Orange Blossom Way

Book 3: Crown Island

by Jan Moran

Genres: Friendship; Women's Fiction

Synopsis

The fun continues on Crown Island!

After losing her job in Seattle, Maileah Raines moves in with her sister Junie on Crown Island for a fresh start. Now in her thirties, she wonders if she will ever find the future she dreamed of. Could Crown Island hold the key?

From the USA Today bestselling author of the Summer Beach and Coral Cottage series, Orange Blossom Way is the third in the Crown Island series about a quirky small town with fascinating characters. If you love clean romance and women’s fiction with fun characters you’ll want as friends, this series is for you.

Here’s what readers are saying about Jan’s books:

“A small-town beach series with all the good feels.”
“This is a fun summer read with a positive vibe!”
“Plan on drinking a pot of coffee, ignoring your family, and putting off household chores!”

 

Read more

Release date: September 26, 2024

Publisher: Sunny Palms Press

Print pages: 234

Sample

Is this a blind date?” Maileah knew her sister meant well, but this sounded suspicious. She twirled her dish towel while Junie blushed a little.

“I wouldn’t call it that,” Junie replied, scrubbing a pot that was undoubtedly clean enough. “Todd just moved here. When he came into the gift shop and asked if I knew anyone who could show him around town, I thought of you.”

“Still sounds like a setup. I’m not going to cart a strange guy around town.”

“Then meet him for coffee and tell him about some places.”

“As if I’m the one with a social life. And it better be good coffee.”

“You said you want to meet someone of quality.” Junie doubled down on her pasta pot, scouring it with a vengeance. “I’m only trying to help.”

Maileah glanced at the clock. She hated to admit how much she longed for someone in her life. But not just anyone. Clearing her throat, she said, “Knox should be here soon.”

They had just finished supper at Junie’s house on Sunshine Avenue. Her sister’s boyfriend had bought the house adjacent to hers, and Knox usually visited after tucking his daughter into bed for the night. Junie often made dessert for him.

The whole scene was so sweet it made Maileah’s heart ache for that kind of love in her life.

Knox’s parents also lived in the house, so they looked after little Penny, too. The two beach houses were separated by a thriving vegetable garden.

Junie flicked a glance through the open kitchen window. The sun had set, and the onshore ocean breeze carried the low, rhythmic sound of waves. “I hope you don’t mind him being here so much.”

“It’s your house, and I’m happy for you.” How could Maileah begrudge her sister, who’d been widowed far too young? Junie was still young enough to start the family she’d always wanted.

Maileah only wished she could do the same. Since her last disastrous boyfriend in Seattle, she had decided to make significant changes—a whole life makeover, or whatever it would take to start over. She wished she could attract genuine men as Junie did. Her sister called her the family wild child.

Maileah bit her lip. Her sister wasn’t mistaken. She sighed and tried to recall how she’d gotten so far off track.

In a few short years, she’d be forty. Most of her friends had passed her by in the game of life; they had spouses, kids, homes, and careers. Somehow, she’d missed the memo on how to achieve all that. Now was her last chance.

Junie glanced at her. “So, what do you think about meeting Todd?”

“It sounds a little suspicious,” Maileah replied slowly. “I’ve moved before, and I have never asked a woman in a gift shop if she knew anyone who could introduce me or show me around. That seems weird. Are you sure he’s not interested in you?”

“Of course not,” Junie replied, her voice a little too bright. “Knox came in while we were talking. He agreed that Todd seemed nice.”

“And if you scrub that pot anymore, you’ll make a hole in it.” Maileah twirled her dishtowel. She could always tell when Junie was withholding details from her. “You’re the worst liar I’ve ever known.”

A guilty look flashed across her sister’s face. With a puff of exasperation, Junie rinsed the pot and gave it to her. “I’m concerned about you, that’s all. Todd might be good for you. Maybe I was the one to suggest it.”

“Uh-huh. Now we’re getting somewhere. You asked if he was married.”

