Today Dahlia Donovan is joining us today to share an exclusive excerpt of new release “Stubbed Toes & Dating Woes”.

There is also a giveway to participate in.

Welcome Dahlia

NICLAS

Summertime in Cornwall was busy. Niclas rose early each morning to explore the beaches without crowds. He intended to travel around the entire coast from one side to the other and then head inland to treasure hunt through the rivers. It had taken him months and months to obtain all the necessary permissions and permits from authorities and landowners.

Fees had been paid. Niclas had reached out to the landowners along his planned route, where required, to make deals on handling the treasure he found. Most didn’t mind since he was sticking to rivers and beaches; he wouldn’t be digging up anyone’s fields or gardens.

When Falk called to invite himself on the journey, Niclas knew Izan had shoved his nose where it didn’t belong. But still, he couldn’t say no. He’d enjoy the company.

He’d enjoy Falk’s company.

His plan for today was to move further south to another stretch of beach. Niclas had woken up at five in the morning. It gave him time to clean his gear and take a hot shower.

“Morning.”

“Oh for…” Niclas placed a hand on his chest. “What are you doing in the dark?”

“Light’s on.” Falk gestured to the kitchen light behind him. “Not dark.”

“What are you doing up?” Niclas hadn’t drunk enough coffee to explain that Falk was actually standing in the shadows of the living room. “It’s five in the morning.”

“Heard your alarm. I thought I’d get coffee and breakfast going while you showered. I woke up at four.” Falk followed Niclas into the kitchen. He already had a large travel mug in his hand. “Figured we’d go the easy route with bacon sarnies.”

“I eat.”

“Okay,” Falk agreed easily.

Niclas narrowed his eyes at the man. “Okay. Maybe I forget sometimes, but it’s not on purpose.”

“Okay.” Falk handed him a plate with a perfectly toasted bacon sandwich. “I had mine already.”

“Why would you voluntarily wake up at four in the morning?”

“War leaves us with a lot of memories—and sleepless nights.” Falk sipped his coffee slowly, leaning against the kitchen counter. “Some days, it’s better to just get up and get on with my day instead of wallowing in the memories and pretending to rest.”

Niclas had never considered the full ramifications of what his brother, Falk, and others like them had experienced during combat. He knew Izan had spent extensive time in therapy when he’d retired from the military. “I’m sorry.”

“For?”

“I’m sorry you’re in pain.” Niclas set his plate on the counter. He awkwardly hugged Falk, who looped one of his arms around Niclas’s back for the briefest moment before they separated. “I’m just going to go… eat my bacon sarnie. In there. Over there. I’m going to go.”

Fleeing the kitchen with his plate and mug of coffee, Niclas inhaled his breakfast. Maybe if he went outside, the sea breeze would wash the blush from his face. He didn’t often hug people, usually just his brother and grandparents when he saw them.

Mostly his brother.

The sun was just rising over the horizon when Niclas began lugging his gear out of the cottage. He had a bag with a large water bottle and snacks, along with other supplies. A container to safely store treasures. A backpack with a tablet for research and his camera, along with spare batteries for his metal detector.

Niclas left everything beside his Mini Cooper. He went to the side of the gravel road to peer out across the sea. The sky reminded him of sherbet with oranges and pinks. He heard the door open and shut. “Heading out?”

“Why don’t I drive you? My vehicle’s more comfortable.” Falk bent down to pick up two of the bags and carry them to the back of his Range Rover Defender. “I planned to run on the beach this morning anyway. We can have lunch later.”

“Don’t malign my Mini.”

“I have heated seats.”

“Fine.” Niclas went over to pick up his metal detector and placed it carefully beside the rest of his gear in the boot of the vehicle. “Why’d you really come out here? You could’ve vacationed anywhere. Following me around doesn’t sound like a relaxing time. Izan always talks about wild parties and the like.”

“I don’t do wild parties.” Falk waited for him to step back, then slammed the hatch shut. “Nic.”

“Yes?”

Falk watched him for a second before seeming to change his mind. “Can you accept I might have found the idea of a vacation in Cornwall attractive?”

“I could.” Niclas went to get into the vehicle and decided to let the conversation rest. He wasn’t going to get a full answer. Maybe Falk didn’t even know why. There were two months to suss it out. “But I wouldn’t believe you.”

In those first days, Niclas had managed to cover the first section of the beach on his list but hadn’t found anything beyond a belt buckle, a toy soldier, and a few coins. Nothing the museum would want. Today he planned to move a bit further south. Falk drove them to the Viewing Point North car park along Marine Drive. It would allow them to walk down the coastal path to Widemouth Beach.

Consolidating some of the items into one backpack, Niclas grabbed it and his metal detector. The rest could stay in the vehicle. He trekked down the path with Falk following close behind like a tall, looming shadow.

The north end of the beach was completely empty. Far too early for anyone else to be out. Niclas tried to keep what he carried on his back relatively light. He could spend hours scanning an area, and even the lightest weights could be painful after a while.

“I’m going to jog along the beach for a while. I’ll come back in a bit, okay? We can grab lunch at the café together.” Falk waited for Niclas to nod, then moved down the beach to begin doing stretches.

Oh for…

Why is he doing that there? Is he doing a split? Is that normal?

Oh my god.

He saw me staring at him.

Niclas turned on his metal detector and got to work. Ancient coins weren’t obnoxiously tall and fit. They didn’t have blue eyes that always seemed to catch him staring. Buried treasures had no impact on his blood pressure. Don’t look at him.

“Nic.”

He studiously kept his attention on the patch of sand where he’d been scanning. “Yeah?”

“It’s safe to look. I’m done stretching.”

“Saddle-goose.”

“If you’re going to go Shakespearean on me, I’ll just jog on.” Falk winked when Niclas glanced over at him. “Please be careful.”

“Not Shakespeare. Just means ridiculous.”

“Me or you?” Falk jogged over to him.

“Both of us.” Niclas moved to another section of the beach.

My heart’s a fool.

Please be careful with it.