by Kaci Rose
Chainsaws and stalkers, what a pair we'd make. "But the big question is, if there is a spider, are you going to kill it for me?" I joke.
"In a heartbeat. Any bug I'll deal with. Mice, rats, and snakes too, you can count on me." He jokes.
At the mention of the last three, I shiver. Thankfully, the bakery is just up ahead, so I can change the subject because it's getting a bit personal.
"This bakery has some of the best donuts and chocolate. But you have to get the hot chocolate it's made with Hershey Kisses, and it’s the best you’ll ever have." I tell him as I drag him into the bakery.
We both get a donut, a piece of chocolate and a hot chocolate, then we make our way out to the end of the pier that’s across the street.
It's a peaceful walk with the sounds of town fading behind us and the crashing of the waves on the pier getting louder. The lights on the posts guide the way, and each fisherman we pass nods and gives us a smile, but I know they are also taking notes for their wives down to the type of donuts we carry.
Once at the wide end of the pier, we take one of the benches and thankfully have some privacy. When I sit on the opposite end of the beach from Kade, he scoots next to me.
"Still too many eyes out here, best not to chance it," he whispers before we start eating.
"So, the Sunset Inn has the pool and dinner that the Sunrise guests can use. What does the Sunrise offer Sunset other than breakfast?" he asks.
I smile. "We have the event spaces. Small conferences and mostly weddings. It's nothing for the event space to get booked and then all the rooms at both inns to be booked at well. The Sunset will cater food for the event, so we both benefit."
"But they are run as two separate businesses, right?" he asks.
"Yep. Sunset is all hers, and Sunrise is all mine. Though if one of us were to sell, we'd probably offer it as a package deal. Not that we ever will." I add because the thought of selling the inns makes my stomach roil.
Kade nods, and we watch one of the guys reel in a fish and toss it back.
"What is the Chasing the Sun event I saw mentioned in the packet in my room?"
"Oh, that was Brynn's dad's idea and what actually gave the inns their names. We handle all things Sunrise. During the season, I am up and take anyone who wants to go out on the beach and watch the sunrise. I provide blankets and hot coffee. Many photographers set up a tripod and get amazing photos. I feature some of them on the website. Then in the evening, Brynn takes them up on the roof of her place to watch the sunset over the water."
Brynn's inn is also three stories high, making our inns the tallest buildings on the island, so there is amazing breathtaking view from her roof. When the sun sets and paints the town in the orange lights, it's like you are somewhere else entirely.
"Why not go across the street to the beach instead of the roof?" he asks.
"Ah, we don't own that land. The owner is some guy who doesn't live on the island, and he has made it clear we are not to be on the property, and he doesn't want our guests on it either. We've had plans to try to buy it and expand, but he refuses to sell. He's older, and his kids plan to sell to us when he dies, so it's a waiting game. It's also one of the only undeveloped pieces of land on this side of the island. I think that's why he's being stubborn."
"What's on the other side of the island?"
"The Arch Rock State Park is at the tip of the island. It's the smallest state park in North Carolina. It doesn't even have a building other than the guard stand. The park ranger lives on the island year round. The beach there is protected, so it's pretty popular during the summer. The land around the state park is all undeveloped. A few people in town bought it, and nothing has been down with it for years. So, the townspeople have a few hiking trails on it."
"We should go out that way one day," he suggests.
"Not exactly in the public eye," I tell him.
"Yes, but if even one or two people see us, that works. It’ll look like we are trying to get away from prying eyes."
He's right. I know he is, but I don't know if I can handle being alone with him, not after how well this evening has been going.
“We should take our slow walk back, making sure everyone sees us before the shops close," I tell him.
He nods and stands. After we throw our trash away, he takes my hand again, and I try to ignore how right and comfortable it feels to have his hand in mine. It's all for the show, I remind myself.
We talk and laugh, and then a sober thought hits me. This feels very much like a real date. When did I stop playing pretend?
Kade squeezes my hand. "Hey, what's wrong?" he asks.
I bite my lip, which draws his attention there, and I have to be imagining the heat in his eyes, right?
"I just realized this feels like a real date," I whisper.
His eyes meet mine, and the stare is intense and filled with heat. My body warms the longer his eyes are on me, and the tingle shoots straight to my core.
