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  A taste for you...Beach Walk

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  Chapter 1

  ‘Please, please, please, Aunty Sonia.’

  The children’s voices got louder as they tried to outdo each other.

  Four year old Lily Brown folded her arms and stared at her surrogate aunt. ‘You have to come to the beach because we need to be looked after.’

  Sonia looked down at her as her goddaughter’s cute little lips pursed in disapproval.

  ‘And you have to get your swimmers and a towel,’ Tommy, her twin, chipped in. ‘If we go into the water and go over our heads you’ll have to rescue us, ‘cause if you wear a dress you won’t be able to save us.’

  ‘And we’ll get drownded!’ Lily piped up, seeing another way to convince Sonia to come with them.

  Sonia folded her arms and looked to her sister, Sally, for help. ‘Maybe Aunty Sally could go instead? She could have a turn.’

  ‘No, we want you to come. Like you did when you came to visit us at our beach at home. We built that sandcastle, remember?’

  ‘It’s okay, Son. Kids, leave Aunty Sonia to eat her brekkie in peace.’ Rosie pointed to the two empty chairs beside her in the café overlooking the northern end of the beach. ‘Come and finish your eggs and then we’ll worry about what we’re going to do today.’

  Even though it was still early, not yet eight o’clock, the world famous beach beneath them was already getting busy. The early summer sunshine glistened on the small surf as it crested in a wavy lace of foam before pushing its way to the wide expanse of sand. The tide was low and already small groups of children were playing in the shallows as the water receded. Seagulls squawked overhead before they settled on the footpath, squabbling over food scraps that unwary diners threw to them.

  ‘Rats with wings,’ Sonia muttered as she tried to think of a way out of going to the beach. She lifted the edge of the top pancake on her triple stack and let the maple syrup drizzle onto the berries, bananas, pistachios and ricotta cheese.

  ‘That looks yummy,’ Sally said. ‘But huge. I don’t think I could get through it.’

  Sonia frowned, hearing implied criticism in her sister’s words. ‘I’ll need energy to get through the day looking after this pair.’

  ‘I wasn’t having a go at you, love.’ Sally lifted her coffee cup to her lips. ‘Come on, Sonia. The kids would love you to go to the beach with them.’ She lowered her voice and stared at her. ‘You went to the beach in Hawaii, didn’t you? Why can’t you take them now?’

  Sonia whispered as the children sat at the other side of the table. ‘You take them for a swim.’

  ‘I have a busy—and stressful— day ahead. Sol and I are going to his parents’ house for a visit.’ Sally narrowed her eyes and stared at her twin. ‘Why don’t you want to go to the beach here anyway?’

  ‘I didn’t know anyone on the beach in Hawaii, so it didn’t matter there.’

  ‘What didn’t matter?’

  Sonia rolled her eyes at Sally.

  Honestly, weren’t twins supposed to have some connection when they knew what the other one was thinking or feeling?

  Ignoring Sally’s question, Sonia smiled brightly and looked across at her godchildren. ‘How about we do something different? Something really, really special.’

  ‘Like what? Not girly stuff.’ Tommy’s voice was laced with a healthy dose of suspicion. His chin was equally laced with egg yolk, and Rosie leaned over and scrubbed at it with her napkin

  Sonia grinned at him and thought quickly. ‘How about the movies?’

  ‘Nope, we want to go to the beach,’ he said. ‘It’s hot and sunny.’

  ‘Yes, it’s hot.’ Lily picked up a napkin and fanned herself reminding Sonia of dear old Aunt Aggie. ‘I want to have a swim. With Aunty Sonia.’

  ‘No one is going anywhere on an empty stomach.’ Rosie wagged her finger and the two small children picked up their forks and continued eating.

  Sonia put her head down, and focused on her meal, trying to think of a way of getting out of going down onto Bondi Beach with the kids.

  ‘Just like the old days, isn’t it girls?’ Sally looked at the buff tanned surfers walking past the open air café heading for the rocks where they’d jump into the water, with their boards, paddle out and catch the waves.

  ‘The old day sans kids,’ Rosie said with a wry smile.

  ‘You wouldn’t have it any other way, Rosie.’ Sally looked at the children with a smile and Sonia could read her thoughts. She was thinking about the children that she and Sol would have, and Sonia suspected it wouldn’t be long after their planned Easter wedding.

  Rosie and her husband, Taj, had an appointment at the solicitor’s office mid-morning. Sonia had agreed to look after the four year old twins when Rosie had asked her last night. When she’d been in Hawaii last month, she’d had a great time with the kids, but fought the maternal feelings that had risen.

  She would be a godmother, and an aunt to her twin’s children one day, but Sonia doubted that she’d ever be a mother herself, as much as she would love to be. She pushed the thoughts away; it was times like that she was pleased that Sally wasn’t in tune with her mind. Sonia took great pride in how clever she was in creating the persona that she hid behind. Loud, confident Sonia, in her brightly coloured tent dresses with her jangly bracelets, multicoloured toenails and toe rings, and her ability to have fun wherever she went. Looking to get laid in Hawaii, she’d told Sally on the phone when she’d set her up with Sol.

