Chapter 1
CHAPTER
ONE
When US Coast Guard Master Chief Josh Graves exited the terminal at the airport in Martha’s Vineyard, a cool, misty breeze sent a shiver down his spine.
It was late in the afternoon on the third Thursday in May, with the temperature hovering around fifty-five degrees—a vast contrast to the humid eighty-six degrees he left back in St. Petersburg, Florida.
With his garment bag hanging over his shoulder, he wheeled his carry-on luggage over the crosswalk to where the shuttle buses were lined up.
It didn’t take long to find the one for the Brambleberry Hotel in Edgartown, the venue for the wedding he was attending that weekend.
His former lieutenant commander, Stefan Lundquist, was finally tying the knot with his fiancée, Cassandra Myers.
With Cassie’s family rooted in Massachusetts and Stefan’s still living in Connecticut, they’d chosen Martha’s Vineyard for the wedding—a cherished summer retreat for the Lundquist family.
Their charming coastal home had been in the family for three generations, though it wasn’t large enough to host the wedding itself like some of the mansions on the island.
Josh had visited once before, back when Stefan invited a few teammates during leave, but that had been a far more casual affair.
Some of Josh’s teammates had flown in earlier in the day, while others would arrive tomorrow.
A mandatory early-morning meeting at the air station had kept him from joining the first group, so he made the trip solo.
If he hadn’t been one of the groomsmen—with a rehearsal at ten-hundred hours the next morning—he would’ve come up with the rest of them the following day.
After he took a seat on the shuttle, the driver idled for a few minutes before several more people boarded. He didn’t recognize anyone, but that wasn’t surprising since approximately two hundred guests were invited. They also could just be tourists and not there for the event.
Weddings weren’t his favorite things to attend ever since his marriage had fallen apart four years ago, but he was happy for Stefan and Cassie.
It was also an honor to stand up for the friend and retired officer he respected, who’d also saved his life almost two years ago.
They’d been on a USCG training op that turned into a real-life search and rescue when a small plane went down in the Gulf of Mexico.
After the distressed family of four was safely aboard the helicopter, Josh was the last one to be lifted back up.
He’d just about reached the open door of the helicopter when the cable he was attached to snapped.
Stefan lunged for him, grasping his arm and preventing him from falling four stories into the water.
At that height, and with little time to prepare himself for the impact, he most likely would’ve been killed by blunt force trauma.
It was by the grace of God that Stefan was observing the team that day and managed to catch Josh before he fell.
With the help of the other Coasties on board, they got him back up to safety after a harrowing minute or two. But the story didn’t end there.
Back at base, Stefan suffered a heart attack at the young age of thirty-eight and went into cardiac arrest at the hospital before the staff was able to get his heart started again.
Josh dealt with a lot of guilt over that, thinking that by saving his life, Stefan could’ve died.
However, Stefan refused to blame him for anything, especially his own blocked arteries.
They’d all signed up for the military knowing full well that high risks were part of the job, and Stefan would’ve felt that guilt tenfold if he’d allowed Josh to fall to his death.
While the man was alive and healthy again following bypass surgery, his career in the Coast Guard was over.
He now worked for Trident Security, a private company owned by a bunch of retired Navy SEALs, which had several government contracts.
They employed veterans from all branches of the military, former law enforcement officers, and agents.
Stefan was responsible for coordinating both onboarding and annual compliance training.
The business also trained officers from smaller police departments in special ops techniques, particularly those without SWAT or HIRT teams. Josh had participated in a few sessions at the TS compound just for fun and to learn some skills he wasn’t familiar with.
During the fifteen-minute ride to the hotel, he scrolled through his phone, answering a few emails and messages until they pulled into the driveway.
After a long veil of clouds passed overhead, the sun finally emerged, brightening the island below.
Though it was built over a century ago, the grand ninety-five-room hotel—painted in crisp white and soft gray and nestled among lush greenery and vibrant flowers—was undeniably stunning.
It was easy to see why the couple had chosen it for their wedding venue—it would be the perfect backdrop for their special day.
That and the current owners were good friends of Stefan’s parents, who had given their guests reduced room rates.
Thank God for that—otherwise, it would’ve cost Josh a week’s pay just for the three nights he’d be there.
No matter what, though, he wouldn’t have missed Stefan’s wedding for the world—he owed the man that much.
He exited the shuttle and strode toward the building’s main entrance just as a white four-door Toyota, with Massachusetts license plates, pulled up to the valet stand.
He stopped in his tracks and nearly swallowed his tongue when a beautiful blonde woman in her mid- to late-twenties climbed out and handed the keys to a valet.
She had curves in all the right places, and Josh’s cock stirred.
As she walked toward the back of the car, Josh couldn’t take his gaze off her.
He dated plenty of women after his divorce was finalized, but it had been a few months since he was with someone.
But this was the first time an unknown woman had cast such a spell on him—leaving him breathless, captivated, and rooted to the spot.
All he could do was stare at her like she was a sin he wanted to commit.
Her long blonde tresses fell in thick waves to the middle of her back. He couldn’t see her eyes behind her dark sunglasses. She wore black jeans, thigh-high boots, and a green top under a denim jacket, and Josh’s mind slowly undressed her.
