Adored (Seven Brides Seven Brothers Pelican Bay Book 2) Read online

  His brother grimaced. “I don’t mean to. It’s just difficult. None of you have ever served in the military. You wouldn’t understand.”

  “Try me. I’m a great listener. I know you lost your best friend over there. That’s not something you just get over with the snap of a finger.”

  Heath opened his mouth to respond just as the door opened heralding Paolo’s arrival. Caleb wanted to groan at Paolo’s ill-timed arrival.

  Heath turned back to Caleb. “Can I come stay with you or not? It will only be until I can find some other digs.” His gaze was intense.

  Caleb nodded. “Of course you can. My doors are always open. I’ll make another set of keys tonight.”

  Heath jumped up from his seat. “I’ll give you a call later.” He patted Paolo on the shoulder as he walked past him and out the back door of the kitchen.

  Once he was gone Paolo locked eyes with Caleb. “Did I interrupt something?” he asked.

  Caleb shook his head. “It doesn’t matter, Paolo. Getting anything out of Heath these days is near impossible. He’s changed, my friend.”

  Paolo nodded. “It’s understandable. The horrors of war are in his eyes.”

  Caleb frowned. “What do you mean by that?”

  “I’ve seen it a lot. Soldiers come back and it’s all there in their eyes. The pain. The scars. The losses.” He shrugged. “I see it in Heath’s eyes.”

  As Paolo walked toward the stove to turn it on, Caleb found himself wondering what had happened to his brother that was so painful he couldn’t reveal it to his loved ones. Ever since they were kids the Donahue siblings had shared everything. Secrets were few and far between. But all that had changed since Heath’s return. Heath was brooding and angry. Somehow or other, Caleb would figure out what had transpired over in the Middle East that had altered his brother so drastically. If his brother was drowning, he wasn’t going to sit around without handing him a life preserver.

  The Donahue family stuck together. Donahue strong was their family motto, handed down to them by their father, Jude. He, along with his own three brothers, had coined the phrase growing up in New England. It was now the mantra of the Donahue siblings of Pelican Bay. No matter what challenges were thrown their way, they had vowed to stick together and support one another. This time would be no different.

  Caleb shook off his worries about Heath. It was time to buckle down and get ready for the lunch crowd. As his other staff members began to pile in to the bistro, Caleb couldn’t help but reflect on his meeting with Addie Fontaine. Things were about to change at the Blue Bayou. He would ask Paolo to be head chef. It would be a wise move. He prayed it was all for the good of his business.

  The question was, would Addie be a breath of fresh air for the bistro or an albatross around his neck?

  **

  Addie went through the rest of her day with a spring in her step and a smile etched on her face. She felt optimistic about working with Caleb Donahue. Perhaps her father had been trying to do something nice for her. Maybe he’d viewed this as a great place for her to cut her teeth in the business world. This could be a wonderful opportunity to bridge the gap between herself and daddy. Maybe after all this time they would forge a close bond. She really didn’t care about being his heir. That was her mother’s concern and she didn’t want to make that a focus of her life.

  “How was your meeting with your new partner?” Laurel Woods, Addie’s best friend, had invited her over to her house for dinner. They were sitting in Laurel’s back yard eating steaks hot from the grill, corn on the cob and potato salad that melted in Addie’s mouth. Addie had brought along a refreshing watermelon salad and cornbread as a contribution toward the meal.

  Addie took a sip of her ice-cold lemonade. “It was fine, which was a relief. I wasn’t expecting him to be so nice. He was a bit brusque at first, but he mellowed out.”

  “That’s great. I know how much you’ve been wanting to sink your teeth into a professional challenge. Now you have a chance to prove yourself.”

  “Yes, although I hate that Caleb is smack dab in the middle. It’s not really fair that he’s all tied up in this. He was happy running the Blue Bayou all by himself without interference.”

  Her friend’s eyes widened. “Did he say that?”

  Addie laughed. “He didn’t have to say it. It was written all over his face. He was fairly fierce at first. Daddy didn’t give him any warning about my involvement.”

  Laurel shrugged. “That’s the price of business, I suppose.” She leaned across the table. “So tell me about him. Is he handsome?”

