What Tomorrow Brings (Florida Keys Series) Read online

  What Tomorrow Brings

  By

  Cyndi Raye

  Copyright © 2013 www.CyndiRaye.com All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be copied, reproduced in any format, by any means, electronic or otherwise, without prior consent from the copyright owner and publisher of this book. This is a work of fiction. All characters, names, places and events are the product of the author's imagination or used fictitiously.

  Dedicated to Ally, my mentor and friend, who helped me to see that nothing is impossible

  _______________________________

  Table of Contents

  Title Page

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  About the Author

  Chapter One

  Maggie yawned and shook her head. She felt a wet tongue on her cheek and warm air creep up her nose, forcing the lids open, she already knew who would be staring her in the face!

  “Doggie, get! Go on!” Her hand instinctively reached out and rubbed the long haired setter’s shiny coat. Like clockwork, every morning when the sun came up, Maggie tried to do a bit of work on the lounger outside her rental unit and this dog without a name would give her a kiss just as she was about to doze. Each time without fail she tried to discipline the pup but it never worked. There was just something about a big, soft-haired pup licking your face that made her cave in to his sweetness.

  “I’m sorry,” a deep voice cut through the air behind her. “Jax, come here.”

  The pup jumped off Maggie and ran over to the deep voice, it’s tail wagging back and forth. It was about time the owner showed up, she thought. Maggie was starting to wonder if the dog wasn’t a stray and yet the fenced in yard was proof that the hairy dog belonged right here.

  She turned her head slightly then slid dark shades down her nose. Woo, wow! A wet man stood by the patio where he had just come around the corner, droplets of water dripping from every inch of rock hard ripped flesh. The sun shone in her eyes, but she could plainly see he wore very little except a low cut pair of shorts and a towel carelessly flung around his neck. Dark hair, a bit long and plastered against his head and a stubble along his chin made him appear very rugged and sexy. He must’ve just come out of the water.

  A slow smile crept across Maggie’s face.

  “I know. That’s usually the reaction I get.”

  “Are you serious? You just said that?” She stared at him. He was not only a hunk as her Mother would say, but a bit haughty as well. Weren’t those kind of men a thing from the past?

  He grinned, “I’m talking about Jax. He knows how to charm the hearts of pretty women.” His deep smile caught her off guard and the compliment didn’t hurt a bit. She blinked and tried to focus. Did he just wink at her?

  Maggie really didn’t have time for this charmer right now and was about to tell him so. She opened her mouth, then clamped down on her bottom lip, remembering her Mothers famous words. Don’t give the devil his do, Kate McCoy always said. Instead, she was thinking that this man, who was tall and dark with droplets of wet dripping from a well maintained body was just like one of her self proclaimed hero’s in her best selling romance novels. Were the gurus right, she wondered, when they said if you keep thinking and believing something that it would actually happen right before your eyes? Did that whole ‘secret’ thing actually work? Had she conjured up a man from the waters of the sea?

  Maggie sighed. Being captivated by any man was not on the agenda today. This was not the reason she was in the Florida Keys.

  “I’m sorry,” hot man said, “I must apologize for Jax jumping on you. I’m pretty certain this wasn’t the first time it happened. I try to keep him from doing that, but he’s pretty quick the minute the door opens. He knows when someone is on the property and makes it his purpose in life to lick anyone who’s out here.”

  Maggie grinned and shaded her eyes with her hand, then realized her sunglasses were still hanging on the tip of her nose. She pushed them back up and tipped her head. “Apology accepted. I really don’t mind, to tell you the truth. The last few days he actually saved me from falling asleep out here and getting burned. It’s very easy to do.”

  “The lure of the water and scenery tends to do that,” hot man muttered. He strolled over to where Maggie was lounging in her chair and held out his hand. “I’m Jake Hatfield and you’ve already met Jax.” At the sound of his name, the pup wandered over and sat by his owner. “You must be Maggie McCoy.”

  “Are you serious?” she uttered, her shoulders beginning to shake. “You’re a Hatfield and I’m a McCoy?” she stretched out her hand, laughing in delight.

  Jake laughed too, a rich, deep sound that made him seem way too sexy and she was sure he knew it. “ My company rep did comment on that,” he replied. “It didn’t seem so funny then.” He bent down beside the lounge chair, his eyes level to hers now, her hand still in his. “I understand you want privacy to work and you have no worries here. This is one place where you will have it, except for Jax there.”

  Maggie squirmed in her seat. “I was under the impression that I was going to be alone,” she told him. She looked down at her hand and realized he had encased it into both of his now, holding on to her a bit longer than usual. She nodded to their hands and shook herself loose from his grip, then cocked her head and stared at him. “Was that appropriate?”

  Jake shrugged, then smiled. “Sorry, it was not.” He didn’t look one bit sorry.

  She grinned. “No, it wasn’t,” she murmured without conviction. He was hitting on her. She shook herself, there was no time for this. She needed to write immediately if she wanted to stay on top of her game.

