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Want Me Always by Lea Nolan
Series: Heron Harbor #1
Publication date: April 21st, 2020
Her mind says no...
Wren Donovan's done with love. Betrayed and humiliated by her ex-fiance, she retreats to her family's beach house on Heron Harbor Island to lick her wounds and gorge herself on ice cream, spray cheese, and a box of glazed donuts. Wren vows to devote herself to her law career and swears off men forever, but she isn't prepared for what being reunited with her oldest friend makes her feel...
His heart says yes, please...
Smith Connors can't believe his eyes when Wren walks into his restaurant. He's loved her since they were ids when summertime found them inseparable best friends. As a boy, he'd never felt good enough for Wren. But now he's a rising-star chef with a thriving business who knows what he wants--which means he's not letting beautiful, brilliant Wren get away again.
Smith determines to show Wren how good they could be together, and soon neither of them can resist the heat growing between them. He'd do anything to earn her faith--and her heart, if only she could learn to trust again.
Wren Donovan's done with love. Betrayed and humiliated by her ex-fiance, she retreats to her family's beach house on Heron Harbor Island to lick her wounds and gorge herself on ice cream, spray cheese, and a box of glazed donuts. Wren vows to devote herself to her law career and swears off men forever, but she isn't prepared for what being reunited with her oldest friend makes her feel...
His heart says yes, please...
Smith Connors can't believe his eyes when Wren walks into his restaurant. He's loved her since they were ids when summertime found them inseparable best friends. As a boy, he'd never felt good enough for Wren. But now he's a rising-star chef with a thriving business who knows what he wants--which means he's not letting beautiful, brilliant Wren get away again.
Smith determines to show Wren how good they could be together, and soon neither of them can resist the heat growing between them. He'd do anything to earn her faith--and her heart, if only she could learn to trust again.
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Praise for "Want Me Always":
"A heartfelt story that will make you laugh and swoon! The perfect feel-good read!" -- Laura Kaye, NYT Bestselling Author
"A seaside reunion story that will have you believing that love heals heartbreak and truly transcends time." -- Christi Barth, USA Today bestselling author
"How did you know about me wanting to make partner?" Wren asked as they climbed the porch steps of her family's beach house.
Smith laughed. "You're not the only Donovan sister to eat at my restaurant. Raven keeps me up to date on you, too."
"I'm surprised she mentions me."
"Only when I ask. I like hearing about what you're up to."
Wren's head tilted. "Really? After all this time?"
He met her gaze. "Always."
After blooming into a slow smile, she said. "That's nice."
"It's the truth. You stopped coming to the island but I didn't stop caring about you. We were good friends... once." Smith reached for one of her hands.
She nodded. "We were. Friends." Wren looked like she might say something else, but then looked down at their entwined fingers. "I didn't know what to expect when I went to the restaurant tonight." She lifted her lashes to gaze at him again. "But somehow I knew you'd make everything okay." His heart thrummed. "I'm glad. I'd do anything to put a smile on your face."
Her lids tightened just slightly as she peered at him as if with new eyes. "You're the same but different. In a good way. Is that weird to say?"
He grinned as he shook his head. "No. So are you."
Wren looked surprised. "How so?"
Drawing closer, his voice softened. "I always knew you were smart and would be a huge success. And you were always the prettiest girl on the island in summer. But now, damn woman, you're more beautiful than I ever imagined."
Wren's cheeks flushed pink and her gaze turned down to the floorboards. "You're just saying that."
Gently, Smith cupped her jaw and bored into her dazzling green eyes. "I never say anything I don't mean."
She nodded, her pupils dilating. "Oh-kay."
"The fact that you don't know how gorgeous you are tells me you've never been with a man who truly appreciates you. And that's a damn shame." Smith's fingers slid to the back of her neck and threaded through her hair. "A smart man would understand your value and worship you. Have you ever been worshiped, Wren?"
Wren swallowed hard. "No."
