The Real Thing (Sugar Lake Book 1) Page 2

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN EXCITEMENT AND UNCERTAINTY rolled in with the clouds Sunday morning, and by midafternoon it felt like the whole town was holding its breath to see what would happen when Hollywood and Sweetwater collided. The first trucks arrived in the late afternoon, followed by a small bus and a few nondescript cars, each of which pulled onto the fairgrounds. Not into the parking lot, but onto the grass. “The crew”—that’s how Zane referred to them. The underlings who were tasked with showing up early to erect sets and prepare for the actors, directors, and other important people whose titles alone gave Willow an unsettled feeling in the pit of her stomach. She drew upon the midair picnic she and Zane had enjoyed the other night. When it feels overwhelming, I want you to think of this moment. It seemed their relationship was made up of moments she never wanted to forget. Zane had been with the crew most of the afternoon, while Willow, along with half the town’s residents, had watche

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN “WHAT CAN WE do to help?” Willow’s mother stood in the middle of Sweetie Pie Bakery’s kitchen with her hands on her hips and a determined look in her eyes at six thirty Monday morning. Beside her, Talia, Piper, dressed in her “good” jeans, and Bridgette, who had brought three floral centerpieces “to spruce up the tables,” stood ready to help. Willow’s cavalry had arrived to help on what she hadn’t realized would be the most nerve-racking day of her life. She usually only needed help with bigger catering jobs, but she was beside herself with gratitude. Even her father had pitched in by babysitting Louie today. The funny thing was, she hadn’t realized she needed help. She’d been baking since four o’clock, and she was fully prepared for catering the set. But she hadn’t counted on the sudden and all-consuming worry about meeting people from Zane’s world. Luckily, her family knew her better than she knew herself. “T, don’t you have to teach today?” Talia shook her head, her

  CHAPTER NINETEEN IT WAS BOUND to happen at some point. Willow hadn’t known when or how, but she’d assumed she’d eventually meet Remi Divine. She just hadn’t expected it to be Tuesday evening at eight o’clock while she was sitting on the steps of Zane’s trailer in a pair of shorts and one of his T-shirts tied at the waist like an eighties girl at a creek party, drinking a Kinky Pink cocktail and eating all the frosting off a dozen cupcakes. With her fingers. She smiled up at the Natalie Portman lookalike, who was even more gorgeous in person than on the big screen. “Hi.” Did that sound too perky? Not perky enough? Like I’m as lame as a drunken duck at the moment? She’d had a hell of a day at the bakery. The oven that had been on its last leg had died, leaving her with one, which was fine most days but would cause a crunch with her next big event. She’d called the distributor, but the model she wanted couldn’t be installed for another four weeks. She pushed to her feet and held out a han

  CHAPTER TWENTY PATCH LOADED UP a plate with gluten-free pancakes, breakfast pizza, and fruit Friday morning as he pleaded with Payton to put in a good word and get Willow hired to cater all the future set breakfasts. He looked like a rebellious teenager with his black jeans, shock of brown hair sticking up in all directions, and strands of leather and silver wrapped around his wrist. Willow knew he and Piper had met for drinks, and when Piper came by that morning, she’d claimed that was all they’d had. Willow tried to picture Zane’s chilled-out assistant in a relationship with her high-strung sister, but no matter how hard she tried, she just couldn’t see it. She had a feeling they were both barking up the wrong tree. Then again, until she and Zane had come together with this zany plan and cleared the air, she might never have visualized the two of them in a lasting relationship, either. “Come on, Payton. Can’t you pull some strings?” He took a big bite of the pizza and closed his eyes

  CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE LATER THAT NIGHT Zane locked the door to Willow’s apartment and followed her down the back steps. He was relieved that filming was over, at least for now. Most of the cast and crew had taken off as soon as filming had wrapped for the day, but they were meeting Remi and her brother, Aiden, along with Bridgette and Ben—who Willow insisted had to meet them—for dinner at Tasker’s Chance, an upscale restaurant on the edge of town. They were running a little late because Willow had gotten stuck at the bakery taking care of loose ends before leaving town tomorrow morning. “Can we take Chloe?” Willow dangled her keys from her finger, looking hot in her skimpy black dress and sky-high heels. Her lips were painted an enticing shade of red, and her eyes were smoky and alluring. “You sure you don’t want to take my rental? You might be more comfortable.” She shook her head. “Nope. Chloe’s perfectly comfortable.” He opened the passenger door, and she settled into her seat. Her dre

  CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO PASSION POUNDED THROUGH Zane’s veins as he took Willow’s hand, apologized to the others about suddenly feeling ill, and quickly paid the bill—leaving an exorbitant tip, along with an extra two hundred bucks in case they wanted dessert and more drinks. Hell, he’d have paid thousands to get out of there without any questions. He was pretty sure Ben didn’t buy his too-ill-to-stick-around act, but he didn’t care. He had tunnel vision. Willow had taunted him all evening with seductive looks and tempting brushes of her leg, her fingers, her gaze, until he felt imprisoned by a web of arousal. Every step toward her car was a test of control. When they reached the dark, deserted corner of the lot where he’d parked, he took her in his arms and finally—finally—kissed her as he’d been dying to do all evening. His mouth moved over hers, devouring its softness with urgency. He tried to throttle the dizzying current racing through him, but when his hand touched her thigh and she ro

  CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE THE FLIGHT TO California in Zane’s private plane was long but enjoyable and made even more pleasurable when they joined the mile-high club. Unfortunately, as exciting as it was, it was hardly something Willow could brag about. Which was a shame, because it was hilarious, exhilarating, and naughty. A driver picked them up from the airport in a black sedan, and she snuggled up to Zane in the backseat. A long while later, the driver pulled through a private gate and onto a long, bamboo-shielded driveway. Tall trees and wide bushes lined the pavement all the way up to the house, which was completely secluded from the road. The first thing Willow noticed was how unremarkable the ranch-style bungalow was. It looked like the kind of house the Brady Bunch might have lived in if their family had been smaller. “Welcome to my world, sweetheart.” Zane helped her from the car and kissed her cheek. While the driver brought their bags to the door, she took a good look around his

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR FOR THE SECOND time in as many weeks, entering Sweetwater failed to bring warmth and comfort to Willow. Only this time it wasn’t just because she’d been lying to her family, which was weighing heavily on her, or because of the stupid pictures that would embarrass the people she loved most. No. This time was worse, because the leak of those racy pictures drove home what it really meant to be with Zane. During the long plane trip, she’d come up with a plan to go straight to her parents’ house and explain everything: the fake engagement, the pictures, and why she’d taken them. She was an adult. It wasn’t like they’d shame her for what she’d done as a teenager. Her father would be disappointed, though, and her mother? Willow had no idea how her mother would react, but she was pretty sure she’d feel like she’d failed Willow in some way by not making it clear that she could have talked to her. Even though she had made it abundantly clear. As conservative as her father was

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE “I DON’T NEED a party,” Willow insisted as she closed out the register. “I know you guys want to do this, but an engagement party seems silly since we’re getting married in three months. How about if we have joint bachelor and bachelorette parties?” It had been ten weeks since Willow and Zane had gotten engaged, and eight glorious weeks since Zane had come back to Sweetwater. Willow had never felt so complete in all her life, and she didn’t need a party as confirmation. She thought her mother was going to hound her about it, but her mother had understood. It was her sisters who had arrived at the bakery fifteen minutes before
closing time to hassle her for the umpteenth time. Piper groaned. “Joint? Really?” “I like that idea,” Talia said. “It shows you’re a strong, committed couple.” “I agree.” Bridgette grabbed a rag and began wiping down the tables. Piper set her hands on her hips. “The old Bridgette would have given you hell for not taking advantage of your one l

