
Emily gave me a quick kiss and tied an apron
around her waist.
“Good morning,” I said, giving her an
understanding nod.
“So the morning coffee date didn’t go well?”
Gabby asked.
“What made you say that? It went fabulous.”
Emily gave a doleful laugh. “As fabulous as my dates always
go.”
She grabbed a tray of already rolled biscuit
dough and began cutting each dough circle out.
“It couldn’t have been that bad,” Gabby
prodded.
“Within seconds of meeting him, he asked if
he could call me Kitty going forward.”
My brow arched. “Kitty? Why Kitty?”
Emily’s lip curled in disgust. “Apparently,
the fine fellow has a cat fetish and prefers his redheads to be
named Kitty.”
Gabby burst into laughter, “At least he
didn’t ask to call you Garfield.”
I bit my lip and tried to keep in the
eruption of giggles that wanted to come out because Emily looked
purely miserable.
“What does a cat fetish entail?” I asked,
completely fascinated.
“You know, I didn’t stick around long enough
to find out.” Emily winked.
“Good call.” I nodded in approval.
“I’m actually wondering if maybe some people
aren’t meant for love. Like maybe there’s a batch of us that are
predisposed to hunt out and distract the bad seeds so others don’t
get stuck with them. Maybe it’s part of evolution or genetics. Or a
public service designed by the man upstairs.”
“I doubt that,” Gabby assured her. “Although
it is an interesting theory.”
Emily smiled and placed the dough on the
cooking sheets, but we could tell she was disappointed. “In all
honesty, I noticed that once I started this online dating thing, my
paintings got angrier. I used to paint pretty things—flowers,
gardens, and birds. Not now. I’ve got so many paintings with
furious storms and crashing waves, I don’t even know what to do
with them.”
“It must be therapeutic,” Gabby offered.
“Maybe, but I think as of this morning, I’m
officially off the market. I’m pulling my profile off the websites,
and I’m shutting down shop. I’m tired of dating all these donkey
asses,” she said it with a grin, but we knew she was serious.
“Aren’t a donkey and an ass one in the
same,” Gabby muttered.
Emily chuckled and shoved the first tray in
the oven.
I knew how hard it was to date and how easy
it was to shut down. All I had to do was think of the nightmare
that was my ex-boss’s son—that some had the nerve to call
Portland’s Most Eligible Bachelor—and it left me shivering just
thinking of how horrible he was. Not to mention my high school
boyfriend. But I also knew if I’d thrown in the towel, I wouldn’t
have fallen for Ayden, and he was the best thing that ever happened
in my life.
I adjusted myself on the stool and leaned my
back against the wall. I hated to see someone give up on love. I
rested my hands on my belly and let out a sigh.
“You know, Emily, if the donkey throws you
off, you get right back up and get yourself on a different one. Not
the same one, of course. That would be foolish. Possibly find one
that is a little taller, a little more muscular, and isn’t into
cats quite as much. Maybe don’t even try a donkey, try a stallion
the next time around.”
“So you’re saying not to set my sights so
low?” Emily grinned.
“Exactly what she’s saying. Stay away from
the asses and find yourself a stallion,” Gabby chuckled.
“I appreciate the pep talk, ladies, but I
need a break,” Emily said, feigning exhaustion.
“How long have you had the profile up
online?” I asked, intrigued with the process.
“Two weeks,” Emily said.
“And why don’t you tell her when your last
date was prior to uploading your profile?” Gabby prompted.
Emily rolled her eyes and a huge smile
tugged at her lips.
“Well?” I encouraged.
“Three years. I hadn’t been on a date for
three years.”
My mouth fell open. “Really? And you only
gave your online profile two weeks?”
“I’m not lying when I say I’ve had a long
line of duds in that department, but enough about me. Tell me all
about this beach wedding you have planned. It’s in Bermuda, right?
Are you nervous?”
I nodded and a flutter sprang through me,
but it wasn’t because of the wedding.
“The wedding planning is going perfectly.
That’s the easy part. No nerves there.”
“Well, that’s good. So many brides are
stressed beyond belief.”