  Addie felt her cheeks blush. “I guess.” She ducked her head. “Who am I kidding? He’s really nice looking. Warm brown skin. A great smile. Eyes that seem all-knowing. I don’t know why, but I have the feeling he’s a really good person. It just radiates from him.”

  “Really, now?” Laurel asked, wagging her eyebrows. “That’ll make work interesting.”

  Addie coughed, then shook her head fiercely. “No mixing business with pleasure. Succeeding in this endeavor is my number one priority. I want to do it for myself. Not just to make inroads with my father.”

  “Who says you can’t get to know Caleb Donahue in the process?” Laurel asked. She looked Addie up and down. The expression on Laurel’s face looked as if she’d smelled something rank. “Can I ask you a question? Did you wear that outfit to your meeting with Caleb?”

  “Yes,” Addie said with a nod. “I wanted to wear my favorite skirt. It always brings me good luck.”

  Laurel sputtered on her lemonade. “Addie, I love you to pieces, but that skirt is terrible.”

  “What’s wrong with it?” Addie asked, surprised by Laurel’s comment. Her friend was one of the most supportive people she’d ever met.

  Laurel made a face. “I remember that skirt from freshman year in college. And the blouse looks as if it’s four sizes too large for you.” She wrinkled her nose. “You’re going to be working at a trendy bistro, which means you need to look more current. That won’t cut it.”

  “I hate being trendy,” Addie said with a pout. “That’s not me at all. It’s important that I feel like myself.”

  “Addie, I’m your best friend. And I’m going to be brutally honest with you. You’re a beautiful woman. Not only on the outside, but your heart is as solid as they come.”

  Addie frowned. Laurel was being as subtle as a bull in a China shop. “But? I can hear a but coming.”

  Laurel threw her hands up in the air. “You hide your light under a bushel.”

  Addie knew the expression well. Her grandmother, Genera Fontaine, had used it time and time again. Nana had always been of the belief that Addie hid herself away from the world. Addie willed away the painful memories. Nana had been right in a sense. Ever since losing her twin sister, she’d wanted to shield herself from life’s painful moments. The tragedy had made her turn inward. Hiding herself away helped ease that pain.

  “I don’t like being noticed.” Addie surprised herself with her admission.

  “Because of Tabitha?” Laurel asked in a soft voice.

  Hearing her sister’s name felt like a jolt to the system. For the past ten years, they’d avoided saying Tabitha’s name out loud. The pain cut too deep. For Addie, losing her twin had been like losing the best part of herself. And she was still finding it difficult to navigate the world without such a large piece of her soul.

  Addie shrugged. “Tabitha was the glamorous twin. She was the one who was an expert at putting on makeup and creating beautiful outfits from her designs. She was the one who turned heads wherever we went.”

  “That’s not exactly true. You both radiated like the sun. And what you never realized is that the two of you were so alike but so different at the same time. Both delightful.” Laurel reached across the table and grabbed Addie’s hands.

  “Addie, you’ve hidden long enough. Tab loved you more than anything. She wouldn’t want you to be hiding behind those thick glasses and long skirts. You’re
a woman of faith. Do you really think God wants his precious ruby not to shimmer and sparkle?”

  “Laurel, I wouldn’t even feel like myself without them.” She hung her head. “It’s almost like a security blanket at this point.”

  Laurel clapped her hands together. “Well then, it’s a good thing you have me in your corner.”

  Tears pooled in her eyes. “Your friendship means the world to me.”

  “Baby steps, my friend. Baby steps. I happen to know you have a new set of glasses. Ones that are far more flattering. Not to mention those contact lenses you were fitted for a few months ago. I’m not saying you need to change, Addie. But as one of your oldest and dearest friends, I just want you to know that it’s okay for you to shine.”

  Addie sniffled and wiped away a stray tear. “On some level I know it’s okay to shine, but it’s always felt as if that was Tab’s job. It was all so effortless for her. I always hung in her shadow. I have to admit it felt comfortable. I need to adjust my thinking. Baby steps? You promise?”

