Ginny Baird's Blog: The Story Behind the Story... - Posts Tagged "ghost"
The House at Homecoming Cove (Preview!)
Dear Readers,
I’m excited to offer you this preview of my upcoming novel The House at Homecoming Cove, a spooky romantic mystery that releases on October 15th, 2015. I’ve included a “Sneak Peek” of the action here for your enjoyment. I hope you’ll purchase the book to see how Stone and Melissa’s story ends.
With best wishes for happy reading!
Ginny
From New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author GINNY BAIRD… A breathtaking romantic mystery set at the Virginia Eastern Shore.
The House at Homecoming Cove
Seeking out solitude in which to work, New York City music composer Melissa Carter rents a century-old farmhouse on the Virginia Eastern Shore. There, she meets a loner with rugged good looks and smoldering gray eyes, who has long-term ties to the property. When strange things start occurring at the historic home, the handsome groundskeeper comes to her aid, but is Melissa really safer in his arms?
When Stone Thomas meets a pretty northerner with a musical gift, he's immediately drawn to her. He's also determined to protect her from the increasingly odd happenings at the fifty-acre farm where he's employed. Soon, Stone finds himself wondering whether he and beautiful Melissa might share a future. Yet the secrets of Homecoming Cove threaten to drive them apart.
The House at Homecoming Cove
Her words came out in a whisper. “Thank you for everything. For coming to my rescue, for…” She was saying goodbye, yet her chin tilted toward his and she took a step closer, her lips barely parted, inviting. She peered up at him and met his gaze with a look that was surprisingly heated, decidedly predatory. There was no mistaking it. Melissa wanted him too. That was all the encouragement Stone needed to take her in his arms and bring his mouth down on hers with a hungry desire that surpassed all expectations.
Melissa gasped with delight and sighed into his kiss. Stone’s empty mug slid from her grasp and landed somewhere on the sofa. Stone pressed his eager body to hers and ran his hands up her back, threading his fingers through her hair. She was glorious, beautiful, her gaze sparking with reciprocal passion. Stone groaned and kissed her again, savoring the taste of her, delighting in the sweetness of her body molded to his, as his blood pumped harder and his heart beat like a kettledrum gone out of control. It was more than a kiss; it was like coming home.
“Stone,” she said breathlessly. He opened his eyes to find his cheeks nestled between her palms.
She looked up at him her face flushed with longing. “I think you’d better go.”
“Yeah,” he said, his pulse pounding. “I’d better go."
Thunder boomed and rain slapped the windowpanes, while the fire hissed and moaned.
Neither one moved.
“Melissa,” Stone whispered, brushing his lips over hers. “You and me… It’s like… I don’t know.”
“I know,” she replied, meeting his kiss. “I feel it too.”
Buy
The House at Homecoming Cove
Amazon
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B011W13P52
iBooks
https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/the-...
Kobo
https://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebo...
Barnes & Noble
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-h...
I’m excited to offer you this preview of my upcoming novel The House at Homecoming Cove, a spooky romantic mystery that releases on October 15th, 2015. I’ve included a “Sneak Peek” of the action here for your enjoyment. I hope you’ll purchase the book to see how Stone and Melissa’s story ends.
With best wishes for happy reading!
Ginny
From New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author GINNY BAIRD… A breathtaking romantic mystery set at the Virginia Eastern Shore.
The House at Homecoming Cove
Seeking out solitude in which to work, New York City music composer Melissa Carter rents a century-old farmhouse on the Virginia Eastern Shore. There, she meets a loner with rugged good looks and smoldering gray eyes, who has long-term ties to the property. When strange things start occurring at the historic home, the handsome groundskeeper comes to her aid, but is Melissa really safer in his arms?
When Stone Thomas meets a pretty northerner with a musical gift, he's immediately drawn to her. He's also determined to protect her from the increasingly odd happenings at the fifty-acre farm where he's employed. Soon, Stone finds himself wondering whether he and beautiful Melissa might share a future. Yet the secrets of Homecoming Cove threaten to drive them apart.
The House at Homecoming Cove
Her words came out in a whisper. “Thank you for everything. For coming to my rescue, for…” She was saying goodbye, yet her chin tilted toward his and she took a step closer, her lips barely parted, inviting. She peered up at him and met his gaze with a look that was surprisingly heated, decidedly predatory. There was no mistaking it. Melissa wanted him too. That was all the encouragement Stone needed to take her in his arms and bring his mouth down on hers with a hungry desire that surpassed all expectations.
