Crimson Moon Hideaway: Merman Times Three: Crimson Moon Hideaway

By Robbie Cox and Crimson Moon Hideaway

 An Empath who hates to say no, three merman who can't wait for her to say yes, and the Deep Blue Seas Expo that brings them all together.

Diane Garnier looked forward to her weekend away: a quiet night by the pool, the latest best seller, and a glass of wine—and then she finds herself with dates with three different mermen and quietness goes out the window.

She didn't know there was an expo happening at the resort until she pulled up, but she was determined not to allow it to interfere with her relaxing weekend away. However, within fifteen minutes of pulling into Crimson Moon Hideaway, Diane finds herself with three dates—all in the same day. She doesn't see anything wrong with it. After all, she is on vacation.

 

Trying to keep the three men from catching her with the others, she has one thing against her—they're all friends and sharing one room. To add to the chaos, she finds herself starting to fall for one of them, but what happens once the three friends compare notes?

With her heart on the line, Diane has a decision to make: tell the truth and risk losing the man she loves, or keep silent and still lose him forever.

 

Grab your copy of Merman Times Three, a paranormal romance that takes you back to the resort, Crimson Moon Hideaway, and see if she gets her merman or winds up floundering in the deep end alone.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Celtic Hearts Press
• Release date: Sep 21, 2022
• ISBN: 9798215567883

Book preview

Crimson Moon Hideaway

Merman Times Three

By Robbie Cox

Crimson Moon Hideaway: Merman Times Three

By Robbie Cox

First Edition

Copyright © 2022 by Robbie Cox

All rights reserved

Cover art by Beautiful Mess Graphics

Editing by CTS Editing

Formatting by CJC Formatting

www.robbiecox.com

This book is a work of fiction. All names, characters, locations, and incidents are strictly products of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

This book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only and may not be reproduced in any form, except in assisting in a review. This book may not be resold. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

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To my father, who has always been there for me.

Chapter One

THE WORLD ALREADY seemed quieter as Diane Garnier enjoyed her drive down the highway, eager to get to Crimson Moon Hideaway, but not wanting to rush it too much. The whole point was to relax and savor this weekend of peace and quiet, giving her a chance to recharge and, hopefully, give her empathic abilities a little respite. Between Mr. Jenkins’ constant bed wetting and Mrs. Waters’ impulsive need to reorganize her friends’ homes, including their calendars, plus the group therapy session for people who like to expose themselves in Taco Bell, she had just about enough drama in her life for a little while. To say she needed a break was an understatement. No, this trip would help her get her bearings back by allowing her to relax by the pool, a book in one hand and an umbrella cocktail in the other.

She couldn’t help but smile as she saw the entrance to the resort, knowing her peaceful weekend was merely a check-in away.

And then she saw the banner hanging from the valet area. Welcome Merpeople to the DEEP BLUE SEAS EXPO! And her plans shattered around her feet.

She stared at it as she eased her way into the valet drive, her mouth ajar as a sinking feeling filled her stomach. Why had she not known about this when she made her reservation? They should have at least warned her it was going on, given her a chance to change her reservation to a less crowded weekend.

She sighed as she pulled behind a Volkswagen and shifted her car into park. Merpeople. That meant the pool and lazy river would be full of crazy antics and fish scales as they blew off steam. The place would be a madhouse as the merpeople raced to their workshops and demonstrations, not even caring about the other guests. This weekend just went south in a heartbeat.

She turned off her car and opened her door. Ah well, nothing to do but make the best of it. She blew out another breath as she slid out of the driver’s seat and into a tall man with short, dark hair pulling his suitcase behind him.

Diane yelped as she reached for her car door in the hopes of not landing on her ass.

Before she toppled over, however, she felt the man’s hand on her arm, catching her, as he apologized. I’m so sorry. I swear, I didn’t see you getting out of your car. Are you all right?

Diane stood straighter as she brushed her shirt back down as if she had fallen in the dirt. I’m fine, she assured the muscular man as he released her arm. I should have been paying more attention to my surroundings.

He held his hand out. Pas du tout. Not at all. It was truly my fault for being so caught up in the surroundings. I’m Philippe Moreau. I’m here for the expo, and I guess I simply got lost in the beauty of this place so much that I wasn’t paying attention where I walked. Are you sure you’re all right?

I promise, I’m fine, she said again. Really.

I still feel like a fool, he told her. How about letting me make it up to you by buying you a coffee later? Say four? I think the name of the shop here is The Poisonous Bean.

She started to protest that it wasn’t truly necessary when he held his hand up, smiling over at her with a grin that made his dark brown eyes sparkle.

