Everand Logo

Welcome to Everand!

  • Explore 1.5M+ audiobooks & ebooks free for 30 days

    From $11.99/month after trial. Cancel anytime.

    Kisses in the Air
    Kisses in the Air
    Kisses in the Air
    Ebook126 pages1 hour

    Kisses in the Air

    By Gracelynne MacAllister

    ()

    Read preview

    About this ebook

    Lila Evans thought her heart was safe, tucked away behind the walls she built after a devastating breakup. Content with her quiet life as an artist in the small town of Oceanview, she wasn't expecting to find love again—until Ethan Turner walked into her world.
    Ethan, still haunted by the tragic loss of his fiancée, never believed he could love someone again. But Lila's warmth and quiet strength draw him in, stirring feelings he thought he'd long buried. Together, they begin to heal, piece by piece, as they slowly open their hearts to the possibility of love.
    But as their bond deepens, so do their fears. Can Lila trust herself to love without holding back? And will Ethan ever truly be ready to move forward without the weight of his past dragging him down?
    Kisses in the Air is a heartwarming and emotional journey of love, loss, and finding the courage to start over. Lila and Ethan's story will remind you that love doesn't have to be perfect—it just has to be real.
    Will they overcome their fears and choose each other, no matter what? Or will the shadows of the past keep them apart forever?

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherTrilogy Ink
    Release dateDec 15, 2024
    ISBN9798230421337
    Kisses in the Air
    Read preview

    Read more from Gracelynne Mac Allister

    Related to Kisses in the Air

    Related ebooks

    Sweet Romance For You

    View More
    View More

    Related podcast episodes

    Related categories

    Reviews for Kisses in the Air

    0 ratings

    0 ratings0 reviews

    What did you think?

    Tap to rate

    Review must be at least 10 words

      Book preview

      Kisses in the Air - Gracelynne MacAllister

      Table of Contents

      Kisses in the Air

      Chapter 1: The Pieces We Leave Behind

      Chapter 2: Shifting Sands

      Chapter 3: The Art of Trusting Again

      Chapter 4: Beneath the Surface

      Chapter 5: Fragile Beginnings

      Chapter 6: When Hearts Collide

      Chapter 7: The Storm Within

      Chapter 8: The Spaces Between Us

      Chapter 9: Rebuilding with Fractured Pieces

      Chapter 10: A Path to Healing

      Chapter 11: When Love Breaks Through

      Chapter 12: Healing in the Spaces Between

      Chapter 13: The Weight of the Heart

      Chapter 14: The Test of Love

      Chapter 15: Breaking Through the Darkness

      Chapter 16: The Edge of Forever

      Chapter 17: A Life Built on Love

      Chapter 18: Hearts in the Balance

      Chapter 19: A Day to Remember

      Chapter 20: The First Day of Forever

      Kisses in the Air

      Copyright © 2024 by Gracelynne MacAllister

      No part of this book may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law. For permission requests, write to the author, addressed Attention: Permissions, at the address below.

      Gracelynne MacAllister

      Book Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1393323041237972/

      Seed/Garden/Canning/Lifestyle Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/395868519945652/

      This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

      Cover Design by: Canva

      First Edition: December 2024

      For more information, visit: https://rusticroots.blog/

      Other Books by Gracelynne MacAllister:

      Kneading the Truth (September 2024) Book 1 in The Sourdough Sleuth Mysteries

      Operation: Rescue (September 2024) Book 1 in the Team Black Series

      Pumpkin Spice and Everything Nice (October 2024) The first yearly installment of Halloween Holiday Reads.

      Whispers of Yesterday (October 2024) Stand-alone book

      A Harvest of Love (November 2024) The first yearly installment of Thanksgiving Holiday Reads.

      Mission Redemption (November 2024) Book 2 in the Team Black Series

      Evergreen Wishes (December 2024) The first yearly installment of Christmas Holiday Reads.

      Kisses in the Air (December 2024) Stand-alone book

      Chapter 1: The Pieces We Leave Behind

      Lila Parker sat in her little corner of heaven, an art classroom filled with vibrant paints, crayon boxes half-used by eager hands, and canvases yet to be splattered with imagination. She swirled her brush in a cup of water, watching the red and blue merge into purple, the color a metaphor for the way her life always seemed to blur between what she wanted and what she actually had. The air smelled faintly of glue and pencil shavings, and despite the joyous chaos that usually accompanied the chatter of children, today felt unbearably still.

      The end of the school year was close, a fact that both thrilled and saddened her. In the fall, she’d greet a new set of bright young faces, but these kids? The ones she’d grown to love, with their sloppy paint strokes and unfiltered honesty—they would be moving on, and somehow, so would she.

      Lila tucked a strand of auburn hair behind her ear, her fingers brushing the small hoop earring her best friend, Maisie, had gifted her last Christmas. Maisie always said hoop earrings were for strong women. Lila wasn’t sure she fit the bill.