Melissa gasped with delight and sighed into his kiss. Stone’s empty mug slid from her grasp and landed somewhere on the sofa. Stone pressed his eager body to hers and ran his hands up her back, threading his fingers through her hair. She was glorious, beautiful, her gaze sparking with reciprocal passion. Stone groaned and kissed her again, savoring the taste of her, delighting in the sweetness of her body molded to his, as his blood pumped harder and his heart beat like a kettledrum gone out of control. It was more than a kiss; it was like coming home.
“Stone,” she said breathlessly. He opened his eyes to find his cheeks nestled between her palms.
She looked up at him her face flushed with longing. “I think you’d better go.”
“Yeah,” he said, his pulse pounding. “I’d better go."
Thunder boomed and rain slapped the windowpanes, while the fire hissed and moaned.
Neither one moved.
“Melissa,” Stone whispered, brushing his lips over hers. “You and me… It’s like… I don’t know.”
“I know,” she replied, meeting his kiss. “I feel it too.”
BuyThe House at Homecoming Cove
Amazon
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B011W13P52
iBooks
https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/the-...
Kobo
https://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebo...
Barnes & Noble
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-h...
The House at Homecoming Cove (Chapter One)
Enjoy the first chapter of my new book! Releasing October 15th, 2015.
The House at Homecoming Cove
(Romantic Ghost Stories, Book 3)
by Ginny Baird
CHAPTER ONE
Melissa Carter opened the door to the century-old farmhouse and fell back a step at the onslaught of musty air. Autumn winds blew, rustling the gold and brown leaves on the tall oak overarching the building’s stone stoop. Daylight was fading, causing the sky to take on a pinkish cast as dusk closed in. Melissa drew in a breath and pressed ahead, a large bag of groceries clutched in one arm. She’d been warned to bring supplies, as the nearest grocery store was more than thirty miles away, and she had. Boxes loaded with canned goods, rice, and pasta sat in the trunk of her SUV. She’d filled her cooler to the brim with meats and dairy products, and planned to freeze what she could for later. She’d also packed plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables to supplement her diet well into the next week. Then, she could think about venturing into the nearby town to purchase any incidental fill-in items. But basically, she was set. All she needed now was a piano.
Melissa stepped over the threshold and into the foyer of the sprawling old home. Heartpine floors shone beneath antique oriental rugs. The air smelled stale, but the floor was polished and things seemed in good order. Amazingly, nothing was caked with dust. The caretaker Melissa had made arrangements with obviously did a good job of keeping up the place, even though it was scarcely occupied off season. Melissa peered into the dining room to her left, finding an old farm table big enough to accommodate twelve people positioned beside a wood-burning fireplace. She spied a kitchen center island straight ahead of her and a sink framed by a large window. But when Melissa turned to her right, she tightened her hold on the paper bag. The living room was breathtaking, with a huge comfy couch and side chairs, and two walls boasting enormous windows overlooking the water. The room was decorated with distressed furniture touches: an old sea trunk here, a weathered bookcase teeming with tomes there, and low end tables with impressive brass drawer pulls. Flickering light shimmered through beveled glass panes that appeared to be as old as the house, and she could see it bouncing off the sparkling cove, from which the property had taken its name. The House at Homecoming Cove sat on fifty acres of land on a portion of Virginia’s Eastern Shore adjoining the Chesapeake Bay and its snarl of creeks and rivers. Small gusts of wind kicked up ripples across the glassy surface of the water, ringed on three sides by narrow, sandy banks and swaying trees.
Melissa walked toward the windows, mesmerized by the stunning natural beauty of her surroundings. She now saw this room also included a fireplace and had a back door that led to a wide screened porch overlooking a patio. A grassy stretch of land abutted a dock that extended into the water, and a private beach, accessible by a footpath from the patio, sat at the base of an embankment. The best part was that there wasn’t another soul around. The house’s caretaker, Captain Bill, had assured her there was nowhere more remote in October than this part of Virginia. Melissa suddenly heard a sharp pinging sound like metal clanking against metal. She strode into the kitchen and set her bag down on the counter, trying to discern where the noise was coming from. The kitchen seemed modest but well appointed, its stainless steel appliances appearing nearly new. Clank, clank, clank… There it was again!