"It does." He agrees as his eyes go to my lips again.
Is it my imagination, or is he slowly leaning in toward me? Is he going to kiss me? Right here for everyone to see? It’s the perfect place I just didn't think it would be tonight.
A throat clears, and he jerks back, his breathing heavy and lips parted, looking at me before we both turn to look at who interrupted us.
"What can I do for you, Mayor Jones?" I ask.
"Don't forget about our meeting tomorrow, what with your big date and all," he says, his eyes darting between Kade and me.
"I will be there and ready, so I don't waste your time," I assure him. I don't like this man, but that doesn't mean I won't treat him with respect.
"Just what your father always said. See you then!" he says and hurries off.
"And my father hated you too," I mumble under my breath, but Kade must hear me because he chuckles.
"What's the meeting about?" he asks.
"The mayor is making plans to turn this main strip commercial. Take out all the mom-and-pop stores and bring in chain stores and make it one big outdoor shopping mall. He's working with a developer, and the designs are horrible. I am going in with stats, emails, and research proving the inn’s guests come for the small-town charm and to get away from the big box stores. That doing this would kill the town." I doubt he’ll listen, but I have to try.
"These mom-and-pop places are what make this town. I'd hate coming down here and seeing nothing but chain stores. Honestly, I wouldn't have booked the inn if that's what it was. I'd have gone elsewhere."
"Exactly! Can I use that in my meeting?" I ask him.
"Of course. It's true. When I needed to get away, I wanted away from the city life, something slower and more personal. If I wanted all the big stores, I'd have stayed in LA."
"Exactly. Everyone in town is against this, yet he keeps pushing forward. I'm hoping maybe when he's hit with the numbers and stats, it will make him see reason," I say.
"Want to me to come and tell him myself?" Kade asks.
"No, I got it. Besides, after tonight, he won't see you as a guest or tourist. He will see you as my boyfriend, no matter what label you truly have. I think it would discredit me more with him."
"Okay. Well, any other place else on our list to show our faces, or are we done for the night?" he asks.
I look around the street. Everything is closing up, and people are slowly lingering far enough away to be out of ear shot but close enough to see everything.
"It's time to head back. We have done more than enough tonight," I tell him.
We still take our time walking back to the car, neither of us seems to want the night to end. I know Brynn will be waiting on the details, so my night is far from over.
Chapter 16
Kade
Once back at Sunrise, we both walk inside slowly and quietly. Does she not want the night to end like I don't?
"I don't know about you, but I'm not going to get to sleep any time soon, and the longer I can avoid Brynn, the bette
r," Lin says.
"Want to go sit on the back porch?" I suggest.
"Yeah, I'd like that."
We make our way to the back porch, sitting on the couch in the corner together. The salt air fills my lungs, and the sound of the waves sweeping up the shoreline fills the air.
"Why do you want to avoid Brynn?" I ask.
"It's a girl thing. She'll want all the details. As an owner, she’ll want to know it went well and who all was there. Plus, she has this ridiculous idea... and she will want to know if I took her up on it." Even in the moonlight, I can see the light blush that coats her cheeks as she tucks her hands under her legs.
I pause and look her over for a moment, then decide to ask.
"What is her ridiculous idea?"
She ducks her head and clears the throat.
"Well, ... um, It's stupid really. I shouldn't have said anything," she stammers.
"Well, aren't you cute? Now you have to tell me."
She sighs, and then takes a deep breath. "She keeps saying you'd be good for up against the wall sex," she rushes out, then turns her head away.
I laugh; a full unrestricted laugh, then I grip her hand and turn her toward me.
"God help Jasper, she is a spitfire," I say with a huge smile on my face.
Then I think about what she said. "She's right, though. If we were to have sex, I think I would take you up against a wall." I let my eyes run down her body, not that I can see much with only the light from the moon.
"Kade!" she squeals and playfully slaps my chest.
I trap her hand with mine and hold it to my chest for just a moment before entwining our fingers and holding her hand on her leg.
I turn to take in the night sky meeting the ocean. On nights like tonight when the sea is calm and there is barely a cloud in the sky, it's calming and relaxing. I can see why people come here to get away.
After sitting in silence for a while, I turn to her. "I don't think we can put off Brynn much longer unless you want to tell her we did have sex. You are just avoiding her."
