Paradise Cove

By Stephanie Haefner

Paradise is nothing if you choose to enjoy it alone.

When Shelby Saunders jetted off for a relaxing week in Cancun, she never expected to fall in love with the quaint piece of Mexican heaven. Or make on offer to buy it.

The Paradise Cove, a run-down Cancun resort, is in desperate need of TLC. Shelby can easily envision the resort as it was in its heyday and sees its potential. She vows to do everything in her power to return it to its former glory.

Though the previous owners' grandson, Gabriel, insists that she will destroy his family's resort, and a neighboring resort owner doubts in her ability, Shelby's resolve strengthens.

But when she finds her lists of repairs and the stack of bills piling up around her, hope begins to fade. Will she swallow her pride and accept Gabriel's love and financial help, or be forced to give up her dream of Paradise Cove?

Content Warning: Contains brief sexuality.

16,881 Words

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lyrical Press
• Release date: Apr 1, 2011
• ISBN: 9781616502577

Stephanie Haefner

Stephanie Haefner is a wife, mother of two, and contemporary romance novelist from Buffalo, New York. She loves creating sassy heroines and tossing them into sexy circumstances. When not writing, she celebrates her sassiness with dance and Zumba classes, and her nerdiness with boy bands and Disney World.

Book preview

PARADISE COVER

By STEPHANIE HAEFNER

LYRICAL PRESS

An imprint of Kensington Publishing Corp.

KENSINGTON PUBLISHING CORP.

http://www.kensingtonbooks.com/

To Keith–we’ve found our paradise.

Forever, always, and a day.

Acknowledgements

As usual, I would be nowhere without my family! Lots of love to Keith, Jaden, and Emerson!

Mom and Dad, I know this isn’t where you’d expected me to be, but I am so thankful for all of your support!

Piper, I never stop learning from you! Thanks so much!

Lots of love to my writers group, who have read many, many, many versions of this story!

And my GNI girls–thanks so much for all your support! You’re the best friends a girl could ask for!

Chapter 1

The crash of ocean waves echoed in Shelby Saunders’ ears while a soft steamy breeze blew the chocolate-colored strands of hair trailing from her twisted up-do. Her body tingled and her stomach flip-flopped in a good way as she placed a cashier’s check written for the entire balance of her savings account on the table.

Mr. and Mrs. Espinoza sat across from her with their lawyer grandson, Gabriel, who’d flown in from San Antonio to assist with the real estate sale.

Here is the rest, she said as she placed another cashier’s check on the table, half of the loan she’d taken out for the purchase of the resort. The rest of the loan–the biggest in her life–would hopefully be enough to refurbish the twenty-room resort, its kitchen, dining room, lobby, and the concrete patio the four of them sat on.

Gabriel shook his head. Every button of his crisp white dress shirt had been secured and his tie sat firmly in its place. Who would wear that suit in ninety-degree weather? The jacket looked like it weighed a hundred pounds and just the thought of it draped across her shoulders made Shelby sweat even more. Her body hadn’t acclimated itself to the Cancun heat yet and even in a spaghetti-strap sundress, perspiration dripped from her pores.

I don’t agree with this at all, Papi, Gabriel said to his grandfather. This place is your life, my life. You raised your family here–your grandchildren grew up here. How can you sell it? And so cheaply? There’s still time to back out.

Shelby understood Gabriel’s hesitation in letting The Paradise Cove go. The emotions she’d quickly developed for this quaint piece of Mexican heaven surprised her. When she’d first arrived more than two months earlier, its overgrown shrubbery, sun-bleached upholstery and the missing letters on the resort sign almost made her run away without looking back. Never again would she let Chloe talk her into booking a bargain trip online. But something about the place tugged at Shelby’s heart. She easily imagined the resort in its heyday: tanned bodies lounging, laughing, sipping on cocktails rimmed with pineapple slices and colorful parasols poking out of the frosty concoctions. Heaven in a tropical paradise.

Well, except for Chloe’s incessant complaining.

Shelby’s feelings for the Espinozas came as a surprise, too. She’d watched the sweet old couple and could see they loved their work. The Espinozas welcomed guests like old friends, even if it was their first meeting, and cared for them as if they had known them their entire lives.

Gabriel, she loves it just as we do. A man who showed no fear in expressing his emotions, Mr. Espinoza put a hand to his grandson’s shoulder, eyes staring intently. Shelby is an amazing young woman. She will do right by us.

Shelby’s seven days of bliss with the Espinozas had elapsed in the blink of an eye. This couple filled a spot in her soul that had been achingly empty and the thought of returning to a life of nothingness a world away felt like a stroll down death row. She had no man. No real family. A couple of friends and a depressing job were all that waited in New Jersey. While sitting outside the resort for her ride back to the airport, a crazy idea had floated into her brain. Instead of getting in the taxi, Shelby had sent Chloe on her way, alone, marched back inside, and made an offer to the Espinozas. They’d accepted without hesitation. Together they’d taken the first step in reclaiming the glory of The Paradise Cove, and Shelby began a whole new chapter in her life, something she desperately needed.

But Grandfather, why such a small amount of money? How can you live the rest of your lives on this? Gabriel pointed to the checks laying in front of them.

Mr. Espinoza stood, walked to the edge of the cracked and crumbling patio, and looked out at the beach. When he turned back, Shelby watched his eyes pan over the rotted wood of the bar and the torn awning above them. So much work to be done. She’s probably giving us far too much.

"The memories, Papi. How can you sell our memories for