Melissa’s eye caught on a structure outside the kitchen window. A barn was directly behind the house, so she’d failed to see it before. It sat maybe thirty feet from the main house beside a run-down garden surrounded by a white picket fence. While he’d obviously seen to the house, gardening didn’t appear to be Captain Bill’s strong suit. She heard the sound again and placed it as coming from the barn. Of course! Captain Bill! He hadn’t said he’d be here to greet her. Instead, he’d indicated he’d leave the door unlocked and she could let herself in. No one locked anything in these parts, according to Captain Bill. Still, Melissa had insisted as part of their arrangement that he’d provide her with a key. His creaky old voice had rattled back to her through the telephone. If I can find it.
When Melissa had telephoned to rent this property, she’d learned that Captain Bill had run a deep-sea fishing operation for many years. He’d led charters out from Port Scarborough, the nearby harbor town, and into the Atlantic Ocean by way of the Chesapeake Bay. Now, he’d retired from that and mostly spent his days looking after this place and others like it, where the owners lived out of state and rented the properties to vacationers during the summer months. Melissa had heard of the Virginia Eastern Shore from a couple of colleagues who regularly vacationed here from New York. She’d been seeking someplace near the water, yet quiet and undisturbed. They’d assured her the area surrounding Port Scarborough would fit the bill.
Melissa exited by the back door, crossing through the screened porch that housed cushioned wicker furniture. It would be a lovely spot to sit and enjoy her morning coffee while gazing out at the cove, provided mornings here weren’t too cold. Melissa raised the zipper on her jacket to combat a biting chill as she strode toward the barn, autumn grass crunching beneath her boots. When she rounded the corner to the barn’s front door, she spied first the bumper of a truck and then the whole thing. It was a beat-up blue Chevy from at least a few decades back. Maybe more than a few. Yep, has to be the captain.
She approached the barn door, finding it partially ajar. The clanking grew louder. “Hello!” Melissa called above the racket. “Captain—?” Melissa spied a lean figure crouched over a mower and abruptly stopped. This certainly wasn’t the older gentleman she’d expected. A hunky younger man with stunning gray eyes looked up at her, and Melissa felt a lightning bolt of recognition. But that was impossible. She’d clearly never seen this guy before. He appeared to be around her age, perhaps a few years older.
Stone Thomas stopped hammering the metal blade of the mower with his wrench and stared at the woman who’d just entered the barn. For a moment he thought his eyes were playing tricks on him. Then he hoped to goodness they weren’t. There, in the open barn door, stood the most engagingly beautiful woman Stone had encountered in years. Maybe ever. Honey-blond hair cascaded past her shoulders as she gazed at him with big blue eyes set in an angelic face. She couldn’t have stood much over five feet and packed what was apparently a dynamite figure into black stretch jeans. Her knee-high boots matched the worn appearance of her brushed leather jacket, which was zipped all the way up beneath a white winter scarf. Stone’s pulse pounded and then his heart beat faster as she trapped him in an inquiring gaze. “Well, howdy,” he said, straightening to greet her.
“Captain…Bill?” she asked weakly. Was it Stone’s imagination or did a hint of color sweep her cheeks?
“Hardly that,” he said. “But give me a few years and you might mistake us for twins.” He shot her a grin, but she didn’t take the bait. Instead, she just blinked at him like she’d seen a ghost. Stone dusted his palms against his jeans to wipe off any grime, feeling foolish. “Sorry about that. I guess I didn’t miss my calling as a stand-up comedian.” He extended a hand. “Stone Thomas.” The woman eyed him warily, but held her ground.
“Is the captain around?” she asked coolly. “He said he might stop by, but didn’t mention anyone else being here.”
Stone lowered his hand, which had been dangling in midair, and slid it into his jeans pocket. “He said to tell you he’ll drop by tomorrow.”
“Tomorrow?” she asked with dismay. “But he promised to—”
“Bring you this?” Stone pulled the key from his pocket and held it toward her, palm up. “You’re lucky he found it. I don’t think anyone’s used it in years.”
She tentatively inched forward and took the key from him. “Thanks,” she said, forcing a little smile. She appeared to be viewing him oddly, surveying his face. What had Stone forgotten to do? Shave this morning? He rubbed his scratchy chin, realizing that ritual had slipped his mind.
The woman motioned toward the John Deere riding mower that he’d laid on its side. “Is that where all the clanking was coming from?”
Stone shrugged and displayed his wrench. “It’s got a bent blade. I was aiming to fix it, before putting it up for the winter.”
“You…work here?” she asked on a tentative breath that clouded the air. The temperatures had taken a dip and now hovered just above freezing. Stone had shut off the outdoor taps in preparation for the first frost of the season.
“I keep things tidy around the yard.” His eyes settled on hers. “It’s an awfully big one.”
