Seaside Secrets by Melissa Foster Read Free Book Online

college, when he’d seen her at Seaside and she still acted like nothing had ever happened between them, but at least she was talking to him. Their friendship resumed as if nothing had ever happened—except it had. Tony hadn’t forgotten and never would, and from that day on, he’d protected Amy as if she were his only love, all the while reminding himself why she never could be again.
    It had been his fault she’d gotten pregnant at a time when she should have had no cares other than having a good time in college. It was his fault she’d gone surfing, his fault she had the miscarriage.
    “Tony, did you want something?”
    Her voice brought him spinning back into the moment. He recognized the sadness in her eyes as his own, reflecting back at him. He had to save them both from this endless torture, but he couldn’t let her go. Not yet. He needed one dance, one last chance to hold her before he set her free forever.
    “Dance with me?” He watched her eyes fall to the dance floor and skate over the friends they loved. When her eyes found his again, the air between them chilled. The years they’d shared hovered between them.
    “I don’t think that’s such a good idea.”
    The sharp edges of her voice sliced right through him. She did what he’d been too chickenshit to do. He craved one last dance, but she knew he was going to set her free. She probably read his eyes as easily as he’d read hers, and she was doing it first. He’d asked for this outcome, and he shouldn’t be surprised by it.
    He shouldn’t feel like he was losing his best friend.
    But as his heart cracked right down the center, he knew what he had to do.
    “I think you should take the job in Australia.”

Chapter Three
    “ARE YOU SURE you don’t want me to stick around and drive back with you?” Bella hugged Amy so tightly she thought she’d break a rib.
    “Nah. I’ll be back at Seaside later tonight. I told Duke I would stay to go over some of the details about the job.” Amy didn’t want to get Bella any more pissed off at Tony than she already was, so she didn’t tell her that he’d told her to take the job. She’d sucked it up last night and pretended that everything was cool, when she felt as though she were dying inside.
    “Remember”—Bella narrowed her eyes and pointed at Amy—“negotiate summers at the Cape, or I’ll negotiate it for you.”
    “Oh, please. Don’t put that pressure on her.” Jenna hugged Amy.
    Jamie and Jessica had left early that morning for their honeymoon, and Leanna and Kurt had left at the crack of dawn so Leanna would be back in Wellfleet in time to sell her jams at the flea market. Leanna owned Luscious Leanna’s Sweet Treats, and it had taken off over the past few years. Restaurants and stores across the Cape sold her jams, and her flea-market traffic had nearly doubled.
    “Are you sure you’re okay with the whole Tony thing?” Jenna asked. “I still think he’ll come around. He’s always been careful with you, Ames. He’s just being extra careful now.”
    I don’t think telling me to go to Australia is being careful.
    “Speak of the devil.” Bella nodded toward the door to the resort.
    Tony came through the doors in a dark suit with a crisp white shirt. His cuff links sparkled, and Amy wondered if he was wearing the ones she’d given him two Christmases ago, but she didn’t dare get close enough to look. His sexy baby blues were serious as he glanced at his watch.
    “Why is he dressed up?” Amy asked.
    “He has a speaking engagement at the Marriott this morning,” Jenna explained. “Didn’t you know he was staying in Boston today?”
    “No. I…I haven’t talked to him since, well, you know.” Since he told me to take the job in Australia.
    “Hey,” Tony said with a wave. “You guys heading out?”
    Pete and Caden pulled up in front of the hotel in Bella’s SUV.
    “Yeah.” Bella handed her suitcase to Caden. “Good luck at your talk.”
    “Oh, so you’re