Careful Hearts: Miller's Pointe Romantic Suspense, #3

By Candice Jeneé

Love will make a girl do dangerous things, but will it be enough to ensure their future?

 

Shiloh Martinez and Griffin Cooper have been best friends since childhood. Everyone knows they are supposed to be more, but both of them are unwilling to ruin the friendship.

 

Once Griffin realizes it's time to speak up, it might be too late. After several months of tragedy and suspicious events, Shiloh wants life to return to normal and nothing to change. Griffin thinks that includes their relationship.

 

He holds back even more when an organized crime family is on his tale. Getting involved with Shiloh would just put her in danger. Shiloh has other plans to make everything work out: she'll find herself behind enemy lines in the hopes of securing their future.

 

When the mob finds her out, will instincts be enough to keep her safe or will that be the end for these friends?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Candice Jeneé
• Release date: May 28, 2023
• ISBN: 9798223045519

Candice Jeneé

Candice Jeneé is a retired LMFT, mom, business owner, author, and chronic illness warrior. She owns Soul Cadence Creative, a creative education and publishing business. She loves a good story, especially when romance and suspense collide. That’s why she writes what she loves.     Candice is the author of a handful of books, including the Miller’s Pointe Series and the devotional You’re Not Alone: Bible stories and prayers for pregnancy and early motherhood.  She’s a believer in rhythm over balance and fulfillment and creativity in motherhood and chronic illness.        Candice lives in WA with her husband, two littles, and their cat, Pumpkin Pie. (Ironically, Candice isn’t a fan of pumpkin pie the food.) She is a lover of elephants, the ocean, and rainy days.

Book preview

Careful Hearts

A Miller’s Pointe Romantic Suspense

by Candice JeneÉ

©️ Candice Jeneé

Soul Cadence Creative 2023

This is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to anyone, living or dead, or any other circumstances is merely coincidence.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored for retrieval, or transmitted by any means without express permission of the author. Please address any inquiries to Candice Jeneé at Soul Cadence Creative.

Soul Cadence Creative

Everett, WA, 98201

www.candicejenee.com

Cover design: BY THE BROOKE DESIGNS

Content Advisory: This is a small town, friends to lovers, romantic that also touches on/discusses themes of murder, grief, and loss.

Dedication

To my sisters. I know they may never read these books, but they inspire me, always. I see so much of them in my characters, especially Persephone and Shiloh. May their own dreams come true.

Prologue

SHILOH

I’m not a brave girl, but I love fiercely. Loyalty is the essence of me; at least that’s what I’m told.

I’d rather believe in a life full of flowers, trees, and sunshine than face the darkness that exists. But, I know it exists. I’ve always wanted to see the best in the world - the sunshine in the rain.

Lately, that’s almost impossible. 

I’ve always admired my cousins and how they take on the world. My older cousin literally facing fire to protect those she loves, and my younger cousin with an audacious tenacity that never ceases to amaze me.

Then, there’s me. My adventure, my bravery comes from books and movies. Stories. My inner strength never had to be tested before. Not like my parents; not like my cousins.

I know I have ferocity in me, because I love and choose loyalty. But, those things are easy, right? Everyone does that.

Until recently, I’ve always been the girl who’s just there. Steady. Dependable. Predictable.

So, what happens when I become not so? Do I stop being me if I do the unpredictable? Or, am I still in character if I do it to save people I love?

Chapter 1

SHILOH

SIX MONTHS AGO

The knock on my door startled me, causing me to drop the books I was absently studying while putting off packing. I pushed some boxes out of the way to get to the door.

I opened it and was greeted with the handsome face of my best friend with a pizza box held out between us.

I brought dinner, Griffin said, stepping inside as I moved for him. 

Griffin and I had been friends since we were toddlers, basically. My grandparents had a farm in Miller’s Pointe, and we went there more often than not, even though my parents lived on the mainland in Seattle. Griffin’s family had a newspaper and a mansion on Miller’s Pointe, and the friendship had been immediate and life long.