“It just came up.” Junie shrugged, clearly embarrassed by her little fib. “All right, I asked him. Since you’re on that weird dating app, I thought I’d look out for you, too.”

“I appreciate that, but we’ve never had the same taste in men.” As soon as she said that, Maileah caught herself.

If she was honest with herself, Junie had better taste in men than she did. The bad boys might have been fun for years, but unlike wine, they didn’t necessarily age well. They were more like fizzy pop. You had to drink up right away because the relationship would soon go flat.

Junie turned off the faucet and dried her hands. “Would you trust me for once?”

Maileah expelled a breath of resignation. “Okay, I’ll take his number. But what makes you think I’ll like him? We’ve never even liked the same shoes. You wore Barbie-pink glitter sneakers in high school, and I was into black combat boots.”

“I just have a feeling. And you can borrow my shoes anytime now.” A smile blossomed on Junie’s face, and she reached into her pocket. “Here’s his number. What if he’s the one?”

Maileah crumpled the paper and stuffed it into the pocket of her jeans. “I’d ask him what took him so long.”

Her sister’s smile slipped. “Please don’t do that. He seems like a genuine guy. He might not grasp your sense of humor.”

Maileah made a face. “I’ll be on my best behavior until after the wedding.”

The rear door swung open, and Knox stepped in.

Junie turned and kissed him. “Hi, honey. I made homemade ice cream for dessert—with extra to take home.”

“You spoil me, sweetheart,” Knox said, sweeping her into his arms.

“I’ll leave you two,” Maileah said, stifling a yawn after she greeted him. “I’m exhausted.” She wasn’t, and she liked Knox, but they needed their privacy. Around them, she felt like an extra in a sweet romance novel.

It wasn’t their fault. They were just madly in love.

She needed to find a life—and another place to live.

Junie would insist she was welcome to stay as long as she wanted, but that’s how her younger sister was.

Maileah needed her space, especially before she said something about their

 perfect lives she might regret.

On the way to her room, the dating app she’d been using dinged. She flung herself onto the bed and flipped her phone screen to the app, How About a Coffee? An alert pulsed at her.

You have a message from John: Hey, cutie. Want to meet?

She inspected his photo. Not bad, she thought. Clean cut. He looked like he could have been class president in school. She tapped a reply: How about the Majestic? Everyone knew the old hotel.

Sure. I’ll be the guy in a green shirt with a Ferrari phone case.

Make that class president with rich aspirations, she thought.

After confirming the time with Ferrari John, Maileah turned off her phone and opened her laptop to work on Junie’s gift shop website. The lilting sound of her sister’s laughter through the door should make her happy—and it did—but it was also a stark contrast to her mess of a life.

Junie and Knox seemed serious about each other. He was truly a great guy, and they were well suited. Knox had tried to buy Junie’s house for his parents before she moved in. If they married, Maileah imagined his parents would take this house to be close to their granddaughter—and the children Junie and Knox would probably have soon.

Maileah didn’t belong here, but it had been a good place to land for a few months.

She had to get her life sorted out—and fast. Creating Junie’s new website and marketing material had kept her busy, but she was nearly finished.

That was easy work compared to her former position at a technology company in Seattle. She’d worked with a team of intelligent, driven people, all intent on improving the world—or, at least, achieving their quarterly financial goals. The pressure had been intense; perform and move up, or don’t, and they’d show you the door.

Luckily, she was a fast learner and produced results.

Maileah managed the marketing efforts on new technology products and services. Her salary was enviable, but she hadn’t managed to save much. She’d bought a new Range Rover and a fabulous wardrobe. She dined at trendy restaurants and jetted off for ski trips, marathons, and mountain climbing around the world with other

 adrenaline-seeking aficionados.

Essentially, she’d had a blast, partying as hard as she worked and thinking it would last forever.

And then, when the company’s quarterly profits slipped and the stock price declined, the layoffs were swift and merciless.

The party screeched to a halt, and reality hit her like a cold splash of water. Now, she realized how much time and money she’d wasted on frivolous relationships and worthless items.