“Excuse me.” Someone jostled him on their way past him toward the hotel entrance, yanking him out of his trance. Thankfully, the woman hadn’t noticed him ogling her like a twelve-year-old boy who’d just discovered he liked tits and ass.
Shaking his head, he silently ordered his feet to propel him forward into the hotel’s lobby and toward the back of the line at the check-in desk.
The interior of the building was even more ornate than the exterior, without being ostentatious.
In the middle of the lobby, above a circular table that held a lavish arrangement of fresh, assorted blooms, a chandelier descended from the vaulted ceiling like a glittering waterfall, commanding attention with its sheer size and brilliance.
Rich blues, gold, and ivory ran through the plush carpets, patterned wallpaper, and brocade-upholstered furniture.
Brass fixtures and heavy drapes added a touch of old-world elegance, making the space feel timeless and refined.
He could vividly imagine the elaborate parties and influential guests who stayed there during the roaring twenties, a time of Prohibition.
A book he read in high school came to mind—The Great Gatsby.
The Brambleberry Hotel could easily be the setting for that.
“And, of course, there’s a line,” a weary voice behind him said. “Story of my life today.”
He turned to find the attractive blonde standing there with a garment bag similar to his draped over the top of a large suitcase. Somehow, he managed to find his voice and smile. “Bad day?”
“Between stop-and-go traffic, a flat tire that nobody found it in their heart to help me with, and a broken fingernail...” She showed it to him.
“Yeah, I’d say it’s been a bad day so far.
What was supposed to be a three-hour trip took five.
But at least I finally got here safe, if not sound.
Now, if I can get my room, schedule an emergency manicure repair for the morning, and then grab a cocktail, I’ll be happy as a pig in…
well, I’m sure you’ve heard the phrase before. ”
He chuckled at the light blush that dusted her cheeks. “I have. Many times. And I’m glad you’re here safely too. Hopefully, the rest of your day is stress-free.”
“Thank you, but I doubt it. I’m the maid of honor for my sister’s wedding here on Saturday, and even though she’s laid-back and not a bridezilla at all, I just want everything perfect for her. She and her fiancé deserve it after all they’ve been through.”
“You’re Cassie’s sister?” He could see the resemblance now that she no longer wore her sunglasses. They had the same nose, chin, and hazel eyes.
Her eyes widened. “Yes! Are you a friend of Stefan’s? I’ve only met a few of them the two times I visited Cass in Tampa.”
“Yeah. Hi.” He shifted his garment bag to his left hand and held out his right. “I’m Josh Graves. Stefan served with me in the Coast Guard for years. I’m also one of his groomsmen.”
She shook his hand. “Oh, hi! Nice to meet you. I’m Cassie’s sister—aaand I already said that. Sorry. I’m Chris—Christine Beaumont.”
“Pleasure to meet you. You have a different last name than Cass?” There could be several reasons why, but the only difference it made for him was if she was married—that was a line he would never cross. A glance at her left ring finger revealed it was unadorned with no tan line.
Releasing his hand, she rolled her eyes.
“Yes. I’m divorced and haven’t gotten around to changing it back to my maiden name yet.
After two years, you’d think I would’ve done it already, but it’s a pain in the ass to do all the paperwork that goes with it.
License, registration, passport, bills, insurance, IRS, and so on.
Guys and women who keep their maiden names for personal or professional reasons have it easy.
Too bad I was young and stupid when I got married, but thankfully, there were no kids involved. ”
He snorted. “Maybe guys get lucky with the name thing, but my divorce was messy and not easy at all.”
The tension in her shoulders eased a bit, and she gave him a sympathetic smile. “Sorry about that. Mine wasn’t pretty either, but I was done with his cheating ass—excuse my language.”
“No apology needed. My ex-wife cheated on me, too, so I know what that’s like.
” It took him almost a year to discover Briella was having an affair with some guy she’d gone to high school with and ran into again at a reunion.
Josh kicked her sorry butt to the curb and filed for divorce the next day, refusing to listen to her plead that it was all a mistake.
Once she finally got it through her thick skull that he wouldn’t take her back under any circumstances, it got ugly.
After over a year of her not agreeing to any settlement arranged by their lawyers, the couple ultimately faced a judge for the final decision.
But karma bit her in the ass—she should’ve taken one of the previous offers.
With photos and screenshots as proof of her adultery, he was able to avoid paying alimony.
He’d also been awarded seventy-five percent of their marital assets, given that she had used money from their joint accounts to buy her boyfriend gifts and take trips with him while Josh was away for training.
The only thing he missed was the house they’d owned in St. Petersburg, but he couldn’t bear to live in a place where his ex-wife had slept with her boyfriend.
It sat in a quiet, welcoming neighborhood, and he’d poured time and effort into the backyard—turning it into the perfect spot to relax with friends and family.
After selling the house, he settled into an apartment at Air Station Clearwater, his assigned base.
“Sucks, doesn’t it?”
He gave a few quick nods, his lips pressed into a firm line of agreement. “Yes, it does.” The corners of his mouth ticked upward, lightening the mood. “But this weekend is about two people madly in love with each other, who we also love, so let’s leave the past behind where it belongs.”
A bright smile spread across her face, making her appear even more bewitching. “I like your style, Josh Graves.”