Roxanne Claire - Barefoot by the Sea

The team kills it again! Many thanks to all of the people who make this job look so easy and fun, even on the days when it is anything but easy or fun. I have to call a few out for their outstanding contributions:

My partners at Grand Central Publishing/Forever, especially Executive Editor Amy Pierpont, who has proven she can perform magic on a rough draft, along with the entire team who gets the job done every single time (Lauren Plude, Michele Bidelspach, Bob Castillo, Jamie Snider, and Jihan Antoine are standouts!) and the talented folks in art (love this cover!), sales, marketing, and distribution. What an amazing group of dedicated individuals I get to work with every day.

Big love to literary agent Robin Rue of Writers House, who has my back and holds my hand, and assistant Beth Miller for keeping everything running smoothly.

Huge thanks to the awesome Ottawa Romance Writers Association, who showed me true Canadian love and a tour of the city that makes an all-too-brief appearance on these pages. In particular, Id like to thank Malena Abel, who shared her British intelligence and helped me create a realistic background for the hero.

A very special hug to Elizabeth Brooks, who guided me through the Florida garden, taught me the fine points of harvesting sweet potatoes, and has become my very own Mema. More hugs to Miss Libs son, awesome Sonny Brooks, who let me drive his tractor and happens to be the finest bro-in-law ever.

My writer friends are the best in the business and I guarantee you wouldnt be reading this without the moral support of a small but mighty group of women who know who they are and why I love them. Kristen, Kresley, Louisa, Laura, LeighIm talking to you. In addition, Im grounded spiritually by my amazing quadNina, Megan, and Jillwho arent writers but know exactly where the story comes from.

Ive been overwhelmed by the readers who keep coming back to Barefoot Bay! Im thrilled to have found such a loyal audience and love connecting with each and every one of you through our small cyber world. Thanks for inspiring me every day and major thanks to my Facebook followers who did the honor of naming Ian/John in this book. You all are amazing!

Of course, I have to acknowledge the home team, who loves me no matter how bad the writing is going, how late the book is, how knotted the plot, how certain I am that this time I cant do it even though they know I will. My husband, Rich, our wonderful children, Dante and Mia, and our superdogs, Ginger and Pepper. You make my home and my heart so happy.

Finally, but never last, I thank my Father, the source of all my joy!

I suppose I could just walk up to a man and ask for sperm. Tessa picked up her bottle to punctuate the statement with a sip of cold beer, but froze midway as she took in the reaction around the booth. Guys, that was a joke.

Her friends werent laughing. Although the evening out at the local dive was supposed to be a business strategy session, the conversation had, of course, turned personal. After all, the four women might be partners in the Casa Blanca resort, but they were best friends long before that, and no topic was off limits. Not even this one.

No harm in asking. Next to Tessa, Jocelyn leaned in to make her point over the din of the Toasted Pelican crowd. They love to give that stuff away.

Absolutely, Lacey agreed from across the table, her topaz eyes lit with enthusiasm instead of humor. Knowing your donor takes all the guesswork out of it. What you see is what you get, unlike anonymous sperm.

Sperrrrrm. Zoe made a disgusted face, her gaze drifting over the action in the bar. Couldnt mans life force have a more inviting name? You know, like chocolate or Cabernet?

Baby juice? Jocelyn suggested.

Liquid gold, Lacey added.

Natures protein smoothie, Tessa said dryly.

That made Zoe laugh, but she didnt take her eyes off the crowd. Says the organic girl.

Tessa waved her beer bottle to prove that she could have plenty of lapses in clean living and to move the conversation along to a more comfortable subject.

We have bigger issues than my baby needs, she said, looking down at the paper Lacey had printed for them to read, the last line of the brutal review jumping off the page. Did she really have to call the dining room as lively as a morgue?

Lacey sighed and pointed to the printout. We can weather one bitter blogger.

The Vixen of Vacation Vows is not one bitter blogger, Jocelyn said. Vix is the bitter blogger, with thousands of hits a month. No one plans a destination wedding without checking her snark-fester, I mean reviews.

And what would those potential guests see when they searched Casa Blanca on Barefoot Bay? The words were still fresh in Tessas mind. This sweet homegrown resort might conjure up images of Bogie and Bergman, but brides will be lost in a desert of disaster.

The review had made them all a little sick and scared. Especially Lacey, who slumped her chin into her palm. If we dont hire a chef and start getting some positive buzz for Casa Blanca, the resort we spent the last two years of our lives building will never get in the black.

How long until those wedding consultants can come for a preview? Tessa asked.

Lacey lifted her head and gave a slow smile. Eight months until the wedding consultants can get us on their schedule, and by then you can be good and pregnant.

Or we can be good and out of business.

Lacey closed her eyes at the punch that had to hit her, the resort owner, even harder than the rest of them, whod just invested and worked there.

Jocelyn waved off Laceys blues. Look, with the right chef, a few great events, and some powerful Internet reviews, this winter will have snowbirds flocking to Casa Blanca. When the wedding planners come next summer, well be ready to knock their socks off.

She paused long enough for the four of them to share a silent We hope.

But your baby dreams are as important as our resort dreams, Tess, Lacey continued. It took you months to scour all those applications to find a surrogate who meets your exacting standards. What if she gets scooped up by someone else?

I hope she doesnt. Ive put a deposit down and the clinic has scheduled a house visit and interview. Once they do the psych evaluation She paused, knowing that was where the process had fallen apart once before with her ex-husband, and it was the reason shed never tried again. Ill meet her and make a final decision. Obviously, I want the perfect surrogate mother as much as I want the perfect sperm donor.

No ones perfect, Lacey shot back.

You know what I mean. But did they know? None of these women had any idea how gut-wrenching and grueling infertility had been. And the baby wont be perfect because these are my eggs, which I harvested already. Defensiveness lifted Tessas voice as she raised her beer bottle. Or else I wouldnt be drinking this.

But you need to line up a donor, Lacey insisted.

Im thinking about that. I keep reading these horror stories about donors who lie or have six hundred kids running around and

Didnt I tell you to stay off the Internet on this subject? Lacey asked.

Tessa ignored the comment and took a sip of beer. I just havent made a decision how to handle that when it comes test-tube time.

Ugh, test tubes are so clinical. Jocelyn groaned. I still think you should try the old-fashioned way.

Of course theyd all think she should. Her best friends were falling in bed every night with the men they loved. Lacey had a baby, and Zoes was due in five months. No doubt Jocelyn would be next.