Seaside Christmas Page 22

  "Oh, wow." Freya played with the lid on her coffee container while the news settled. Shale had been planning to be a dad? He'd lost not only his wife, but baby, too?

  "Yeah, wow." He frowned.

  "You really should talk with someone about this." She held his gaze.

  "I am. You."

  "No, I mean a professional."

  Shale shook his head. "Not happening. If you think I need to talk, it'll be to you alone. Aside from that, I'm starting over here. A fresh beginning."

  "You can't just pretend like none of that happened."

  His eyes narrowed. "Watch me."

  Freya held her breath. She'd known he was having a hard time after Mia died, but she'd had no idea just how much he'd really lost.

  "You have to promise to keep this to yourself."

  "Of course. If you want, I can stay with you at Mom and Dad's instead of with Dakota. I'm sure she'll understand."

  He shook his head. "We just need to carry on with everything as usual. I don't want anyone asking any questions."

  "Okay." She glanced at the clock on the wall. "We'd better get going, though."

  "Yeah." He grabbed his empty cup, got up, and grabbed Freya's luggage.

  They barely made it five feet before someone stopped them. Shelley Wilson grinned. Her hair was still bleach-blonde as it had been when she was on the cheer team with Freya in high school. She looked the twins over. "I can't believe you guys are back in town. How are you?" She didn't pause to let them answer. "Shale, you're hot as ever."

  "Shelley, we're headed to a funeral," Freya said. "Think you can tone it down a bit?"

  "And you, Freya. Gorgeous as ever. I watch Hottest Model every week, waiting to see if you'll be on."

  Freya forced a smile. "Sorry. I don't do reality shows."

  "You should really consider it. Those models go onto—"

  Freya clutched Shale's arm and pulled him toward the door.

  In her rush, she bumped into someone. He wore a police uniform.

  Just her luck.

  "I'm so sorry about that."

  He turned around and smiled, lighting up his entire face. "No problem." The officer spoke with a slight New York accent. He held her gaze, not looking below her chin, unlike most guys. "Are you new to town? I know I haven't seen you around."

  Freya let go of Shale's arm and shook her head. It took her a moment to find her voice. "No, my brother and I grew up here."

  The officer nodded and adjusted his collar. He was gorgeous. Why didn't she recognize him?

  He held her gaze, neither speaking.

  Shale cleared his throat. "We're back in town for a classmate's funeral."

  "Officer Turner." The officer's handsome face clouded over.

  Freya nodded. "We were both friends with Chase."

  "A good man." He rubbed his facial hair. "I'm speaking at the service. Just need a coffee to get my mind off the speech."

  "Nervous?"

  He chuckled. "Public speaking. It scares most people more than death."

  "Nico," called the barista, holding up a coffee.

  The officer smiled. "That's me. I'll see you over there."

  Freya nodded. "Definitely." She watched as he turned around and got his coffee.

  "Come on," Shale urged. "You can flirt with him later."

  "Flirt? You call that flirting?"

  Shale rolled his eyes. "Whatever. Let's go before Shelley decides she needs to talk with us again."