Melissa felt herself color again in spite of herself. The guy was over six feet tall and extremely handsome in a rough-hewn way, with a chiseled face and a manly jaw.
“That’s what I gather.” She hesitated, then asked, her brow raised, “Are you about finished?”
Stone pressed his lips together to keep from chuckling. “Almost done. I’m sorry if the racket disturbed you. I honestly didn’t know you were here. The captain said you weren’t expected till later this evening.”
“Of course.” She exhaled softly, feeling more at ease in his company. Naturally, she’d surprised Stone just as much as he’d surprised her. “Now it’s my turn to apologize for showing up early.”
“No need. The house is yours for a month, I hear.”
“At least.”
“You planning on buying?”
“Beg pardon?” she asked.
Stone carefully surveyed her. “You did know it’s for sale?”
Melissa wasn’t sure she liked the sound of this. She’d come here expecting solitude, not a barrage of realtors and prospective buyers traipsing through her rental home. “You mean that while I’m here, agents will be—?”
Stone shook his head. “Nothing like that. Fact is, I don’t believe anyone’s come to see it in…” He scratched his head as if remembering. “Well, not in a very long time.”
“Is there something wrong with the house?” she asked quietly.
“That place?” He motioned with his wrench through the open barn door. “Not a thing. It’s as grand as they come. Might even buy it myself one day.”
“I see.” He caught her eyes on the wrench and gingerly set it down beside him on a bound bale of hay.
Melissa suddenly felt silly for acting standoffish. Stone had been nothing but cordial and she’d blatantly blown off his initial greeting. “I’m sorry if I was rude earlier.”
“Rude?”
“When you introduced yourself.”
A smile tickled his lips. “I’d never blame a lady for being cautious. Particularly when she comes across the likes of me.”
Melissa’s eyes did a quick sweep of Stone’s muscled chest and arms. A field jacket hung across the back of a sawhorse beside him. He’d obviously removed the jacket and rolled up his flannel shirt’s sleeves to tackle the job with the mower. Stone was well built and looked like he was used to working with his hands. His dark brown hair was cut short and stubble covered his chin.
“When I didn’t take your hand, I didn’t mean to imply—”
“No implications taken,” he said graciously. Soulful gray eyes met hers. They reminded her of a storm at the ocean. “Don’t sweat it.”
Even as he said it, she broiled with heat beneath her snug leather jacket. Stone was incredibly handsome, and unless he owned a ring but never wore it, he was also single. And single men were just one of the things Melissa had come here to get away from. Particularly drop-dead gorgeous single men who spoke with a slight Southside Virginia southern twang.
She spoke past the lump in her throat. “Thanks for bringing by the key.”
“You be sure to lock up tight now,” he said, teasing her. Mischief danced in his eyes and Melissa felt dizzy from Stone’s perusal. “I will. And, by the way,” she added a bit breathlessly, “my name’s Melissa.”
A slow grin spread across his gorgeous face. “Just Melissa?”
Melissa’s cheeks flamed. “Carter!” she spouted quickly, before backing away. Then she spun around and hurried toward the house before she could think or do anything foolish, such as ask Stone more about himself. Like where he lived, or how often he’d be around.
Not that she cared if Stone came by.
If he’d been hired to help oversee the place, who was she to stand in the way? As long as he kept himself outdoors, things would be fine. Besides, how much tending could the lawn really need at this time of year? Melissa decided she could always ask Captain Bill about this tomorrow and put her mind at ease. Since she’d come to work at Homecoming Cove, she couldn’t have folks showing up unexpectedly. If the captain could supply some sort of maintenance schedule, that would help.
Melissa entered the house, then busied herself with carrying groceries and luggage in from her SUV. She became so focused on her task, she nearly forgot about the handsome man in the barn—until his truck rumbled past her on the gravel drive as she carted in her final load. Melissa turned on the stoop to wave good-bye, and Stone sent her a mock captain’s salute from inside the cab. A giggle escaped her, then Melissa stopped and caught her breath. In a very weird way, she had the sense that she’d experienced that exchange with Stone before.
Melissa stood there, her heart pounding, as Stone’s truck drove away. His actions must have recalled her to an earlier time, something she couldn’t quite place. Or maybe she was just feeling giddy because a good-looking guy had smiled in her direction. Not that she’d been encouraging smiles from eligible men lately. Most often, she turned and looked the other way. Peter had definitely messed with her head, and she needed time to get it together. She hoped this working vacation at the Virginia Eastern Shore would provide the opportunity for that.
