Embracing Ethan

By A.M. Olenick

I've been in love with my best friend pretty much since the day that we met, but I'm so far from his type and I'm sure he would never see me as anything other than a really good friend.

But then a weekend trip to Myrtle Beach changes everything. Not long after, I find myself in a situation I never thought I'd be in with choices

• Language: English
• Publisher: A.M. Olenick
• Release date: Jul 20, 2023
• ISBN: 9781088208540

A.M. Olenick

A.M. Olenick is an avid romance reader turned author writing both sweet, and steamy contemporary romance stories. In her world, you can find sexy, foul-mouthed alpha-type men alongside smart & sassy heroines who always get the happy endings that they deserve.

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To everyone who knew I could do it, thank you so much for all your love, and support.

In Loving Memory of Carmela Waer.

Chapter 1

Six Years Ago

Violet

Iglance out the front windows of the café and admire the amazing day that’s unfolding before my eyes. Spring has finally come to East Birch Hill, and I couldn’t be more excited. Everything is lush and green and flowers are starting to bloom. The temperature is finally starting to warm up and we’re just about to where we can pack away the winterish stuff.

You would think living in the south would mean warmer temperatures all the time but that isn’t always true. And this has been one of those years! But thankfully, spring is finally here and I’m so happy!

It’s my second favorite season because of how beautiful East Birch Hill gets. I was born here and I can’t imagine ever living anywhere else.

Well... that’s actually not true.

The only place I can picture leaving East Birch Hill for is Myrtle Beach, which is a five or six hour drive, depending on what route you take.

My parents and I started vacationing there when I was ten, and it quickly became my absolute favorite place to vacation. We went every year, and it’s a tradition I started sharing with my friends after we graduated high school. Now, my best friend Carly and I go at least once or twice a year to relax and recharge our batteries.

If I’m being completely honest... it gets harder and harder to leave Myrtle Beach each time I go, but East Birch Hill is my home. It’s where I work, it’s where my friends are, and it’s where Aunt Jen, or Jen as she likes to be called, is. Despite how badly I would love to move to Myrtle Beach and embrace a beach girl lifestyle, I just don’t know that I could actually leave here.

The front door to the café swings open and pulls me from my thoughts. In walks the sexiest guy I think I’ve ever seen. I’ve been working at my aunt’s café for three years, and I don’t recall ever seeing him before, so if I had to guess... I’d say he must be new in town.

It’s pretty much an unwritten town rule that everyone comes here at one time or another. Jen’s is the only café in our small town that offers decent, drinkable coffee that doesn’t put hair on your chest or give you massive heartburn.

And thank goodness for that!

I've been a serious coffee-o-holic since I was in high school and I have no idea how I would survive without good coffee. Granted, I could just make it at home, but there have been days when I just didn’t want to make it myself. And that’s where this café comes in.

I glance over at my best friend Carly, who is on the other side of the café. She glances at the handsome stranger then her eyes widen before she looks at me. I don’t need to talk to Carly to know exactly what she’s thinking. She and I are so alike that we could be twins and we’d been like that since we were in middle school.

I quickly look away from Carly just in time to see the new guy approach the counter where I’m standing. Goosebumps instantly track up and down my arms and a shiver passes through me. There’s no denying that this guy is freaking gorgeous. And judging by the way he strolled into the café... he knows he’s fine.

Now that he’s standing directly in front of me, I can see exactly how fine he actually is. He has light brown hair with some hints of blonde in it, the most gorgeous blue eyes I’ve ever seen, and he’s quite tall. I’d say he looks to be at least six-foot-two, if not taller.

Holy. Sexy. Man.

Hi. My name is Ethan Mitchell. I’m looking for Mrs. Ashford.

Ethan. Of course he has a sexy name. Sexy guy. Sexy name. It figures.

Hello?

Oh, crap!

Ethan... yes. Hi. I’m Ms. Ashford’s niece, Violet. Is there anything I can help you with?

Hello. I’m actually here for an interview. Ms. Ashford told me to stop by this morning.

Ethan smiles but doesn’t say anything else. I’m sure he’s waiting for me to respond but I can’t seem to form any words right now. I’m in a complete fog. Ethan’s eyes study me and I can’t help but feel super self-conscious. If I had known that the person that was coming in for an interview today was going to be so gorgeous, I might have put a little more effort into getting ready this morning. My long blonde hair is thrown up into a crazy looking bun, I have absolutely no makeup on, and I’m wearing a baggy ass t-shirt under my apron. The only cute thing about me right now is the jean shorts I pulled out of my dresser this morning. There’re slightly snug but they hug my curves perfectly.

At least there’s that.

There’s a few more moments of awkward silence while we stand there and stare at each other and it’s starting to make me super uncomfortable. I’m not really known as someone who is ever really speechless, but that’s exactly what’s going on right now. I’m speechless. Unable to form a coherent thought or sentence. This guy is doing something funky to me and I really don’t know how to feel about it.

