In the Air Tonight: Eagle Creek, #0.5

By Daphne Abbott

Since the death of my brother, I've devoted my life to my family's marina in Eagle Creek. Even if it wasn't my first dream, I've spent years hoping I can prove to my parents I'm good enough to take it over. But instead of retiring and passing on the business, my parents tell me we're at risk of bankruptcy.

With little else to lose, I call the one man I've wanted as my own since I met him. The one who has spent years keeping his distance from me. The one my brother promised would always help us if anything went wrong, that is, if Caleb Hunter is still a man of his word.

Lucy Mason is a temptation I've avoided for years. As the only sister to my deceased Army brother, she should be off limits. Still, no matter how hard I try, I can't shake the attraction. When she calls and begs for my help with the family business, I want to say no. But the promises I made her brother linger too strongly to deny her request.

Tension burns between us as we work together, and I'm not sure I have enough to offer Lucy. She's rightfully suspicious, but the way she's looking at me tells me there may just be something in the air tonight.

In the Air Tonight is an introductory novella in the Eagle Creek series. This book is for readers 18+ who love unrequited love, a sinfully hot older man, and a sassy heroine. Lucy and Hunter's story will continue later in the series.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Daphne Abbott
• Release date: Mar 10, 2021
• ISBN: 9781393455882

Book preview

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IN THE AIR TONIGHT

Daphne Abbott

Copyright © 2021 Daphne Abbott

All rights reserved. This book may not be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form without permission from the author. Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted material in violation of the author's rights. All characters and storylines are the property of the author and your support and respect are appreciated. The characters and events portrayed in this book are fictitious. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is coincidental and not intended by the author.

This novel is entirely a work of fiction. The names, characters and incidents portrayed in it are the work of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or localities is entirely coincidental.

Cover Design: Daphne Abbott

Edited by: Chelsea Lauren | Represent Publishing

This book is dedicated to the Newbies, the HB’s, the OSRBC, and the Coven. Without your love and support this wouldn’t have been possible.

And to my husband for the countless ways he shows me what a romance hero should be.

Contents

Prologue

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

More Than Words

About the Author

Prologue

Hunter

I’d done a lot of stupid things in my thirty-eight years of life. But sleeping with my dead best friend’s little sister tops the list of what lands me in the darkest part of hell.

In my defense, she was the one who pursued me.

In her defense, I should have held on to my control.

I’ve never been a weak man. Stupid, but never weak. Lucy Mason’s crush on me was no secret. I’d been aware of her fascination ever since Jonah had introduced me to his family at our basic training graduation.

The Masons were a close-knit family, and they quickly extended their love and warmth to my poor orphan ass. Which meant I had to tolerate the occasional visit or phone call with Lucy’s interest weighing on me like an albatross for years.

I tried to tell myself it was a harmless schoolgirl crush. It was common for a girl to have a crush on a brother’s older friend. I prayed she’d get over it quickly. After all, she was only thirteen when we first met. There would be plenty of time for her to forget about me.

Until Jonah died.

A horrible accident during our fifth year in the service took him long before his time. I was so riddled with guilt that a guy as good and pure as Jonah died, and I survived. Hell, I was an orphan. No one would mourn me like the Masons mourned Jonah.

Me and our other friend, Grayson, were the only two who could take leave for his funeral back in Eagle Creek, Wisconsin. Despite the fact we both felt we were to blame for the accident that took Jonah’s life, we went to honor our fallen friend.

After the service, I told Jeff, Melanie, and Lucy I would always be there for them if they needed me. It was a promise a twenty-three-year-old kid shouldn’t have made out of guilt and sadness, but it was one I would uphold for the rest of my life.

Lucy took my promise seriously. Within days of returning to our base in Texas, I received a letter expressing all of her sadness and pain. I let her send letters and care packages for years, never once encouraging the adoration she obviously had for me.

But I never explicitly denied it either.

I think that’s how I ended up here. In bed with a grown-up Lucy.

Naked.

Chapter 1

Lucy

Five days ago.

We’re going to lose the marina.

I jerked back in my chair like someone had slapped me and stared across the dining room table at my father.

That’s not possible, I said. I ran the sales numbers for August yesterday. We did better than last August.

It may be better than last year, but it’s not good enough to pull us out of the red, Dad said. We had to take out a second mortgage to update the gas tanks to the new EPA standards. There’s a balloon payment coming at the end of December I can’t make.

I glanced at Mom and saw the truth on her face. How could this be happening? The Mason family had owned the Catfish Lake Marina since 1947 when Grandpa opened the small marina and bait shop to serve the popular fishing lake. Dad had taken it over in the 80s when Grandpa had passed. Jonah was supposed to take it over, but after his passing, that responsibility fell to me.

Now it was being ripped away before I got the shot.

How much do we need? I have some savings.

No, Mom said and pointed a finger at me. That money is for your wedding. You won’t touch it for this.

Craig and I broke up months ago. And we were never engaged, I said. I want to help if I can.

It’s not enough, Dad said, and for the first time, I heard the resignation in his voice. I can’t let you use the money your grandparents set aside for a wedding on this. We need $57,000 by December. There’s not enough time to get that kind of cash.

My heart was beating a wild rhythm in my chest, and I could feel my cheeks flooding with heat. There was no way I would take this news lying down. I’d fight until the last possible moment to keep the marina in the Mason family.

We’re going to keep this quiet for as long as possible, said Mom. Hopefully, we can find a buyer before anyone notices, and your father and I can say we retired early.

"You’d rather keep up appearances than admit you