      It was easier to focus on the kids’ projects than the ache in her chest—the one she couldn’t shake since the day she watched her ex-fiancé, Paul, walk away without a backward glance. He hadn’t even fought for them. Four years, and all it took was one bad argument for him to decide they weren’t meant to be.

      She dipped her brush into a fresh glob of pink paint, the color cheerful and utterly inappropriate for her mood. The memory of Paul’s words echoed in her mind like a broken record: We’re just not right for each other anymore.

      It had been six months, and still, Lila felt the sting of it. The finality. The way he’d stripped away her hope with a single sentence. She hadn’t cried when he left—at least not in front of him. No, Lila saved her tears for the nights she sat curled up on the couch, clutching the blanket her grandmother knitted when she was just a girl, whispering prayers to a God she wasn’t sure still listened.

      The art room door creaked open, and Maisie’s familiar face peeked inside. With her untamed curls and mischievous grin, Maisie was a burst of sunshine on even the dreariest days.

      Hey, you, Maisie chirped, stepping inside and plopping herself onto one of the tiny student chairs, knees pulled to her chest in a way that only someone with her boundless energy could manage. You’re hiding.

      Lila smiled despite herself. I’m not hiding. I’m...reflecting.

      Maisie tilted her head, her curls bouncing with the motion. Uh-huh. And what exactly are we reflecting on today?

      Lila sighed, setting her paintbrush down. Same old. I’m just...I don’t know, Mais. It feels like I’m stuck. I’ve been stuck for months now, and I don’t know how to move forward.

      Maisie’s face softened, the teasing edge melting away as she reached across the table to grab Lila’s hand. You don’t have to have it all figured out yet, you know. It’s okay to be sad.

      I’m tired of being sad, Lila admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. It feels like the world moved on, and I’m still here, trying to pick up the pieces. Every time I think I’m okay, something reminds me that I’m not. A song, a smell, a stupid little thing, and suddenly I’m right back in that moment when everything fell apart.

      Maisie squeezed her hand, her brown eyes warm with understanding. You’ve been through a lot. Don’t rush your healing.

      Lila’s gaze dropped to the paint-streaked table, her heart heavy. Do you ever feel like you’re just...too broken to be fixed?

      Maisie let out a soft laugh, but there was no humor in it. Every damn day.

      Lila’s eyes flickered up to meet her friend’s, surprised by the vulnerability there. Maisie rarely let anyone see her cracks, always opting for sarcasm or humor to mask whatever was going on beneath the surface.

      I guess we’re all a little broken, huh? Lila said, a bittersweet smile tugging at her lips.

      More like beautifully shattered, Maisie corrected, her grin returning. And someday, someone’s gonna see those pieces of yours and think they’re perfect just the way they are.

      Lila’s chest tightened at the thought. She used to believe in that kind of love—the kind that saw you at your worst and loved you anyway. But after Paul, she wasn’t sure that kind of love existed for her anymore.

      Maisie leaned back in her chair, crossing her arms over her chest. Speaking of picking up pieces, have you heard about the new guy in town?

      Lila raised an eyebrow. New guy?

      Yeah, Ethan something. Moved into that cute little house on Ocean Avenue. Word on the street is he’s a writer, some kind of big deal in the book world.

      Lila rolled her eyes playfully. Of course you’ve already heard all the gossip.

      Maisie shrugged, unabashed. What can I say? Small-town life has its perks. Anyway, you should meet him. You know, put yourself out there. Maybe it’s time to, I don’t know, stop hiding in this art room and start living again?

      Lila shook her head. I’m not ready for that. And besides, a guy like that? He’s probably got women lined up around the block. What would he want with someone like me?

      Maisie’s expression softened again, this time with a hint of sadness. Lila, you’re incredible. If you can’t see that yet, then let me keep reminding you until you do.

      Lila smiled, though it didn’t quite reach her eyes. Thanks, Maisie. But I think I’m okay just being...me for now.

      Maisie nodded, but Lila could tell her friend wasn’t convinced. Just promise me you’ll think about it, okay?

      Okay, Lila said, if only to appease her.

      After Maisie left, the art room felt even quieter than before, the stillness settling around Lila like a weight she couldn’t shake. She leaned back in her chair and stared at the half-finished canvas in front of her, the swirls of color bright and chaotic, a reflection of her own tangled emotions.

      She thought about Ethan—the mysterious new writer in town. What would it be like to meet someone new, to let herself hope again? The idea terrified her. But maybe Maisie was right. Maybe it was time to step out of the shadows she’d been living in and let the sunlight in.

      The next day, the summer sun hung high in the sky as Lila strolled through town, a canvas tote slung over her shoulder, filled with paintbrushes and an old sketchbook. She had planned on spending the day at the park, sketching the trees and the ocean in the distance, trying to capture

      Enjoying the preview?
      Page 1 of 9