Preorder
The House at Homecoming Cove
Amazon
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B011W13P52
iBooks
https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/the-...
Kobo
https://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebo...
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http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-h...
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The House at Homecoming Cove(Romantic Ghost Stories, Book 3)
by Ginny Baird
CHAPTER ONE
Melissa Carter opened the door to the century-old farmhouse and fell back a step at the onslaught of musty air. Autumn winds blew, rustling the gold and brown leaves on the tall oak overarching the building’s stone stoop. Daylight was fading, causing the sky to take on a pinkish cast as dusk closed in. Melissa drew in a breath and pressed ahead, a large bag of groceries clutched in one arm. She’d been warned to bring supplies, as the nearest grocery store was more than thirty miles away, and she had. Boxes loaded with canned goods, rice, and pasta sat in the trunk of her SUV. She’d filled her cooler to the brim with meats and dairy products, and planned to freeze what she could for later. She’d also packed plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables to supplement her diet well into the next week. Then, she could think about venturing into the nearby town to purchase any incidental fill-in items. But basically, she was set. All she needed now was a piano.
Melissa stepped over the threshold and into the foyer of the sprawling old home. Heartpine floors shone beneath antique oriental rugs. The air smelled stale, but the floor was polished and things seemed in good order. Amazingly, nothing was caked with dust. The caretaker Melissa had made arrangements with obviously did a good job of keeping up the place, even though it was scarcely occupied off season. Melissa peered into the dining room to her left, finding an old farm table big enough to accommodate twelve people positioned beside a wood-burning fireplace. She spied a kitchen center island straight ahead of her and a sink framed by a large window. But when Melissa turned to her right, she tightened her hold on the paper bag. The living room was breathtaking, with a huge comfy couch and side chairs, and two walls boasting enormous windows overlooking the water. The room was decorated with distressed furniture touches: an old sea trunk here, a weathered bookcase teeming with tomes there, and low end tables with impressive brass drawer pulls. Flickering light shimmered through beveled glass panes that appeared to be as old as the house, and she could see it bouncing off the sparkling cove, from which the property had taken its name. The House at Homecoming Cove sat on fifty acres of land on a portion of Virginia’s Eastern Shore adjoining the Chesapeake Bay and its snarl of creeks and rivers. Small gusts of wind kicked up ripples across the glassy surface of the water, ringed on three sides by narrow, sandy banks and swaying trees.
Melissa walked toward the windows, mesmerized by the stunning natural beauty of her surroundings. She now saw this room also included a fireplace and had a back door that led to a wide screened porch overlooking a patio. A grassy stretch of land abutted a dock that extended into the water, and a private beach, accessible by a footpath from the patio, sat at the base of an embankment. The best part was that there wasn’t another soul around. The house’s caretaker, Captain Bill, had assured her there was nowhere more remote in October than this part of Virginia. Melissa suddenly heard a sharp pinging sound like metal clanking against metal. She strode into the kitchen and set her bag down on the counter, trying to discern where the noise was coming from. The kitchen seemed modest but well appointed, its stainless steel appliances appearing nearly new. Clank, clank, clank… There it was again!
Melissa’s eye caught on a structure outside the kitchen window. A barn was directly behind the house, so she’d failed to see it before. It sat maybe thirty feet from the main house beside a run-down garden surrounded by a white picket fence. While he’d obviously seen to the house, gardening didn’t appear to be Captain Bill’s strong suit. She heard the sound again and placed it as coming from the barn. Of course! Captain Bill! He hadn’t said he’d be here to greet her. Instead, he’d indicated he’d leave the door unlocked and she could let herself in. No one locked anything in these parts, according to Captain Bill. Still, Melissa had insisted as part of their arrangement that he’d provide her with a key. His creaky old voice had rattled back to her through the telephone. If I can find it.
When Melissa had telephoned to rent this property, she’d learned that Captain Bill had run a deep-sea fishing operation for many years. He’d led charters out from Port Scarborough, the nearby harbor town, and into the Atlantic Ocean by way of the Chesapeake Bay. Now, he’d retired from that and mostly spent his days looking after this place and others like it, where the owners lived out of state and rented the properties to vacationers during the summer months. Melissa had heard of the Virginia Eastern Shore from a couple of colleagues who regularly vacationed here from New York. She’d been seeking someplace near the water, yet quiet and undisturbed. They’d assured her the area surrounding Port Scarborough would fit the bill.
