Hideaway Lane

By Stephanie Payne Hurt

When a small fire in Julie's bookstore brings the firemen, she's shocked to find out one of them is her old high school crush, Paul Wells. Paul can't believe his luck, so he asks her to the town festival. He's now the owner of the Christmas tree farm on Hideaway Lane, the one Julie has been going to all her life. But, when the bank threatens to take the farm from him, Julie steps in to help. Romance blooms in this story of old crushes, Christmas spirit, and small-town charm.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Stephanie Payne Hurt
• Release date: Dec 11, 2017
• ISBN: 9781370827473

Stephanie Payne Hurt

Stephanie Payne Hurt has been writing stories since she was a teenager, but only started publishing her work in 2012, 30 years later. The romance genre drew her in at an early age. Since 2012 she's published over 35 Romance novels/novellas.Stephanie is a busy lady. She's a Children's Minister, Accountant, wife, and mother along with a blogger and writer, along with starting a publishing service called Horseshoe Publishing alongside her publisher. It's been an exciting ride and she looks forward to what the future holds for her writing.Currently, she writes romance ranging from Christian, Contemporary, Suspense and Cowboy. Her work is available at many online retailers, on her website, and in a bookstore in Zebulon, Georgia near her home.Come by and visit her at http://www.stephaniehurtauthor.com/ and subscribe to get updates and release dates, also her monthly newsletter!

Book preview

Book two of the Wishful Harbor Series

Hideaway Lane

By

Stephanie Payne Hurt

Hideaway Lane©2017 Stephanie Payne Hurt

Smashword Edition

Wishful Harbor Series

Horseshoe Publishing

Cover Designer: Ally Payne

Any person mentioned in this book is not based on any person, living or nonliving.

This book is a work of fiction. This book may not be reproduced, transmitted, or stored in whole or in part by any means, including graphic, electronic, or mechanical without the express written consent of the publisher.

Sign up for my newsletter at www.stephaniehurtauthor.com to keep up with upcoming events and new releases.

Also, come by and join my Street Team for chances to win books, get to read chapters before their release and get to know me on a more personal level. All the information is on my website!

Chapter 1

Julie Haden sat daydreaming over the Christmas catalog in front of her. She was a romantic and Christmas was her favorite time of the year. In her book store, Dragonfly Books, she always decorated every inch of space, making it like a Christmas wonderland. There was even a day set aside for Santa to come in to read to the kids. She loved everything about Christmas, including the smells, sights, sounds and well, everything. Not to mention the silver bells of chocolate which she always kept in a dish on the counter for her customers.

She stood up to look outside at the changing leaves. The tree that grew through a hole in the sidewalk just outside the door of the store was covered in deep orange and red leaves. When the sun hit it just right, it almost glowed. Fall in Wishful Harbor was amazing, but when the snow began, it would change into a Winter paradise. The whole atmosphere changed to a cozy, New England town. Julie smiled, then went to fix a cup of hot tea. Every afternoon she had a cup of tea. She always kept a large selection of teas. She’d even started mixing blends and making up her own gauzy bags of the fragrant leaves. With excitement, she filled her teapot and placed it on the hotplate.

As she plugged the hotplate in, a spark came from the receptacle. For a moment she stood back watching the sparks, then smoke began to boil from the receptacle. She knew in an instant that this wasn’t right. She was used to occasional spark or hot smell that came from the electrical outlets, but she’d never seen that much smoke. In a panic, she called the fire department. With this old building, the electrical wiring wasn’t in good shape and she didn’t want to be responsible for burning down the town.

A few minutes later, two firemen rushed through the front door. At first, all the romance novels she’d read came to life as the suited-up firemen stopped in front of her. She had to clear her thoughts of fictional characters. Then she remembered while they were there so Julie led them to where the receptacle was sparking and smoking. As she watched Paul and Bart do their job, she couldn’t help smiling. She’d had a crush on Paul for as long as she could remember, but when he left town for college, she gave up. Now he was back to run the family Christmas tree farm. She hadn’t seen him since he’d returned. He was still as handsome as ever, maybe even more. His deep blue eyes seemed to melt her soul. Every time he turned that gaze on her, the muscles in her legs seemed to turn to jelly and she forgot her name. It was just like back in school when he’d walk up to her. She’d go stupid, forgetting how to speak or move, it was embarrassing.