  Freya shuddered. "Yeah. Let's go." She glanced over her shoulder. Nico.

  ~~~

  Nico Valentin sat on the pew, careful to sit tall, despite the temptation to slouch. He had a growing lump in his throat and his heart still raced after giving the speech. Of course he was honored to talk about Chase Turner—he had been one of the best officers on the force. One that Nico could rely on, day or night for anything. And that was why he'd been the one to give his life the other night.

  Telling everyone what a fine officer he'd been at the man's funeral was the least he could do. An honor, really. But it didn't do anything for his fear of public speaking. He could talk a man from a ledge, literally. He could face someone shoving the barrel of a gun at him without breaking into a sweat. Keep himself together after losing a friend, even. But talking in front a crowd? That was a different beast, altogether.

  Especially with that gorgeous brunette with the killer smile from earlier. He hadn't even caught her name. While at the podium, he tried not to look at her, but his gaze kept wandering her direction. It didn't help that she nodded him on, giving him looks of encouragement. Probably because he'd let his mouth run and had admitted his fear to her.

  Nico always did his best to hide anything resembling weakness.

  Purchase links

  The Hunters

  The Seaside Hunters

  Seaside Surprises

  Work hard. Play often. Love unconditionally.

  Tiffany Saunders is on the run. When she winds up stranded in a seaside town, she wants nothing more than to forget her horrific past and kept moving. But a chance meeting with a handsome local changes everything.

  Jake Hunter has some deep emotional scars and is trying to cope with running the family business. The last thing he wants is a relationship—until a mysterious brunette walks into his store and complicates it all.

  Tiffany prefers to keep the painful memories of the past where they belong—in her rear view mirror. But dark secrets cannot stay hidden forever. Just as the walls around Tiffany's heart start to come down, the past catches up with her. Will true love be able to conquer all?

  Seaside Heartbeats

  Sometimes love shows up when you least expect it.

  After years of hard work, architect Lana Summers just wants a relaxing vacation in the beach town of Kittle Falls. Instead, she suffers unexpected heart problems, and finds herself in the office of a gorgeous cardiologist—who only makes her heart work harder.

  Brayden Hunter left his successful cardiology practice in Dallas to be closer to his aging parents. Focused on building a health care clinic in his hometown, he doesn't want any distractions. However, the beautiful Lana is one he can't seem to avoid.

  As their attraction grows, they stumble upon a 160-year-old mystery. Brayden catches her adventurous spirit as they chase after answers, and he can't help falling for her. But can he convince her to stay in the small beach town and with him?

  Seaside Dances

  Dream big. Dance often. Love completely.

  Zachary Hunter is no stranger to rejection. After multiple failed efforts to get his novel published in New York, he's counting on a trip home to turn his luck around.

  Jasmine Blackwell has big dreams. She hopes her internship as a dance instructor in Kittle Falls will be the stepping stone she needs to achieve her lifelong goals.

  After a chance meeting, neither Zachary nor Jasmine can deny their attraction. They fear their aspirations are too big to let a relationship tie them down. Can they have both love and the careers of their dreams?

  Seaside Kisses

  People change, but some feelings last forever.

  Rafael Hunter never thought he'd return to Kittle Falls, but life gave him no other choice. Los Angeles chewed him up, spit him out, and sent him back to square one.

  Amara Fowler has lived in the small beach town her entire life. She's overcome her shyness to grow into the woman she always knew she could be, but she never forgot her secret crush. When the alluring Rafael returns, he can't help but stir in her a whirlwind of old feelings.

  They've both changed so much. Has life kept them incompatible or has it molded them into a matching set?

  Seaside Christmas

  He can't stand her. She thinks he's crazy. Will their feelings stay etched in permanent ink?

  Cruz Hunter has always stuck out in his small hometown. Now that he's covered in tattoos, the residents peg him as even more of an outcast. It seems like the whole world is against his dream of opening a local tatt
oo parlor.

  When he finally finds the perfect place for his new business, Cruz discovers a pastor and his daughter have already bought it. The only thing more irritating than the change in his plan is Talia, a beautiful and feisty argument in a dress. Cruz would like nothing more than to have her out of his life and his mind, but for some reason, she's the only thing he can think about.

  If Cruz and Talia can stop arguing long enough, opposites may do much more than attract.

  Purchase links.

  Seaside Hunters Short Stories

  Seaside Beginnings

  This is the story of Robert and Dawn, the five Hunter brothers' parents. We meet them in each of the Seaside books, and they've grown on readers almost as much as the brothers themselves. Now we get a glimpse into their story.

  Seaside Memories

  Sophia is the youngest of the Hunter siblings. Each of her brothers hold her memory in a special place. Her story is one of first love, second chances, and enjoying life.

  Seaside Treasures

  Allen and Jackie's story is of an unlikely love and healing old wounds. They couldn't be more different, but that could be exactly what they need.

  Read these and many other short stories in Tiny Bites, a snack-sized multi-genre collection by Stacy Claflin.

  The Bayside Hunters

  If you enjoyed falling for the Seaside Hunters, you'll love their Oregon cousins just as much. We've already met Logan, Sullivan, and Dakota. They and their two other siblings—twins, Freya and Shale—are about to find the loves of their lives… they just don't know it yet.

  Bayside Wishes

  She's guarding a family secret. He's investigating a murder. Will a second homecoming lead to true love?

  Freya Hunter is living the fabulous life. The west-coast girl rakes it in as a fashion model in New York City, but everything changes after she returns home for a quick visit.

  The reunion with friends and family in Enchantment Bay is sweet, especially when she hits it off with Nico Valentin, a ruggedly handsome police sergeant. As Nico investigates a murder, Freya learns a family secret big enough to turn her world upside down.

