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Prologue
CALLIE
Callie smoothed the sleeve of her blue cocktail dress. The holiday office party was a success. Streamers and helium-filled balloons in gold and white decorated the expansive conference room of Winthrop Public Relations and Advertising. The event planner had the large mahogany table and accompanying leather chairs placed into temporary storage and brought in small, round dining tables with matching chairs covered in gold and white linens. Atop the confetti-strewn tables, candles flickered in crystal votive holders. Buffet tables were set up along one side of the room and currently held steaming trays of beef tenderloin, chicken au vin, scalloped potatoes, and braised asparagus. The smaller dessert buffet offered an assortment of the finest chocolate truffles, tortes, and shortbreads.
Callie looked around the room at her colleagues and their significant others clad in festive, jewel-toned colors as they laughed and ate. She should be happy. This was her third year working for her father’s company since graduating from college with a degree in marketing and communications. As Arthur Winthrop often remarked, she was already doing well at making a name for herself in the business world. Yet, she couldn’t help but feel like something was missing. Her boyfriend, Hunter Sandstrom, was also part of the company and highly esteemed by her father. In fact, the men would often get together on weekends to join other associates for rounds of golf. Hunter was everything a girl could want—smart, successful, and good-looking. Always the perfect gentleman. He loved to call themChicago’s next power couple.Wasn’t that a good thing?Callie’s smile wavered a little.What was wrong with her?
Maybe she was just tired, having worked overtime again the night before on a project deadline. She sighed. Working overtime was certainly nothing new for her. She relished the weekends when she had time to give in to her passion for cooking and baking. She enjoyed experimenting with different flavor combinations and spices, loving the tactile sensations of kneading out dough or practicing her knife skills. A ‘silly little hobby,’ her father called it. However, Callie couldn’t help but look forward to the minute she could go into her kitchen and put on her favorite blue-and-white gingham apron. She was always careful to clean up thoroughly after herself, even though she had a regular weekly housekeeper at her father’s insistence. He reminded her that she was better off delegating such time-consuming chores so that she could devote herself to more worthwhile endeavors, like climbing the career ladder.
Still, Callie felt terrible for the poor cleaning lady and didn’t want to cause her more hardship. Besides, she had to admit she actually enjoyed the hard work of scrubbing and liked the immediate satisfaction it brought from a job well done, but sometimes, she wondered whether all the money in the world would ever be worth the countless hours she spent staring at her computer screen.
Callie’s thoughts were interrupted by the sound of clinking glass. Hunter stood in the center of the room, calling for everyone’s attention. His dark gray Brooks Brothers suit showed off the body of the former football athlete and complimented his thick blond hair.
“Ladies and gentlemen,” he smiled broadly, “may I have your attention, please.” His eyes roamed over the crowd before settling on her.What was going on?He hadn’t told her he would be making a speech tonight. “Callie, could you come up here and join me?” He gestured towards her, leaving her no real choice but to set her water glass on the closest table before winding her way toward him.
He knew she really didn’t like to be the center of attention. As she walked past the rigid form of her father with his steel-gray hair and chiseled jaw, seated next to one of the company’s attorneys at the head table, she whispered, “Dad, what’s Hunter up to?” Arthur shrugged and grinned at her.Humph.That was not a good sign. Not at all.
“Callie,” Hunter roared as he grabbed her hand, “we’ve been dating now for two years, hon. I’ve seen the way you dedicate yourself to the business and take pride in the finer things in life–like me.” He laughed, pausing for a moment to enjoy his own joke. Callie didn’t feel the slightest bit amused.
“I know we haven’t talked about this,” he continued, “but hey, I know you feel the same way I do, babe. We are Chicago’s next power couple, after all. What could be better than making it official? Let’s take this city by storm, sweetheart.” He dropped to one knee and reached into his coat pocket, drawing out a small black velvet-covered box.This can’t be happening,Callie thought as beads of cold sweat began to form on her forehead. Hunter popped the box open with his index finger, revealing a gigantic solitaire. “Say you’ll be my wife,” he said, looking intently into her eyes. Callie could feel gazes shifting in her direction as the room grew silent.
“I… I…” she stuttered, then promptly burst into tears and ran from the room.
Chapter One
CALLIE
Callie stared out the airplane window into the opaque whiteness of a cumulus cloud, reflecting over the furor of the past six months following Hunter’s proposal. Arthur Winthrop did not hide his disappointment in his daughter, calling her into his office on at least a weekly basis to ask what had gotten into her after that atrocious display of emotion. After the death of Callie’s mother from breast cancer not long after she was born, Arthur had done the best he could to make sure Callie had received the very best of everything, from nannies to private schools, tutors, wardrobe consultants, and membership in the most elite Chicago clubs. How could she refuse to marry his protégé, whom he had hand-picked to be the future Vice-President of his company as well as his son-in-law?
