Total pages in book: 82
Estimated words: 78894 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 394(@200wpm)___ 316(@250wpm)___ 263(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78894 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 394(@200wpm)___ 316(@250wpm)___ 263(@300wpm)
I dropped my head and laughed harder.
“Palmer!”
“I’m sorry! It’s just that everyone we know is out there and we’re in here…”
“Fucking?”
“Yes!”
“Stop laughing and I can wrap this up faster!”
I covered my mouth with my hand to keep from laughing again. Mason sighed, then put his hand between my legs and found my clit. I gasped.
“Not so funny anymore, is it?”
I shook my head. “Faster. I’m so close!”
With one press of his thumb against me, I fell apart, and Mason came not that far behind me.
“Jesus, Palmer. That was amazing.”
He pulled out some paper towels and cleaned us both up before helping me right my dress.
“Do I look like I just had sex?” I asked, turning to look in the mirror.
“The blush on your cheeks might give you away.”
“You go out first, and I’ll wait for a few minutes and follow.”
He leaned down and kissed me. “Already bossing me around, huh?”
I reached up and kissed him.
He gently bit down on my lip and then stepped back. “I love you.”
His words sparked a crazy flutter in my chest and my breath hitched. Would I ever get used to hearing him say that? “I love you too. Now go before people notice we’re both gone.”
He gave me a light slap on the ass, unlocked the bathroom door, and slipped out. I wasn’t sure how long I sat in the bathroom…three minutes, maybe…before I opened the door—and let out a scream.
“Jesus H, Sutton! You scared the living shit out of me.”
She shot me a dirty look, then eyed me up and down. “While I’m out here nearly drowning in pee, you’re having sex in the bathroom!”
I pushed the door open more. “I’m alone.”
Sutton rolled her eyes. “Please, I saw Mason walk out. Don’t lie, your face says it all.”
Shrugging, I said, “I can’t help it if I have a spontaneous future husband.”
Her mouth dropped open. “I’ll have you know, my husband is just as spontaneous, if not more.”
I raised a brow.
“What’s that look supposed to mean?” she said.
About that time, Brody came walking down the hallway. “Hey, is everything okay? You’ve been gone forever.”
Sutton turned, grabbed him by the lapel of his coat, then used her other hand to pull me out of the bathroom. She pushed Brody inside and turned back to face me. It took everything I had not to laugh at the confused expression on Brody’s face.
“Don’t worry, Brody,” I said. “In about thirty seconds, I’m going to become your favorite sister-in-law.”
I started down the hall. Before Sutton shut the door, I heard Brody say, “What did she mean by—Sutton!”
Smiling, I lifted my head high and walked back into the party.
“If our parents knew what you and Sutton were up to, they’d be horrified!” Addie whispered when I walked up to her.
Turning to face my older sister, I pretended to be confused. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
She rolled her eyes. “You never were a good liar, Palmer.”
* * *
THE SEASIDE CHRONICLES
February 14, 2023
RIP TIDE – SPECIAL EDITION
Seasiders,
My fishes, I know I don’t normally do two special editions in one week, but news on the docks is that we have a shark circling in the waters of Seaside.
Take caution, dear shark, you may want to find other waters to feed in.
Fair winds and following seas!
Ms. Seaside
* * *
That’s it for now, my fishes!
Braxton
One Month Earlier
I wrapped my coat tightly around me as I stood off to the side of the ferry landing on Lighthouse Island. It was a Tuesday. I’d never come on a Tuesday before, only Wednesdays.
Watching the small group unload from the ferry, I looked for the faces of the guys I suspected were runners for The Chronicle. I knew the lighthouse played a part in this whole thing, and I wasn’t going to stop until I figured out who in the hell Ms. Seaside was. Even though I’d told Palmer we needed to drop the search, I wasn’t about to.
As of yet, I hadn’t seen anyone who looked familiar, but then something told me to come on Tuesday instead. So here I was…waiting by a group of trees, holding up a map and acting like a tourist.
A group of people who all appeared to be together walked off the ferry boat. They moved toward the small museum that was housed on the island. One person, a woman, stepped out of the group and started to make her way up the path that led directly to the lighthouse overlooking Penobscot Bay. Something about her was familiar, so I kept my eyes on her instead of looking back at the small stream of people disembarking off the ferry. January wasn’t really a touristy time of year, but there were still people who came over to visit the lighthouse and the museum.
I pulled my hat down some and started to walk in the general direction of the woman while making it seem like I was going to take another path. Her pace picked up as she drew farther away from the group, and I narrowed my eyes.