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)
He tossed me a wicked smile. “I do have a thing or two to prove to her.”
My stomach did a little flip as my mind instantly went to all the things Ms. Seaside would love for Braxton to show her.
With a shake of my head, I whispered, “Stop that.”
“What was that?” Brax asked.
“Nothing. I need coffee and food before I pass out.”
Five hours.
Five hours we had been on Lighthouse Island, and I’d fallen asleep three times, only to have Brax yell out, “I think that’s her!” One time, I sprang up so fast I was pretty sure I strained a muscle in my neck. And I was freezing. The bastard brought a blanket so he could keep his truck off most of the time, but it wasn’t helping much. He’d even brought a Thermos of hot tea for me. The gesture was sweet, but I would never admit it to him.
“Come on, let’s get out and take a walk up to the lighthouse.”
I dropped my head back onto the seat with a groan. “Brax, no!” I didn’t even care that I sounded like a five-year-old who wasn’t getting her way. “I’m sick of sitting here. No one is coming, and I can’t feel my toes.”
He scanned the people walking off the ferry. “Yes, you can. I literally just turned off the truck, Harlee. I had the heat blasting for like thirty minutes. Besides, I have a feeling she’ll be here. I know it.”
I giggled. Oh, she was here all right.
“What was that?” Brax asked, clearly distracted as he peered through his binoculars.
“This is a waste of time. I already texted your mom, and she said Ruby works every Tuesday. It’s not her, Brax.”
“Fine, if it’s not Ruby, then we’ll find out who it is.” He got out of his truck, grabbed his coat from the backseat, and shut the door.
“What did I do to deserve this?” I whispered to myself. “Oh, that’s right. I spent the last several years gossiping about the people in the town where I grew up. If this isn’t karma, I don’t know what is.”
I pulled my coat from the backseat and got out. Once I had my hat and gloves on, I followed Brax toward the lighthouse.
“Keep an eye out for anyone who’s alone,” he said.
I smiled reluctantly. Brax was totally getting into this, and I had to admit, it was kind of a turn-on to see this side of him. Goodness, when the man put his mind to something, he completely went after it.
A sudden pain hit my chest, and I couldn’t help but feel sad that he never wanted me enough to pursue me so ardently. I quickly pushed that bullshit thought away.
“I still don’t think you can be sure it’s a woman.” I looked down at the prints I was leaving in the snow, purposely trying to make a pattern with the way I walked. It was something I’d done since I was little.
“What in the hell are you doing?”
I slammed into Brax and nearly fell on my butt. “What?” I asked, confused. The heat from his hands on my arms surprised me. How could I feel his heat through so many layers of clothing?
“What…are you…doing?” He glanced back at the pattern I’d been making.
“I’m bored out of my mind, Brax! I want to go home to my warm house and have a bowl of chili.”
He lifted his brows. “You made chili?”
I scrunched up my nose. “Well, no, but I could if you take me back home.” I waggled my brows, hoping to entice him. “I’ll even let you stay for dinner as long as you promise to sit in the corner and be quiet.”
Brax shot me a dirty look, then let me go. “No, we’re not leaving.”
Stomping my foot like a child, I called out after him as he started to head up the hill toward the lighthouse, “Brax! Please? I want to go home!”
He ignored me and picked up his pace. I nearly ran to catch up, slipping every so often and having to steady myself. “I swear, if I fall and break an ankle or something, I will…”
My voice trailed off when I saw a woman throw her arms around Brax as she let out a scream of delight.
I stopped walking and watched the two of them while they spoke. There was something about the familiarity between them that made my stomach feel uneasy. The way he smiled at her. He hadn’t smiled at me like that in years.
Brax turned, his smile dropping when he looked at me. “Harlee? What’s wrong?”
Thinking I must have looked like an idiot standing a few feet away watching them, I plastered on a small smile and said, “I slipped and twisted my ankle. I need a minute or so to work it out.”
Brax moved at light speed and came to a stop in front of me. “Are you okay?”