Total pages in book: 77
Estimated words: 75907 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 380(@200wpm)___ 304(@250wpm)___ 253(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 75907 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 380(@200wpm)___ 304(@250wpm)___ 253(@300wpm)
“I say, see what he has on his mind. Just text me when you’re finished, and I’ll come get you.”
“You know, this is stupid.” I turn in the seat and face him as he parks by the curb. “It’s been a week, and nothing’s happened. Nothing at all, yet everyone thinks I need to be babysat. If I’m not with you, I’m at work or with one of the girls.”
“You know it’s the safest thing right now.” He reaches over and drags his knuckles down my cheek, sending little currents of awareness down my body. “We’re keeping you safe, sweetheart. You’ll have your independence back soon.”
Sighing, I nibble on my lower lip and then nod. “Okay. I’m stalling. I’ll let you know about the ride.”
I lean over and kiss him, then climb out of the car and walk inside the restaurant.
I love this place. The three women who own it, Cordelia, Mira, and Darla, are southern sisters who, I’m told, moved here several years ago and opened this beautiful, farm-to-table restaurant in the heart of Huckleberry Bay. The atmosphere is classy and is something Joanna Gaines would be proud of with that farmhouse-style décor that I salivate over.
The white walls, with glossy wood tables and little pops of green here and there from potted plants, make my heart sigh happily.
I am so excited that the sisters have gone into business with Luna, taking on the kitchen portion of the inn. I can’t wait to see what they do with it.
“Hi there, Sarah,” Cordelia says with that sweet southern accent. “How are you today, my darlin’?”
“I can’t complain. How about you?”
“Oh, I’m just right as rain.” She smiles with excitement. “Did you hear that we’ve started moving in appliances at the inn?”
“No, I hadn’t heard. That’s so exciting!”
“We are just beside ourselves. The next time you’re there painting, come on back, and we’ll show you around if we’re there. Of course, Mira’s been there the most for this part of the process, as the kitchen is her baby. I swear, that girl has moonbeams in her eyes whenever she stares at that stove.”
“She’s going to make some delicious things on it.” I grin at her. “And I can’t wait to sample everything.”
“She’s come up with even more things since the last time we all got together. We’ll have a girls’ night and eat until we’re bursting.”
“Count me in.”
“Oh, and Sarah, when you have time, I’d love to sit down with you and discuss the possibility of commissioning you to paint some pieces for the restaurant here. I just love what you’re doing for the inn. I hope you don’t mind that Luna gave me a sneak peek, but we could definitely use some local art for our walls.”
I blink at her, surprised. “I’d like that.”
“Great. Now, what can I do for you? I’m sure you didn’t pop in just to have me talk your ear off.”
“I always love chatting, but I’m meeting my brother, Scott, here.”
“Oh, yes, he’s here. Follow me.”
She leads me through the dining room where Scott’s sitting. Surprisingly, when I approach, my brother stands and pulls my chair out for me.
“Are you buttering me up for something?”
Scott shakes his head and sits across from me. “Thanks for meeting me here. I didn’t know if you would after the way I spoke to you when you came to my place.”
“I didn’t know if I would, either,” I reply and take a sip of ice water. “Did someone die, and now you have an opening on your friends list?”
He winces and leans his arms on the table. “I owe you an apology. For that, and for a lot of things. I just—”
He sighs and rubs his hand over the back of his neck.
“You really hurt me when you left, and I know I’m not a teenager anymore, but those feelings didn’t just go away because you came home and said you were sorry.”
I nod slowly. “I understand.”
“But, I didn’t have the right to snap at you like I did. That wasn’t right, and I’m sorry for it.”
“Thank you. Apology accepted.”
His eyebrows climb in surprise. “Just like that?”
“Sure. Like you said, you were hurt. I wish it had been different. In my mind, it would have been different, and I have no one to blame for that but myself.”
“Bullshit. You were married to a piece of garbage who controlled your every move. Luna and June have filled me in.”
“I’m a grown woman,” I counter. “I should have been stronger and stood up to him.”
“Maybe,” he says softly. “But I think it’s more complicated than that.”
“You’re probably right.”
My stomach has settled, my raw nerves are soothed, and I just want to reach out and hug my baby brother.
But I don’t. Not yet.
“I heard that you’ve had some break-ins at your house,” he says after we’ve ordered lunch. “Any news on that?”