Julie, we’ll need to cut the power to the store. Bart, the other fireman, said as he moved to the back of the store. She’d known him all her life, they’d even been out a couple of times, but nothing ever came of it.

Sure. It was all she could manage as Paul turned to give her a dazzling, toe curling smile. There was something about him that just pulled at her. Out of all the jocks in high school, he’d always been the nicest to her. If she dropped her books, he was the first to help her pick them up. One time he’d helped her open her locker when the door got stuck.

So, read any good books lately? Paul said as he leaned against the counter.

Julie giggled, trying to keep from sounding like an idiot. Oh, just a few. And you? She said, trying not to smile to wide. She never remembered seeing him with a book, ever.

Paul picked up a children’s book off the counter and opened it up. As he opened his mouth to answer, Bart flipped the electricity off.

When the lights went out, Bart returned. Come on Paul, focus man. Bart said with a laugh as he started working on the receptacle.

Julie walked back to the front of the store as the bell over the door jingled. But she kept looking back toward the break room. Every once in a while, she caught Paul looking her way. Each time she’d smile, then giggle. Yep, she was making a fool of herself, just as she’d always done in high school. She had to get a grip on herself.

Paul walked up front to lean on the checkout counter. Bart found the problem. You had a short in the wiring behind the receptacle, but he said the other wiring looked sound, well as sound as this old building can hold. But it needs to be rewired and as soon as possible. The next time this happens, you could be asleep and never know it. I can come back later to rewire the receptacle if you want.

Oh, that would be great, if you don’t mind. She said as the lights came back on. Then Bart came strolling up to the counter.

Julie, it’s all done. You’re alright now, just don’t use that receptacle until Paul gets it fixed. He said with a wink, then pushed Paul toward the door. Come on man, we’ve got another call.

Paul waved as he went out the door, giving her another dazzling smile. Julie leaned on the counter and watched them climb into the fire truck. That Paul was a good-looking man and a fireman at that. She’d have to find out if he was dating anyone since coming back to town.

At that moment, Julie’s friend and the owner of the deli next door, Jordan, walked through the front door looking concerned. Julie, I saw the firetruck. Is everything OK?

Yeah, just a short in a wire. Her voice sounded sappy as she thought about blue eyes.

I take it from the dreamy look on your face that you’re interested in one of the firemen. Jordan said.

As a matter of fact, yes. Paul Wells just came back to town. I’ve had a crush on him since we were small, but he left for college and I thought I’d never see him again. Now he’s back and well, I guess the crush never really left. Julie said with a sigh.

Oh yeah, he came in the deli yesterday. Skylar introduced me to him. Jordan said.

And he’ll be running the Christmas tree farm, which is so romantic. Julie said with large doe eyes, making Jordan laugh.

Girl, you do have a problem. You know that, right? Jordan laughed as she walked toward the door. I’ll see you later.

I don’t have a problem, I just love everything Christmas, including the tree farm. Julie said as Jordan walked out the door.

Then she thought about her words. Maybe she did have a problem. With a laugh, she went back to making her cup of hot tea. Today she’d make apple cinnamon to give her the feel of Fall. As she walked to the desk in her office, she thought about Paul again. It had been a long time since the mere sight of a man made her miss a step. As she sipped the tea, her thoughts went to him dressed in a plaid flannel shirt, carrying a saw over his shoulder while walking among the Christmas trees. She giggled, realizing she’d just turned Paul into Paul Bunyan.

The jingle of the bell over the door alerted her to a customer, which brought her out of the daydream. With a confident stride, she walked to the front of the store and looked around, but didn’t see anyone. That was strange, she was sure the bell rang. Then a sound behind her made everything inside tremble.

I prefer the classics like John Grisham, but I do have a weakness for Nicholas Sparks. Paul said as he leaned against the bookcase that led to the mysteries. The other call was a false alarm, so he made Bart put him out in front of the bookstore. He wanted a chance to speak to her again. He’d had so many dreams about Julie Hayden that he’d lost count. She was beautiful and smart, everything he wanted in a woman. Not to mention the little dimples that formed in her cheeks when she smiled as she was now.

Julie put her hand on her chest to still the erratic thumping of her heart. Had she conjured him up with all her thoughts of the past. As she looked at him, dressed in the dark blue fireman shirt that fit him so well, she knew he was real. Grisham is good, especially on a stormy night, but on a snowy afternoon you can’t beat Sparks. She grinned as she walked behind the counter, not knowing what to do with herself as