S'mores Siren Song

By Virginia Barlow

Adysson Townsend spends her nights as a siren and days as a human. She owns an ice cream parlor along the waterfront and challenges a big fishing company over their illegal activities. But she’s almost out of time. On her twenty-fifth birthday, she must decide which form she’ll keep. It’s simple until a handsome officer comes to town and steals her heart.

Commander Benjamin Yeates volunteers for the job in Maine. Ever since he spotted a mermaid as a youth, he’s been curious about Mystic Cove. Now a marine biologist, he jumps at the chance to find out if they’re real. He falls hard and fast for Addy before he discovers there’s more to her than meets the eye, depending on the time of day….

• Language: Unknown
• Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
• Release date: Jul 6, 2022
• ISBN: 9781509244522

Virginia Barlow

I enjoy knitting, crocheting, and quilting. I love roses and the smell of gardenias. I have two large dogs who like to keep me company while I write. Beethoven is an Aussie/ Great Pyrenees mix and Mozart is a Mastiff/Collie mix. I occasionally bake when the mood strikes me. Mostly I consider cooking and baking necessary evils. My husband of forty years is my greatest fan/critic and I don't know what I would do without him. My family is my greatest support and I love every minute I spend with them. Life is a journey and I can't wait to see where it leads me next!

Book preview

Oh! I…uh…didn’t see you there. Her voice quivered with tension. Damn! Damn! Damn!

I would say it’s pretty obvious. His dark gaze roamed over her too hot face to her bare toes and back up. Nice, uh, robe you’ve got there. He glanced up and down the beach. His gaze fell to the waterproof bin at their feet. I didn’t realize Mystic Cove had a nudist beach.

Her gaze shot up to his. We don’t. This beach belongs to me. See the ‘No Trespassing’ sign?

She pointed at a sign next to them and waited for his reaction.

He stood a head taller and wore a navy shirt open at the neck and navy trousers. A grin crossed his face. What’s the penalty for skinny dipping here? His amused expression did a once over her body before gazing into her eyes.

Heat flamed her face. A thousand bucks and up to six months’ jail time. Do you plan to turn me in?

His gaze darkened and dropped to the V in her robe. No.

Adysson swallowed and shifted her feet. She’d never been this close to such an attractive man before.

The fine varies up and down the coast. He gazed at the water behind her head for a moment and then returned to her face. His voice dropped to a sexy drawl. Since this is a private beach, I’ll let you off with a verbal warning.

Praise for Virginia Barlow

This was a new author for me. The plot and storyline were very well done. Such a wonderful story. I would definitely try another book by this author.

~ Net Galley Review The Wicked Sister

A Fallacious Seduction is a must read for romance readers who love a good western!"

~ In D’tale Magazine

If you’re a historical western romance reader, you’re going to love Wylder Bachelor. If you’re a fan of feisty, independent heroines, pick up Wylder Bachelor. Highly recommend!

~ N. N. Light’s Book Heaven

I loved this book! The chemistry between the main characters was very believable and I loved Emma’s grandmother’s ghost stepping in to help her. This is a great story.

~ Coconut Macaroon Scandal

S’mores Siren Song

by

Virginia Barlow

One Scoop or Two Series

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales, is entirely coincidental.

S’mores Siren Song

COPYRIGHT © 2022 by Virginia Barlow

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission of the author or The Wild Rose Press, Inc. except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews.

Contact Information: [e-mail]

Cover Art by Rae Monet, Inc.

The Wild Rose Press, Inc.

PO Box 708

Adams Basin, NY 14410-0708

Visit us at www.thewildrosepress.com

Publishing History

First Edition, 2022

Digital ISBN 978-1-5092-4452-2

One Scoop or Two Series

Published in the United States of America

Dedication

For Katelyn, you’ll always be our miracle…

Chapter One

Mystic Cove, Maine

July 2017

The beginning of the end came on a Tuesday.

All afternoon, the door of Scoops Ice Cream Parlor jingled with customers browsing the shops along the seafront facing Mystic Cove. The temperature hovered in the seventies, and Adysson Townsend caught whiffs of sea air every time the door opened. Gulls squawked and fought over food crumbs on the sidewalk running in front of the seaside shopping center, and people laughed as they strolled past.

Around seven, as the sun dipped low, her shop emptied of customers, and Adysson cleared trash and wiped down booths. Her gaze went to the gray-blue water rippling in the distance as she filled napkin dispensers. The lure of the waves beckoned her, and the smell of the sea filled her senses. In a couple of hours, the cool silk of the ocean would caress her skin as she glided through the water on her quest to find fish for the locals.

Mr. Marshal of Marshal International Inc. wanted to corner the fishing market and run the local fishers out of business. For the last two years, he did everything to divert the giant schools into his nets and left meager pickings for the families in Mystic Cove. At night, when her curse took over, Adysson swam the surrounding area, singing and luring what fish she could find back into the cove for the locals.

A dog barked, bringing her back to reality. She shook her head and turned away to restock until closing time. She looked up when the bell over the door jingled.

Her sister Amy Halliwell strolled inside. Hi. You’ll never believe what just happened.

Amy stood five feet two in her flats, weighed a hundred and ten pounds soaking wet, and worked for Hancock County Courthouse. Married for two years to her high school sweetheart and pregnant with their first child, she took a seat in one of the booths and ordered a hot fudge sundae.

What?

Amy took a bite of the dripping, gooey treat set in front of her and groaned with delight. Oh my God, this is good.

Adysson picked up a clean cloth and a bottle of sanitizer. Do you plan to tell me this momentous news, or do you want me to guess?

Amy smiled. The judge looked over the petition against Marshal International and sent a request for inquiry to the Coast Guard. An officer should arrive any day now. Looks like your petitions and flyers worked.

Adysson stopped wiping counter tops and blew a wisp of hair from her eyes. After a year of knocking on doors, attending every city council meeting, and receiving hate letters threatening her life, she got the judge’s attention. She leaned a hip against the counter and gazed at Amy. It’s only the fourth petition, but who’s counting? I hope the officer gets here fast, or none of the locals will survive. There’s not enough fishing to keep them through the end of summer, let alone the coming winter. Adysson gazed out the store front window beyond the sidewalk and pier where the local fishermen docked. Puffins circled overhead. The last few nights, the ocean has been so quiet. All the big schools of perch and bass are gone. I know Mr. Marshal is responsible.

Amy snorted. I agree, but what can you do? I don’t like you out there all alone. A petition is one thing—snooping around Mr. Marshal’s commercial boats is another. I still think he’s the one behind the hate mail. Last time we passed him in court he looked like he wanted to throttle you with his bare hands. I think you should wait to investigate further until the officer gets here, and then, let him do it.

I’m careful when I go out. No one but you would know it’s me. Adysson finished sanitizing the counter and gazed at her reflection in the mirror. If Davis Marshal saw her in the water, he would not connect her to the