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)
Walker Anders had mentioned the compartment in his journal, including an explanation on how to find it. The only others who knew about it were my dad and our two couriers. Of course, even they didn’t know I was Ms. Seaside. I simply told them when and where to pick up the article. The location changed every so often, though the lighthouse was the place I’d stowed my articles for the past two years. No one was the wiser.
That was until Braxton found out about it. Damn him. And damn Palmer for being so hell bent on figuring out Ms. Seaside’s identity. And damn me for going overboard with Ms. Seaside’s fixation on the Bradley family. It had been so easy to do at first, and I’d told myself I would only mention them a few times. But they were such a huge part of my world, and the more I talked about them, the more guilty I became. There were so many nights I sat in my office and wondered why I wrote about the family so much. Maybe I was simply jealous I wasn’t a part of the Bradley family, and this was in some weird-ass way how I dealt with it.
Sighing, I shook my head.
And damn me for even mentioning the lighthouse.
With a deep breath, I got out of my car and nearly fell on a patch of ice. Karma trying to come get me, no doubt. It was the least I deserved. Once I righted myself, I started for the restaurant.
The bell above the door rang as I walked in, and I glanced around until I found Brax sitting in a booth at the very back of the restaurant. I started to take off my scarf, hat, and gloves as I made my way over to him.
He looked up when I got closer.
With a frown, he said, “You look like you haven’t slept in days.”
I took off my coat and hung it on one of the hooks attached to each side of the booth. “And you look like someone who…”
Oh, dear God, I don’t have a comeback. I always have a comeback when it comes to Braxton. Always. What in the heck is wrong with me?
Brax tilted his head, waiting for my reply. When I didn’t say anything, he asked, “I look like someone who what?”
I waved him off as I slid into the booth and picked up the menu. “It’s too early for this, Brax.”
“You’re going to let that go without a snappy remark?” Brax asked.
Before I could reply, Ruby approached. If I thought it wouldn’t make me look like a total nutcase, I’d jump up and kiss her for her impeccable timing.
“Morning, Harlee, sweetheart. You want your regular coffee?”
Smiling up at her, I replied, “Yep, black, please.”
She nodded like I wasn’t telling her anything new, because I wasn’t.
“Have you ordered yet?” I asked Brax.
“No,” he replied with a shake of his head. “But feel free, I know what I want.”
Ruby looked at me. “The usual?”
My stomach took that moment to make it known that I hadn’t eaten since lunch yesterday. I had been so busy preparing for the dance, and after my little meeting with Brax, I’d lost my appetite altogether. “I’ll take the Seaside breakfast combo.”
“You’re going to eat all of that?” Brax asked.
I narrowed my eyes at him as I heard Ruby whisper, “You’ve gone and messed up now, Braxton Bradley.”
He looked at her, then at me, clearly confused.
I leaned back and placed my hands flat on the table. “Are you saying I’m fat?”
His eyes went wide. “I beg your pardon?”
“Do you have an issue with my breakfast?” I asked, folding my arms across my chest.
“No.” He shook his head, his eyes bouncing from me to Ruby—who also looked a bit peeved on my behalf. “I just meant it’s a lot of food, and if you wanted to split it…”
“I don’t want to split it, but thank you.”
Brax blinked a few times before glancing at Ruby. He tried to smile at her but seemed a bit off balance.
Good. That was exactly where I wanted him.
“I’ll take two eggs over medium, rye toast, and a cup of fruit,” he said.
“You want the yogurt with that?” Ruby asked.
He nodded. “Yes, thank you.”
She smiled at both of us. “Orange juice with your meals?”
Brax and I both answered “yes” at the same time.
Ruby gave us a wink and then headed off to put our order in, leaving me and Brax alone for the second time in twenty-four hours. I felt the urgent need to fidget in my seat, but I didn’t dare. The last thing I wanted was for him to think I was bothered by sitting alone with him.
“Okay, so I brought my list. Do you have yours?” he asked as he reached into his pocket, took out a piece of yellow paper, and put it on the table.