Contemporary Romance Novella 'The Secret Cove' Sneak Peek! 'The Secret Cove', written by Kate Bellevue is a contemporary romance novella featuring Maggie Hunt, an independent woman, successful attorney and litigator, and Navy SEAL doctor, Chase Regan. Their relationship is every bit as rocky as the Maine coast. Will the hot Navy SEAL doctor win her over? Check out our sneak peek of this sexy Kindle ebook!

1. A SNEAK PEEK | CONTEMPORARY
ROMANCE 'THE SECRET COVE'
A SIZZLING AND ROCKY ROMANCE
Kate Bellevue
Best Selling Kindle Author
http://www.katebellevue.blogspot.com

2. A SNEAK PEEK |
Contemporary Romance 'The
Secret Cove'
A Sneak Peek…
CHAPTER 7 – The Secret Cove
A Kindle Novella by Kate Bellevue
Find it on Amazon: http://amzn.com/B0087KGO4Q/
The sights, sounds and smells of the forest were exactly what
Maggie needed, as she headed toward her secret cove. Having
timed the tides, she knew that she could easily get across the
sandbar with several hours to spare in which to explore Bard Island
and surrounding trails before the tide covered it again. She pushed
herself hard, wanting to cover as much ground as possible on her
last day at Goose Cove.
The trails were well marked. The former owner was a master at
creating trails across the seventy acres that were breathtakingly
beautiful and peaceful. Taking care not to disturb anything off trail,
she worked her way toward Bard Island.
Taking extra caution around the nesting Osprey, she continued
walking along the rocky coast of the island, and found a secluded
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3. area to change into her bikini. Dipping into a tidal area, she
enjoyed the warmer water and soothing sand. Swimming wasn’t an
option with her shoulder the way it was, but she decided to at least
sit in the water and try her shoulder exercises with water
resistance. Then stepping back to an area with flat rocks, she
grabbed her sunscreen, slathered her body, and spread out her
beach towel.
Ahhh. The sea air and crashing waves are definitely good for the
soul, she thought, as she closed her eyes and relaxed.
Startled by the cry of a seagull she sat up . Oh my! I must have
fallen asleep! Quickly grabbing her things, she moved as fast as
possible over the rocks and back to the sandbar.
The water was just beginning to cover the sand. Plenty of time
to cross, she thought; yet she felt anxious. She knew the current
would grow strong very quickly, and the sandbar that once looked
harmless and inviting now looked anything but, as she noted storm
clouds brewing in the distance.
Maggie stepped over a rock and slipped on some seaweed.
Catching herself, she breathed a sigh of relief, thankful that it had
not led to another spill of the day. Her foot lodged deep into a
crevice between the rocks. “Augh!” She hopped a bit on her free
foot to try to angle herself differently and free her foot, but the
more she moved, the deeper her shoe wedged into the crevice.
Ok – there’s no need to panic, thought Maggie. Maybe I can slip
my sneaker off. But because her foot was twisted with her
anklebone against the side, there seemed to be no way to pull her
foot out. In fact, it was now at a painful and awkward angle.
What do I do? She realized if she fell with her ankle at this angle,
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4. it could possibly snap and break. Yet if she tried to lower herself
down, because of the angle of her foot, she would have to use her
left and injured shoulder to bear her weight. There would be no way
to break the fall with her arm. She would either risk further injury
to her shoulder, or pain so severe that it wouldn’t bear her weight
anyway. The last thing she needed was another injury. Shifting
slightly while trying not to fall, Maggie worked carefully and
gingerly to free her foot, desperately trying to find a new angle that
would allow her to release her foot without injuring it.
Meanwhile she watched the waters rising. Suddenly she heard a
call and looked up to find Chase near the mouth of the sandbar.
“Chase!” She called. “My foot is stuck!” He quickly crossed the
sandbar and knelt beside her to take a look.
“Are you hurt?” he asked.
“No.” Maggie replied. “My foot is wedged in there, but I didn’t
twist it. Apart from being stuck, it’s actually fine.”
Gently, Chase tried to place his fingers near her anklebone to
see if he could create some space for her to wiggle free.
Maggie tried to stifle her gasp from the sensations his touch
created, and ignore the familiar feelings coursing through her body.
Focus, she mentally chided herself.
“Ok.” Chase said. “We only have a few minutes left or we’ll be
stuck on this island for 12 hours while we wait for the tides to
change. On the count of 3, I’m going to try to leverage my fingers
against the rock to create some space. When I do, see if you can
get your foot free, ok? Try leaning against my shoulder to relieve
the pressure on your foot.”
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5. Maggie grabbed Chase’s shoulder and shifted her angle yet
again. “Ok, I’m ready.”
“One, two, three!” said Chase.
Maggie pulled and twisted her foot, but it was painful, and no
use. It was stuck and apart from something to pry the rocks apart,
she could not get out. The position she was in was quickly
becoming more awkward and painful.
Glancing at the rising water, Chase told her he was going to
have to go for help.
“Chase, No!” exclaimed Maggie. “Please, let’s just try to find a
stick or another rock to pry them apart.”
“Maggie, I know you’re scared, but if I don’t get across the
sandbar now, I won’t be able to, and right now no one knows where
we are. The current that covers the sandbar is strong because of
the open water and narrow opening between the main land and this
island. I have a limited window to get across at this point, even as
an expert swimmer.” Glancing quickly at his cell phone, he
confirmed once again that there were no bars. “I’ll grab some tools
and come back with the kayak or canoe. Will you be all right? Can
you stand there until I get back?”
Frightened and totally embarrassed at the situation, Maggie