Callie sighed. She agreed that on paper, Hunter was perfect. But wasperfect what she really wanted? Callie didn’t know anymore. All she knew for certain was that something was still missing. Thank goodness for Aunt Fran, her mother’s older sister, who had recently invited Callie to spend the summer helping at the bed-and-breakfast she ran in Seaview, Florida. Her husband had passed away the year prior, and she confided to Callie that she would welcome the company of family, as well as someone to assist her with the paperwork and general management of the inn.Forever Yours, a well-known matchmaking agency, would be hosting a getaway vacation week for people ages 25-39 in the picturesque seaside town that summer. Hence, all the rooms at the B&B were booked.
The clouds suddenly parted, revealing an aquamarine sky matched by the crystal blue waters of the Gulf of Mexico below. The beauty of the scene broke into Callie’s reverie, and she couldn’t help but feel a glimmer of hope. Maybe this summer would help her figure out what she needed. Regardless, at least it would be a nice break from work and give her and Hunter some space. They had both agreed that his proposal was probably too hasty. However, their relationship felt decidedly strained ever since, and they didn’t see each other as often outside of work.
The plane began its descent, and Callie placed the paperback she was reading back into her tote. It would be nice to spend some time with her aunt as, other than her uncle’s funeral, she hadn’t been to Seaview since she was in high school. Maybe she would even get a chance to do some cooking at the inn. Callie smiled at the thought of baking for the guests. She was glad she had brought some recipe books with her and looked forward to experimenting with the fresh seasonal fruit of Florida in her muffins and pastries.
The plane landed smoothly and coasted along the tarmac to the gate. Callie looked out over the palm trees and pastel-colored houses. Florida was just as beautiful as she remembered. A few minutes later, she hurried through the airport to baggage claim, anxious to find her aunt amidst the throng of people. However, she needn’t have worried–Aunt Fran couldn’t be missed in her bright yellow sundress and orange scarf with a motif of what appeared to be smiling terriers wearing red collars. Callie squealed and rushed forward as her aunt opened her arms wide to envelop her in a warm hug. She smelled the scent of gardenia from Fran’s perfume as she leaned into her aunt’s round softness. Tears pricked her eyes as she suddenly missed the mother she had never known.
“Let me look at you, dear.” Aunt Fran’s grin was wide enough to reveal the dimples in her cheeks as she spun Callie around. “Gracious, do they have any food in Chicago?” she jokingly asked. “I think this calls for some good Southern shrimp and grits tonight. Why don’t I treat you to dinner at the Seafood Shack, as our guests don’t start arriving until tomorrow?”
Callie’s mouth watered, and she nodded her acceptance. “Yum, that sounds delicious. However, if I agree to let you buy dinner tonight, would it be too much to ask whether you’d allow me to make breakfast for you tomorrow along with any guests who arrive at the inn in time?”
“Absolutely! I do happen to recall your particular knack for baking, and as you know, darling, cooking is not my forte. Your sweet Uncle David was in charge of the kitchen, bless that man’s heart. I’d much rather go antiquing and show off the collectibles in the inn’s rooms. I like to change up the décor each season to keep the place looking fresh and provide guests something new to look forward to if they decide to come back. Decorating and gardening are my specialties.”
Just then, Callie noticed her suitcase coming down the conveyor and leaped forward to grab it before it passed where they were standing. As she did so, she accidentally bumped into a man wearing jeans and a casual button-down with the sleeves rolled up, revealing tanned arms and a pair of strong, calloused hands. His dark eyes met hers.
“Here, let me help you,” he said as he leaned forward and caught her suitcase with one hand, lifting it easily and setting it down in front of her.
“Thanks so much,” Callie murmured, a blush creeping into her cheeks under his gaze. “I apologize for nearly mowing you over like that. Guess I was just a little overly enthusiastic.”
“No problem,” the guy said. Callie estimated he was probably about her age, late twenties to early thirties at most. She noticed the hint of smile lines beginning to form around his eyes as he gave her a wink. “I’m looking forward to slowing down some this week. I think some time at the beach is good medicine for us Type A’s who are used to rushing around all the time, right?”
Callie laughed. “I couldn’t have said it better myself.”
Aunt Fran tapped her watch. “Honey, we need to get going if we don’t want to wait an hour before we can get a table at the restaurant.”
“Right,” Callie said and grabbed the handle of her suitcase as the guy gave her a quick wave goodbye. As she headed towards the sliding automatic exit doors, she couldn’t help but steal a quick glance back over her shoulder.
Aunt Fran nodded, her gray curls bouncing. “Um-hm,” she said quietly, “I think a summer at the seaside is just what the doctor ordered.”