"Would you like to know how it feels?"
"Yes," she whispered.
Without another word his mouth closed on hers. He kissed her softly at first, savoring the exquisite taste and feel of her flesh. His tongue darted across her lower lip, then dipped into her mouth. A tiny whimper escaped her throat and she answered by stroking his tongue with hers. Turning her head slightly, she opened her mouth to grant him better access. Accepting her invitation, he plunged deeper, nibbling on her bottom lip then sucking it into his mouth. Wren's knees wobbled. She wrapped her arms around his firm torso, pulling herself against him. Fierce need swelled in him, sending heat straight to his groin as a low growl rumbled in his chest. They kissed for what seemed like hours, discovering each other as raindrops spattered the porch roof. Finally, breathless and filled with so much want he could scream.
Smith pulled away.
"Wow," she said as her chest heaved.
"Yeah. Wow."
Smith laughed. "You're not the only Donovan sister to eat at my restaurant. Raven keeps me up to date on you, too."
"I'm surprised she mentions me."
"Only when I ask. I like hearing about what you're up to."
Wren's head tilted. "Really? After all this time?"
He met her gaze. "Always."
After blooming into a slow smile, she said. "That's nice."
"It's the truth. You stopped coming to the island but I didn't stop caring about you. We were good friends... once." Smith reached for one of her hands.
She nodded. "We were. Friends." Wren looked like she might say something else, but then looked down at their entwined fingers. "I didn't know what to expect when I went to the restaurant tonight." She lifted her lashes to gaze at him again. "But somehow I knew you'd make everything okay." His heart thrummed. "I'm glad. I'd do anything to put a smile on your face."
Her lids tightened just slightly as she peered at him as if with new eyes. "You're the same but different. In a good way. Is that weird to say?"
He grinned as he shook his head. "No. So are you."
Wren looked surprised. "How so?"
Drawing closer, his voice softened. "I always knew you were smart and would be a huge success. And you were always the prettiest girl on the island in summer. But now, damn woman, you're more beautiful than I ever imagined."
Wren's cheeks flushed pink and her gaze turned down to the floorboards. "You're just saying that."
Gently, Smith cupped her jaw and bored into her dazzling green eyes. "I never say anything I don't mean."
She nodded, her pupils dilating. "Oh-kay."
"The fact that you don't know how gorgeous you are tells me you've never been with a man who truly appreciates you. And that's a damn shame." Smith's fingers slid to the back of her neck and threaded through her hair. "A smart man would understand your value and worship you. Have you ever been worshiped, Wren?"
Wren swallowed hard. "No."
"Would you like to know how it feels?"
"Yes," she whispered.
Without another word his mouth closed on hers. He kissed her softly at first, savoring the exquisite taste and feel of her flesh. His tongue darted across her lower lip, then dipped into her mouth. A tiny whimper escaped her throat and she answered by stroking his tongue with hers. Turning her head slightly, she opened her mouth to grant him better access. Accepting her invitation, he plunged deeper, nibbling on her bottom lip then sucking it into his mouth. Wren's knees wobbled. She wrapped her arms around his firm torso, pulling herself against him. Fierce need swelled in him, sending heat straight to his groin as a low growl rumbled in his chest. They kissed for what seemed like hours, discovering each other as raindrops spattered the porch roof. Finally, breathless and filled with so much want he could scream.
Smith pulled away.
"Wow," she said as her chest heaved.
"Yeah. Wow."
About the Author:
Lea Nolan is a USA Today bestselling author who writes smart, witty contemporary stories filled with head-swooning, heart-throbbing, sweep-you-off your feet romance. She also pens books for young adults featuring bright heroines, crazy-hot heroes, diabolical plot twists, plus a dose of magic, a draft of romance, and a sprinkle of history.
Born and raised on Long Island, New York she loves the water far too much to live inland. With her heroically supportive husband and three brilliant children, she resides in Maryland where she cracks crabs and bakes ugly birthday cakes.
