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)
Kris looked back at the paper and chuckled. “I think it was a brilliant choice on Braxton’s part to respond.”
I snapped my head up to look at her. Was she for real? “Brilliant?”
She nodded. “You don’t think so?”
I let out a bark of laughter. “No. I think people will think it’s ridiculous and childish.”
“What’s ridiculous and childish?”
I spun around to see Brax standing there with a smug expression on his face. An instant memory of last night hit me with such lethal force, I nearly stumbled back.
“You’re published!” Kris stated as she handed Brax the paper.
While he read, the smile on his face grew wider, and I had to fight the urge to slap it right off. Smug bastard.
Turning, I started to make myself a cup of coffee. I couldn’t let anyone know I was bothered, because then they’d ask questions. And really, why was I bothered? Because Brax had responded to me? Er…to Ms. Seaside. He had no idea we were one in the same. And I’d pushed his buttons last night. What had I expected?
After pouring my coffee, I turned and leaned against the counter.
Brax looked up from the paper. “Do you think she’ll respond?”
“Yes!” Kris replied at the same time I said, “No.”
“No? You don’t think she will?” he asked as Kris looked directly at me.
I shrugged. “I mean, I guess she could.”
“Oh, I hope she comes back with something witty! I think she’s an older woman, and you know how they’re full of spit and fire,” Kris added.
Braxton gave me a see-I-told-you-so look. I shook my head. “It’s not Ruby. She works every Tuesday, remember?”
His shoulders slumped. “Maybe she hires someone to drop off the articles.”
“Has Mitch seen anything?” Kris asked. “He does man the lighthouse. Maybe he’s seen the same woman coming and going.”
“He didn’t mention that he’s noticed anything out of the ordinary,” Brax replied.
Kris frowned. “That’s a bummer.”
Brax’s cell phone rang. “I need to take this,” he said, hitting a button. “Mike. Yeah, I saw it.”
My mouth fell open.
“Guess you were right about your dad,” Kris said, looking over at me.
I forced myself to smile at her but didn’t say anything.
Brax walked out of the kitchen, and I had to keep my feet planted to the floor so that I didn’t follow him.
Kris pulled some blueberry muffins out of the oven, and the smell quickly surrounded me, temporarily causing me to forget this whole mess.
“How did you sleep, Harlee?”
I looked from the muffins to Kris and gave her another forced smile. With some added fake cheer to my voice, I said, “I slept great.”
“Was it that sleeping pill I gave you?” Brax asked as he walked back into the kitchen.
If looks could kill, Braxton Bradley would be dead on the spot. My cheeks heated and I had to clear my throat before replying. “No, that didn’t help any. As a matter of fact, I think it was a placebo.”
Brax huffed a laugh and shook his head. I gave myself an internal fist pump because I knew that laugh. It was forced to make me think I hadn’t scored a direct hit.
Kris tsked. “You know, you really shouldn’t take someone else’s medicine, Harlee.”
Brax and I both looked at Kris.
“What?” she asked. “I’m simply saying. It could be dangerous.”
Clearing his throat, Brax turned back to me. “Do you mind if we head out? I’ve got a meeting I need to get to.”
That piqued my interest. “What kind of meeting?”
“A business kind.”
I wanted to stick my tongue out at him, but really, I was almost thirty-one years old and that was childish. What was it about being around this man that made me lose my damn mind?
“I’ll pack you both some blueberry muffins,” Kris said as she grabbed a box out of a cabinet. “I pack little meals all the time for people who want to eat on the beach and such.”
I walked over and hugged her. “Thank you so much, Kris. What do we owe you for the rooms?”
Waving her hand to brush off my question, she replied, “You don’t owe me a thing. I loved seeing you both.”
I hugged her again. “I took the sheets off my bed and put them in the laundry basket. If you have fresh sheets, I’ll put them on the bed before we go.”
Brax finished off his cup of coffee, then headed to the sink. “I’ll do the same, Kris. We really do appreciate you feeding us and letting us crash here.”
She smiled. “You’ll both do no such thing. I’ll take care of the rooms. I honestly don’t have anything else to do today besides make a carrot cake.”
Brax paused. “Carrot cake? Damn, we stayed on the wrong night.”
Kris laughed as I smiled. Oh, he really could be a charmer. Probably charmed my father.
Well, Ms. Seaside was most definitely going to reply—and the kid gloves were coming off.