No pineapple, right? I asked, making a face. I locked the door behind us and turned back to him.

Would I get my girl pineapple? He asked, boyish grin on his face.

No, but you’d get you pineapple and then pretend to forget you know I hate it.

He set the box down on the coffee table and went in search of plates. My kitchen was the only space completely untouched by the packing process so far, so he knew where to find everything we’d need. I grabbed two water bottles before settling on my couch.

I opened the box and laughed. The large pizza was a half and half. One half Hawaiian and the other half pepperoni and mushroom. 

A compromise, I see, I said as he brought in plates and napkins and sat right next to me.

No reason we can’t both be happy. We should both be happy, you know? He asked, an unfamiliar look passing in his rich brown eyes. 

The look sent goosebumps on my skin immediately. I turned my attention to gathering my slices of pizza so he wouldn’t notice the blush creeping up my cheeks.

How was Portland? I asked, remembering he’d just been to his family’s paper to do some work.

Oh, it was Portland. Not really my scene. I much prefer Miller’s Pointe. Or even Seattle, but Dad’s prepping me to take over everything. If I don’t sell it all.

He took a bite of his own pizza and settled back on my couch. Selling it all. That wasn’t something he’d ever talked about before, and I wasn’t sure it would go over well in his family.

You’d want to sell it all. Your family’s whole legacy. You guys have been on the cutting edge of news for so long, especially in the age of going digital. Why would you give that all up?

I just hate the travel. I’d much rather stay local, he said with a shrug.

Having known Griffin since we were kids, I knew that shrug. He wasn’t ready for that line of conversation, and the shrug said as much.

The Seattle area is beautiful, I said, looking out my window at the skyline beyond. I’d only have this view for a few more weeks before moving back to Miller’s Pointe full time. I was less excited than I should have been, given the circumstances. 

At least Griffin would be there. And my cousins and our friends. It was like going home.

Griffin moved some of the smaller boxes off the table in front of us to put his feet up. I see you’ve already started the packing process. 

You surprised? I asked, setting my empty plate down and relaxing back into the comfort of the moment.

I’d expect nothing less, he chuckled, putting his arm across the back of the couch.

I scooted a little closer and put my head on his shoulder. We’d always been comfortable with one another. I’d never had another friend like him, and sometimes, I couldn’t help wondering what more there could be. Then, I always quickly pushed those thoughts aside. No denying the attraction I felt to the man next to me, but a friendship like ours was too special to risk if the feelings didn’t go both ways.

How are you doing, Shi? Really? he asked.

Griffin shifted so his arm was around my shoulder, my head still resting there, and then began stroking my opposite arm. The gesture was sweet, and comforting. I loved being close to him like this. The thought of him being with someone else one day, losing this closeness, stabbed my heart. It felt almost like physical pain, but I ignored it.

I don’t even know. After losing Grandma and Grandpa, then everything happened with my cousins. And Kassidy? I don’t know. I’m just ready for everything to settle, go back to normal. No more big events to rock the boat.

I felt him stiffen next to me, his hand stopped moving. The entire energy shifted, and suddenly I worried I’d said something wrong. 

A second later, it passed. He was back to normal, I just wished I knew what was going on with that quick change.

***

GRIFFIN

A few days later, I was helping Shiloh move things into the farmhouse. Things around the island hadn’t gotten any better, and it was making Shiloh gun-shy about her move back.

A few nights ago, sitting on her couch with her in my arms, I was ready to tell her it was time. Time for us to stop pretending we weren’t perfect for one another. Time to be happy with one another and let love take the lead.

The thought was knocked completely out of my head when she said she just wanted everything to settle back to normal. No big changes to rock the boat. 

Our normal was friendship. Friendship with my beautiful best friend was getting more difficult to maintain, when I just wanted to spend the rest of my life making her my everything. Now, I worried I’d waited too long. 

That’s all the boxes from my car, I said, carting in the last one. 

