LOGIN"At seventeen, Lizzie Thornton left her hometown of Fair Haven to pursue her musical dreams—and to run from Trent Younger, the boy who broke her heart. Now a successful singer, Lizzie returns to Fair Haven nine years later. When she runs into Trent at her brother’s wedding, she discovers he’s no longer the shy boy she left behind. He’s a sexy, confident man who knows what he wants—and what he wants is her. When a night of passion results in unexpected consequences, Lizzie must grapple with prior heartbreak and with accepting that she still loves the one man she could never forget. Trent Younger grew up on the wrong side of the tracks, and he fought tooth and nail to establish himself as one of the most successful restaurateurs in Fair Haven. Yet he’s never forgotten Lizzie Thornton, the girl he adored, the same girl who left him to pick up the pieces of his life after tragedy struck them both. As Trent uncovers the layers of Lizzie’s guarded heart, he realizes that he doesn’t just want her in his bed. He wants her in his life—forever. Yet even as love rekindles, their pasts threaten to drive them apart. Unless they confront their demons, Lizzie and Trent may jeopardize a love that has already withstood the test of time."
View MoreBaru tiga minggu bekerja sebagai seorang pelayan, Binar malah memergoki tuannya sedang menuntaskan hasratnya seorang diri.
Hari itu, Binar yang biasanya hanya mengurusi lantai bawah, mendadak terpaksa mengantarkan sarapan ke kamar majikannya yang berada di lantai dua. Hal tersebut terjadi karena pelayan lainnya sedang sangat sibuk.
Biasanya, sarapan akan disiapkan di meja makan. Nyonya Celia akan duduk dengan wajah malas, sementara Tuan Bhaga sibuk membaca tablet dengan dahi mengernyit.
Tetapi, sudah dua malam ini nyonya rumah tidak pulang.
“Duh, Tuan marah enggak ya kalau aku yang antar?” Binar bergumam sendiri, terlebih saat matanya sudah bisa melihat pintu kamar utama yang terbuka sedikit.
Dia membasahi tenggorokan dengan susah payah dan menghela napas. “Ayo, Binar. Kamu bisa.”
Namun, langkah Binar yang tadinya mantap, perlahan memelan ketika mendengar suara rintihan dari dalam kamar. Dia mengernyit. “Apa tuan sakit ya?”
Dia meletakkan nampan di meja terdekat dan kembali berjalan cepat. Tangannya membuka pintu dengan terburu-buru. “Tuan, ada apa—”
Seketika, napas Binar tertahan, matanya melotot, dan tubuhnya membeku saat melihat pemandangan di dalam kamar.
Di atas tempat tidur, Baju Bhaga tersingkap ke atas, memperlihatkan otot perut yang terbentuk indah. Celananya melorot sampai paha dan kepalanya menengadah ke atas dengan mata terpejam.
Tangannya bergerak naik turun di antara kedua pahanya, dan dia melenguh penuh kenikmatan.
Melihat bibir pria itu terbuka dan mendesahkan uap panas, Binar tanpa sadar menggigit bibirnya sendiri. Tanpa berkedip, Binar memperhatikan tangan tuannya yang sedang memuaskan dirinya sendiri!
“T-Tuan…”
Saat suara terkesiap Binar terdengar, Bhaga menoleh dengan cepat. Dia terkejut setengah mati. Menunduk sesaat sebelum menarik apa pun di dekatnya untuk menutupi tubuh.
"KELUAR!" suara Bhaga meninggi, penuh malu dan amarah.
Sontak, Binar berbalik, tubuhnya gemetar. Tapi ada yang mengusik dadanya, mata yang sedang marah itu kelihatan kesepian.
Lupa akan sarapan yang belum diantar, Binar berlari turun. Dadanya saat ini berdebar cepat dan pikirannya berisik.
Apa itu barusan?! Kenapa tuan sampai melakukan hal seperti itu? Kenapa tidak menunggu nyonya pulang?
Sampai di lantai bawah, Binar cepat berjalan menuju dapur. Memikirkan apa yang dia lihat tadi, mendadak dia kembali menggigit bibir dan menyandarkan tubuhnya pada dinding di samping lemari es.
“Aku bakal dipecat enggak ya?” Binar mengerjap. “Kalau dipecat, aku tinggal di mana?”
Pikiran Binar kembali pada masa kecilnya. Dia ditinggalkan oleh orang tua yang bercerai pada usia sepuluh tahun. Ayahnya pergi meninggalkan hutang, sedangkan ibunya yang tak tahan harus banting tulang akhirnya menikah lagi dengan pejabat desa dan melupakannya.
