Dreams of You: Barefoot Bay, #4

By Morgan Malone

The hot silver fox docs at FL-Ortho are known throughout Mimosa Key for their skilled hands and gorgeous looks. Dr. Joel Alfonso was dubbed Dr. McDreamy in med school and the nickname has followed him all the way to Barefoot Bay. Attempts to hook him up with any of the lovely ladies on the island or in nearby Naples, FL have been unsuccessful because Joel's heart was lost over a decade ago to the only woman he has ever loved.

Dr. Sydney Butler Washington, a brilliant and beautiful gene therapy research scientist, has recently moved to Barefoot Bay to work with Dr. Oliver Bradbury at IDEA. Dedicated to finding a cure for breast cancer, she long ago buried the heartbreak caused when she was forced to leave her first love just as they were about to begin a life together.

A chance meeting at Casa Blanca Resort and Spa causes all the old feelings of regret, recrimination and romance to surface. Can they salvage their lost love or has too much time and too many lies caused wounds that even these skilled physicians cannot heal?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Morgan Malone
• Release date: Jun 3, 2019
• ISBN: 9781393152323

Morgan Malone

ABOUT THE AUTHOR             Morgan Malone has been reading romance since the age of twelve when she snuck her mother’s copy of Gone With the Wind under the bed covers to read by flashlight. A published author at the age of eight, Morgan waited fifty years, including thirty as an administrative law judge and counsel, to write her next work of fiction. Retired from her legal career with a small NYS agency, Morgan lives near Saratoga Springs, NY, with her faithful Labrador retriever, Marley. When not writing “seasoned romance” about men and women over 35 who are finding love for the last, and maybe the first, time in their lives, Morgan is penning her memoirs, painting watercolors, or hanging out with her delightful grandson. Visit Morgan online: morganmaloneauthor.com www.facebook.com/MorganMaloneAuthor www.Twitter.com/MMaloneAuthor

Book preview

Chapter 1

Fingers tapping to the seductive voice of Marvin Gaye pouring from his car’s speakers, Joel sang about believing half of what you see while he idled at the four-way stop in the center of Mimosa Key. It was a beautiful coastal spring day, sun shining, cool breeze blowing, and flowers scenting the air.

Just another day in Paradise, son, living the good life. He grinned at his reflection in the rearview mirror, his silver-streaked mahogany hair whipping in the wind, catching on the frames of his Ray-Bans.

The light turned green and Joel started to pull out to head up the coastal road to Casa Blanca Resort and Spa. He chuckled to himself about the destination and the reason he was decked out in a stylish new Tom Ford suit on a Saturday afternoon in late March rather than lounging on the deck of his boat, when a flash of gold caught his eye. His head whipped around trying to locate the source of the glint that had temporarily blinded him, causing a gripping in his gut and a sharp pain near his heart.

A low-slung glittering convertible had raced through the intersection at the last second before Joel’s light turned green. If he hadn’t been enjoying the end of one of his Motown favorites, he’d have been accelerating and might have hit the sleek shiny car. And the beautiful woman behind the wheel. All he could see was her hair but that was all he needed to know that the woman driving way above the speed limit was the most stunningly beautiful woman alive. The mass of waves in every shade of gold, bronze, and copper, the spiraling curls that streamed out behind her like a victory banner could belong to only one woman. The only woman he had ever loved.

Joel pressed down on the gas even though he knew he wouldn’t catch her before she pulled into the main parking lot of Casa Blanca, if that was her destination. She might be heading up to the rocky north shore for some kayaking or shell-searching. He resolved that if her car was not in front of the main building of the resort, where he needed to park his Alfa Romeo before the short walk to the beach for the wedding of two of his best friends, he would just keep driving. Finding her was way more important than a wedding—even this wedding. As the thought crossed his mind, Joel shook his head and started to slow down to pull into the large lot ahead. Hurting Maureen and disappointing Fitz was no more possible to him than walking out of a surgery for a game of golf. Or saying no to his mother.

But he did circle the parking lot twice, trying to catch a glimpse of her car. He saw Levi’s sleek Jaguar and Fitz’s sedate Mercedes—even Don’s dusty aged Jeep in the crowded lot—but not the hot convertible or its smokin’ driver.

Damn. Joel swore softly to himself as he pulled into a space near Ollie’s large Mercedes. He just needed to sit in the car for a few minutes to catch his breath and slow the rapid beating of his heart. It had to be her. No woman he had known before or since medical school had been blessed with that lion’s mane. How many times had he run his hands through the heavy mass of curls? How many nights had he twined his fingers in those golden locks, pulling her closer and closer to him until his tongue touched her full pouty lips? How often had he languished in bed for a few extra moments, watching her brush and braid and twine her hair into some semblance of control for the long hours they faced at the hospital?

Dr. Sydney Butler. Smart, sexy Sydney, the best mind in the class. His future wife. The conniving female who left him with no explanation. Except a cancelled check for a hundred thousand dollars. Bitch. No, stop that shit, Joel muttered to himself as he climbed out of his own sleek Italian classic. Let it go for today. This is Maureen and Fitz’s wedding and you are not going to cast a funeral pall on the happiest day ever for them. They mean too much.

