Island Refuge (Wildflower B&B Romance Book 1) (20 page)

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BOOK CLUB DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. Zoe was betrayed by her best friend and boyfriend and decided to leave everything for a fresh start. Have you ever wished for a fresh start, or perhaps given yourself one?
   

2. We all have hurts in our lives. My characters chose to run from the pain, but the pain followed them. Do you think it’s possible to run away from pain, or do you think it’s best to face it and deal with it head on?
   

3. Nick carried around a lot of guilt that he didn’t need to hang onto. Why do you think we do that to ourselves?
   

4. Both Zoe and Nick turned to the Lord to help them get past their hurts. Why do you think it was important for them to forgive in order to move on with their lives?
   

5. What did you think of Zoe’s foster parents and how their relationship extended well into her adult life?
   

6. Have you experienced relationships like this? How are they different or similar to blood relations?
   

BOOKS BY KIMBERLY ROSE JOHNSON

Standalone

A Valentine for Kayla

Series with Heartsong Presents

The Christmas Promise

A Romance Rekindled

A Holiday Proposal

A Match for Meghan

Now for a sneak peek at book three,
Island Dreams
.

Click
HERE
to purchase on Kindle/Amazon

A Sneak Peek at Book Two

ISLAND DREAMS

By Kimberly Rose Johnson

P
IPER
H
UNT RUSHED INTO THE GENERAL STORE
. She was late. It couldn’t be helped, but she still hated to be late. She stopped abruptly as her surrounding registered in her brain. “Whoa.” She’d stepped back in time at least fifty years. Her dad had warned her about Wildflower Island, but this was the kind of place one had to see to believe.

The general store looked like something out of
Little House on the Prairie,
only modernized. She gazed around the expansive space. It really wasn’t bad though. One side sold groceries and sundries while another side hosted a small café.

She marched to the right where the café was situated. Now to find Chase Grayson. Hmm—she didn’t see anyone that resembled his description. She glanced at her watch. The ferry to the island had been a little late this morning. The man was supposed to meet her here ten minutes ago. Had he given up and left? She’d sent him a text, but he hadn’t replied, so maybe he never saw it.

A young man who appeared to be in his late teens stood at the café’s register. “May I help you?”

“I hope so. I’m trying to find Chase Grayson. I was supposed to meet him here.”

“You missed him. He left a few minutes ago. Are you Piper?”

“Yes.”

He held out a piece of paper. “He asked me to give this to you.”

“Thank you. Could I get an iced coffee to go please?”

“Sure.”

She unfolded the note while the young man prepared her drink.

Ms. Hunt,

I had to run. Will catch up with you at the property.

Chase

She frowned. “Great.”

“That’ll be three dollars.” He slid the drink across the counter. “Problem?”

She handed him three ones. “Thanks. No problem, other than I apparently lost my guide. Any idea how to get to the Hunt property?”

“Sorry, Ma’am. I’ve never heard of it. Are you sure you have the right name?”

“Positive. Maybe the people at the Wildflower Bed-and-Breakfast will be able to help. Thanks.” She rushed to her red Jeep Wrangler and hopped in. The GPS ought to be able to guide her to the property with the latitude and longitude coordinates and would save her a trip to the B&B. She pulled out the file in her briefcase and entered the coordinates into her GPS.

Mr. Grayson or no Mr. Grayson, she would find the six-hundred-and-forty-acre parcel she’d come to see. She backed out then eased onto the main road following the winding curves. The road stopped at a wooded area where her GPS indicated she’d arrived. “This must be it.”

Her cell phone played
Flight of the Bumblebees
. “Hi, Dad.”

“I thought you were going to report in once you saw the property.”

“It’s nice to talk with you too.” She rolled her eyes. Dad was always about business first. “I just got here. The ferry was behind schedule. I didn’t realize the property was so… rustic.” She stared at the wooded land covered with brush, vines and who knew what else. It would take a lot of excavating to develop this land.

