Total pages in book: 69
Estimated words: 69398 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 347(@200wpm)___ 278(@250wpm)___ 231(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 69398 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 347(@200wpm)___ 278(@250wpm)___ 231(@300wpm)
He throws his hands out right away, and I see he’s incredibly handsome. Tall, lean, with sandy blond hair and deep brown eyes. He’s been around the water for a lot of his life, that much is clear. He looks like he belongs on the ocean, maybe in a ship or something of the sort. He looks to me, and in a puffed voice from running, he says, “God, I am so sorry. Let me help you pick up your ... sticks.”
My cheeks flush as I kneel down and start gathering the little collection I was bringing back from the beach to make some things. I don’t know what, but I thought I could use them in a crafty way to make things for my little cabin. I like creating, and what better way to do that then with what mother nature naturally gives out.
“It’s okay, they’re just for some art,” I say, picking up what I can. “I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean to run into you.”
“It’s okay, no problem at all,” he says, standing with a hand full of sticks. Most of those aren’t the ones I had, but I can’t help but smile at his effort.
He hands them all to me, and I can’t stop the giggle that escapes my throat.
“Those aren’t your sticks, are they?” he says, a grin spreading across his handsome face.
“No, but that’s completely okay. I appreciate you helping.”
“You’re new around here?” he asks, studying me. “I don’t think I’ve seen you on this path before.”
“I am, I live in the cabin just over there.”
I nod my head in the direction of the cabin.
“Oh, nice. I knew the people there before, good people. You living alone?”
“Yeah, just me. I’m working at a local café in town and trying to settle in as best I can. I’m Merleigh, by the way.”
“Nice to meet you, Merleigh. I’m Carson.”
Carson.
Handsome.
“Have you lived around here long, Carson?”
“Nah, only for the last few years. I used to live by the ocean, I did a lot of traveling for surfing. Then I retired and wanted to be back by the beach, so here I am. I work at a local fishery now.”
“You surf?” I ask, raising my brows.
“Yeah. Well, I used to.”
“And you competed?”
He nods.
“That’s really cool. I have a friend who surfs, he’s teaching me. It’s not as easy as it looks.”
He laughs. “No, it certainly isn’t. Listen, do you need a hand with those sticks? I feel bad that I knocked you over.”
“That would be great.”
I point out which ones I want and he collects them before following me back to my cabin. We place them on the porch and I turn to face him. “I appreciate your help.”
“This might sound too forward but ... would you want to grab a coffee? I’m not working this afternoon and I know a great place in town.”
I hesitate. Not because Carson isn’t cute, he is. My lord he is. But because my heart is so attached to Bohdi ... but, he has also made it very clear that it’ll never be anything. Maybe I should be exploring other options, even if the idea feels incredibly wrong.
Still, I can’t say no to a friend.
“I’m not really looking to start anything right now, but I’m always up for friends,” I say, getting that out of the way up front.
“Sounds great to me.”
I beam. “Let me get changed and we can go.”
I turn and rush inside, getting changed. Then I flick Waverly a text telling her what happened. She will lose it, but she’ll be super happy, too. It’s nice having girls I can talk to. I change into a casual dress and re-brush my hair, then I meet Carson out front and we take the short stroll into the town center. It’s nice living so close, I rarely use my car.
He takes me to the other coffee shop I applied to, and we sit down. I order a coffee and a pecan slice—Carson does the same.
“So, tell me about yourself, Merleigh.”
I tell him the basics and make it sound as nice as I can. I don’t want to go scaring the poor man off before he has the chance to get to know me. This me, not the me that has long since died.
“So just a small town girl,” he grins. “I like it.”
“What about you? Tell me more about your surfing,” I question, sipping my coffee when it arrives.
“There isn’t much to tell, really. I have been surfing all my life, I went and did some competitions and then decided it was time to pack it up and settle down. I don’t have a family, or a wife, I couldn’t keep galivanting around the world forever.”
I respect that.
“That’s a big choice to make.”
He nods, with a smile. “It is, but I always did want kids and a family. So, I picked a place and decided to make a go of it.”