"I know you're right." She sighs.
I walk her to her door to make sure she gets there safely.
"I'm willing to bet Brynn is in my bed waiting for me," Lin whispers just outside her door.
"Well, then I should go." I start to turn, then stop. "I had fun tonight, despite everything."
"Me too," she says.
"I'd like to do the Sunrise event in the morning. You up for that?" I ask.
She smiles widely. "I will be there. I'll meet you in the dining room," she says as she opens the door and slips behind it.
I smile and make my way back into the lobby. The night guard there, whose name I never learned, smiles and tips his head at me.
"Good night, Mr. Markson," he says with a smile.
"Good night." I smile back at him and head for the stairs.
It's become a habit to take the stairs when it's only a few levels up. In LA, you would wait ten minutes or more for an elevator. People are too distracted and want to do things the easy way. So, I started taking the stairs. It's good exercise, and now I find I prefer it. It keeps me in shape. You have to be ready for the next script to come your way because very few scripts require you to gain weight for the part.
When I get to my room, I turn on my phone I've kept off and call Wren because I know he'll want an update.
"So how did the date go?" he asks. No hello, just straight to the point.
"It went well. Her friend Brynn, the other inn owner, helped spread the word where we'd be, and the place was packed. Lin says all the town gossips were there, and plenty of people were taking photos when they thought we weren't looking. After dinner, we went for a walk along the water. We picked up dessert at a bakery and ate it on the pier, then came home. We made sure as many people saw us as possible," I tell him.
"Good. Good. What's the next plan?" he asks.
"Well, I haven't checked social media yet. Have you?" I ask.
"I'm pulling it up now. Oh, here we go. Lots of photos with you and her leaning into each other at dinner tagged with the restaurant name and location. Some name her, some don't. Doesn't look like you took photos with anyone. A few took a selfie with you in the background, but otherwise, it's just the two of you."
"Yeah, I didn't do photos. It was a date, plus no one asked."
"Okay, this is good, so next, you need to post a photo of you and Lin introducing her but not admitting to her being a friend or girlfriend. Just you two side by side with something like ‘Hanging out with this girl.' Leave them wondering."
"Well, the inn does this sunrise event since they are right on the beach. We’re going tomorrow, so I can get a picture on the beach."
"Perfect. Make it happen. I'm going to call Gina to see how we can maximize this. Night, man," he says and hangs up.
Great, I still can't get used to letting the two of them control the narrative of my life, even if it's for the better and supposed to get me what I want in the long run. No matter how long I'm in Hollywood, I will never get used to it.
I decide to call my parents. I don't want them to hear from someone else, but I also can't tell her it's fake because she wants so badly for me to settle down. Finally I decide not to offer it up, but not to lie either.
"Hey, baby, glad the cell phone towers are working again," Mom says in her slow Southern twang, drawing out the words.
"Hey, Mom. Is Dad there too?" I ask.
"Sure is. Let me put him on speakerphone."
"Hey, Son. Everything okay?" he asks.
"Hi, Dad. Yeah, just wanted to let you know I was on a date tonight. Great girl who owns the inn here. Well, it's a small town, so photos are already all over social media. Wren and Gina are going to try to use this to their advantage and get me back with the studio, so who knows what that means. Anyway, I wanted you two to hear it from me first," I tell them.
They are both silent, and I know they are having a silent conversation with each other. They were famous for this when I was growing up. Being an only child made it easy.
"Is it serious?" Mom asks.
"It was one date, but it's going to be everywhere, I'm sure, so I wanted you to know."
"Did she warn her family? You know it will be a lot for them too," Mom says.
"Ah, her parents passed away five years ago. It's just her and her best friend," I tell them.
"Poor girl. Dating you is a lot to deal with when you don't have a support system." Dad sighs.
I know what he means. The constant press, stories written that aren't true, random photos sold to magazines, friends turning on you for a quick buck.
"She has a support system. Family friends, Brynn her best friend, and some of the people in town have taken her under their wing. Hell, I think she has a bigger support system she can count on than I do. I have you two, but even Wren and Gina make me wonder."
"Well, you be good to her and try to prepare her for this," Mom says.
"Oh, I already did before we even went out on a date. I wanted her to know what she was getting into. She still agreed to go out with me anyway," I tell them.