  Maggie swallowed. “Look Jake, I’m here to work. I just can’t be distracted. I appreciate you making eyes at me, it sure makes a girl feel good, but I really have to concentrate on my work.”

  He chuckled. “OK, I won’t make eyes at you.” Yet those smoky grays bore into hers and she couldn’t look away. She never was good at this instant attraction stuff, it made her want to run for her life. “Just what is so significant that you can’t even talk to someone?” he asked.

  She sighed.“I’m a writer. I have a deadline and I need to get my next novel finished.” Maggie never told anyone that she was a best selling novelist. She used a pseudonym and was able to go anywhere she pleased without being noticed. It may have been nice to have the recognition of her face everywhere but this way was much better. She liked her privacy.

  Jake rubbed the stubble on his chin with a thumb and forefinger. He nodded and stood. “Well then Maggie McCoy, this Hatfield is high-tailing it outta here to give you some privacy before a modern day feud gets started!”

  Jake strolled to the water’s edge where his power boat was tied to the dock. Jax followed and leaped onto the boat after his master. Starting the motor, he turned to Maggie, his stare penetrating into her own, the boat and Jake rocking gently back and forth. It was very seductive from Maggie’s point of view.

  He really was very distracting and she was suddenly very hot. She jumped up out of her lounger, forgetting about the computer on her lap. Realizing it was going to hit the ground if she didn’t do something, she bent forward and grabbed the laptop with both hands, realizing too late that the strings on her bikini top were untied.

  Maggie knew the moment th
e girls fell from grace. She stared in shock as Hatfield’s eyes widened and his mouth opened slightly. It was as if they both froze and time stood still. She watched tanned muscular hands grip the wheel.

  Maggie swore and covered herself. She had to save face. “ It’s not like you never seen anything like this before! We’re in the Florida Keys!” With that, she gathered what was left of her pride and marched into the bungalow, slamming the screen door behind her.

  <>

  Maggie didn’t know whether to laugh or cry! She came to the Keys to find peace and quiet so that she could write a best selling novel and what does she find but this drop-dead gorgeous man living above her little bungalow. She told her mother, who was also her manager, that she wanted to go somewhere to free herself and to clear up her writer’s block. She freed herself al right!

  Leave it to Mother to find her a rental with a hot man that comes with it! She doubted that was a coincidence.

  Maggie strolled into the bathroom and stood looking in the mirror. She leaned over the counter top and just stared, then shook her hair to loosen the ponytail holder that held dark brown shoulder length hair out of her face. At least she was getting tanned and some much needed vitamin D. Being a writer was difficult at times because there were days when she hid behind her computer at home to finish the next chapter. That meant forgotten walks and exercise, days without getting into the sunshine and even eating. She couldn’t help it though and was grateful to her Mother manager to force her to get out every now and again.

  Maggie did enjoy the outdoors. Walking through the mountains where she lived was really enjoyable, especially after she finished a book. She loved wandering along the trails and rivers but when she had a deadline most of her outdoor life was non existent. Being here in the Keys was so much different and she loved sitting outside by the water with her laptop.

  Maggie’s android chirped. She looked at the screen to see who it was.

  “Mother! I can’t believe you put me in a rental with a hot guy right above me!” She heard Kate McCoy's delightful laughter ringing in her ear. “It’s so not funny Mom! I told you I needed.....

  “Hush baby girl! I know you need peace and quiet to get your book juices flowing. I also know that it doesn’t hurt to have a bit of eye candy to help you reach that goal.”

  “I should’ve known you were up to something when you bought me the plane ticket before asking me. From the moment I met Jake Hatfield I had a hunch you set about doing what you do best, making things happen! You are too much Mama! If you would just give me some of your energy, I could probably get this book done in two weeks.”

  “Now see, that’s the spirit! I really had no other agenda except that I felt you needed to relax a bit. Sometimes that’s all it takes, besides, it’s time you kick back and have some fun for once in your young life. You’ve had your nose in those books for way too long.”

  Maggie sighed and took a deep breath. She really knew her mothers heart was in the right place, but that didn’t change the facts. “How in the world am I going to get a book finished with that kind of distraction, Mama?”

  “Ah, so that’s good news then. If you can be distracted from writing, I’m glad I chose that place for you. Besides, your a romance writer. It’s time you did what you write about. As your manager, I order you to take some time off, at least one week to enjoy yourself. Promise me?”

  “You know, you could become my ex-manager, have you ever thought of that?” Maggie heard the sound of laughter through the phone. Katie McCoy managed five companies, including being the manager of her career. Maggie knew she was in good hands.

  “Honey, you know I mean well. Listen, I’ve gotta run. I’ve got a few meetings and perhaps you’ll see me down there. I may just decide to take a little vacation myself. The Keys were always one of my favorite places to go in my younger days.”

  “No Mother! I need peace and quiet, your whirlwind personality.....” But it was too late, Kate had already hung up the phone. Maggie would pull every hair out of her head if Kate McCoy showed up at her door. She loved her mother, but if she showed up the first thing she would do was try to match Maggie up with the ‘hunk’ upstairs.