He chuckled. “Yes. That’s what your mom and I loved about it when we bought it thirty-five years ago. Let me know what you think.”

“That’s what I’m here for.” And to prove she had value at Hunt Enterprises. Dad made no secret of the fact he found her lacking when it came to sealing the deal. But why put her on this job—one that was so personal—if he expected her to fail?

A knock sounded on her window. She jumped and spun her head to the left. A frowning man with short-cropped brown hair stood a foot from her door.

“Uh, I need to go, Dad. I believe my tour guide is here.”

“Okay. I want a full report.”

“Will do. Bye.” She ended the call, slipped the phone into her purse and stepped out. “You must be Chase Grayson.” She held out her hand. “I’m Piper Hunt. It’s nice to meet you. I’m sorry I missed you, but the ferry was a little late. Someone’s car stalled, and as luck would have it I was stuck behind them.”

He softened, flashing perfect white teeth. “I’m glad you made it off.” The man stood at least six feet tall to her five-foot-seven inches. He wore Levis and a tucked in, button up, plaid shirt. Kind of outdoorsy, but he looked safe enough.

“I was a little confused by your message. Are you with a development company or is this family property?”

His forced nonchalance sent alarm bells ringing in her head. Would he try to stop her if he knew her plan? She could lie, but that was no way to start off a potential project. “Both.”

He crossed his arms and narrowed his eyes. “I see. And what exactly do you have in mind?”

So much for nonchalance. It was clear this would not be an easy sell if only the idea of a developing a portion of the property irritated the man. How would the other residents respond?

She flashed her best I’m-on-your-side smile. “Hunt Enterprises is owned by my father. However, this property is mine to do with as I please.” So long as Dad agreed, since he was the financial backer. “I was hoping that since you are a respected member of this community and a well-known landscape architect, that you’d be an asset to this project. I’ll be looking to hire as many local people as possible.” She knew how things worked in places like this, and she’d need someone to represent her side to the people if she had any hope of this venture succeeding.

“We don’t care for progress on the island. Things have been the same for generations, and that’s how we like it.”

“From the look of the general store, that is clear.” She took a bracing breath. “Perhaps if I showed you my plans you would change your mind.” Granted, nothing was set in stone. Once she had a feel for this place her plans were likely to change, but the general concept would remain.

“Doubtful. We get plenty of summer tourists. The island is crowded enough.”

She almost laughed but then realized he was serious. Compared to Seattle this place was practically a ghost town, and it was late August. “Okay. I guess we have nothing to discuss.”

His eyes widened. “That’s it? You’re just going to leave?”

“I never said that. But I can’t force you to help me.” This wasn’t the first time she’d met opposition to development.

He uncrossed his arms and tilted his head to the side, raising his chin. A small scar underneath piqued her interest. How had that happened? “What kind of help did you have in mind?”

She eyed the man. Could she trust him? His broad shoulders and muscled biceps bespoke a person who either visited the gym regularly, which from the look of this island was highly unlikely, or he was someone who knew the meaning of hard work. Based on his rough looking hands, she suspected the latter. “For now, I was hoping you’d walk me through this property. I was told it abuts yours, so I assume you are acquainted with it.”

“You’d be right. I hope that’s okay?”

“More than. I was counting on it.” She grinned. “I heard there’s a lake in there.”

He nodded. “Most people don’t know about it, since there’s so much brush between here and there, but if you don’t mind tromping through the woods a ways and thick brush, I’d be happy to show you the best kept secret on Wildflower Island.”

“I’d like that very much. Thanks.”

He nodded toward her feet. “I hope you brought something to wear other than those sandals.”

She strode to the back of her Jeep and pulled out a pair of socks and hiking boots.

Chase nodded in approval. “Might as well leave your purse here. No one will bother it.”