  If only they knew.

  Up until a couple of years ago, she’d even changed her name every few months to keep everyone on their toes, but since her last name change—Ocean Lily—at Aunt Aggie’s funeral, she gone back to being plain old Sonia.

  Yep, plain old Sonia, she thought.

  ‘What are you thinking about Son?’ Rosie leaned over and touched her arm. ‘You look sad.’

  ‘No, not sad.’ She flashed a wide smile around the table. ‘I was just thinking about dear Old Aunt Aggie. And it made me think, it’s time to see what’s coming up for us gals!’

  As Sonia turned and called the waiter over, Sally glanced at her watch. ‘I’ve only got half an hour. Sol’s picking me up here soon.’

  ‘Me too. Taj and I are going straight the Mr Pepper’s office from here.’

  ‘Half an hour gives us plenty of time to read the tea leaves,’ Sonia said as the waiter came over. ‘Could we please have a pot of tea—a large one and three tea cups with saucers, Mitch?’

  ‘Certainly, Madame. Anything else?’ He looked around the table but his gaze lingered on Sonia. Sally nudged Rosie and they giggled like teenagers.

  You can find

  Book 1: Rosie’s story BEACH HOUSE

  Book 2: Sally’s story BEACH WALK

  Book 4: SORRY WE’RE CLOSED

  Acknowledgments

  A special thank you to my wonderful editor and critique partner, Susanne Bellamy.

  OTHER BOOKS AND SERIES

  BY

  Annie Seaton

  WHITSUNDAY DAWN

  PORTER SISTERS SERIES

  KAKADU SUNSET

  DAINTREE

  DIAMOND SKY

  BONDI BEACH LOVE SERIES

  BEACH HOUSE

  BEACH MUSIC

  BEACH WALK

  SORRY WE'RE CLOSED

  BONDI BEACH LOVE BOXED SET

  PRICKLE CREEK SERIES

  HER OUTBACK COWBOY

  HER OUTBACK SURPRISE

  HIS OUTBACK NANNY

  HIS OUTBACK TEMPTATION

  SECOND CHANCE BAY SERIES

  HER OUTBACK PLAYBOY

  HER OUTBACK PROTECTOR (Dec 2018)

  BOOKS 3,4 ...coming soon

  AFFAIRS SERIES

  HOLIDAY AFFAIR

  ITALIAN AFFAIR

  OUTBACK AFFAIR

  LOVE ACROSS TIME SERIES

  COME BACK TO ME

  FOLLOW ME... (Feb 2019)

  HALF MOON BAY SERIES

  TANGLING
WITH THE CEO

  BRUSHING OFF THE BOSS

  GUARDING HIS HEART

  CHRISTMAS WITH THE BOSS

  DEADLY SECRETS

  ADVENTURES IN TIME

  SILVER VALLEY WITCH

  CAPTURING THE PIRATE’S HEART

  TEN DAYS IN TUSCANY

  WINTER OF THE PASSION FLOER

  SUMMER OF THE MOON FLOWER

  ADVENTURES IN TIME

  Whitsunday Dawn

  August 2018

  WHEN OLIVIA SHERIDAN arrives in the Whitsundays as spokesperson for big mining company Sheridan Corp, it should be a straightforward presentation to the town about their proposed project. But when a handsome local fisherman shows her what ecological impact the proposal will have, Olivia is forced to question her father’s motives in the project.

  Struggling with newly divided loyalties, Olivia is thrown further into turmoil when she is mistaken for a woman who disappeared more than 60 years before. When it becomes clear that Captain Jay is also keeping secrets, Olivia realises that there is more to these sunshine-soaked islands than she ever expected.

  Seeking to uncover the truth, Olivia is drawn into a dangerous game where powerful businessmen will stop at nothing to ensure their plan goes ahead, even if that means eliminating her...

  Against the epic Far North Queensland landscape, this is the story of two women, separated by history, drawn to Whitsunday Island where their futures will be changed forever.

  About the Author

  Author of the Year Ausrom Readers' Choice 2014

  Best Established Author Ausrom Readers’ Choice 2015

  Finalist for Author of the Year, Book of the Year, Cover of the Year, Ausrom Readers' Choice 2016

  Best Established Author, Ausrom Readers' Choice 2017

  Annie lives in Australia, on the beautiful north coast of New South Wales. She sits in her writing chair and looks out over the tranquil Pacific Ocean. She has fulfilled her lifelong dream of becoming an author, and is producing books at a prolific rate.

  She writes contemporary romance and loves telling the stories that always have a happily ever after. She lives with her very own hero of many years and they share their home with "Toby" the naughtiest dog in the universe, and Barney, the rag doll kitten, who hides when the grandchildren come to visit.

  Stay up to date with her latest releases at her website: http://www.annieseaton.net