faustinaimonmon

Nora Calder swore she’d never return to Cutler Cove, the coastal town where she left her heart—and Elias Hart—ten years ago. But when the lighthouse that holds their teenage pact faces demolition, she’s back, armed with grit and a secret that drove her away: her father’s ruinous debts. At 34, she’s got one shot to save the tower—and maybe herself—before the council tears it down.
Elias, now a rugged contractor engaged to sweet, steady Leah, didn’t expect Nora’s return to crack his world open. Their pact—if single at 35, they’d marry atop the lighthouse—haunts him as she fights for the crumbling landmark he’s hired to destroy. Old initials carved in the railing and stolen glances reignite a fire he thought was ash, but loyalty and love pull him in two.
As storms batter the coast and the town splits over the lighthouse’s fate, Nora and Elias clash, then cling—unearthing her past, shattering his future, and rebuilding more than stone. From desperate kisses in the lantern room to a festival that could save it all, they face a deadline that’s more than a vote: six months to prove the tower’s worth, and theirs. In a tangle of sweat, salt, and second chances, The Lighthouse Pact is a raw, steamy romance about love that won’t stay buried—and a promise that might just hold.

The Lighthouse Pact

Nora picked at a muffin in Cutler Cove's only café, the vinyl booth sticking to her jeans. Leah sat across from her, all blonde curls and easy smiles, stirring sugar into her latte like they were old friends. Coffee had been Leah's idea, texted last night after the council meeting: Let's chat! 10 a.m. at The Gull? Nora had almost bailed, but curiosity—and a nagging guilt—dragged her here.

"So," Leah said, setting her spoon down. "You and Elias go way back, huh?"

Nora's throat tightened. "Yeah. High school. Small town, you know."

Leah nodded, sipping her drink. "He mentioned you once. Said you were smart, stubborn. Left for the city."

"He said that?" Nora forced a laugh, crumbling the muffin edge. "Sounds about right."

"He doesn't talk much about the past," Leah went on, her tone light but probing. "But I figured you were close. The way he looked at you yesterday…"

Nora's hand froze. "How'd he look at me?"

Leah shrugged, but her eyes were sharp. "Like he was seeing a ghost. Or maybe something he missed."

The words landed heavy, and Nora scrambled for a dodge. "We were kids. That's all. You've got nothing to worry about."

Leah smiled, too kind, too calm. "Oh, I'm not worried. Elias is solid. Just curious about the girl who got away."

Nora's stomach twisted. She wasn't that girl—not anymore. But Leah's warmth was disarming, and it made her feel like shit. "I'm here for the lighthouse," she said, firm. "Not him."

"Good," Leah said, leaning back. "Because I love that man, and I'm not big on sharing."

They both laughed, but it was thin, brittle. Leah shifted gears, asking about the preservation plan, and Nora rattled off stats—grant deadlines, repair costs—grateful for the lifeline. By the time they parted, Leah waving like they'd bonded, Nora's head was a mess.

She walked back to the cottage, the drizzle soaking her coat. Leah was nice—too nice—and it made Elias's ring feel heavier in her mind. He'd moved on. She should too. But that look he'd given her in the lantern room, the way his voice softened—it wouldn't let her go.

Elias found her later, hammering on the cottage door as the sun dipped low. She opened it, still damp from the walk, and he barged in without asking. "What'd you say to Leah?"

She blinked, stepping back. "What?"

"She came home all quiet," he said, pacing the tiny living room. "Said you had coffee. What'd you tell her?"

"Nothing!" Nora snapped. "She asked about us—high school. I said it was ancient history."

He stopped, hands on his hips, breathing hard. "She thinks something's up."

"Then talk to her," Nora said, crossing her arms. "I didn't start this."

He glared, then softened, running a hand through his hair. "I don't know what I'm doing, Nora. This—you being here—it's screwing with me."

Her heart thudded. "Yeah, well, you're not the only one."

They stood there, the air thick, until he stepped closer. Too close. "Why'd you come back?" he asked, low and raw. "Really?"

She swallowed, the truth clawing up her throat—because of the lighthouse, because of him, because she'd never stopped running from what she'd left. But she couldn't say it. "To fix something," she said instead. "That's all."

His jaw tightened, and for a second, she thought he'd push. Instead, he backed off, heading for the door. "See you at the lighthouse tomorrow," he muttered. "We've got work."

He left, and she sank onto the couch, her hands shaking. Leah's smile, Elias's voice, the pact—they tangled in her chest, pulling tight. She'd come to save a tower, not a love she'd buried. But the deeper she dug, the more it felt like both.

Chapter 5: The Other Woman