Total pages in book: 79
Estimated words: 76456 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 382(@200wpm)___ 306(@250wpm)___ 255(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 76456 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 382(@200wpm)___ 306(@250wpm)___ 255(@300wpm)
But she did confirm another thing.
This Rayna woman was who I clearly needed to speak to next. Assuming she lived through whatever medical emergency she had going on.
“I’ll follow you out,” I said when the telltale chime of the door made her jolt.
Better to just follow her lead and seem concerned and unthreatening. The last thing I needed was for her to get the cops or something involved in this business.
They wouldn’t have to snoop too long to find some sketchy shit.
And, sure, the Balm Harbour police were more adept at handling a random drunk and disorderly or out of control house party in the on-season, I couldn’t count on them being completely inept.
“Okay,” Mere said, clearly still a little uncertain, but she turned and rushed back through the back room and into the shop.
I followed a little less quickly, stopping to make myself a coffee since, despite it being just after noon, it had been a long-ass day already.
When I made my way into the store, I found a small group of women perusing the flowers. All of whom looked up when they saw me standing there, their curious gazes taking me in.
All except for one woman.
Maudine Mellers, a familiar face to any Balm Harbour resident, whether you were there year-round or not. Whether you had stepped foot in the town in years… or not.
“Well, well well,” she said, a smile tugging at her lips that were painted in an almost purple shade of pink, something that made her light skin look even paler.
Maudine had what I could only refer to as a “timeless older lady” look to her. She could be sixty or eighty. There was no way to tell. But she loved her hairspray, making her blonde hair stand up at unreasonable heights, depending on the style she was going for that day, and her bright colors.
Like right then she was wearing a pink and purple swirled silk blouse and a pair of pants that were somehow the exact same shade of purple. Giant whale earrings dangled from her ears.
“Look what the cat dragged in,” she finished, her gaze moving over me. “If you aren’t a sight for sore eyes,” she added, grin going a little mischievous. “I tell you, if I was thirty years younger…”
“Then, ma’am, you would be, what? Ten?”
“Oh, this one,” she said, waving a hand toward me. “Always with the charm. I married three men with that same charm,” she declared to her friends. Who were probably not her friends at all, but tourists who she’d latched onto and immediately started to smother with her enthusiasm.
“Divorced them too,” she added with a knowing smirk. Like she could tell just how many women I’d taken to dinner—and bed—over the time I’d been away from the town. “Lazy and stupid, Mere,” Maudine said, looking over at Mere who was looking between the two of us with confusion. “Lazy and stupid is who you want to marry. Extra points if they’re bald, like your cooking, and would rather spend time by themselves fishing than hitting the bars. Those are the ones who will stay loyal.”
“I feel like I should argue,” I said. “You know… for my kind.”
“But you know I’m right,” Maudine said, snorting a little. “Are you visiting for long? It’s been sad to see that lovely house of yours sitting empty.”
“I will probably be here a few weeks. Brought my brother with me this time,” I said, waving out the window toward where Gav was scowling at a candy store across the street. “Don’t worry. I got all the charm. He got all the grumpiness,” I said, watching as Maudine looked him over in the same way she’d looked at me. “But I should go catch up with him,” I added, walking over toward the desk where Mere was still looking at me with her brows pinched in confusion. “If you hear from Dennis, shoot me a text,” I said, jotting down my number, then leaving my cup of coffee there, and making my way out of the front.
Don’t ask me why, but I’d turned back, looking through the doors, watching Mere for a moment as she picked up my glass with both hands, just cradling it in her palms, as she nodded at something Maudine was saying.
“Who are you looking at?” Gav asked, coming in at my side.
“No one,” I said. Then, rushed to add, “Maudine.”
“Right,” Gav said, following my gaze into the store, landing right on Mere.
And if there was anyone who would know exactly what your tastes were in women, it was your cock-blocking brother.
“Maudine,” he said, giving me an eye roll. “The last thing you need is to fuck the sweet-looking florist,” he reminded me, turning and walking away.
Oh, I might not have needed to.
But that familiar ache I was feeling was telling me that I damn sure wanted to.