Sejak saat itu, Binar tinggal bersama neneknya. Dia sibuk sekolah dan berjualan kue basah yang akan dititipkan ke warung saat berangkat sekolah dan diambil saat pulang. Lalu saat lulus SMA, neneknya sakit keras, akhirnya berpulang di usia Binar yang ke dua puluh tahun.
Selama bertahun-tahun, dengan usaha jualan kue basah, Binar hanya mampu membayar bunga dari hutang ayahnya, dan tak bisa berkutik saat rumahnya disita penagih hutang. Hingga salah satu tetangga jauhnya, mengajak untuk ikut bekerja di rumah ini.
Tapi, baru tiga minggu bekerja, Binar justru membuat majikannya marah dengan menyaksikan adegan pribadinya.
Bayangan ekspresi tuannya tadi masih terbayang dan membuatnya gelisah.
"Binar! Kamu melamun lagi? Ini sarapan Tuan Bhaga, kenapa belum diantar?!" Maryam, kepala pelayan, menghampiri Binar dengan tatapan tajam.
“Ma-maaf, Bu. Saya lupa.” Dia membasahi tenggorokan dengan susah payah.
Tangannya yang memegang nampan berkeringat. Mengantar sarapan berarti harus bertatap muka dengan Tuan Bhaga lagi. Aduh, bagaimana ini, pikirnya.
"Lupa? Dasar anak baru. Cepat bawa ke kamarnya! Tuan sudah menunggu!" hardik Maryam.
Binar melirik ke arah ruang makan. Perutnya tiba-tiba mules. Dia tidak bisa. Tidak sekarang.
"Bu, em ... boleh... boleh saya minta tolong?" pintanya, suara bergetar takut. "Saya janji akan melakukan tugas apa pun. Saya... saya mules." Itu bohong, dan dari raut wajah Maryam, Binar tahu wanita itu tak percaya sepenuhnya.
Maryam mendengus, kesal tapi juga iba melihat wajah pucat Binar. “Dasar. Baiklah. Tapi sebagai gantinya, kau urus Ardan.”
Mendengar nama Ardan, beban di pundak Binar terasa sedikit lebih ringan.
Ardan. Anak Tuan Bhaga dan Nyonya Celia. Di rumah seluas dan semegah ini, bocah lima tahun itu adalah satu-satunya penghuni yang tidak membuatnya merasa terancam. Justru, dialah yang membuatnya betah.
Sayangnya anak itu justru yang paling kesepian. Binar pertama kali bertemu Ardan di taman belakang. Saat itu Ardan sedang main sendiri.
“Kenapa main sendiri, Tuan Muda?”
Ardan tak menoleh, tetap melanjutkan bermain, dan menjawab dengan malas. “Tidak ada yang mau main denganku.”
Binar tersenyum. “Kalau begitu saya temani ya?” tawarnya.
Ardan menoleh. “Benar?”
“Iya. Kapanpun Tuan Muda mau main, panggil saya saja. Oke?”
Suasana hati Binar sudah lebih baik setelah menghabiskan banyak waktu bersama Ardan. Ternyata, di balik sikap pendiam, Ardan adalah anak yang cerdas dan haus perhatian. Kemarin mereka melakukan banyak hal, mulai dari menggambar, main tebak-tebakan, dan bermain puzzle.
Untuk pertama kalinya, Binar mendengar suara tawa Ardan yang begitu hangat.
Keesokan harinya, sejak bangun tidur tadi, Ardan sudah mencari Binar. Kini mereka sedang di taman samping rumah.
“Ayo, Tuan Muda. Suap lagi, biar makin kuat,” bujuk Binar sambil menyuapi makan Ardan.
Ardan membuka lebar mulut, tapi matanya tidak lepas dari mainan barunya. Sebuah bola kristal berisi salju yang bisa berputar dan menyala dengan boneka kecil menari di dalamnya. Di sekelilingnya mainan lain berserakan, tapi Ardan tak peduli.
"Nanti saljunya turun banyak ya, Kak Bin? Seperti di TV," celetuk Ardan dengan mulut penuh.
"Bisa saja, asalkan Tuan Muda habiskan makannya dulu," jawab Binar sambil tersenyum.
Ardan mengangguk antusias dan mengunyah dengan lahap. Saat akan menyuap suapan terakhir, tangannya yang memegang bola kristal terlepas. Bola itu lepas dari tangannya, memantul di karpet tebal, dan menggelinding dengan cepat lalu melewati ruang keluarga.