said “Yes, of course. Go. Chase, I’m so sorry. This all just seems so
ridiculous.”
“Well, you do seem accident prone,” he said with a grin. “Hang
tight. I’ll be back as quickly as I can.” Seeing her fear, he said, “I
won’t let you down. It will be okay.” Chase quickly made his way
down the rocks, and pushed through the rising tide and current to
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6. get to the trail. Looking back, he gave her a “thumbs up” and
began his run back to the lodge.
Mentally chiding herself for once again appearing to be clumsy
and incompetent, Maggie thought she would die from the
embarrassment of putting Chase, and potentially others out, by the
mere fact that they would have to stop whatever they were doing to
rescue her. This is ridiculous, she thought, grimacing with
discomfort as she tried to stay as still as possible with all her
weight on one leg.
The wind was picking up, and so were the waves. Chilled and
beginning to shiver, she found it increasingly difficult to try to
remain balanced with the wind gusts pushing against her.
Shivering, she began to worry that she might be stuck here all
night. But then she thought about Chase, and she knew he would
find a way.
Looking up, she saw a small motorboat rounding the cove
toward the island, bouncing as the waves pushed the hull up and
down with each wave. Chase and George were both in the boat.
How will they do this? Maggie wondered. There’s no way they can
approach this rocky coast safely in these waves.
Chase motioned that they were heading around the back of the
island; keeping a wide berth between the boat and the jagged
coastline.
Another 15 minutes went by, but it seemed like an hour to
Maggie. Her legs were fatigued, her ankle very sore from the
unnatural angle, and she was shivering uncontrollably from the
quick drop in temperature and winds that seemed to go right
through her. She kept her thoughts and body focused as she
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7. reminded herself over and over that she could do it.
George and Chase called to her as they made their way across
the rocks from the other side of the island, where the waves were
calmer away from the open ocean. Maggie saw George carrying a
crow bar and Chase had his bag and a blanket.
“Maggie, you’re shivering,” he said as he reached her.
“I’m ok, Chase. Let’s just get my f-f-foot free,” she said, barely
able to keep her teeth from chattering.
Chase moved behind Maggie, and leaned into her for support,
placing the blanket around her. Then moving next to George, Chase
held Maggie’s ankle while George placed the crowbar between the
rocks.
“Maggie, can you steady yourself?” asked Chase.
“Yes.”
“George, on my count, leverage the crowbar against the rock.
I’ll help Maggie pull her ankle out. Ready? Go!”
George leaned on the crow bar and Chase deftly worked to
protect Maggie’s ankle, while Maggie pulled it out.
Biting back a cry of pain, Maggie found herself falling backward
as her foot was freed. Chase grabbed her around the waist, and
then swept her up in his arms.
“Chase, I can walk!” she exclaimed.
“Maggie, hang tight and don’t argue. Let’s get to the other side
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8. of the island and then I’ll examine your ankle.” And with that, he
strode off, carrying Maggie’s nearly 6’ frame wrapped in the
blanket, as if she weighed nothing.
Maggie remained as quiet and still as possible, although she
was shivering from the cold. Chase’s arms were strong and she
felt…safe. As they reached the other side, Chase gently placed her
on a flat rock, careful to keep the blanket around her. He took her
ankle between his hands. Probing, he watched her reactions for
signs of pain.
Does this hurt, he asked? “N-n-no,” she said breathlessly as his
touch sent incredible sensations through her ankle and up her leg.
Shivering, she told him she was fine. It was a bit stiff, but other
than that it felt ok. “I’m going to carry you over the rocks to the
boat, Maggie.” As she protested again, he turned to look in her
eyes. This time Maggie couldn’t tear her eyes away.
The confusion was evident in her deep, green eyes. Chase felt
his annoyance slip away. He smiled and brushed her hair gently
behind her ear.
“That was a close one,” he said.
“Y-y-yes, it was. Thank you, Chase,” said Maggie breathlessly.
“It would have been a long night on this island if you hadn’t
c-c-come along.”
Maggie squirmed uncomfortably at her body’s reaction to
Chase, suddenly aware of her bikini-clad body under the blanket,
and taunt nipples.
As though he could read her mind and body, Chase’s fingers
trailed behind her ear, down to her neck, and paused at the pulse
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9. beating wildly.
George cleared his throat.
Chase swiftly tightened the blanket around the shivering Maggie
and swept her into his arms and toward the boat. He placed Maggie
in the center of the boat, and moved the blanket aside to help her
with a life jacket. His fingers brushing her breasts, as he moved the
strap around her torso, causing Maggie to gasp as her eyes met his,
equally dark with desire.
Pulling the blanket back around her, Chase moved to the seat
behind Maggie to help steady and keep her as warm as possible for
the rough ride back around the island to the cove.
As they reach the beach at Goose Cove, a small group gathered
around to make sure Maggie was okay. Embarrassed, but grateful,
Maggie told everyone that she was fine, with chattering teeth, and
turned to thank George and Chase again.
“I’ll walk you to your room,” Chase replied. “You’re still
shivering and may have mild hypothermia, Maggie. A hot shower
will do you some good.”
“I - I can handle that, but thanks, Chase,” Maggie replied,
wobbling slightly with just the thought of Chase and her shower,
and trying to keep her teeth from chattering.
“You’re not getting rid of me that easily.” Taking her arm, he
began walking with her toward the lodge.
“Dinner will be ready in an hour!” Pam called, as she headed
toward the dining room to complete the preparations.
9