I insist, he said. It really was rude of me, and if you don’t let me make it up to you, I will always feel bad whenever I see you around the resort. You wouldn’t want that, now would you? It would sour the entire weekend.

She smiled as she gave a slight dip of her head, blushing slightly at his persistence, feeling the playfulness inside of him. All right. Coffee at four. She took his hand, shaking it. I look forward to it.

Fantastique! He shook her hand firmly before letting go. You’ve already made this the best vacation ever. See you then. He waved at her as he darted off to the front doors and the check-in counter.

Diane simply watched as he raced away, admiring the way he looked in his tight jeans. So maybe this weekend won’t be so bad, after all.

Can I help you with your bags? a young voice called out to her.

A young kid with short blond hair and twinkling blue eyes approached her, pulling a luggage cart. A playful smile brightened his already cheerful face as he maneuvered around the parked cars to where she stood. I’m Justin, he said as he reached her. I’d be more than happy to help you with your bags while you get checked in.

I’d appreciate that, she said as she walked around to the trunk of her car and opened it.

The kid shot her a curious look, and she could tell he desperately wanted to ask her a question.

She giggled as she shook her head. No, I’m not here for the Deep Blue Seas Expo. It actually took me aback when I saw the banner. I was kind of hoping for a low-key weekend.

Justin laughed as he reached into the trunk for her bags. At Crimson Moon Hideaway? I don’t think such a thing exists. There always seems to be something happening. You should have been here around Valentine’s Day when the cupids held their convention. Talk about a wild weekend. He laughed some more as he finished removing her bags from the car.

She sighed as she closed the trunk and tossed another man her keys so he could park her car. I was afraid of that.

Justin turned his cart toward the front doors, and Diane stepped in behind him, her mind stewing over the fact that her quiet weekend had been usurped by a merpeople convention. She didn’t see the man barreling her way until they both tried to enter the resort at the same time, bumping shoulders hard enough to knock her into the doorframe.

Oh, my god, he said as he reached out to catch her. I’m so sorry, mon cheri. Are you all right? Anything hurt?

She bit back the nasty comment she wanted to make as she glanced over at the man who now helped her to her feet. Raking him with her gaze, she couldn’t miss the thick biceps that strained against the material of his shirt or the broad chest that filled it out so very nicely. I’m fine. Thanks. I guess I’m just as much at fault for not paying better attention to where I was going.

No, no, it’s purely my fault for being a bumbling dolt, the man said, his words coming out in a rush. Please. Let me take you to dinner tonight to make up for it. Say, Skipper’s at six? I promise this faux pas will mortify me until you allow me to apologize properly. He released her, making sure she was steady on her feet before letting go of her. My name’s Jean-Michael. I’m here for the expo. How about you?

She shook her head. Just here for the peace and quiet.

And here I am bruising you and slamming you into the door. He shook his head. Please, dinner at six? It’s the least I can do for what I did. Sincerity washed off him, as he stared at her with pleading, puppy dog eyes.

She sighed, wanting to ask if merpeople picked up their dates by running into them. Instead, however, she said, Dinner sounds fine. I’ll see you at six. She glanced at the interior of the resort, making sure no one else was in her way. And I’m Diane. She turned back to him, forcing a smile onto her face. I’ll see you at six.

Great! I’ll be counting the minutes. And then he turned and raced toward the elevators.

She watched him, his back as powerful looking as his chest as he crossed the lobby. Sighing as she ran a hand through her hair, she hoped she could make it the rest of the way to her room without getting knocked on her ass.

Turning toward the check-in counter that seemed to be created out of the redwood that surrounded the resort, she noticed a dwarf with a thick bushy beard staring at her from under massive eyebrows. If he smiled, it remained hidden inside the thick hair surrounding his cheeks and chin. With a sigh and bracing herself for another out-of-the-blue impact, she nodded and stepped up to the front desk. Hello, she said. I’m checking in. Diane Garnier.

The dwarf looked at his monitor as he ran his thick fingers over the keyboard. Ah, yes, Miss Garnier, he said in his deep and rumbly voice. I have you right here.

It didn’t take long for the dwarf to get her checked in, handing her a key card along with a map of the resort. This time, she could tell he smiled at her because of the way his chubby cheeks rose slightly higher on his face, brightening his eyes. Enjoy your stay, he told her as she turned to follow Justin to the elevators.

Well, at least that went without—

She hadn’t taken two steps when she ran into another man, their chests hitting hard enough that she let go of the key card in her hand and almost dropped her purse.