The path to the beach was edged in pinkish ribbon—he thought he’d heard the women in the office referring to the wedding color as blush. And he could hear the music competing with the crashing waves as he came around the curve in the path and spied the work of Barefoot Brides spread out along the sandy shore. Everyone he knew on Mimosa Key, and quite a few faces he did not recognize, had already taken their seats. The excited murmurs from those gathered put him off. He didn’t want to join in the cheerful banter with colleagues from FL-Ortho just yet. Spotting a familiar face at the tropical bar set near the dance floor, Joel strolled over to grab a glass of something cold. And strong.

The island’s favorite local artist, Don Smith—real name Donatello Stampone—was leaning against the bamboo bar, surveying the flowers, ribbons, and lights with an amused grin.

Hey, man, Joel chuckled as he gave his poker buddy a friendly punch in the arm. What do you think of all this? Do you suppose Fitz will be wearing one of those pink tuxedos from the 70s? He’d do anything for Maureen, but I really hope he didn’t let all this champagne blush affect his usual conservative taste.

Don laughed in response to Joel’s mostly joking comment.

No. Although I’d pay really good money to see that. I’d even paint that wedding portrait for free. Don took a long drink from his bottle of Corona. Sadly, Missy informs me that only Maureen is wearing blush. Fitz will be in one of his impeccably tailored Armani tuxedos. Although I understand that he might be sporting a tasteful deep rose bow tie, but that is still up in the air. He is so besotted with Maureen that he’d dance down the aisle in shocking pink boxer shorts and flowers in his hair if that was what she wanted.

Both men laughed at the image Don described of their very distinguished friend and Joel’s colleague in anything other than the most proper attire. But, as predicted, when the bridegroom stepped up to the priest a few minutes later in a conservative navy-blue tuxedo, the only touch of pink was a pale blush rosebud in his lapel.

Levi Gould, Joel’s colleague and Fitz’s best friend, stood beaming next to him, looking almost as perfect as Fitz, though Joel looked down when Don nudged him and both men chuckled at Levi’s bright pink socks.

Then, everyone sighed when the blushing bride was escorted to the groom by her two handsome sons. Maureen, the office manager of FL-Ortho and one of Joel’s favorite women in the world, was radiant. Her cheeks were as pink as her gown, which flowed in soft waves around her trim figure. The love shining from her eyes was brighter than the sparks of light cast by the huge diamond on her finger. Fitz had outdone himself with the antique engagement ring.

After the brief but moving wedding ceremony, Joel approached the bride, sunglasses covering his mischievous brown eyes, and swept her into a deep embrace. Then, he bent her over his arm and planted a noisy kiss on her cheek. Maureen, my lovely, my heart is crushed that you chose this old fuddy-duddy over me. Even though I know he bedazzled you with all those sparkling diamonds on your finger, which are blinding me, I will continue to live in hope that you will come to your senses and run away with me.

An almost girlish giggle escaped Maureen’s lips as Joel righted her then planted another kiss on her hand, just above where her new diamond wedding band sparkled next to the engagement ring.

Joel could see that Fitz was not amused with his youngest partner when his welcoming smile slid into a disapproving frown. And his perfect posture became even stiffer as he glared at Joel. Slipping his arm possessively around his new wife, he almost growled.

Alfie, I’ll thank you to keep your hands—and your lips—off my wife. You’re such a…. Fitz stuttered, once again unable to find a proper word while lecturing Joel. Fitz chastised his very talented and slightly younger colleague on an almost daily basis—usually with some degree of amusement, especially since Maureen frequently defended him.

Which she did. Patting her new husband on the arm, Maureen cajoled a smile from him. Fitz, don’t be such a curmudgeon. You know Joel’s jealous that you swept me off my feet before he even met me. Joel, stop bedeviling Fitz and go dance with some of the ladies from the office. Maureen giggled again. Or with Charity.

That brought a sharp laugh from Fitz, which quickly disappeared, when Maureen added, You can loosen her up for Fitz.

Both men eventually danced with the town busy-body, Charity Grambling, as did Levi—who everyone knew was her favorite doctor in Mimosa Key, Naples, and probably the whole state of Florida.

The wedding reception was as perfect as any orchestrated by the Barefoot Brides, the on-site location wedding group attached to Casa Blanca Resort. Dancing with most of the women with whom he worked, the wives of several of his colleagues and friends—and even Sophia, Don and Missy’s adorable little girl—kept Joel from thinking about the blonde who escaped him on the coastal highway. And the doctor who had left him over ten years earlier.

Well, almost.

During the few moments when he stood at the bar with friends or sat at one of the tables surrounding the dance floor, his eyes strayed across the beach, as if he expected to see her strolling along the shore.

It was well after dark when he said his goodbyes and made his way up the path from the beach to the parking lot. As he crossed to his car, he heard a familiar voice call out to him. Turning, he smiled at Dr. Oliver Bradbury and his beautiful wife, Zoe—who was more than a little tipsy. Her high-heeled sandals were swinging from the fingers of one hand while the other was wrapped around Oliver’s neck. She was obviously whispering something sweet