  Freya is torn between her new life and her hometown — the life she loves vs. the brother who needs her and the sergeant who wants her. When her decision doesn't go nearly as well as she planned, she wonders if she can help her brother and keep her growing feelings for Nico at bay before they consume her.

  Bayside Evenings

  She's single and stuck. His relationship is going nowhere. Will the next wedding they plan… be their own?

  Dakota Hunter is great at wedding planning but terrible at finding a guy. Each one she encounters is worse than the one before… until she meets Clay. There's one teensy problem: her attractive new assistant has a long-term girlfriend.

  Clay Harper is thrilled to land his new job with Dakota, surrounding himself with happy couples day in and day out. But when he sees true love in person, he realizes his own relationship is far less than happy. It doesn't help that being around Dakota feels easy. It feels right.

  As Dakota and Clay grow a deeper connection, Clay's girlfriend refuses to go down without a fight. Can the wedding planners go from seeing happy couples… to being one?

  Bayside Promises

  She's wounded. He's driven. Could they be exactly what the other needs?

  Ten years earlier, Haley Faraway fled home without looking back. After her father's death, she reluctantly returns to Enchantment Bay to help her mom and sister. Painful memories haunt her, and Haley finds herself pouring her heart out to the one person she least expected—the impossibly gorgeous, albeit short-tempered, Sullivan Hunter.

  Sullivan wants nothing more than to focus on his newly-acquired realty business. But when Haley comes back to town, he can't deny his attraction to her. After a string of bad relationships with gold-digging women, she's a breath of fresh air. Or is she? Just as he begins to get comfortable with their burgeoning relationship, he discovers she's a realtor, too. His temper gets the best of him as he suspects he's being used by yet another woman.

  Every time Haley and Sullivan clear one hurdle, another looms larger in their path and they push each other away. Can they move on from from their painful pasts and find love—or are they doomed to repeat old mistakes?

  Purchase Links: Bayside Hunters.

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  Indigo Bay Sweet Romances

  A shared-world sweet romance series by sweet romance authors.

  Ever since her twin became a singing sensation, Sky Hampton has struggled to be appreciated for who she is—apart from her sister. She wards off Aspen's fans, who beg for autographs and selfies everywhere Sky goes. She can't even find a guy who likes her for her. Sky flees to the small coastal town of Indigo Bay in hopes of blending in and building her blossoming career.

  Jace Fisher is the textbook definition of the strong silent type—nobody can break through his tough exterior. He has suffered more than his fair share of tragedies, and to protect his shattered heart, he pushes everyone away. Jace spends his days fixing the Indigo Bay cottages, and his nights… nobody really knows. He keeps to himself.

  When Jace shows up to fix Sky's AC, he barely notices her and she's distracted with settling in. It takes an emergency situation to get them talking, and when they do, the two find they have more in common than first appeared. As their attraction grows, defenses soar. Will they be able to risk love when they've both been burned in the past?

  More information and purchase links.

  Other Books

  If you enjoy reading outside the romance genre, you may enjoy some of Stacy Claflin's other books. She is a USA Today bestselling author who writes about complex characters overcoming incredible odds. Whether it's her Gone saga of psychological thrillers, her various paranormal romance tales, or her sweet romance series, Stacy's three-dimensional characters shine through bringing an experience readers don't soon forget.

  The Gone Saga

  The Gone Trilogy: Gone, Held, Over

  Dean's List

  No Return

  Alex Mercer Thrillers

  Gone Saga spin-off

  Girl in Trouble

  Turn Back Time

  Curse of the Moon

  Lost Wolf

  Chosen Wolf

  Hunted Wolf

  Broken Wolf

  Cursed Wolf

  Secret Jaguar

  The Transformed Series

  Main Series

  Deception

  Betrayal

  Forgotten

  Ascension

  Duplicity

  Sacrifice

  Destroyed

  Transcend

  Entangled

  Dauntless

  Obscured

  Partition

  Standalones

  Fallen

  Silent Bite

  Hidden Intentions

  Saved by a Vampire

  Sweet Desire

  Short Story Collection

  Tiny Bites

  Standalones

  Haunted

  Sweet Dreams

  Love's First Kiss

  Visit StacyClaflin.com for details.

  Sign up for new release updates and receive three free books.

  Want to hang out and talk about books? Join My Book Hangout and participate in the discussions. There are also exclusive giveaways, sneak peeks and more. Sometimes the members offer opinions on book covers, too. You never know what you'll find.

  Author's Note

  Thanks so much for reading Seaside Christmas. I hope you enjoyed it whether it was the first or fifth book in the series you've read. This series has been a lot of fun, stepping into sweet contemporary romance from paranormal and suspense. I've learned a lot and had a ton of fun along the way. Some of the most fun has been hearing from you guys!

  Some of you have said you hope the series doesn't end, and I'm happy to say it's going to keep going… but wi
th a twist. Next up will be the Bayside Hunters, the Seaside Hunters' cousins. We've met Logan, Sullivan, and Dakota already. They have two more siblings, and you can rest assured that the Seaside Hunters will make appearances just as the Bayside Hunters have in this series.

  If you enjoyed this book, please consider leaving a review wherever you purchased it. Not only will your review help me to better understand what you like—so I can give you more of it!—but it will also help other readers find my work. Reviews can be short—just share your honest thoughts. That's it.

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  I've spent many hours writing, re-writing, and editing this work. I even put together a team who helped with the editing process. As it is impossible to find every single error, if you find any, please contact me through my website and let me know. Then I can fix them for future editions.

  Thank you for your support!

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  Did you love Seaside Christmas? Then you should read Seaside Dances by Stacy Claflin!

  Dream big. Dance often. Love completely.

  Zachary Hunter is no stranger to rejection. After multiple failed efforts to get his novel published in New York, he's counting on a trip home to turn his luck around.