Frankly, she was embarrassed by it. She’d blown her chance to set herself up financially.

But there was more to the mess than that. Junie, her mother, her grandmother—none of them understood what was in her heart.

She’d spent her life dancing as fast as she could, desperately vying for her father’s love and attention. When that failed, she’d transferred her desire to cool, edgy guys like her father and went through them like lipstick.

Yet, no one was there for her when everything fell apart. Not even her father.

After taking the crumpled notepaper with Todd’s number from the pocket of her jeans, she smoothed it out on her desk. She’d woken up with no prospects, and now she had two. Ferrari John and Perfect Todd.

Maileah washed her face and changed for bed. Tomorrow might be different, she told herself, sliding between soft, worn sheets her grandmother had given her to use.

She still clung to the hope that everything in her life could change with one chance meeting. John, or even Todd, might be her ticket to the life she dreamed of.

---

The next afternoon, after finalizing automated marketing campaigns for Junie’s online store, Maileah changed into one of Junie’s sweet floral sundresses and sandals to meet Ferrari John.

After leaving Junie’s sunny yellow house, she slid into the small red convertible she’d traded her new Range Rover for after leaving Seattle. That

SUV had been a dream on slick streets in rainy weather, but she no longer needed that.

Maileah sold her rolling status symbol and used what was left to pay cash for an older car. She couldn’t raise the top on the banged-up convertible, but it hardly ever rained here. And not having car payments made life easier.

At least she’d made one good decision.

After a short drive down tree-lined Orange Avenue, she parked at the Majestic Hotel, a stately vintage specimen splashed with cherry red and white paint. The well-known real estate investor Ryan Kingston acquired it last year. Her mother was dating him, and her friend Deb was working on new interiors. Knox was overseeing the construction part of the renovation.

The Majestic Hotel was ingrained in her family, so she felt safe.

A distinguished older man in a bright, banana-yellow blazer greeted her with a smile. “So nice to see you, Miss Raines.”

“It’s just Maileah to you, Whitley.” The general manager had worked there as long as she could remember, and he was very good friends with her grandmother. They were both widowed, and she sometimes wondered why they hadn’t ever dated.

Or maybe they had. What did she know about what went on here?

Still, Crown Island is where she wanted to stay now—if she could.

Maileah continued to the gift shop on the lower level, which her sister had taken over and revamped. It was airy and bright now, and Junie had sourced stylish resort wear and colorful local arts and crafts.

Maileah had added many of these items to the website.

“Hi there,” Junie said, taking a break from a customer. Sizing her up with a quick look, she grinned. “I think that outfit looks better on you than me.”

“I hope you didn’t mind.”

“Not at all. What’s up?”

“I’m meeting a new guy at the cafe in a few minutes.”

Junie waggled her eyebrows. “Is it Todd?”

“I need to call him. This guy’s name is John.”

“Text if you need me,” Junie replied. “Don’t forget about Todd.”

Wrinkling her nose at her, Maileah hurried out. When she walked into the hotel cafe, she saw the guy from the dating app. His photo was better, but she still recognized him. Green shirt. Ferrari phone case.

Frowning, she wondered if an actual Ferrari went with that, and her heart fell. Had she stepped into an egotistical bad-boy trap again?

She searched the beach beyond for her friend Sailor. He was usually at the bike concession stand. He and his father ran that for the hotel. A large man stepped aside, and she saw Sailor with his back turned to her. At least he was there.

Still, Maileah’s chest tightened. She could turn around and sprint out of here, but John had already made eye contact with her. She closed the space between them.

“Hi, I’m Maileah Raines-Smith.” She caught herself, but it was too late. She usually didn’t give her last name until she’d vetted them better.

“John,” he said quickly, not offering his. He was good-looking in a studied sort of way. His not-a-strand-out-of-place hair looked like a Ken-doll cut, and his polite smile revealed a perfect row of white teeth.

Her sister would probably like Ferrari John.

They ordered coffee—a large cup for him and an espresso for her—and spoke a little about the weather and the size of the waves. The usual small talk ensued until, suddenly, John shifted the conversation.

