Excerpt!
“Oh, yeah?” I barely choked out.
“Yeah, I’ve been thinking about your lips for so long, I don’t think I could ever ‘pretend’ to kiss them. Tasting you could never be fake.”
I swallowed, a heat swallowing my body. His boldness took me by surprise. The cave must really be affecting him, too. What was down here? Mermaid endorphins? Maybe this was exactly what we needed. No distractions. To get out of our heads and into a world of our own. Just the two of us.
I tried to steady my voice. “Well, maybe we should practice in case it’s needed. For real. Just so it doesn’t take you by surprise. I wouldn’t want you to be totally unprepared. Louis would give you such a lecture.” The sultry tone that I reserved just for him was finding its sea legs, coming back to me so easily. Just like my love for him.
“Yeah, I think I could use some practice. I don’t usually get to kiss gorgeous musicians who once stole my heart.”
Stole. That’s exactly what I did. And ran off without a word, leaving him bare. I swallowed against sandpaper and a fleck of worry crept into the corners of his eyes, tinging our bubble. I shook the thoughts away, trying to return to this oasis.
I brought my hand to his jaw, running my thumb along the stubble. Trying to get used to all his changes that were driving every atom of me mad. I needed him to know how badly I wanted this. Wanted him. That he wasn’t alone in this need and desire. I wasn’t going to leave him alone again. Not if he wanted me. Not if he chose me.
My lips began drifting toward his, already feeling their warmth. Endorphins had my imagination running wild when Louis’ voice came crashing through like a rogue cymbal in the middle of a prelude.
His voice broke the spell. “Luna, honey, the tide is coming in! You don’t want to be down there for that. Plus, we should get you back to the resort so you can get ready for tonight's event.”
His words hung between us like thick smog as I looked at Reef. Our eyes were still hungrily fixed upon each other.
“Coming!” I called back. A shared sadness filled the small space between Reef and me. I didn’t want to leave this world. Because this world didn’t feel like ‘pretend’ at all to me.
Separated by tragedy, reunited by fate. Will these childhood sweethearts risk their hearts again?
Reef has been in love with Luna since they were kids exploring the treasures of Maui's tide pools together. Now he channels his unrequited feelings into the books he writes under a romance pen name, creating the happy ending they never got. But when his best friend shows up with an unbelievable offer, Reef must confront both his darkest fears and deepest dreams.
Luna never stopped loving Reef, even when she broke his heart to protect him. Music became her sanctuary as she battled invisible demons, and fame only complicated her journey. When her record label plans a romantic PR stunt between her and her musician ex at the Oahu ukulele festival, Luna's uncle hatches a Reef will pose as her boyfriend to thwart their scheme. After all these years, Luna finds herself face-to-face with the one person who truly understands her.
Beneath Maui's swaying palms and starry skies, their fake relationship awakens feelings that never truly died. As they revisit the mermaid coves and lavender fields of their youth, they'll discover that sometimes the most extraordinary love stories aren't found in fiction, but in the quiet moments of understanding and acceptance. What began as a charade might be their last chance at the love they were denied—if they're brave enough to embrace it.
When their truths come to light, will love heal their broken pieces, or will they wish they'd left the past buried in the sands of time?
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Brooke Gilbert is a Tennessee native, a microbiology graduate of the University of Tennessee, and a border collie mom. She is, as you may have already guessed, a hopeless romantic and a lover of Jane Austen. When she isn’t writing, she works as a jewelry designer, an audiobook narrator, and a graphic designer. Her writing features characters with autoimmune disorders, something she deals with herself. She believes it is important for these types of characters to be seen in modern literature and started writing so she could see someone like herself in literature. She is considered a medical mystery and has several rare autoimmune disorders. These disorders caused her to withdraw from Physician Assistant School, but she is happy to be pursuing her dreams of designing, creating, and writing. She thanks God for leading her heart on this new path and recites “perhaps this is the moment for which you were created” in times of doubt (Esther 4:14).
She loves watching classic films (thrillers and romantic comedies, too), reading, playing the ukulele, painting, dancing, Pilates, and spending time with her dog, family, and friends. One of her favorite quotes is from Flashdance: “When you give up on your dreams, you die.” She believes that if you’re waiting to pursue your dreams, stop waiting and start doing. Your time is now. And may you never stop being a hopeless romantic. Contrary to popular belief, it’s a very good quality. She’s still looking for her Mr. Darcy. Visit brookegilbertauthor.com to connect and stay updated on her latest projects.
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