'Tis the Sea-sun

By Bree Kraemer

Morgan was new to town and making the best of being away from home for the holidays. When she walked into a local restaurant she never expected to run into her teenage crush. Zach Belmont was her brother's best friend before moving away in the middle of high school. 

He looked even better as an adult than he had as a teenager, and that was saying something. 

Her crush reared its ugly head and had her wanting things she had no business wanting. 

Zach always knew that one day he'd meet the woman who would turn his world upside down, but he never thought it would be someone he'd known as a teenager. 

Morgan wasn't the little girl with wild hair and braces who followed him and her brother around anymore. She was a sexy goddess who made him want things he shouldn't. 

Then fate, or Santa, or some other Christmas miracle, stepped in to push them together. He had her right where he wanted her, and he had no plans to let her go. 

 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Bree Kraemer
• Release date: Dec 13, 2024
• ISBN: 9798230961116

Book preview

Chapter One

Morgan

Christmas in warm weather didn’t feel like Christmas at all.

Morgan was not one to complain, but this was not what she’d signed up for.

Literally.

She’d been living her life, happy as could be, back in Indiana, when the luxury hotel chain she worked for offered her a position at one of its exclusive resorts in Clearwater, Florida.

She'd accepted, since she was no dummy, and the job paid double her salary.

Then, the other shoe dropped.

The manager of the Daydream Resort, the guy she was taking over for, the same guy who’d put in notice and said he’d work until the end of December, just up and left. No notice, nothing.

The Daydream was in a bind, and they needed her to start ASAP.

Which was why a week before Christmas, she was sweating her ass off like it was July in Indiana, while her family and friends were all bundled up enjoying cozy

nights by the fireplace.

She’d known that it would take time to adjust to winter in sunny Florida, but assumed she’d have a whole year before she had to worry about the holidays, and by then, she’d be acclimated and not so homesick.

That was not the case.

She missed her family, sweaters, and her super cute boots, and she’d only been there for a week. She couldn’t imagine how she was going to make it through Christmas by herself.

The good news was that she had to work, so at least parts of her days would be busy dealing with vacationers who’d chosen the Daydream as their home away from home for the holidays.

The one good thing about her impromptu start date was the apartment the company had put her up in. Since she wasn't supposed to start until January, the one they had planned to give her as her living quarters wasn’t ready, so instead, they'd put her up in a two-bedroom, luxury condo, on the beach.

The place was amazing. She had a balcony overlooking the beach, and the whole place was furnished with the nicest stuff, most of which she’d never be able to afford. And it was only a block from the hotel. Apparently, the place was used when bigwigs came to town and didn’t want to stay in the hotel.

For now, it was all hers.

She knew it wasn’t forever so she was taking advantage and enjoying it while she could.

Since the condo was on the beachfront and near the hotel, there were lots of restaurants and bars nearby. The apartment she’d eventually live in didn’t have that perk. So, she was taking advantage while she had the chance.

She’d tried a new place each night, wanting to try them all.

Boulevard was a restaurant that many people recommended when she asked around. It was an upscale bar and grill, and according to everyone, it served a grilled cheese that was to die for.

That sounded like heaven to her.

It was just four o’clock when she opened the door and stepped inside, thanks to her work schedule. She was allowed to pick her own hours as the manager as long as she was there from nine to three—the busy hours for hotels. Most days, she worked six to three, but that day, she’d opted for seven to four because one of her assistant managers had needed to leave at three to pick up his kids from school.

The place wasn’t too busy, and a quick glance told her there was room at the bar. She always opted for the bar when she was alone so that she could hopefully strike up a conversation with the bartender or another customer.

She’d bartended enough in college and after to easily tell when they were too busy to talk.

She took a seat in the middle of the bar, getting a good look at the beers on tap. That’s another thing she’d been doing—trying local beers. She wanted to be able to have recommendations if guests at the hotel asked.

Hi, the bartender said, sliding a coaster in front of her. Just drinks, or are you having dinner with us? The guy had tattoos covering both forearms and looked like he spent a good portion of his time at the gym.

Not her type but he had a friendly smile and demeanor. Both. She reached for the menu he had set in front of her. I hear the grilled cheese is to die for.

He chuckled. Yeah, somehow, that’s become our specialty.

What do you have on tap that’s local? She still wasn’t familiar with all the logos of the local microbrews, but she was learning.

He rattled off a few, and she ordered a coffee stout she’d yet to try. While he poured her beer, she perused the menu. Another guy joined the bartender behind the bar, asking about the kegs and if they needed to be switched.

When she looked up from the menu, she got the shock of her life.

Zach? The name was out of her mouth before she had time to question it.

The guy turned to face her, giving her a full view of his face.

His gorgeous face.

Zach Belmont had been cute at fourteen and then hot at sixteen. At whatever age he was now, he was the sexiest thing she’d ever laid eyes on.

Morgan, is that you? He stepped closer to the bar, staring at her like he'd seen a ghost.

She knew what he was feeling.

Zachary Belmont was her brother’s best friend all through elementary school, middle school and two years of high school before his family moved away. Morgan was three years younger and spent most of her time chasing after them, begging them to include her in whatever it was they were playing.

Somewhere between her thirteenth and fourteenth birthdays, she’d gone from wanting to