ON A WARM SEA OF LOVE
Coming 2008
from The Wild Rose Press
BLURB: Hailey Saunders accompanies her beloved matchmaking sister, Megan, on a cruise to the beautiful and exotic Caribbean...something she’s avoided for a long time...ever since her young husband, Zach, was lost off a fishing trawler in the Bering Sea during a storm. At first, Hailey cried daily for months, then weekly for a year, but now she doesn’t cry at all. Why? Because Zach returned...or at least his ghost did. His voice remains her constant companion, allowing her to avoid the pain of real life...of falling in love with someone else. A flirtatious but ineligible Scots ship's officer, Alan Campbell, has his eye on Hailey as does the handsome and mysterious European, Karl de Groot. Megan is ready to make a match for her sister, but Zach finds it hard to let his wife go...or is it Hailey who refuses to say goodbye? Three men want her...only one can have her!
EXCERPT
When the elevator arrived, Megan quickly stepped in, but Hailey bumped into the brass-buttoned chest of a tall white uniform. She looked up and met the tantalizing aquamarine eyes of a handsome ship’s officer who attempted to exit the elevator.
“Excuse me.”
“Not at all.” His bright grin caught her attention. He reached out to steady her. “My fault entirely. I should have looked to see where I was going.”
“Well, you must have a tough time seeing from up there,” Hailey replied with a valiant but futile attempt at witty repartee.
“Hailey!” Megan smothered a giggle.
“Yes, I am rather tall, aren’t I? It’s a curse” he countered with a mock sigh. “Alan Sheppard’s the name. Can I be of service to you ladies?”
Entranced by the delectable rolling rrr’s in his brogue, Hailey thought she could listen to him say the word service all night.
“No, thanks. We’re headed to our cabin.” Hailey recognized the speculative look on her sister’s face and stopped Megan from volunteering him for some friendly deed with a defiant flash of amber eyes. She wanted no part of any possible matchmaking schemes. Megan shrugged innocently and favored the handsome man with an apologetic smile.
“Well then, ladies. I’ll leave you to it. Welcome aboard.” Hands on hips, he watched them as the elevator closed.
“Well, I’ll be,” said Megan with a soft appreciative whistle. “My goodness.” She pushed the button for their deck.
“What?”
“Oh, I’m just...uh...wow!”
“You’re a married woman of 42, Megan,” Hailey responded with mock severity. “Behave with some decorum...please.”
“Oh, not for me. I was thinking about you.” Megan grinned widely at her unsuspecting sister. “Did you happen to see his ring finger?”
“No. My eyes don’t latch onto every man’s ring finger as soon as I meet them. But did you see those blue eyes of his?”
“Nope, you were hogging the view.” Megan chuckled as the elevator opened to their deck.
“Irish or Scottish?” Hailey murmured. “His accent...do you think he’s Irish or Scottish...or Australian?”
“I have no idea. He did roll the ‘rrr’ in aboard in the sexiest way, didn’t he? Is that Irish or Scottish?” Megan pondered aloud. They moved down the narrow hallway searching for their cabin.
“I don’t know, dearrrr, that’s why I asked you.”
Text copyright (c) by Bess McBride 2008