  “I promise, my friend.” She reached for her lemonade glass. “Let’s make a toast. To new beginnings!”

  With a trembling hand, Addie reached for her glass and raised it to clink against Laurel’s. “To new beginnings,” she said in a trembling voice.

  She silently prayed for courage to be the best version of herself possible. And she knew it had nothing to do with her outward appearance, although she did need to make some tweaks in that area. She’d never gotten past losing Tabitha. Her other half. And, in order to move forward with her future, she needed to deal with it. Addie needed to get closure and to figure out who she was past being Tabitha’s twin and the daughter of a rich and famous man.

  **

  Before the evening was over, Laurel had given Addie a few outfits to try on from her closet. Laurel worked at one of the largest real estate companies in the Southeast. She was a consummate professional who always managed to look fantastic in a wide assortment of clothing. Although it had been a tad bit painful to hear Laurel’s opinion of her fashion sense, Addie trusted her best friend’s opinion. She knew Laurel only wanted the best for her. That knowledge helped Addie realize she needed to make some changes.

  “You look sharp!” Laurel raved as she stood before her in a navy skirt that skimmed her knees and a white sleeveless silk shirt.

  Addie frowned. “It’s not too much. Too clingy?”

  Laurel gestured toward the full-length mirror that stood in her bedroom. “Don’t take my word for it. Take a look at yourself.”

  Addie stepped in front of the mirror. She let out a shocked gasp. The skirt fit her to perfection. It wasn’t tight at all, even though it felt way different than the loose, flowing skirts she’d been wearing for as long as she could remember. Laurel was right. She looked crisp, clean and as sharp as a tack. For a few moments she simply stood and admired herself.

  “Like what you see?” Laurel teased. With her peachy complexion and green eyes, Laurel’s cheery disposition only added to her beauty.

  Addie nodded. She felt a bit shy about complimenting herself. It wasn’t her way. She so very rarely thought highly of herself, which was fairly tragic. “I never dress like this, but I like the way I look.”

  Laurel threw back her head and laughed. “Well, that’s a start. I think you look terrific. And I think Caleb Donahue will think so as well.”

  Addie scowled. “I’m not doing this for Caleb Donahue. Like you said, I need to dress the part and portray myself in a professional light.”

  Laurel gestured toward the clothes she’d gathered from her closet and placed on the bed. “Have at it. There’s a whole bunch of clothes sitting over there. Anything you like feel free to take.”

  On impulse, Addie stepped toward Laurel and threw her arms around her. She was suddenly filled with emotion at Laurel’s kindness. She didn’t have a whole bunch of close friends. It made the ache from missing Tabitha ease up somewhat. She would never fully get over losing her sister, but having a supportive and loving friend like Laurel meant the world to her.

  God had truly blessed her with Laurel’s friendship. He had heard her call and answered her prayer. Addie had other prayers she’d whispered to God in the hours between darkness and dawn. She’d asked for healing within her family and a love to call her own. Addie had never been in love. She’d never had a man tell her she was the earth, moon, sun and the stars. And she wanted love in her life so much. Sometimes the loneliness gnawed away at her. God didn’t want his children to be alone. He wanted them to love and be loved.

  So much was changing in her life. She was changing. Perhaps love would find her. God willing, she would be able to walk through life with someone who loved and understood her. A man who would embrace her, flaws and all. Someone who saw greatness in Addie and inspired her to be the best version of herself possible. It was her most fervent wish.

  “You never know what burdens a person is carrying on their shoulders. Treat them with kindness and respect. Always.”

  Daniel Donahue

  Chapter Three

  Addie Fontaine was a complete enigma, Caleb realized. Who was she? He wondered. What made her tick? Caleb hadn’t even realized Sebastian Fontaine had children. Sebastian was a larger than life figure whose name and face were constantly splashed all over the tabloids. He had amassed a fortune back in his younger years and now controlled his empire with an iron fist. Reportedly a lady’s man, Sebastian seemed to enjoying living on the edge. Addie seemed as different from Sebastian as an onyx night from a glorious morning.