10. Rather than cause a scene, Maggie let Chase walk her to her
room. At the door she turned to say thank you, but he gently guided
her inside and closed the door. Taking her face in his hands, his
blue-eyes probed hers. She felt lost in them for just a moment.
“I’m going to stay to make sure you’re ok, Maggie. I’ll run the
shower for you.” As she opened her mouth to protest, Chase gently
put his finger over her lips. “Maggie, there’s no point in arguing.
You’ve been through a traumatic experience, and your body
temperature was lowered due to exposure. You’re still shivering,
and bordering on hypothermia. Let me do what I do best. I just
want to make sure you’re ok.”
Moving to the bathroom, Chase turned the shower on full blast,
and returned to her room.
Maggie grabbed some clothes to take into the bathroom with
her. She moved quickly past Chase, not daring to look at him.
Chase stood in the doorway, as if he was planning to stay, but
Maggie tilted her head and gave him a look that said, “I don’t think
so.” Chase grinned and left, closing the bathroom door behind him.
This is insanity, she thought, as she leaned against the closed
door. Removing the blanket and her bikini, Maggie proceeded to
put her hair up to avoid getting it wet. Her body was still shivering,
in spite of the heat she felt from her reaction to Chase, and she
quickly got into the hot shower. It felt amazing. It took several
minutes before her body stopped shivering and she felt things
beginning to return to normal...well, relatively normal.
Every fiber of her being was aware that Chase was on the other
side of the door. Not wanting to take too long just in case he
decided to check in on her, Maggie stopped the shower and
grabbed her towel. As she toweled off, the signs of her arousal
10

11. peered back at her in the mirror. Dressing quickly, she combed her
hair out, and then decided to put it back up.
Chase knocked on the door. “Maggie, are you ok?” he asked.
“Yes, I’ll be right there.” Opening the door, she found Chase
disturbingly near. Even at 6’ she had to look up to meet his eyes.
Those deep, beautiful, blue eyes…
Guiding her toward the chaise lounge, he asked her to sit for a
minute. Protesting that they would be late for dinner, Maggie
resisted, his touch causing a shiver to run through her body. Taking
that as a sign that she was still chilled, he said, “Maggie, it might
be best for you to stay in tonight and get some rest. I can bring
dinner to you.”
Her eyes widened at the thought of that, and as she tried to
protest, he put a thermometer in her mouth and grinned a
mischievous smile. “Close please.” That’s one way to keep her
quiet, he thought.
“Well, the good news is that all your vital signs check out,
although your body temp is on the low side of normal. I’m still
recommending that you take it easy tonight, and that we keep your
body temp as warm as possible.” he said, as he closed his bag.
Conflicting thoughts raced through her head; She loved the
thought of “we” keeping her warm and that thought really scared
her. ..
If you enjoyed this sneak peek and would like to read more of The
Secret Cove, a Kindle Novella by Kate Bellevue, please visit the
11

12. book page here: http://amzn.com/B0087KGO4Q/ or visit Kate
Bellevue's blog at http://www.katebellevue.blogspot.com.
*** Please note this is a Contemporary Romance and intended for
adults.
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