Stardust on the Sea

By Tawdra Kandle

Cathryn Whitmore doesn't want a vacation, not even in beautiful Cape May, New Jersey. Being forced to take a week off is bad enough, but twiddling her thumbs on the beach when she lives in Florida feels like a waste of time.

But when she encounters a handsome college professor at a bed and breakfast that happens to house a lovesick ghost, Cathryn decides that combining work and pleasure is exactly what she needs.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Hayson Publishing
• Release date: Oct 13, 2014
• ISBN: 9781310755705

Tawdra Kandle

Tawdra Kandle writes romance, in just about all its forms. She loves unlikely pairings, strong women, sexy guys, hot love scenes and just enough conflict to make it interesting. Her books run from YA paranormal romance through NA paranormal and contemporary romance to adult contemporary and paramystery romance. She lives in central Florida with a husband, kids, sweet pup and too many cats. And yeah, she rocks purple hair.

Book preview

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Stardust on the Sea

Copyright ©2013 Tawdra Kandle

All rights reserved.

Published by Hayson Publishing

St. Augustine, Florida

All rights reserved. Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of both the copyright owner and the above publisher of this book.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, brands, media, and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of various products referenced in this work of fiction, which have been used without permission. The publication/use of these trademarks is not authorized, associated with, or sponsored by the trademark owners.

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Dedication

Quotes

Stardust on the Sea

Epilogue

Other books by Tawdra

About the Author

This story is an homage to the South Jersey Shore, which is nothing like the television show of a similar name. My Jersey Shore is all about families, bucolic days on the beach and warm summer nights on the boardwalk. It’s a tiny leftover piece of a time gone by. It’s also a love song to Cape May, which will always hold a spot in my heart, and to Aunt Peg and Uncle Stan, who have so graciously opened their home to my family for years whenever we found our way to Cape May.

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My bounty is as boundless as the sea,

My love as deep; the more I give to thee,

The more I have, for both are infinite.

Romeo and Juliet

Love is now the stardust of yesterday

The music of the years gone by.

STARDUST

Mitchell Parish

Hoagy Carmichael

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THE FIELDS BEYOND THE GARDENS that surrounded Carruthers Initiative were green with new life. For about a century, these lands had supported a plantation, a large family and all the servants and workers. Now that Harper Creek was the headquarters of Carruthers, the crops raised made the facility almost entirely self-sustaining, which was efficient and cost-effective.

Usually that idea gave me a warm, satisfied sense, but today I barely saw the waving grasses. I was too busy trying to come up with a good reason not to take a vacation.

Harley, really, I’m fine. I just want to move forward. The next recruit. The next case. If there was unusual petulance in my voice, I didn’t care.

Please, Cathryn. Don’t make me pull rank on you.

I raised a brow. The question of who outranked who was one that never came up between Harley and me. Yes, he was about twenty years my senior and had worked for Carruthers most of those two decades, but it was my family’s business, something I’d been raised to do. We had a nice balance, and I realized that if he were mentioning it now, he must be serious.

But giving up was not something that came easy.

I’ll take a weekend at the beach later this summer, okay? Or in the fall, when it’s nicer. That would be a better idea.

He was shaking his head before I finished speaking. Absolutely not. A week is my bottom line. A week, out of state, away from Harper Creek. Away from Florida altogether.

I pouted, again something that was not usually part of my repertoire.

Harley patted my arm. Cathryn, this year has been...challenging. For all of us. Between the unpleasantness with Emma, and then this case with Rafe—it’s hit everyone hard. But you take it personally. You always do. I can feel the strain you’re under. It’s time for a break.

As I opened my mouth to protest again, he delivered the coup de grace.

At least, that’s what your father thinks.

Well, that was it then. I’d lost this battle.

I sighed. Okay. I give up. I guess I can take a week in Miami or Atlanta.

Actually, I already have everything set. And just to make you feel a little better, you’re going to combine business with relaxation—a little, at least.

Oh, really? And just where am I going, if you don’t mind?

Harley grinned. You’re on your way to Cape May.

Harley, just in case you’ve been tempted, don’t add ‘travel agent’ to your résumé.

I stood on the deck of the Cape May Ferry, trying hard to find the horizon and keep down what was left of my lunch as I hissed into the phone.

What? I thought you’d enjoy it. So much more picturesque than flying into Philadelphia and renting a car.

I snorted. Well, the drive up to St. Bruno’s wasn’t bad. Mission accomplished there, by the way.

Yes, I know. We’ve made contact. All is well. And then you caught the train without any problem? Selma picked up your car from the station and drove it back here, so you can rest assured that your baby is safely garaged.