by Kaci Rose
"I think this is the best pie I've ever had," I admit.
"Martha is a pie genius. She has won several state competitions, and people come from all over for her pies at the bakery. We buy some from her each week, her cakes too for the inn. During the season, they are the first desserts to go. People come in early and place an order for a slice of pie before even before ordering dinner. No matter how many pies we order each night, it's never enough." She smiles, and then digs into her own piece.
After we finish dessert, I turn to her.
"Can I walk you back to the inn?" I ask.
"No, I'm going to find Brynn and talk this over with her. You should go talk to Wren too," she says.
I nod. I know she's right.
As I make my way to my room, I think of what to say before I remember the cell tower is damaged, so I head back downstairs to Lin's office. Before I turn on the light, the view across the way captures my attention. Brynn is sitting at her desk, and Lin is on the couch, and they are both smiling. I wonder if they are talking about me.
When Brynn stands and they leave the office, turning the light off, I know it's time to stop putting off the phone call. I turn on the light and settle at the desk and dial Wren.
"Hello?" he answers.
"Hey, it's Kade. I have an idea to run by you." Then I launch into what Lin and I talked about over dinner.
"Mmm, I like the idea, but I need to run it by Gina. Why don't you call me in the morning, and I'll let you know what she says?"
"Sounds great. I'm going to bed," I tell him as we hang up.
I make my way upstairs and get ready for bed. I take a long shower before changing into sweatpants and a T-shirt, then head out to the balcony to clear my head. Only that's the last thing that happens because I see Lin at the shoreline, and I can't take my eyes off her.
Chapter 11
Linly
Leaving dinner with Kade, I'm still in a bit of shock he was serious about the fake dating. I was completely joking about the wife thing, and I'm not sure how the tables flipped on me. I know Brynn will think I'm joking, and maybe he will wake up tomorrow and blow it all off. Who knows?
I find Brynn in her office and sit down on the soft leather couch. Throwing my head back, I look up at the ceiling before looking at her.
"How was dinner with Mr. Blue?" She wiggles her eyebrows at me.
"He wants me to be his fake girlfriend," I say, and she bursts out laughing. The kind of laughter where she throws her head back, and her whole body shakes. I try to remember the last time I saw her laugh like this, and I can't place it. I'm a horrible best friend, I need to make her laugh like this more. I tuck that away for another day.
"I'm serious," I say, and her eyes fall to my face.
"Shit, you are. Okay, let's get some wine, head to my room, and talk."
She turns off her computer and checks some things on her desk before we head down the hall to her room.
As we enter Brynn's room, I'm hit once again with how different it is from mine. Where my room mirrors the Sunrise Suite and copies most of the details because it was my mom's favorite room, Brynn's room has a more tropical theme with bright, in-your-face colors. The red rug in front of her bed is a stark contrast to the bright blue she painted her bed frame, but it all flows together perfectly. It's completely Brynn.
Brynn heads right to her kitchen area and grabs some wine and glasses. A few minutes later, we are sitting on her bed facing each other with a glass of wine in hand.
"Spill it, and not the wine," she says as she hands me a glass. I tell her everything. Every detail from dinner down to assuring her neither of us had anything to drink.
"I guess we should be happy he didn't agree to the wife suggestion." She shakes her head.
"Yeah, no kidding. But seriously, do I do it?"
Normally, I can read Brynn pretty well, and I was pretty sure she'd laugh and tell me it was crazy. But the look on her face now has me thinking otherwise.
"Honestly? I think, yeah, why not? It will be fabulous publicity for the inns and the town. You get to get out, have a bit of fun, stick it to Travis, and have an amazing story to tell down the road. Just don't go falling for him or anything."
"Not going to happen." I snort.
"I'm just saying because he would be perfect for hot up against the wall sex." She smiles.
"I don't want to be another notch on his bedpost!" I gasp and cringe at the same time.
"Lin, what does it matter if the sex is amazing? You deserve a little fun and then being able to tell people, ‘Hey I slept with Kade Markson.' Who wouldn't want that story to tell?" She raises an eyebrow at me because she knows she's right.
"Fine, let's weigh the good and the bad before we jump into a decision," I say, and she agrees. I grab the notepad and pen off her nightstand and flip to a new page.
Brynn starts. "First the good. It would gain inn exposure, it could fill up off-season sales so we can expand like we have been talking about, it will bring traffic and business to the town, we can use it as a marketing tool, you can have super-hot sex, you will have a story to tell people about banging a super-famous person, you will get out and have some fun, you can stick it to Travis about breaking up with you, oh and it will be your longest relationship in five years."