She would be taking over the main bedroom of the farmhouse, while her cousins each had their own smaller room. Calliope and Persephone weren’t likely to stay in the farmhouse long-term.

When do you officially move? I asked. 

A few weeks. It’s going to be an interesting dynamic around here. Callie is over at the ranch or dealing with the community center so often. It’s like she’s been given a second life. Who knows what’s going on with Persephone. So, it’s going to be a strange transition.

I crossed to her and wrapped her in a hug. It was unspoken, but I knew the hug would be welcome. I’d heard this tone, seen this distress. And, hugs always made it better. Selfishly, I’d accept any reason to have her in my arms.

She fit so completely. We’d been friends long enough for me to hear every complaint she had about herself, but if you asked me? She was wrong about all of them. She was curvy and soft, and I loved it. Where she only saw flaws, I saw beauty. Her dark, curly hair fell a bit past her shoulder, and it complimented her chestnut eyes so well. She was about half a foot shorter than my six foot frame, and that meant I could easily fold her into my arms. 

Shiloh didn’t bother to pull out of the hug for a while, and I hoped the connection gave her as much comfort as it brought me.

Everything’s going to be okay, right? She asked, meeting my eyes with hers.

They were weary, weathered. Shiloh’s usually high spirits were faltering and it pained me to see.

I want to say yes, I said. Then, I thought about the two articles I’d be running locally. They both had potential to attract danger. Danger I couldn’t bring to our town or her door step. I want to say yes. I hope so.

That’s not very reassuring. Something you want to share? She asked.

I kissed the top of her head. It’s going to be okay, Shi. We’re all going to get through everything and things will settle.

I sounded more confident than I felt. The next six months proved it would be harder than any of us thought for life to return to normal, and six months later, everything shattered.

Chapter 2

SHILOH

FIVE MONTHS LATER

The summer sun lit up the sky. After a few grey days, it was welcome. Mid-summer was always the brightest, clearest time of year, and I wanted to soak it up as much as I could. 

I went out and checked on our gardens, making notes of what was growing, and what would be ready for harvest and when. 

Since we’d lost our grandparents last December, my cousins and I had changed the direction of the farm, while still keeping the Equine Ranch and Brew & Bake as clients for some of our products. This would be our first harvest season since we’d lost our grandparents, and it was weighing on me.

I settled into the office chair to do some paperwork, and looked up at the walls. We hadn’t changed a thing in here since we lost them. It was my new workspace, and I couldn’t bring myself to decorate or change anything. It was like they were still with us, eight months later.

Thought I’d find you in here, Calliope said, coming in and leaning against the door.

Just getting orders taken care of. What are you up to today? I shuffled the papers and booted up the computer.

We have some final work on the community center. It’s going to be done before we expected. I can’t believe how it started compared to now.

Calliope adjusted a picture frame from on the wall next to her. Something was on her mind and she wasn’t talking about it. My senses came alert, alive with energy.

Callie, what’s going on? I asked.

Nothing. Why? What do you mean? She asked, pulling her hand from the wall like she’d just been burned.

You’re nervous fidgeting. What’s going on?

Okay, so, I just talked to Persephone. You know Dark Autumn is over in Seattle doing some recording, she paused.

Dark Autumn was Miller’s Pointe’s local band consisting of Sebastian, Ben, and Olivia. Persephone was their main producer and had also filled the role of manager. She had other clients at a studio on the mainland, too. 

Callie’s pause lasted longer than it should, and it shook me. Are they okay? What happened?

The leap to devastating conclusions wasn’t uncalled for, given what we’d all been through since December. Given that it seemed none of us could catch a break.

Oh, no, yes. Everyone is fine. It’s not that. Uh, okay, they wen’t for coffee while someone else had the studio, and Griffin was there. With a woman.

I processed the information. Griffin. On a date. A date he hadn’t told me about. Not that he had to. We weren’t together, and no one ever owes their best friend every detail about their life. 

It hurt, nonetheless. I’d always thought there could be more with Griffin, but neither of us made that move. Over the last six months,