I’m finally about to open my mouth to put an end to the awkward silence when Jen walks over and stands next to Ethan.

Hi! You must be Ethan. I’m Jen, she says, extending her hand.

Ethan turns and smiles then takes Jen’s hand in his. Yes, it’s nice to meet you, Ms. Ashford.

Please, call me Jen. Everyone does. Even my niece here.

I quickly shake my head in an attempt to clear the cobwebs that have formed in my brain. Ethan nods at Jen, then his eyes find mine again.

Good Lord, I feel like he’s looking right into my soul with those gorgeous eyes.

Jen clears her throat and Ethan quickly looks back at her.

Why don’t we go back to my office and talk? Jen says, motioning for Ethan to follow her.

Sounds good.

Ethan looks at me again then winks before he follows my aunt through the café.

He winked at me! Holy crap!

My heart jumps into my throat and it feels like massive bat-sized butterflies are fluttering around in my stomach. Carly rushes over and damn near drops the pot of coffee she’s carrying in the process. She sets it down on the counter then leans forward.

Who the hell was that?!

Carly! Shhhh!

What? He’s gorgeous, she replies with wide eyes.

She isn’t wrong. He really is freaking gorgeous.

I know, but keep your voice down.

Okay, fine. So...?

I lean in. That is Ethan Mitchell, and he’s here for an interview. Jen told me this morning to keep an eye out for him but I had no idea what he’d look like.

My aunt has insisted from day one that we call her Jen when we’re at work, and I’ve always been okay with it. Despite the fact that she’s my aunt, I didn’t want people to think I’d gotten the job just because I was family. Because I didn’t. I applied and interviewed just like everyone else. Jen has treated me like every other employee who’s worked for her and for that, I’m grateful.

Of course, I wasn’t meant to work here. My parents had other plans for my future and what I was going to do with my life. But I was never one to let someone else decide my life for me. So when the time came for me to get a job, I asked my aunt if she would consider hiring me. My parents, of course, weren’t happy when I told them I was going to work at the café instead of joining my dad at his insurance company, but I needed to do what made me happy. And even though I wasn’t exactly sure at the time, I knew that insurance sales weren’t for me.

Don’t get me wrong, I appreciated the opportunity my dad offered me, but that wasn’t what I wanted to do. I didn’t want to live in my father’s shadow for the rest of my life, nor did I want to always have to rely on my parents’ money. I wanted to make my own way, and Jen was willing to help me accomplish that. Which is one of the reasons we were always so close. Jen knew I had the potential for great things, but I had to figure it out for myself. And she was willing to let me do exactly that.

Earth to Violet, Carly says, snapping her fingers in my face.

Huh? What?

You spaced out.

I’m sorry. What were we talking about?

Ethan, she responds with a grin.

Oh. Right.

How could I forget?

Carly laughs and shakes her head.

What? I ask innocently.

Girl, you already can’t focus for shit, and you just met the kid. How the hell are you going to work around him?

I have no idea! I blurt out, and we both start laughing like children.

Someone clears their throat and we both stop laughing. One of our frequent customers is standing next to Carly, and neither of us had even noticed she walked up. Doris leans against the counter then motions for us to do the same. Carly and I lean in and look at Doris.

He really was cute, wasn’t he? I think you should go for that, Vi, Doris says, wiggling her eyebrows up and down.

The three of us start laughing then we stand there talking for a few minutes while Doris pays her check.

I can’t help but feel so appreciative that this is my life. I see the same people every day, and they’ve become my extended family. When I broke up with my high school boyfriend, Doris was the one who consoled me while I cried over a cup of coffee. And Lucas...? He’s the one who covered my shift, despite not even working at the café, when my grandma passed away. Carly had been the one who basically picked me up and helped me when my parents told me that they were moving to Florida because, according to them, I didn’t need them anymore.

The whole town became my family and, to be perfectly honest, I couldn’t ask for a better, more caring extended family.

Okay, ladies, I have to get to work. Let me know how it goes, Doris says with a wink.

We will! Carly and I both call out as Doris walks out of the café, leaving just Carly and me.

Will what? Jen asks as she and Ethan walk toward us.

Oh... uh, nothing, I reply with a deer-in-headlights look on my face.

Carly looks at me and winks, then shuffles off, leaving me at the counter with Jen and Ethan. Jen narrows her eyes at me and I know she doesn’t believe me. I offer a big, cheesy grin but she just rolls her eyes before she turns to Ethan. He steps up to the counter next to her and our gazes meet once again.

Good lord.

Violet... Ethan is going to be working here, and since you’re the most seasoned of all of my staff, I want him shadowing you for a while.

Oh, shit.

I have no idea how I’m going to work closely with Ethan and keep my composure. I’ve always been shy around guys. And I almost always make an ass out of myself in one way or another so this is going to be seriously difficult.

This has to be a test.

Jen looks at me and winks and I can’t help but hate her so much right now.

Ethan, I’ll see you tomorrow morning at six o’clock, Jen says, extending her hand.

Ethan once again