Melissa exited by the back door, crossing through the screened porch that housed cushioned wicker furniture. It would be a lovely spot to sit and enjoy her morning coffee while gazing out at the cove, provided mornings here weren’t too cold. Melissa raised the zipper on her jacket to combat a biting chill as she strode toward the barn, autumn grass crunching beneath her boots. When she rounded the corner to the barn’s front door, she spied first the bumper of a truck and then the whole thing. It was a beat-up blue Chevy from at least a few decades back. Maybe more than a few. Yep, has to be the captain.
She approached the barn door, finding it partially ajar. The clanking grew louder. “Hello!” Melissa called above the racket. “Captain—?” Melissa spied a lean figure crouched over a mower and abruptly stopped. This certainly wasn’t the older gentleman she’d expected. A hunky younger man with stunning gray eyes looked up at her, and Melissa felt a lightning bolt of recognition. But that was impossible. She’d clearly never seen this guy before. He appeared to be around her age, perhaps a few years older.
Stone Thomas stopped hammering the metal blade of the mower with his wrench and stared at the woman who’d just entered the barn. For a moment he thought his eyes were playing tricks on him. Then he hoped to goodness they weren’t. There, in the open barn door, stood the most engagingly beautiful woman Stone had encountered in years. Maybe ever. Honey-blond hair cascaded past her shoulders as she gazed at him with big blue eyes set in an angelic face. She couldn’t have stood much over five feet and packed what was apparently a dynamite figure into black stretch jeans. Her knee-high boots matched the worn appearance of her brushed leather jacket, which was zipped all the way up beneath a white winter scarf. Stone’s pulse pounded and then his heart beat faster as she trapped him in an inquiring gaze. “Well, howdy,” he said, straightening to greet her.
“Captain…Bill?” she asked weakly. Was it Stone’s imagination or did a hint of color sweep her cheeks?
“Hardly that,” he said. “But give me a few years and you might mistake us for twins.” He shot her a grin, but she didn’t take the bait. Instead, she just blinked at him like she’d seen a ghost. Stone dusted his palms against his jeans to wipe off any grime, feeling foolish. “Sorry about that. I guess I didn’t miss my calling as a stand-up comedian.” He extended a hand. “Stone Thomas.” The woman eyed him warily, but held her ground.
“Is the captain around?” she asked coolly. “He said he might stop by, but didn’t mention anyone else being here.”
Stone lowered his hand, which had been dangling in midair, and slid it into his jeans pocket. “He said to tell you he’ll drop by tomorrow.”
“Tomorrow?” she asked with dismay. “But he promised to—”
“Bring you this?” Stone pulled the key from his pocket and held it toward her, palm up. “You’re lucky he found it. I don’t think anyone’s used it in years.”
She tentatively inched forward and took the key from him. “Thanks,” she said, forcing a little smile. She appeared to be viewing him oddly, surveying his face. What had Stone forgotten to do? Shave this morning? He rubbed his scratchy chin, realizing that ritual had slipped his mind.
The woman motioned toward the John Deere riding mower that he’d laid on its side. “Is that where all the clanking was coming from?”
Stone shrugged and displayed his wrench. “It’s got a bent blade. I was aiming to fix it, before putting it up for the winter.”
“You…work here?” she asked on a tentative breath that clouded the air. The temperatures had taken a dip and now hovered just above freezing. Stone had shut off the outdoor taps in preparation for the first frost of the season.
“I keep things tidy around the yard.” His eyes settled on hers. “It’s an awfully big one.”
Melissa felt herself color again in spite of herself. The guy was over six feet tall and extremely handsome in a rough-hewn way, with a chiseled face and a manly jaw.
“That’s what I gather.” She hesitated, then asked, her brow raised, “Are you about finished?”
Stone pressed his lips together to keep from chuckling. “Almost done. I’m sorry if the racket disturbed you. I honestly didn’t know you were here. The captain said you weren’t expected till later this evening.”
“Of course.” She exhaled softly, feeling more at ease in his company. Naturally, she’d surprised Stone just as much as he’d surprised her. “Now it’s my turn to apologize for showing up early.”
“No need. The house is yours for a month, I hear.”
“At least.”
“You planning on buying?”
“Beg pardon?” she asked.
Stone carefully surveyed her. “You did know it’s for sale?”
Melissa wasn’t sure she liked the sound of this. She’d come here expecting solitude, not a barrage of realtors and prospective buyers traipsing through her rental home. “You mean that while I’m here, agents will be—?”
