Tides of Hope

Tides of Hope
Irene Hannon

He's an officer…but is he a gentleman?Not if you ask feisty single mom Kate MacDonald! Everything about Lieutenant Craig Cole, Nantucket's new Coast Guard commander, rubs her the wrong way. Worse, everyone else is smitten with the man–including Kate's four-year-old daughter.Local gossip reveals that Craig has saved many in the line of duty. He's a true hero. Kate doesn't want to like him–she certainly doesn't want to love him–but Craig's quiet honor could win her heart after all.

Spending time with Kate was not a good idea.

With each encounter, her appeal grew. And that was scary. At least the ride home was short, Craig thought, as he drove his car through the pouring rain.

“It’s the next street on the right. Lighthouse Lane.”

Kate directed him to a small clapboard cottage tucked into the tiny dead-end street.

“Thanks for the lift. I really appreciate it.”

“It was my pleasure.” The rain continued to beat against the car, the water isolating them from the outside world.

As he looked at her, he suddenly had the urge to touch her hair. To smooth away the shadows under her eyes. To assure her she didn’t have to face her problems alone.

Where that urge came from, he had no idea. All he knew was that it threatened to shatter the control he’d mastered as a rescue swimmer. He needed that control. Nothing—and no one—had ever managed to shake it as quickly as Kate. Worse, she’d done it without even trying….

IRENE HANNON

who writes both romance and romantic suspense, is the author of more than twenty-five novels. Her books have been honored with both the coveted RITA

Award from Romance Writers of America (the “Oscar” of romantic fiction) and the Reviewers’ Choice Award from Romantic Times BOOKreviews magazine. More than 1 million copies of her novels have been sold worldwide.

A former corporate communications executive with a Fortune 500 company, Irene now writes full-time. In her spare time, she enjoys singing, long walks, cooking, gardening and spending time with family. She and her husband make their home in Missouri.

For more information about her and her books, Irene invites you to visit her Web site at www.irenehannon.com.

Tides of Hope

Irene Hannon

Blessed are those who mourn,

for they shall be comforted.

—Matthew 5:4

To my mother, Dorothy Hannon—

With loving memories of a very special bird’s nest

that always graces my Christmas tree…

and The Good Life

With special thanks to the following individuals

for their generous assistance:

BMC Terrill J. Malvesti, United States

Coast Guard; Julie & Karsten Reinemo,

Topspin Sportfishing Charters;

Erika Mooney, The ’Sconset Trust;

Michael Galvin, Nantucket Chamber of Commerce.

Contents

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Epilogue

Discussion Questions