  Caleb hadn’t counted on Addie crashing into his life. She had basically come out of nowhere and asserted herself as his partner at the Blue Bayou. It wasn’t an ideal situation, but Caleb was determined not to let anyone or anything get in the way of his dream. And there would be an opportunity in the future to buy himself out of the partnership with Fontaine. He just had to keep his cool and not allow himself to get derailed by the situation.

  Patience was a virtue after all.

  This morning Addie had arrived at work looking strikingly different than the first time Caleb had seen her. He couldn’t get over how Addie looked. Without the bottle thick eyeglasses, he could see her expressive eyes. And she had the longest eyelashes he’d ever seen in his entire life. He wasn’t sure if she was wearing eyeliner or something, but her brown eyes really popped. His brothers would laugh at him for using this expression, but Addie’s eyes were mesmerizing.

  Caleb had to stop himself from staring. Or commenting! He knew from his younger sister, Shayla, that sometimes it was best for a man to hold his tongue. He didn’t want to make a big deal of her ditching the glasses, since Addie might think he was saying she hadn’t looked good before.

  He wasn’t looking for anything romantic with Addie, but he couldn’t deny the pull in her direction. Caleb had always felt eyes truly were the mirrors of the soul. Addie’s eyes were exquisite. He hadn’t experienced this type of reaction toward a woman for quite some time. Although Caleb wasn’t blind to attractive women, he was taking a hiatus from relationships.

  All of a sudden, his ex-girlfriend’s face flashed before his eyes. Felicity Mathers had wrapped him completely around her finger in their one-year relationship. Beautiful and polished, Felicity was a news anchor. She was glamourous and eye-catching. She had made him feel things no other woman had, and in the end, she had dished out more pain to Caleb than he’d ever imagined possible.

  Although Caleb had always struggled with commitment issues, Felicity had inspired him to dream of white picket fences, a house full of squabbling kids and a summer home in Breeze Point, Cape Cod where his Donahue cousins lived. But their relationship had imploded when Caleb had discovered Felicity was cheating on him with another guy. His agony had been almost unbearable. And when he’d confronted Felicity—ready to forgive her—she’d been cavalier about her infidelity. She had cruelly turned things around on him, blaming Caleb for her having cheated on him. In short, Felicity had told hi
m he hadn’t been enough for a woman of her status.

  Even though he’d been head-over-heels in love with her, Caleb had known that Felicity would continue to smash his heart into bits if he allowed her to do so. Walking away from her had been incredibly painful. Even though he had wanted to love her for a lifetime, he was practical enough to know it was never going to happen. Fidelity and truth were way too important to him. Once bitten, twice shy.

  In the dark recesses of his mind, he knew it was all tied up in his birth mother. Letting go of the people he loved was a constant struggle. It gnawed at him.

  “Caleb.” He heard Addie saying his name. It jolted him out of his thoughts about Felicity.

  He looked up. Addie was standing a few feet away from him in the doorway.

  “Sorry,” he said. “I was daydreaming for a second.”

  “You’re allowed, Caleb, considering how hard you work. I’m going to sit in the back office and go over some paperwork,” Addie said. “I’m going to do a little double checking on a few items.”

  Caleb frowned. “Did you see something that didn’t add up?”

  “No, it’s nothing alarming,” she said in a hesitant voice. “I’m really good with numbers, so certain things jumped out at me. It’s not a big deal, but it’s always best to have our records as clear and precise as possible. Who has been keeping your books?”

  Caleb felt foolish. He made a face. “Me. I’ve been doing them.”

  Addie’s face fell. “Caleb. You’ve been doing way too much around here. You should feel really proud about what you’ve achieved, but you need to delegate. You’re wearing too many hats. You’re the owner. Head chef. Social media person. And now you’re telling me that you’ve been keeping the books?” She shook her head in a stern fashion. “This place is making money. It won’t kill you to delegate certain responsibilities.”

  Addie was right. He’d been trying to rein in expenses by not hiring more staff. It had led to him feeling exhausted and overwhelmed. Success at all costs had been his mantra, but now that the bistro was bringing in a nice chunk of change, he could take a deep breath and allow others to chip in more. It was counterintuitive to the way he’d been thinking, but he knew it was for the best.