"Yah!" seru Ardan, wajahnya berubah cemas.
"Jangan khawatir, Kakak ambilkan," tenang Binar. Dia meletakkan piring dan beranjak dari sana.
Dia mengikuti lintasan bola kristal itu yang ternyata berhenti persis di depan pintu ruang kerja Tuan Bhaga yang sedikit terbuka. Saat dia membungkuk untuk mengambilnya, suara itu tiba-tiba mengoyak kesunyian rumah yang biasanya hening.
Suara itu bukan desahan Tuan Bhaga seperti pagi itu, bukan juga teriakan Ardan yang ceria. Suara itu adalah perempuan yang dipenuhi amarah.
“BRENGSEK KAMU, BHAGA!”
Prang!
Diikuti suara barang-barang yang dilemparkan dan pecah.
A coffee addict and cat lover, Iris Morland writes sexy and funny contemporary romances. If she's not reading or writing, she enjoys binging on Netflix shows and cooking something delicious.Stay in touch!irismorland.comIris Morland’s MermaidsNewsletter Facebook Twitter BookBub Goodreads Instagram
Say You’re MineAll I Ask of YouMake Me YoursHold Me CloseOopsie DaisyHe Loves Me, He Loves Me NotPetal PluckerWar of the RosesincludingThen Came YouTaking a Chance on LoveAll I Want Is YouMy One and OnlyThe Nearness of YouThe Very Thought of YouIf I Can’t Have YouDream a Little Dream of MeSomeone to Watch Over MeTill There Was YouI’ll Be Home for Christmas
When a figure appeared from the shadows only feet from her door, Rose reached inside her jacket to pull out her gun. Until she realized it was Seth.“Now you must be stalking me,” she groused. She was halfway tempted to point her gun at him anyway.He had his hands up, although he didn’t look scared. Of course not. Rose was fairly certain nothing scared Seth.“What are you doing out here?” she asked when he said nothing.He shrugged. “I couldn’t sleep. It’s nice out. I thought I’d say hi to my neighbor when she got home. The usual.”“Uh-huh. Well, you’ve said it, and now I’m saying goodbye. I need to let Callie out before I go to bed.”“Then I’ll walk with you.”She wanted to stomp her foot, she was so frustrated, but she had a feeling that would only make it worse. Sighing, she went to get Callie, ignoring Seth even as he walked alongside her.Callie, to Rose’s annoyance, decided she was not going to do her business quickly. The dog wanted to sniff every bush and every mailbox
After a long and unsurprisingly rainy winter, Lizzie was looking forward to sunshine and having this baby born. The closer she got to her due date, the readier she was to have this babyout, and by mid-March, she was huge, cranky, and impatient.She looked over her giant belly at Trent one morning and glared at him. “What are you smiling about?”His smile just widened. “Because you’re so beautiful.” He kissed her cheek, and she gave him a grumpy smile.“Did you get me my ice cream?”“Yes, and the Kalamata olives.”“I guess I’m glad I married you.” She took him by his shirt collar to give him a real kiss, which he returned with great enthusiasm.They’d married down at the courthouse on the coldest and rainiest day in December. Lizzie had worn a blue dress with a tiny sweater, because she was always hot and she’d basically forgone coats this winter, while Trent had worn his best suit and had worried she’d freeze. In front of her siblings and his siblings—a rowdier, more opinio
Trent didn’t see Lizzie again until the funeral two weeks later. He didn’t speak to her; he didn’t think he could say anything anyway. When she touched his hand and murmured her condolences, he could only nod.Edward had lingered on, just like Phin had said he would. When he’d passed, though, he’d fi
“Why am I here again?” Lizzie asked, staring at her sister and four brothers. “I thought you already grilled me about my life and my choices.”Summer was edging into September, and with it, Lizzie watched her baby bump grow little by little with every passing day. Now past the first trimester, her mo
Lizzie awoke in the middle of the night to find Trent gone. At first she assumed he’d left the apartment, and her heart sank, but as her eyes adjusted to the dimness of her bedroom, she saw a figure standing by her window.She heard the patter of rain on the roof. Trent’s back was to her, and he didn
Trent stepped over what looked like a broken-down lawn mower before stepping into his dad’s house. It had been only a few weeks since he’d last been here, and already it seemed like Edward had trashed the place further. How did a man in a wheelchair manage to collect so much junk? Trent had no idea.
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