  A NOTE FROM MELISSA I had so much fun watching Willow and Zane learn and grow and inevitably fall in love; they’ve climbed right to the top of my favorite couples list. I hope you love them as much as I do! Each of Willow’s siblings will be featured in their own books. Sign up for my newsletter to keep up-to-date with new Sugar Lake releases and to receive an exclusive short story (www.MelissaFoster.com/News). If this is your first Melissa Foster book, you might enjoy my big-family romance collection Love in Bloom. Characters from each series make appearances in future books so you never miss an engagement, wedding, or birth. A complete list of all series titles is included at the start of this book. Happy reading!

  ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Writing a book is not a solo endeavor, and I am indebted to my fans, friends, and family, who inspire and support me on a daily basis. Please continue to keep in touch. You never know when you’ll end up in one of my books, as several members of my fan club have already discovered (www.Facebook.com/groups/MelissaFosterFans). If this is your first Melissa Foster book, you have many wickedly sexy and fiercely loyal heroes and sassy, empowered heroines to catch up on in my Love in Bloom big-family romance collection. If you don’t yet follow me on Facebook, please do! We have such fun chatting about our lovable heroes and sassy heroines, and I always try to keep fans abreast of what’s going on in our fictional boyfriends’ worlds (www.Facebook.com/MelissaFosterAuthor). Remember to sign up for my newsletter to keep up-to-date with new releases and special promotions and events and to receive an exclusive short story (www.MelissaFoster.com/Newsletter). For publication schedules

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR Photo © 2013 Melanie Anderson Melissa Foster is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling and award-winning author of more than sixty-five books. Her novels have been recommended by USA Today’s book blog, Hagerstown magazine, the Patriot, and more. She has also painted and donated several murals to the Hospital for Sick Children in Washington, DC. She enjoys discussing her books with book clubs and reader groups, and she welcomes an invitation to your event. Visit Melissa on her website, www.MelissaFoster.com, or chat with her on Twitter @melissa_foster and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/MelissaFosterAuthor.

  PRAISE FOR MELISSA FOSTER

  “You can always rely on Melissa Foster to deliver a story that’s fresh, emotional, and entertaining. Make sure you have all night, because once you start you won’t want to stop reading. Every book’s a winner!”

  —Brenda Novak, New York Times bestselling author

  “What sets Melissa Foster apart are her compelling characters who you care about . . . desperately. I dare you to read the first chapter and not be hooked.”

  —M. J. Rose, New York Times bestselling author

  “With her wonderful characters and resonating emotions, Melissa Foster is a must-read author!”

  —Julie Kenner, New York Times bestselling author

  “Melissa Foster is synonymous with sexy, swoony, heartfelt romance!”

  —Lauren Blakely, New York Times bestselling author

  “I’m highly addicted to her stories and still want to kick my own behind for taking so long to finally read her.”

  —The Power of Three Readers

  “The author’s writing was amazing, and to be completely honest here, to get me to read a subgenre I would not normally touch with a barge pole shows that her writing can make even the pickiest reader fall in love with her books—you just have to give them a chance.”

  —Cara’s Book Boudoir

  “Melissa creates quite a palette of feelings for the reader to experience all through the novel.”

  —Cruising Susan

  “One of the greatest contemporary romance authors of all time.”

  —Underneath the Covers

  “Melissa Foster has to be my favorite author out there.”

  —Short and Sassy Book Blurbs

  “Melissa does a great job giving us stories with characters whose stories will keep you engrossed.”

  —Wicked Babes Blog

  “She has a way with words that endears a family in our hearts, and watching each sibling and friend go on to meet their true love is such a joy!”

  —Thoughts of a Blonde

  “Melissa Foster is a prolific author who writes wonderful romance stories.”

  —Alpha Book Club

  “Let’s be honest, Melissa Foster is known for her writing of great characters who seem so real that you root for them all to have their HEA.”