“Time is precious, and I have questions,” he said. “First, do you smoke?”

“No, I’m athletic, so⁠—”

“Hold that until later; I don’t have much time.” He moved on to the next question on his mental list without waiting to hear more about her. “What do your parents do for a living?”

“They’re university educators.” She didn’t elaborate; this wasn’t about her parents. “Aren’t you going to ask what I do?”

John shrugged off her question. “I’m a good breadwinner, so you wouldn’t have to work.”

“But I enjoy working. I’m a⁠—”

“I know what your profile says,” he interrupted. “It also states you’re interested in marriage.” He leaned in, focusing on her with a laser-like gaze. “Is that still true?”

That was abrupt. She straightened in her seat. “Well, sure. When I find the right person.” Trying to dial down the intensity, she asked, “What do you like to do for fun?”

Ignoring her question, John doubled down. “Assuming we hit it off, how many children will you agree to have?”

“Wow, this escalated quickly,” Maileah replied with a nervous laugh. “Is this a coffee

date or an interview for a baby-maker?” As soon as the words spilled from her lips, his expression turned stony.

“Just kidding,” she added, her cheeks burning with embarrassment—for which she immediately chastised herself. Why did men make her feel like this? He should apologize for his attitude.

John didn’t crack a smile. “It’s important to have discussions early in a relationship.”

That sounded exactly like her father, who could twist any situation with his maddening psychological mumbo-jumbo. Why did she keep attracting guys like this?

John tapped his fingers on the table to get her attention. “I said, how many children?”

She squirmed in her chair since he wasn’t backing off the question. “Two seems about right to me.”

An expression of disgust pulled down the corners of his mouth. “I would like at least five or six.”

“And I’d like a fleet of surrogates and nannies.” When he didn’t laugh, she sat back and folded her arms. This meetup was quickly turning into what felt like a business negotiation. And where was that caffeine she so desperately needed?

“That would not be acceptable to me.”

Maileah shot a nervous glance toward the beach, searching for Sailor. “You do know how old I am, right? That would be one a year, mate. Not sure we could squeeze them all in before menopause.”

She heaved a sigh. The server hadn’t brought coffee yet; it was far too early for child-count negotiations. She turned toward the beach, looking for her emotional support friend. Some people had dogs or cats, hamsters or pigs—she had a surfer in the friend zone.

Finally, a slight smile crossed John’s classic features. “You would have my full support. My older sister had children in her late forties. Nine in total before her hysterectomy.”

“How many of those were after the lobotomy?” Inwardly, Maileah winced. Why did she blurt out everything she was thinking? “Look, I’m sure the kids are great, and I have nothing against large families. But that would be a real stretch for me.” She paused, realizing what she’d said. “No pun intended.”

He didn’t seem to notice.

She slid a hand across her forehead, unsure which of them was worse. John with his unrealistic expectations and lack of humor, or her with her snarky

comments. She couldn’t help it; the words just tumbled out. How would Junie handle this? She was always diplomatic. But then, Junie attracted the good ones.

Maileah, not so much.

Men like this is why she met her dates from the How About a Coffee app at the Majestic Hotel. With Junie, Whitley, and Sailor around, she felt protected.

When Sailor looked her way, she gave him a little signal, and he responded with a nod.

John frowned at the split-second Sailor drew her attention away. “Is that someone you know?”

From the corner of her eye, she spied Sailor walking toward them. She wouldn’t have to endure this much longer. Of course, she could walk out, but once a guy had grabbed her arm so tightly, she couldn’t extricate herself from his grip. That had caused a real scene. Her head throbbed at the memory.

“I know a lot of people here at the hotel,” she finally replied.

“Why is that?” John’s frown deepened. “You’re not a…” His voice was rich with insinuation, and his eyebrows shot up with expectation.

Suddenly, she grasped his meaning. “Get your mind out of the gutter. My sister works here.”

John reached for her hand. “Relationships between two people are entirely natural.” He paused for effect. “I have the night free. ...