“Where I come from that’s an invitation for trouble.” She slid the long strap over her head and across her body then leaned against the bumper and changed her footwear. She might look like a city girl, but as a kid, she’d spent many hours tromping through the woods near their home in Issaquah. “I’ve seen the map and pictures, but what can you tell me about this land?” She finished tying her boots, tossed her sandals into the Jeep, then locked up.

“Not much to tell really. It speaks for itself.”

“Any wild animals?”

“The normal assortment. Deer, squirrels, birds. Nothing too dangerous.”

“Good.” She had a healthy respect for wildlife and didn’t want a run-in with an angry bear or mountain lion. She admired his confident stride as he broke their trail. Birds twittered and a gentle breeze swayed the fir tree branches. Untouched beauty surrounded them, and for a moment she hesitated. Maybe developing this side of the island wasn’t the best idea after all. For the most part the island remained in the past, and that was its charm. Would building a modern resort facility ruin the feel of Wildflower Island? Would not building it destroy her future with Hunt Enterprises?

****

C
HASE BLAZED THROUGH
the woods, anxious to get this tour over with. Too bad Piper was here to change the island; otherwise they might become friends. She seemed nice enough. She had good taste in vehicles too. He liked her Jeep and had considered getting one not too long ago. It was hard to find fault with her, other than her reason for being here.

He glanced over his shoulder and grinned. Miss Hunt’s mouth hung open and her head tilted up as she gazed around. At this rate she was liable to trip or twist an ankle, but he couldn’t blame her. The birds loved this side of the island with all the untouched vegetation. If he closed his eyes and listened, he could imagine they were in a rain forest with the racket the birds were making.

“They are really something,” Piper said. “Are the birds always this loud?”

“I don’t come here often, but I’d guess not.” He stopped and turned. “Are you ready to see the lake?”

Her eyes glowed. “Yes,” she whispered.

He parted the foliage between them and the lake. “What do you think?” The sun glistened on the crystal clear water.

“It’s perfect,” she breathed. “But how? No one has been taking care of it.” Childlike delight lit her face.

He sucked in a breath. Piper wasn’t exactly beautiful, but her pert nose and straight dark hair framed her olive toned face nicely. She lacked curves, and her body looked more like a boy’s than a woman’s. Funny thing was, it looked good on her. She seemed to glow from the inside out drawing him to her. “The lake is untouched. No one comes here to spoil it or mess with the eco-system. It’s raw beauty.” Like the untouched-loveliness of the woman standing before him who didn’t appear to have on any makeup.

She quirked a brow at him, her expression uncertain. “Do I have something on my face?” She lifted a hand to her cheek.

“You’re perfect. Uh… I mean, there’s nothing on your face.”

“Oh. Well, good.” She shielded her eyes with her hand. “I’m almost afraid to develop this,” she said more to herself than to him.

Maybe he’d be able to convince her to change her mind and leave this land untouched. “You ready to go back?”

She shook her head. “I need to take some pictures first.” She pulled a digital camera from her bag and clicked off a multitude of shots pivoting from one viewpoint to another. “I could do this for hours, but I guess I have what I need.” She put the camera away and shot him a breathtaking grin. “Okay. I’m ready now.”

He tromped past her and led the way out. “Are you staying on the island or heading back to Seattle?”

“I have a room at the Wildflower-Bed-and-Breakfast. Do you know the place?”

“I sure do. I helped paint the exterior not all that long ago. It’s real nice. The cook is the best on the island, and the owner is a natural at the B&B business.” He’d gotten to know Nick and Zoe this summer when Nick bought the bed-and-breakfast from the former owners. The man was a medical doctor turned host, and he hadn’t wasted any time staking a claim on Zoe, his cook and housekeeper. They were a nice couple. He imagined they’d get married one day soon, but he hadn’t heard the official announcement yet.

“Wonderful. I’m hoping to steal her to be the executive chef for the restaurant I have planned.”

Piper had a better chance of the town council approving this development than getting Zoe to leave her future husband’s B&B to cook someplace else. He glanced over his shoulder and noticed her face had turned red. “Are you okay? Do I need to slow down?”