  —I’d Rather Be Reading

  MORE BOOKS BY MELISSA FOSTER

  LOVE IN BLOOM ROMANCE SERIES

  SNOW SISTERS

  Sisters in Love

  Sisters in Bloom

  Sisters in White

  THE BRADENS

  Lovers at Heart

  Destined for Love

  Friendship on Fire

  Sea of Love

  Bursting with Love

  Hearts at Play

  Taken by Love

  Fated for Love

  Romancing My Love

  Flirting with Love

  Dreaming of Love

  Crashing into Love

  Healed by Love

  Surrender My Love

  River of Love

  Crushing on Love

  Whisper of Love

  Thrill of Love

  BRADEN NOVELLAS

  Promise My Love

  Our New Love

  Daring Her Love

  Story of Love

  THE REMINGTONS

  Game of Love

  Stroke of Love

  Flames of Love

  Slope of Love

  Read, Write, Love

  Touched by Love

  SEASIDE SUMMERS

  Seaside Dreams

  Seaside Hearts

  Seaside Sunsets

  Seaside Secrets

  Seaside Nights

  Seaside Embrace

  Seaside Lovers

  Seaside Whispers

  THE RYDERS

  Seized by Love

  Claimed by Love

  Chased by Love

  Rescued by Love

  Swept into Love

  SEXY STAND-ALONE ROMANCE

  Tru Blue

  Truly, Madly, Whiskey

  BILLIONAIRES AFTER DARK SERIES

  Wild Boys After Dark

  Logan

  Heath

  Jackson

  Cooper

  Bad Boys After Dark

  Mick

  Dylan

  Carson

  Brett

  HARBORSIDE NIGHTS SERIES

  Includes characters from Love in Bloom Series

  Catching Cassidy

  Discovering Delilah

  Tempting Tristan

  STAND-ALONE NOVELS

  Chasing Amanda (mystery/suspense)

  Come Back to Me (mystery/suspense)

  Have No Shame (historical fiction/romance)

  Love, Lies & Mystery (three-book bundle)

  Megan’s Way (literary fiction)

  Traces of Kara (psychological thriller)

  Where Petals Fall (suspense)

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, organizations, places, events, and incidents are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.

  Text copyright © 2017 Melissa Foster

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced, or stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without express written permission of the publisher.

  Published by Montlake Romance, Seattle

  www.apub.com

  Amazon, the A
mazon logo, and Montlake Romance are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc., or its affiliates.

  ISBN-13: 9781542045810

  ISBN-10: 1542045819

  Cover design by Letitia Hasser

  For my readers.

  CONTENTS

  CHAPTER ONE

  CHAPTER TWO

  CHAPTER THREE

  CHAPTER FOUR

  CHAPTER FIVE

  CHAPTER SIX

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  CHAPTER NINE

  CHAPTER TEN

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

  CHAPTER NINETEEN

  CHAPTER TWENTY

  CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

  CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

  CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

  A NOTE FROM MELISSA

  ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  CHAPTER ONE

  WILLOW DALTON SPED into the parking lot of Landry’s Resort with six minutes to spare, telling herself it didn’t matter if she was late. She’d just turn up the charm, hand Patrick Carter one of her famous Sweetie Pie Bakery’s Loverboys—a delicious and colorful cross between an éclair and a cupcake—and he’d remember why he’d sought her out to cater desserts for the Lake George Boating Club’s annual meeting in the first place.

  At least she hoped he would.

  She couldn’t afford to blow this job. It was her ticket to expanding her bakery’s catering business from her small hometown of Sweetwater, New York, to the outlying areas. Lake George was almost two hours away, but catering jobs like this could double her income. She dreamed of not only expanding the catering side of her business but at some point making Sweetie Pie Bakery into more of a café and bookstore. The job also paid twice as much as her bakery would have earned over the weekend, and she needed every penny, since one of her ovens was on its last leg.