Chapter One
P enny Lane loved romance. Adored it. She never read a romance book she didn't like. She never could stop her overflowing tears at any romance movie she watched. And she always loved a happily ever after. Despite all of this, she never actually experienced true love herself. No matter how many dates she'd gone on, or new relationships she began—she was just stuck and wishing there was much more.
Most men—quite honestly—made her roll her eyes...
Then one morning, Penny found a bottle stranded on the New Hampshire coastline while on a science field trip with her kindergarten class. Penny squinted her eye and noticed an old piece of paper rolled inside. After gently tapping the glass with her finger, it spilled right out—wet and soggy in her hand.
Slowly, she unfurled it and read its message:
In my dreams you are there...
Waiting for me on the wayside.
Like an angel, I see your face
And soon I shall hold you in my embrace
I'll see you, my love...in Bayside.
—From Ryder to Penny
A single tear streaked down Penny's cheek as her eyes scanned every inch of the long forgotten letter. Wait, why is my name in this tattered letter? Penny pondered. Her mind started racing straight away. Who is Ryder? Where is Bayside? The rest of the day she could think of the nothing else, but wanting to solve the mystery of the love letter. She took a long hard look in the mirror that night. Should I find who wrote this letter? Is it really that stupid of an idea? And I have saved all of that vacation time...
Now, nearly thirty-five, Penny regretted wasting her twenties being afraid of taking any risks. She always played it safe. Cautious.
Penny never dared to make waves. Penny pursed her lips.
"Screw it," she said.
Early the following morning, she took the first bus ticket to Bayside. Penny loaded up on snacks, because she hated to travel anywhere on an empty stomach. She took a nervous bite out of her twizzlers when she finally arrived in Bayside.
"Who is this Ryder?" Penny whispered.
"Ryder Strong? Well he's the wealthiest man in Bayside. He's a bit dark. Keeps to himself. But he loves to sail these magnificent boats," an elderly lady spoke up.
Penny widened her eyes.
"Do you know where I can find him?" Penny hurriedly asked as the old woman as she started to go her separate way off of the bus.
"You'll always be able to find him, tinkering on his boats at the Blue Oaks marina."
Penny thanked the old woman, madly shaking her frail hand. She hadn't even spent a day in Bayside yet, and already, she was close to meeting her mystery man.
*
P enny noticed a man standing alone on the docks at the Blue Oaks marina. "Excuse me," Penny squeaked, her palms sweating. "Are you Ryder Strong?"
A man with dark blonde hair painted the back of his boat with one easy stroke at time. He barely even flinched.
So, Penny cleared her throat and hollered even louder. " Sir? Um, Sir? Is your name Ryder Strong?"
The man twisted around, gazing at her devoid of emotion. Penny reeled back, feeling her heart thrumming in her chest when she looked into his alluring copper-colored eyes. The mysterious stranger had tousled Greek curls on his head and a broad shouldered frame. He wore a white tank and an open button down rolled up at the sleeves. But most intimidating was the scowl he had on his face.
"Who’s asking? Are you making a delivery?" he grunted.
Penny swallowed hard and spoke up.
"No, I'm...I'm not the mail lady. Well, maybe sort of—it's just that..."
Ryder interrupted.
"If you’re not delivering the mail, then we’ve got no reason to talk..." Then he turned back around. "You've wasted enough of my time."
"Wow, why are you so cold?" Penny insisted.
The man she pictured who wrote the letter was nothing like the sour-pussed man standing before her. Ryder got up to his feet and prowled towards Penny. The angry but sexy looking man stopped short in front of her.
"Yes, I'm Ryder Strong. Look, I've got a lot of work to
P enny Lane loved romance. Adored it. She never read a romance book she didn't like. She never could stop her overflowing tears at any romance movie she watched. And she always loved a happily ever after. Despite all of this, she never actually experienced true love herself. No matter how many dates she'd gone on, or new relationships she began—she was just stuck and wishing there was much more.
Most men—quite honestly—made her roll her eyes...
Then one morning, Penny found a bottle stranded on the New Hampshire coastline while on a science field trip with her kindergarten class. Penny squinted her eye and noticed an old piece of paper rolled inside. After gently tapping the glass with her finger, it spilled right out—wet and soggy in her hand.
Slowly, she unfurled it and read its message:
In my dreams you are there...
Waiting for me on the wayside.
Like an angel, I see your face
And soon I shall hold you in my embrace
I'll see you, my love...in Bayside.
—From Ryder to Penny
A single tear streaked down Penny's cheek as her eyes scanned every inch of the long forgotten letter. Wait, why is my name in this tattered letter? Penny pondered. Her mind started racing straight away. Who is Ryder? Where is Bayside? The rest of the day she could think of the nothing else, but wanting to solve the mystery of the love letter. She took a long hard look in the mirror that night. Should I find who wrote this letter? Is it really that stupid of an idea? And I have saved all of that vacation time...
Now, nearly thirty-five, Penny regretted wasting her twenties being afraid of taking any risks. She always played it safe. Cautious.
Penny never dared to make waves. Penny pursed her lips.
"Screw it," she said.
Early the following morning, she took the first bus ticket to Bayside. Penny loaded up on snacks, because she hated to travel anywhere on an empty stomach. She took a nervous bite out of her twizzlers when she finally arrived in Bayside.
"Who is this Ryder?" Penny whispered.
"Ryder Strong? Well he's the wealthiest man in Bayside. He's a bit dark. Keeps to himself. But he loves to sail these magnificent boats," an elderly lady spoke up.
Penny widened her eyes.
"Do you know where I can find him?" Penny hurriedly asked as the old woman as she started to go her separate way off of the bus.
"You'll always be able to find him, tinkering on his boats at the Blue Oaks marina."
Penny thanked the old woman, madly shaking her frail hand. She hadn't even spent a day in Bayside yet, and already, she was close to meeting her mystery man.
*
P enny noticed a man standing alone on the docks at the Blue Oaks marina. "Excuse me," Penny squeaked, her palms sweating. "Are you Ryder Strong?"
A man with dark blonde hair painted the back of his boat with one easy stroke at time. He barely even flinched.
So, Penny cleared her throat and hollered even louder. " Sir? Um, Sir? Is your name Ryder Strong?"
The man twisted around, gazing at her devoid of emotion. Penny reeled back, feeling her heart thrumming in her chest when she looked into his alluring copper-colored eyes. The mysterious stranger had tousled Greek curls on his head and a broad shouldered frame. He wore a white tank and an open button down rolled up at the sleeves. But most intimidating was the scowl he had on his face.
"Who’s asking? Are you making a delivery?" he grunted.
Penny swallowed hard and spoke up.
"No, I'm...I'm not the mail lady. Well, maybe sort of—it's just that..."
Ryder interrupted.
"If you’re not delivering the mail, then we’ve got no reason to talk..." Then he turned back around. "You've wasted enough of my time."
"Wow, why are you so cold?" Penny insisted.
The man she pictured who wrote the letter was nothing like the sour-pussed man standing before her. Ryder got up to his feet and prowled towards Penny. The angry but sexy looking man stopped short in front of her.
"Yes, I'm Ryder Strong. Look, I've got a lot of work to
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