Total pages in book: 81
Estimated words: 78085 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 390(@200wpm)___ 312(@250wpm)___ 260(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78085 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 390(@200wpm)___ 312(@250wpm)___ 260(@300wpm)
Jesus, Brax, stop staring at her like you’re the freaking jerk you just saved her from.
I shook my head and came back down to Earth. “What did you say?”
She looked confused, but a part of her seemed to also be delighted I had stepped in. “Why did you run him off?”
Lord have mercy, I was forever having to tell my sisters and Harlee that guys were out for one thing and one thing only. “He wants to get in your pants, Harlee, and that’s it.”
Her eyes crinkled at the corners before she laughed. “Brax, you think every guy only wants to get in a girl’s pants.”
I flashed her a wicked grin. “That’s because I’m a guy, and I know for a fact that guys are only after one thing.”
She looked around the dance floor. The music suddenly changed to a slow song, so I held my hand out to her. With a shy smile, she took it. I drew her body flush against mine and tried to ignore the way it instantly heated at the contact.
It’s Harlee, Brax. Calm the hell down.
“I love this song,” Harlee said as she laid her head on my chest. The gesture shouldn’t have made my heart jolt, so I purposefully ignored the ache in my chest.
“A Snow Patrol fan, huh?” I asked.
She looked up and smiled. “Yep. Grey’s fan too.”
With a questioning look, I asked, “Grey’s?”
She frowned. “Braxton Bradley, please don’t tell me you’ve never seen Grey’s Anatomy?”
I smiled. “Okay, I won’t tell you that.”
Her mouth dropped open. “Wait, seriously? It’s only the greatest show ever. Addie and Sutton are addicted to it; how have you never seen it?”
With a laugh, I shrugged. “No clue, but I’ll take your word for it.”
Harlee glanced around the dance floor once again.
“Are you looking for someone?”
She snapped her head back to me. “Sorry—it’s rude of me to be looking around while dancing with such a handsome lad.”
I rolled my eyes. “How’s school going? I’d think you were getting close to being finished?”
She sighed slightly, then shrugged. “It’s going well, and yeah, I graduate this spring. Not sure why I’m even going. My father is going to give me a job at the paper because I’m his kid. And everyone will think I walked into the position, even though I’ve been working for the paper since I was sixteen. Trying my best to learn how it all works.”
“Harlee, this is Seaside. No one’s going to think that. Besides, all the employees who work there know you’ve been busting your butt for years. We’ve all seen it. No one would ever call you lazy or undeserving.”
She smiled. “Thanks, Brax. That means a lot to me.”
With a short nod, I added, “You’re getting your degree in marketing, you’re going to be a very valuable asset to the paper.”
“I guess it’ll come in handy if he lets me actually have a job in management.”
“I can’t imagine why he wouldn’t.”
She gave me a weak smile, clearly not as convinced as I was. “I guess we’ll find out in a few months. How’s the fishing business going?”
“Busy. Thomas has been helping me, and it’s growing a lot faster than I thought it would. I just bought another boat and hired two more people for when the season starts up again in May.”
She smiled. “That’s amazing! You always were one of the best fishermen in town. How many championships have you won over the years?”
My chest puffed out a little at her praise. “One or two.”
“And he’s modest as well, ladies.”
“I hope I can keep growing. My dream is to make Bradley Charters one of the best in Maine.”
Her expression turned soft, and a strange feeling hit my stomach as our eyes locked. “If anyone can do it, it’s you, Brax.”
I wasn’t sure if she also felt the strange pull that had suddenly engulfed us, but I was obviously starved for companionship if I was reacting to Harlee like this. I mentally decided to make some time to hook up with someone else. It had been too long, and sex was clearly overdue.
Clearing my throat, I replied, “Thanks, Harlee.”
Something in her eyes changed, and she opened her mouth to say something before snapping it shut.
“What were you going to say?”
Her cheeks turned bright red. “Nothing, it was something silly.”
“Tell me.”
She looked away as if trying to gather up the courage, but then clearly caught sight of someone. She quickly shook her head and looked back at me. Her smile was forced. “The guy I’m meeting just showed up.”
For a hot second, I thought I saw regret in her eyes. Regret for what, though? Not telling me what she wanted to say, or for meeting up with some guy?
I glanced to my right and saw Douglas McCarthy standing there, smiling in our direction.
“Wait, you’re going on a date with Douglas McCarthy?”