True Love Never Dies: A Heaven's Beach Love Story, #2

By Teri Riggs

Samantha has mourned the tragic Christmas Eve death of her husband for three years. During that time, she's moved to a home in the small seaside town of Heaven's Beach, has made plenty of new friends, and owns the local art gallery. She should be happy. Instead, she misses Nate, the love of her life, to the point of distraction. To make matters worse, her mind seems to be playing tricks on her lately and she begins to see images that can't possibly be real.

With the help of her friends and mother in law, Sami has finally decided it's time to pullher life together once and for all. But is it ever truly possible to move on?

Or is it a fact that True Love Never Dies?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Teri Riggs
• Release date: Sep 12, 2015
• ISBN: 9781386572978

Book preview

1

Christmas Eve, three years earlier…

Dying on a holiday is never a good idea. It has a tendency to ruin everyone’s fun. Not that Nathan Beckman had a say in when he would leave the land of the living. No, that choice was left to the Powers That Be. As he lay dying, all he could think about was how much his death would ruin Christmas for Sami. Not just this year, but for the rest of her life.

It didn’t seem fair to leave Sami behind, but then, life wasn’t fair. No one knew that fact better than he. He wished he’d had a chance to tell her how sorry he was about the whole let’s-have-a-baby argument they’d had last night. It would’ve been nice to have seen one more of Sami’s beautiful smiles.

Not that it would matter so much to Sami, but at least he would leave her a wealthy woman, and having money meant she could pursue whatever dreams she wanted. He had built a thriving and profitable business over the years. His personal luck may have taken a nose dive this past week, but no one would ever dispute he was an awesome businessman.

On the home front, Sami would have his mom to lean on. Loretta Beckman was one of the strongest women he knew and had been a young widow herself. She knew the ins and outs of losing a husband at an early age. She’d help Sami.

Until you experience it, you have no clue how much it sucks to die. Nate wanted to scream until the situation reversed itself. But it wasn’t going to happen. That was life—nope, that was death—for you. The Grim Reaper had him in his sights.

The inconsiderate bastard.

---

Two hours later…

Samantha, would you get the door? It’s probably Nathan. He’s always forgetting his key. I swear, for being such a smart man, he can sure be forgetful. Samantha’s mother-in-law, Loretta, held an armful of tree decorations they’d picked up earlier in town at a Christmas Eve sale. I’m dying to get these new ornaments hung.

No problem, Loretta. Sami planned to plant a thousand kisses on Nate the second she saw him. Their argument last night had been her fault and she owed Nate the best apology ever. She’d ambushed him with her idea as he’d gathered her in his arms for a goodnight kiss only moments after they’d made love.

Samantha jerked open the door, still holding a bargain-priced string of garland. Boy, Nate, you never remember your—

Instead of Nate, the Heaven’s Beach sheriff, Zachariah Simmons, stood on her doorstep. He and Nate had been best friends all their lives, and tonight Zack and his girlfriend were coming to Christmas Eve dinner. It wasn’t a big deal. She could work around the sheriff’s early arrival.

Samantha, I—

Zack, I thought you were Nate. Come on in out of the cold. Not that forty-five degrees is cold compared to the one-digit temps we left behind in New York two days ago. She pulled him inside and closed the door. Nate isn’t home yet, but come in and I’ll get you a glass of Loretta’s famous eggnog while you wait. She made a fresh batch this morning. She glanced over his shoulder. I thought you were bringing your new girlfriend with you.

Not this time. Is Loretta here? He stepped inside and removed his Stetson. Zack seemed so solemn. His shoulders sagged and his eyes didn’t quite meet hers.

Sami’s belly began to flutter. Is something wrong?

Loretta breezed into the room seconds later. Zachariah, you’re early. Good, we can use some help finishing the tree. I’d hoped my son would get home soon enough that I could hit him up for a little help. She dangled the ornament she held in her hand. I can’t imagine what’s keeping Nathan.

Ladies, if you don’t mind, I think we should take a seat in the living room.

Zack, you’re starting to scare me. Just say what you have to. It can’t be that bad. It’s Christmas Eve, after all. Samantha slipped her arm through Loretta’s and took a deep breath, willing the tsunami in her belly to settle. God, please let me be right. Let Nate be fine.

The doorbell rang again and Sami relaxed a little. She let out the breath she’d been holding and released Loretta’s arm. Thank goodness. That must be Nate.

Let me— Zack tried to step in front of her, but she already had her hand on the doorknob. She opened it and found a solemn Reverend Johnson on the porch, tears in his eyes.

The reverend stepped forward and put a hand on her forearm. I’m so sorry for your loss.

I don’t understand. She jerked her arm free from his hold, her belly tightening all over again. What are you talking about, Reverend? What loss—? The air in the room turned icy and she suddenly knew the reason Zack looked like someone had died. Someone had died. Oh my God. Please tell me it’s not Nate.

Loretta cried out and dropped the ornament she’d been holding. Glass tinkled as the Christmas bulb broke into a million tiny shards, and Sami’s heart shattered into twice as many pieces.

No, no, no. She shook her head violently. You both have to leave. Right now. Sending the two men away wouldn’t make it go away, but she had to do something besides standing there, letting her world fall apart.

She pushed against Zack. Don’t say it. Just go away.

It won’t change anything, Samantha. I wish it could. Zack signaled the reverend to step inside and shut the front door.

Sami fisted her hands and hit Zack’s chest. I don’t believe you. She landed one blow after another against him and screamed until her throat was raw. Her insides were burning and about to explode.

She gasped and stopped punching Zack. What was she doing? This wasn’t the sheriff’s fault. She tried to step back, but her knees buckled. Zack wrapped her in his strong arms and rocked her. Shh, everything will be all right. His hold was firm and gentle at the same time. Nate would want you to stay strong.

You’re wrong, Zack. Nothing will ever be okay in a world without Nate.

There was no world without Nate in it.

2

Christmas Eve, present time…

Sami’s hands shook as she spread an afghan on the cold ground next to Nate’s tombstone and leaned against the angel sculpture that watched over him. Her world had gone black the day he died, and she couldn’t seem to get past his death. But things were about to change. She traced the engraved words on the woven blanket, a wedding gift. Nathan and Samantha, February 14 th . Forever together.

Oh, Nate, how I wish it were true. I’ve tried so hard to be strong, but I still miss you so much.

She set the flowers