Find Me

By Cait Jarrod

In Heather Ridge, Virginia, myth has it the lucky recipients of the two FIND ME candy hearts distributed each year are soul mates. Too afraid of seeing her one-time trusted friend, good-hearted Lyse Haynes refuses to go to her high school class reunion. But when she receives a second invitation containing the elusive candy heart, she takes an overdue vacation to pursue the dream of finally finding her soul mate. Ice cream creator Cooper Schmidt plans to take his product nationwide. His marketing team proposes the perfect destination for his next store. Unfortunately, it belongs to the father of the woman he’s harbored feelings for since high school. He uses her belief in myths and mails her the candy heart to entice her to Heather Ridge, in hopes she will convince her father to sell. There’s just one problem. After ten years, his old feelings tumble forward, stronger than ever, and Lyse has a decision to make—discover who has the candy heart companion or follow her heart.

• Language: English
• Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
• Release date: Feb 3, 2016
• ISBN: 9781509205240

Cait Jarrod

Someone’s always to blame...In my case, I bestow the blame for my love of books and writing on my mother, knowing she would love it. A year after she died from cancer, I picked up her favorite pastime as a way to be close to her and found a niche I didn’t know I possessed much less loved.The stories I made up in my head as a child, never left, and now that my childhood muse has grown into an adult version, I feel blessed to offer entertainment. Recently, my writing has changed from full-length romantic suspense to romance novellas. My passion has allowed me to become multi-published and to achieve award-winning status, and become an Amazon Best Seller.My hope: you’ll pick up one of my books, lose yourself in the story, laugh, possibly cry—a good one—and smile.I’d love to hear from my readers, you can contact me [e-mail] my newsletter at https://confirmsubscription.com/h/i/76093C2B11569E7CJoin my street team: Cait’s Classy Chicks at https://www.facebook.com/groups/629181983825796/Happy reading!~Cait

Book preview

Inc.

Come on, Coop growled.

You’re not gonna trust what he’s dishing out, are you? How can manufacturers produce two candies, send them out worldwide, and expect the two people who receive them to find each other?

Odd, he didn’t get uptight about any of Rill’s other stories. Today, his forehead pulled down, and his lips flattened.

It’s a myth, she said.

Yeah, which you believe. He spoke with a combination of concern and disgust.

I think it’s lovely. I bet that’s how I’ll find my soul mate.

Her comment got another, Phft, from Coop.

I bet it will, little lady. Rill put the tray back under the counter.

Let’s go. Coop grabbed her hand. Thanks, Rill.

Anytime, he chuckled. One more thing.

She pulled on Coop’s hand. He wouldn’t stop, so she yanked it. Yeah?

The two people can only meet in Heather Ridge.

You’re kidding me. Coop fumed, snatched her hand, and tugged her out of the store.

What’s your problem? Again, she jerked her hand away from his and stopped. I think the story is great. It’s romantic. A dream.

You haven’t checked out its veracity.

Leave it to brain boy to think science rules everything. Sometimes there is no explanation.

I hear pigs fly. Do you think I should trust hearsay?

Praise for Cait Jarrod

Cait consistently brings just the right mix of suspense, romance and happy endings!

~Books n Bloggin

Find Me

by

Cait Jarrod

A Candy Hearts Romance

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales, is entirely coincidental.

Find Me

COPYRIGHT © 2016 by Cait Jarrod

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission of the author or The Wild Rose Press, Inc. except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews.

Contact Information: [e-mail]

Cover Art by RJ Morris

The Wild Rose Press, Inc.

PO Box 708

Adams Basin, NY 14410-0708

Visit us at www.thewildrosepress.com

Publishing History

First Champagne Rose Edition, 2016

Digital ISBN 978-1-5092-0524-0

A Candy Hearts Romance

Published in the United States of America

Dedications

To soul mate seekers—past, present, and future—

Here’s to you!

~*~

To Cait’s Classy Chicks—my wonderful Street Team—

I love your continued support! Thank you!

~*~

To my soul mate husband and daughters,

my rocks.

~*~

To Norma Redfern, Brittney O’Bryan,

and Patricia Smart

for always being willing to read,

hash out the plot, and cheering me on.

~*~

And finally to my editor, Lara Parker,

thanks for making the editing process painless.

Prologue

Legends are stories from the past many people believe in, yet they haven’t necessarily been proven or disproven.

Ten years ago…

Bet I beat you. Lyse Haynes flashed her teeth at her best friend Cooper Schmidt and darted toward Rill’s Country Store, their favorite after-school hangout.

Racing him, different from running against other seventeen year olds, was easy. He didn’t care who won. Getting to the other side turned him on. Made him tick. If a book sat waiting, all the better. Darnedest thing she’d ever seen, but she loved him for it. Loved him like a buddy.

I’m gaining, Lyse, better watch it.

She took a chance and glanced over her shoulder. Not an action an athlete should do for fear of losing valuable seconds, but with Coop, not a concern.

Boo!

She flinched, stumbled on the uneven sidewalk, and sailed forward.

Whoa! He grabbed her waist and pulled her to him. No nosedives.

She held onto his hands pressing against her stomach and sucked in a breath. Shit, you scared me!

I noticed, he said with no laughter in his voice. Every other guy her age would have teased her and tried to cop a feel, not him. He let her rest her head on his chest, and his steady heartbeat helped slow hers. Better?

She took in Main Street lined with small town businesses. A few people hurried to their next destination. Her breathing returned to normal as she relaxed in his arms. She patted his hand and moved out of his embrace. I’m good.

You slowed your game today and let me catch ya.

No, she hadn’t. She tilted her head and tried to see behind his thick glasses. Seeing someone’s eyes gave her telltale clues to their thoughts, like in his case—I’m faster than you thought, huh?

Luckily, he confided in her, otherwise, she’d never know what milled around in his mind. His Coke-bottle specs didn’t let anyone see what emotion lurked in his eyes.

Hey, Lyse.

She faced the quarterback of the high school football team and caught Coop fidgeting. Don’t let him irritate you, she whispered to him and then smiled at Wally Vandevender. The most attractive boy in school. He had it all—money, looks, and skills. Hi!

Wallace, Coop said, his tone rough.

Wally narrowed his eyes, but didn’t reply. Instead, he smiled at her. Want to go to the Valentine’s dance Friday night, Lyse?

She and Coop decided if no one asked them, they’d go with each other. With the dance a few days away, she said, We’re going. She waved her finger between her and her best friend.

He doesn’t mind if you go with me. Wally popped Coop in the stomach with the back of his hand. Do you?

Coop’s mouth pulled taut. The sun started its descent and gleamed on the few whiskers on his chin. His straight hair hung around his face as if he hadn’t brushed it for days. She hated how he clammed up when one of the guys from the football team, baseball team, heck any team came near. Yet, she understood why he seemed uneasy near Wally.

He stood out. From his toned, muscular, tanned body to the way he flashed a grin. Poor Coop didn’t have a chance for anyone to notice him with Wally around, but she did. He was the nicest guy in Heather Ridge, Virginia.

Well, do ya? Wally’s voice deepened and he