Total pages in book: 85
Estimated words: 79190 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 396(@200wpm)___ 317(@250wpm)___ 264(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79190 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 396(@200wpm)___ 317(@250wpm)___ 264(@300wpm)
She looked down the side streets toward the fish markets. Lights were on and she could see people milling about, getting ready for the day. Caroline didn’t know a thing about fishing but added it to the list of things she wanted to try while on vacation.
When she made it to the park, she had a few minutes to spare. She sat down on the bench, the same one Dune found her at yesterday, and looked out over the harbor. Faintly, she could see boats in the distance, and somewhere out there in the ocean, a foghorn sounded.
There was movement near the dock where Blue Lobster Adventures was situated. The woman Caroline bought her ticket from the other day for the whale-watching tour, was lifting the window of their ticket cabana and turning on some lights.
And then she saw Dune. He was wearing shorts and a T-shirt, despite there being a chill in the air. He walked into the shed and then back out, before heading down the dock. Caroline watched him until he boarded a boat. The engine started and water bubbled from the propeller.
Caroline continued to sit, not knowing if she should approach the ticket shack or not. She hugged her purse to her chest, sipped on her coffee, and kept her focus on the boat Dune was on.
“Ahem.” A throat cleared behind her. She startled and thanked whoever created spill-proof travel lids because her coffee jostled in her hand. She turned slowly and found Dune behind her. Instantly, Caroline looked back at the dock and then at Dune.
“Wh—” she cut her words short. There was no point in asking him how he went from the dock to standing behind her so quickly without her seeing him. “Never mind.”
Dune chuckled. “Good morning.”
“Morning.” Caroline stood, put her purse around her shoulder and then walked to the end of the bench to meet Dune. He stepped closer and then stopped.
“What are you wearing?”
“What?” Caroline looked down at her clothes. She had on her adorable Hermes Oran Framboise fringed sandals, with her Proenza Schouler linen shorts and matching blazer. It was the perfect combination for class and comfort.
“You can’t wear that,” he said dryly.
“Why not? I look nice. I’m put together.”
Dune looked her over from head to toe. He shook his head and mumbled for her to follow him. He talked under his breath as he walked as fast as he could. Caroline tried to keep up, but by the time she reached the shack, Dune was back in front of her, thrusting a T-shirt at her.
“Put this on and tomorrow, come to work, ready to work.”
“I am ready to work.”
“Not”—he moved his finger up and down in front of her while shaking his head—“like that. You’re going to get wet, dirty . . .” Dune paused, and it was like a light went off in his head. He shook it away instantly. “Don’t wear white.”
“You didn’t tell me what to wear.” Caroline slipped her jacket off and put on the T-shirt on over her existing top. “I can go home and change.”
“No time, Rich Girl.”
Caroline fumed. She hated the ridiculous nickname he’d given her all because of her clothes. “Certainly, there is. It’s not even a quarter after six. I can be back by seven.”
“To which we’ll already be on the water for our first excursion, which will make you late for work.”
The poor woman in the shack tried to act like she wasn’t privy to whatever was happening between Caroline and Dune, but they were hard to ignore. Dune went into the shack and Caroline followed.
“Maybe if—”
Dune slammed something down onto the counter and glared at Caroline. He sighed heavily. “Caroline, this is Ana.” Dune brushed past Caroline and out the door. She didn’t budge, and she definitely didn’t follow him.
“Hi, it’s nice to meet you,” Ana said as the two women shook hands.
“You too. Is he always so grumpy?” Caroline asked Ana.
“Not always. What size are you?”
Caroline told her as Ana rummaged through her bag. “Here, these might fit.” Ana handed Caroline a pair of shorts and some water shoes. “You’ll be more comfortable in these.”
“Thanks.” Caroline looked at the clothes. “What should I wear in the future?”
“That’s going to depend on what he has you doing. Until he gives you some guidance, I’d wear workout shorts or even denim as long as they’re not tight. You’re going to end up wet if you’re on the boat at all. You don’t want to chafe.”
“No, definitely not.”
“There’s a bathroom over there.” Ana pointed to the building down the path from the booth.
“Thanks.” Caroline went to the bathroom. She changed, stowed her clothes in her bag, and then put her hair in a bun. She was determined to prove herself to Dune, whether or not he liked it.
Caroline marched out of the bathroom with a new resolve. A new determination. She would turn Dune’s frown upside down and prove her worth. She would show him she wasn’t this rich girl image he had of her, that she was different.