Stone shook his head. “Nothing like that. Fact is, I don’t believe anyone’s come to see it in…” He scratched his head as if remembering. “Well, not in a very long time.”
“Is there something wrong with the house?” she asked quietly.
“That place?” He motioned with his wrench through the open barn door. “Not a thing. It’s as grand as they come. Might even buy it myself one day.”
“I see.” He caught her eyes on the wrench and gingerly set it down beside him on a bound bale of hay.
Melissa suddenly felt silly for acting standoffish. Stone had been nothing but cordial and she’d blatantly blown off his initial greeting. “I’m sorry if I was rude earlier.”
“Rude?”
“When you introduced yourself.”
A smile tickled his lips. “I’d never blame a lady for being cautious. Particularly when she comes across the likes of me.”
Melissa’s eyes did a quick sweep of Stone’s muscled chest and arms. A field jacket hung across the back of a sawhorse beside him. He’d obviously removed the jacket and rolled up his flannel shirt’s sleeves to tackle the job with the mower. Stone was well built and looked like he was used to working with his hands. His dark brown hair was cut short and stubble covered his chin.
“When I didn’t take your hand, I didn’t mean to imply—”
“No implications taken,” he said graciously. Soulful gray eyes met hers. They reminded her of a storm at the ocean. “Don’t sweat it.”
Even as he said it, she broiled with heat beneath her snug leather jacket. Stone was incredibly handsome, and unless he owned a ring but never wore it, he was also single. And single men were just one of the things Melissa had come here to get away from. Particularly drop-dead gorgeous single men who spoke with a slight Southside Virginia southern twang.
She spoke past the lump in her throat. “Thanks for bringing by the key.”
“You be sure to lock up tight now,” he said, teasing her. Mischief danced in his eyes and Melissa felt dizzy from Stone’s perusal. “I will. And, by the way,” she added a bit breathlessly, “my name’s Melissa.”
A slow grin spread across his gorgeous face. “Just Melissa?”
Melissa’s cheeks flamed. “Carter!” she spouted quickly, before backing away. Then she spun around and hurried toward the house before she could think or do anything foolish, such as ask Stone more about himself. Like where he lived, or how often he’d be around.
Not that she cared if Stone came by.
If he’d been hired to help oversee the place, who was she to stand in the way? As long as he kept himself outdoors, things would be fine. Besides, how much tending could the lawn really need at this time of year? Melissa decided she could always ask Captain Bill about this tomorrow and put her mind at ease. Since she’d come to work at Homecoming Cove, she couldn’t have folks showing up unexpectedly. If the captain could supply some sort of maintenance schedule, that would help.
Melissa entered the house, then busied herself with carrying groceries and luggage in from her SUV. She became so focused on her task, she nearly forgot about the handsome man in the barn—until his truck rumbled past her on the gravel drive as she carted in her final load. Melissa turned on the stoop to wave good-bye, and Stone sent her a mock captain’s salute from inside the cab. A giggle escaped her, then Melissa stopped and caught her breath. In a very weird way, she had the sense that she’d experienced that exchange with Stone before.
Melissa stood there, her heart pounding, as Stone’s truck drove away. His actions must have recalled her to an earlier time, something she couldn’t quite place. Or maybe she was just feeling giddy because a good-looking guy had smiled in her direction. Not that she’d been encouraging smiles from eligible men lately. Most often, she turned and looked the other way. Peter had definitely messed with her head, and she needed time to get it together. She hoped this working vacation at the Virginia Eastern Shore would provide the opportunity for that.
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Hero Stone Thomas answers This or That
I was lucky to catch up with my hero Stone Thomas (from upcoming novel The House at Homecoming Cove) at a local Port Scarborough pub and ask him some intriguing questions. Thanks to Stone for being so candid with his answers, including the ones he dodged...lol.
Q) City or Country?
A) Country
Q) Brunette or blonde?
A) Blonde
Q) Wine or Beer?
A) Whatever my lady's drinking.
Q) Rain or Shine?
A) Rain
Q) Firelight or Candlelight?
A) Both
Q) Fast or Slow?
A) Slow
Q) Heat or Heart?
A) These are intertwined.
Q) Alpha or Beta?
A) Take a wild guess.
Q) Boxers or Briefs?
A) I'm afraid only Melissa knows the answer to that.
Q) Rebel or Dreamer?
A) Dreamer with a cause.
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Heroine Melissa Carter on "Survivor"
Today I’m talking with Melissa Carter, the heroine from my new novel, The House at Homecoming Cove. I was able to track her down during her return trip from New York, during which she’d been conducting business. We’re both traveling south by train.