"That is mostly about me," I say, and finish writing it all down. "And does sex have to be on the list?"
"Yes, we are keeping it. What else good can come from this? Oh, maybe there is someone with a super-secret crush on you who will be devastated when they find out you are dating Kade and when you break up will rush to your side and comfort you, and you will fall madly in love and live happily ever after." Brynn smiles.
"You have read too many romance books. That doesn't even count," I tell her.
"Put. It. On. The. List," she grits out, and I sigh and do as she asks. "Okay, bad things."
"This could all backfire in our face, and everyone in town will hate me. I could have my heart broken, the sex could be bad, fans could get mean and vandalize the place, sales could dry up," I add.
Brynn yanks the pen and paper from my hands and crosses off the last two. "Those don't count, and you know it. The list is obvious that you should do it if nothing else than for the benefit it will bring the whole town. Your dates could feature local businesses and draw traffic on social media."
"Crap on a cracker. I hate it when you make sense." I sigh. "I'm going to sleep on it and talk to him tomorrow. We don't even know what his manager said. For all we know, he could have vetoed the whole idea."
"Okay, ready for my news?" she asks.
"Yep, hit me with it," I say and finish off my wine. She doesn't even ask, just pours me another glass.
"I didn't make it out to check on the houses because my chef quit. He's going to go compete on one of those reality TV cooking shows out in Hollywood. He's off the island the second he can. I am screwed. Oh, and I have to go have lunch with Jasper's mom tomorrow. She is insisting and promised Jasper won't be there."
"Holy shit, maybe we should have led with that," I tell her. "Okay, what does Jasper's mom want?"
"No idea. More than likely to try to make peace, which is fine, but I'm hoping she might know someone on the island who can fill in for me until I can get people out here to interview." Brynn sighs.
"Your chef won't even stay and work until he can get off the island?" I ask.
"Nope, he said he's going to take this time to study all the past show episodes. I told him not to ask for a reference because he won't be getting one. He doesn't care because he's so sure he's going to win."
"I bet he's off the first round. We need to make sure to watch," I tell her. "Okay, we can do some basic cooking between the two of us. You have a good sous chef. See what your current kitchen staff can do. In the meantime, we just go down to a limited menu each night."
"That's what I was thinking," she agrees.
We finish off our wine, then I head back to the Sunrise Inn. Once I reach the si
de door, I change my mind, and I turn and follow the small path out to the beach and stare out at the water.
With the moonlight reflecting off the water, the breaking of the waves almost looks like they are glowing. The stars are so bright with no clouds in the sky, and it's the exact opposite of what it was last night.
As I look out over the water, I can't help but think of my parents. How would they feel about Kade's offer? They would probably laugh and tell me to do it and have fun, but only do it for me. Not to do it for the inn or the town, but only for myself.
My mom would have fawned all over Kade, asking all sorts of questions about Hollywood and insist he eats more and more food. Dad would have talked to him about the business side of things. He'd have loved to learn how movies and TV shows were done on the back end and the mechanics behind it.
I have no doubt they would have roped an invite to the set of his next movie by the end of the visit just to see it all in person, and they would have gone too.
Brynn's dad would talk with him about his future after movies, what he is planning to do with his life, is he saving and investing money, and why he doesn't get a degree online between movies so he has something to fall back on.
Brynn's mom would be a huge flirt. She would want to know all about the girl he's been with and if they were good in bed, and if this rumor or that rumor about her favorite actors were true.
Kade would have loved them, and they would have loved him. But they would be united that if I were to do this fake relationship that it needs to be for me and not for anyone else. The inns will be fine without the publicity. They have two years of advanced bookings prove that. The town will be fine without it, and the new shops that are opening prove that too.
I think they would gang up on me and tell me I need to live a little and have fun. Is Kade the type of guy I'd spent the rest of my life with? No, he isn't, but that doesn't mean he can't be the fun-for-now guy. They wouldn't have liked I haven't dated since Travis. They liked him, but I'm pretty sure my dad would have punched him in the face at the funeral in front of the whole town for dumping me that way.
That thought makes me smile. My dad wasn't a violent man, but he was very protective of my mom and me. I remember one summer he threw a family out when the husband grabbed my mom's ass. They were booked in the Sunrise Suite for three weeks. My mom was upset they lost the money, and the family left a bad review that my dad countered with what happened. A businessman in Wilmington saw the review when looking at places to stay a few days later and booked the suite because of that review. That man still comes to stay with us twice a year, even after my parents died.