  Maggie grabbed a bottle of water from the refrigerator and pushed open the door to the screened in porch. Here she could sit without being disturbed because it was hard to see inside from the dock. This would give her the much needed privacy she longed for without any distractions. She stretched out on the thick cushioned lounge chair and propped her feet up. A visit from her Mother was inevitable now. When Kate McCoy said she was thinking about doing something, it was already in the planning stages. Maggie sighed and decided to try to get as much work done as she could until her Mother showed up.

  Maggie had been in the Keys for only three days and the first two were quiet except for Jax the pup licking her face every morning. She spent most of her time in the sun without a clue, wasting time searching for ideas on line instead of using her own imagination. For some reason writer’s block had a heavy grip on her at the moment that she just couldn’t shake off. It happened before, but this time seemed especially bad.

  Maybe Mama was right. Maybe she needed to just kick back, unwind and have a little fun. Should she take her advice and let her hair down for awhile? This was the perfect setting to do so.

  She spent the last five years writing amazing best sellers and never really took time to date anyone. Several guys had caught her attention, but there was never anything serious that came out of it. She sighed. She would not have changed that because she was doing what she loved, writing. Keeping her head down and putting out best sellers without a thought of meeting someone had been her life. Was she burnt out now? Would writer’s block win out and she’d be just an old dinosaur someday in the book world?

  No, she had to get it back! Maggie didn’t want to do anything else, she just couldn’t understand why it was so hard this time. Perhaps she’d take a look at the setting around her, it was perfect for a lover’s romance. Fingers went to work searching for all things related to a great lover’s romance in the Florida Keys.

  A few hours later Maggie heard an engine purr as it slid into its place at the dock. She almost starting getting up to quickly hide inside the bungalow, but then changed her mind. She would not let one little incident get the best of her. The guy was sexy and really nice and if she were going to enjoy the next week and have fun, then she had to get over it. The girls were not going to make any guest appearances today.

  “Hey there, Jake Hatfield. Do you know where there’s a good place to get a quick meal around here?” Maggie wondered if she sounded too bold.

  Jake jumped from the boat and walked up to the screened in porch. He stood there for a moment as if in deep thought, his thumb hitched into the waistband of his shorts. “There’s a great little bar and grill a few miles up the road. I’ll be heading up there in a bit. You’re welcome to come with.”

  Thinking about it, she reasoned with herself that she could follow him in the rental car, and that way she could leave any time she wanted. “That would be nice,” Maggie replied. She tilted her head as he walked away and watched him stroll up the little hill to the steps that led into his house. Mama had called that right. Eye candy he was!

  He stopped dead in his tracks before going up the steps and turned slowly towards the screened in porch. “Who’s making eyes at who now?” he murmured in a low sultry voice and then chuckled as he disappeared. She was so glad he couldn’t see her cheeks, which turned bright red despite her tan. She rubbed them and then laughed too. Caught red handed gawking at hot man!

  When Maggie first came to this rental on No Name Key a few days ago, she was excited to get some well deserved time alone, away from the world she lived in. Driving the rental car off of Highway One, then along the main road and finally down a narrow lane surrounded by a lot of brush, she became worried that perhaps the place was too secluded. Worried there were alligators hiding somewhere in the lush greenery, she had quickl
y parked and found the little white picket fence, then ran through the gate that led to her small bungalow attached to the main part of the house. That was where the owner lived, she was told. Her Mother left out the fact that Jake Hatfield was the owner and he was home! She was under the impression no one would be around except her.

  Maggie could laugh now realizing that she worried about alligators eating her. Even though it was a bit more remote here than she was used to, she wasn’t afraid of being alone. Actually, she preferred it and that was one of the reasons why she agreed so readily to her Mother’s suggestion, or more like orders since she bought the ticket ahead of time without Maggie’s knowledge. No Name Key as it was called, was more remote than other places and without potable water or electricity, everything had to run on generators. There was only a small number of homes in the area, so Maggie did feel a bit reassured when she realized that even though she loved spending time by herself, it was a bit comforting to know there was another person right upstairs.

  She could relax, unwind and get her book done without a lot of intrusions. That was the plan.

  Chapter Two

  Maggie wandered by the edge of the water near Jake’s boat waiting for him to come out for their excursion to get something to eat. If she lived here, it would be ideal to just jump in a boat and travel anywhere in the Florida Keys she wanted, if she had a boat. She could sit on the dock and stick her feet in the water if she wanted. Perhaps she could talk Jake into showing her around on his. It wouldn’t hurt to take in some of the local scenery, for research sake, of course.

  The upstairs screen door slammed shut and Jake sauntered down the wooden steps. He looked very nice in light jeans and a t shirt, as the dress code was normally very casual in the Keys. Even though it was the dead of winter where she lived in central Pennsylvania, here it felt like a beautiful spring day. Maggie wore a pair of light blue Bullet Blues along with a white pheasant style top with off the shoulder half sleeves. She knew she looked good, her Bullet Blues weren’t cookie cutter jeans. These curved around every bit of hip she had and they made her feel like a million dollars. She almost felt as if she were getting ready for a real date.