GINNY
Thank you for taking time to talk to me and answer my questions.
MELISSA
No problem!
(She looks around at the passing countryside.)
It seems we’re both stuck in these seats for a while anyway.
GINNY
First, I wanted to thank you for being such an agreeable heroine. You were very fun to write about.
MELISSA
Thank you. It’s not often a heroine hears that from her writer. Word is some of us can be very big pains.
GINNY
Sort of like Stone’s rich clients on those boats he crewed?
MELISSA
(She laughs.)
Down in the Caribbean?
Yeah, them.
GINNY
I guess you know by now that I caught up with Stone last week?
MELISSA
I saw that. Or rather, his This or Thats. For the record, he is an alpha hero, but incredibly sensitive, and handsome, and sexy…
(She appears distant a moment, biting her bottom lip.)
GINNY
He wouldn’t tell us. ‘Boxers or briefs?’
MELISSA
(Her cheeks color as her eyebrows shoot up.)
Now, how would I know about that?
GINNY
Hmm, right. Anyway.
(I study my notes and redirect.)
The real thing I want to ask you about is "Survivor."
MELISSA
"Survivor"?
GINNY
The television show.
MELISSA
I know what it is.
I wrote musical themes for it.
GINNY
Did you really?
MELISSA
(She laughs unexpectedly, but her smile is genuine and warm.)
Just teasing a bit. Maybe Stone’s sense of humor is catching.
GINNY
He certainly seems to have caught it from his grandpa, Captain Bill.
MELISSA
You know, you’re right!
(She grins, blue eyes dancing.)
So, you wanted to ask me about "Survivor"?
GINNY
Um, yes!
(It’s frightening when my characters are more focused than I am.)
I wanted to ask, If you were stuck on a desert island, and could only take three things with you, what would they be?
MELISSA
If a person can count as a thing, I’d definitely take Stone. Other than that, I suppose matches would be useful, but I’d still need my piano.
GINNY
A piano? On a desert island?
MELISSA
Stone is very resourceful. For that matter, so am I. As long as we had access to fresh water, we could probably make or hunt for most anything we’d need. We could probably even do without the matches and rub sticks together to build fires. Plus, Stone is a dynamite fisherman.
(She studies me a moment.)
Oh, right! You already know that. Anyway, my point is, a piano is something neither Stone nor I could make, even as accomplished as we are! And, frankly, I’d feel lost without one.
GINNY
That’s so interesting, thanks. My next question has to do with your survivor traits.
What skills do you possess which would help you survive in the wild?
MELISSA
There are two things I can think of. First, I like to solve problems and am not daunted by a challenge. Second, I’m a lot stronger than I look. I mean, emotionally, I’m pretty tough and can take a lot.
GINNY
You also have a lot to give back, in the way of kindness and compassion.
MELISSA
That’s very sweet of you to say.
GINNY
Stone says it too.
MELISSA
I don’t recall him answering that in your This or Thats. I’ll have to go back and check them.
GINNY
My last question has to do with the feeling of being deprived on a desert island. While you and Stone may be resourceful, there would be many things you couldn’t find or make, like…chocolate, for example, or wine. What’s the one thing you’d have the hardest time doing without?
MELISSA
Wow! That’s a toughie. You mean, assuming I had my piano?
GINNY
And Stone, and the matches, yes. You’d have those first three things you named in the beginning.
MELISSA
Well, in that case, for myself, I’d be mostly set. But in my heart, I suppose, I’d have a hard time being away from my family. While I don’t see my parents and my brother and his family frequently, they’ve always been very supportive of me and I love them a lot. I also feel a deepening fondness for Captain Bill, and I know that Stone—though he won’t always admit it—practically worships his grandfather.
So, I guess this answer could probably apply to both of us. Stone and I could be very happy together, but we’d be sad being totally cut off from our families. Both of us cherish our family ties and value our heritage. That’s one of the important things we have in common.
GINNY
Thank you very much for your thoughtful answers to my questions!
MELISSA
You’re very welcome, Ginny. Thanks for writing about me and Stone and sharing our story with the world. I hope it touches a chord with your readers. I know it resonated with me.
BuyThe House at Homecoming Cove
Amazon
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B011W13P52
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https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/the-...
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http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-h...
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The Story Behind the Story...
What inspires Ginny Baird romance? Everything from the extraordinary to the mundane. Keep reading for "The Story Behind the Story" of current novels, and a behind the scenes peek at works in progress.
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