At that moment, I know that if the offer is still on the table in the morning, I will take him up on the offer. I will have fun and live life for my parents. Maybe Brynn is right, and my prince charming will come out of the shadows when all this ends.
"I miss you guys so much." I whisper into the wind, "I know you are watching over us and probably laughing your butts off at all this and enjoying this. So, for you, I will do it. But if it all goes wrong, you better fix it." I try to smile around my tears.
I stand there another minute more and close my eyes, letting the wind hit my face and listening to the water hit the sand. I get my emotions in check before turning back around.
That's when I see Kade on his balcony looking down at me, and I stop in my tracks. We stare at each other for a moment, neither of us moving. I'm pinned to the spot and couldn't move if I tried. He's on the third-floor balcony, but I swear he's staring right through me with those honey-colored eyes that fill so many magazines covers.
A shiver runs through me, and I finally pull my eyes away from him and slowly make my way back inside. Once in my room, I head to the window and stare out at the water again.
Chapter 12
Kade
I've been up for hours now. I watched the sunrise and took my time getting ready. I don't want to call Wren too early, but it's now nine a.m., and while it's only six a.m. for him, I can't wait any longer.
I make my way downstairs and around to Lin's office. I don't see a trace of her around other than a smell of coffee in the air. So, I sit at her desk and call Wren, expecting to wake him.
"What took you so long to call, man? It's what, nine o'clock there? You are sleeping in already?" he asks wide awake, and for a moment, I'm shocked speechless.
"I really thought you'd still be in bed. I've been pacing my room for hours!" I sigh.
"Well, if cell phones worked, I'd have called you sooner. Anyway, I talked to Gina, and she jumped at the idea of this relationship with the inn owner. I zoned out a bit because she was talking so fast, but from what I got, I guess a fairy-tale romance with the Hollywood hotshot like yourself and a common girl will go crazy. Add in that she will look like the one to tame you, and we have a gold mind. I think we should amend her NDA—"
"No." I cut him off. "Her doing this for me is a huge favor and a lot to ask of her. I'm not binding her any more than I already have. You know as well as I do that while the media will eat this up, there will be some nasty fans who start attacking her. If it becomes too much, I want her to have an out at any time for any reason. The breakup will make her look good at all costs. That's my condition, and I won't budge on it."
Wren is quiet for a minute, and I'm willing to bet he's writing things down and looking over his notes.
"Okay. Listen, you need a well-staged first outing. The nicest restaurant in town. Someplace maybe she knows the owner since it's a small town. Make it look like she is introducing you around. You want it to be public because you want not just you posting your photo to social media. You want the people in town to share it. Maybe someplace where some younger people are, or work," Wren says.
My brain races there are a few restaurants into town, and Lin seems to know everyone. I will let her pick where she is comfortable.
"I will talk to Lin. She knows everyone in town," I say.
"Okay, and you want some outing that doesn't look staged but is close to the public eye, a walk on the beach, or downtown holding hands. A few well-staged almost kisses. Things like that. With the press not able to get to the island, we need to rely on the residents to post. Oh, is there a newspaper there? Maybe I can talk them into an interview. Can you imagine how pissed the tabloids here will be to get scooped by a small-town paper or website? Oh, I love that! I need to get to work talk soon," Wren says, then hangs up without me getting another word in.
I wonder if Wren even slept. With how much energy he has already, he must have, but I can't remember the last time he was up this early either.
I run my hand down my face and take a deep breath, trying to relax before I go find Lin. I need to make sure she is on board since Wren is already off and running with all this.
I worry she might tell me no. Hell, she should tell me no. Any sane person wouldn't agree to this. So, what does that make me? I have no idea.
I leave her office and make my way to the dining room and find her staring out the large windows at the water. She must not have heard me walk in because she doesn't turn around, so I take a moment to take her in.
She is still wearing jean shorts and the flip-flops she is always wearing everywhere, but today she is in a long sleeve shirt that looks worn and well-loved. Her hair is up in a messy bun at the top of her head, and though I can't see her face, I know she's deep in thought.
She is exactly the kind of girl I hoped I would find as my wife one day back before my Hollywood days when I thought the biggest thing I'd do would be to get married and run the ranch. Life has a funny way of throwing you completely off course into things you could never have dreamed of.