Total pages in book: 82
Estimated words: 78894 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 394(@200wpm)___ 316(@250wpm)___ 263(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78894 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 394(@200wpm)___ 316(@250wpm)___ 263(@300wpm)
“No, she doesn’t like me. But…” His words trailed off.
“But what?”
With a half shrug and smug look on his face, he went on. “I have pissed off a few women in this town. I mean, I can’t help it if so many of them want to conquer all that is Braxton Bradley.”
I fake gagged. “Please.”
“I think we need to put Olivia in the maybe pile.”
Nodding, I said, “Okay, she’s in the maybe pile. What about Laney Reynolds, the cashier at the grocery store?”
Brax thought about it for a moment. “I think she’s a bit too young. She would hear a lot of gossip though, from people coming through her check-out line. Yeah, I think she should be in the maybe pile as well.”
I pulled out my phone and started to make a list. “Okay, so far we have Olivia and Laney. Mom is convinced it’s Mrs. Pritcher, the librarian.”
Brax thought about it and nodded. “I can see that.”
“Maybe column?”
“I think so.”
We sat quietly for a few moments before I said, “I still think it could be Mr. Hall. He’s worse than Kimberley.”
“And he could be signing it Ms. Seaside to throw people off.”
“Yes!” I nearly shouted.
“Although, Ms. Seaside has written about Mr. Hall before.”
I frowned, then smiled. “Could be another tactic to throw us off his trail.”
“That’s true. Let’s put him on the maybe list.”
I hastily typed in his name.
“Hey, Palmer…what if this turns out to be someone we know?”
Pausing, I met his gaze. “I don’t think it’s a question of if; I think we do know them. There have been a few times where I’m not sure how they got their information.”
He nodded, and that look of unease appeared on his face once more. “Unless they really do have a bunch of eyes and ears out there.”
“I have no doubt in my mind that there are a few people on her payroll.”
Brax rubbed his temples, like he was thinking hard on something. “Maybe we don’t need to know who it is.”
My mouth dropped open in shock. “Yes, we do. Did you not notice that she wrote about me and Mason again?”
He lifted his brows. “She’s right though. It’s pretty damn clear you two like each other.”
I sent him a glare. “You’re supposed to be on my side, Brax.”
“I am on your side, Palmer. But let’s be honest, nearly everything she writes is true—at least to an extent.”
“That doesn’t excuse the rest. She assumes things and plants things in people’s ears. She’s a gossip, Brax! One who has set her sights on our family.”
He sighed. “Not just our family. She talks about other people as well. Even Harlee, who everyone in this town loves.”
I dropped back and exhaled. “So, you’re saying you don’t want to find out who it is anymore? Is it because they stood up for you with the whole Deacon thing?”
Brax let out a boom of laughter. “Like I was afraid of Deacon. I also know him, and I wasn’t the least bit concerned about what that idiot was going to do. I’m glad he’s leaving you alone.”
Nodding, I replied, “I think that has to do with Mason. He thinks we’re together.”
My brother raised his brow in question. “And are you?”
“We’re seeing where things go.”
He smirked. “What does that mean?”
“It means, we’re taking things slow.” I closed my eyes and got ready to be honest with my brother. But before I spoke, I glanced around his house and took in how clean everything was. I never really noticed that my brother was a neat freak.
“You’re stalling.”
I let out a soft chuckle and looked at Brax. “I do like him. I think I’ve liked him since the first moment I spoke to him, if I’m being completely honest.”
“It’s obvious he feels the same way.”
Nodding, I said, “I don’t know how to explain it, Brax—this feeling I feel for Mason.” I rubbed my chest. “It’s like nothing I’ve ever felt before. It scares me and excites me at the same time. I’m just worried.”
He leaned forward and gave me a knowing smile. “Because it feels so different?”
“Yes,” I replied. “And then there’s Charlie to think about.”
Brax got up and walked around the table to me. He sat down and took my hand in his. For some odd reason, tears pricked at the back of my eyes. I loved my brother, and he was never the type to hide his emotions. He grew up with three sisters, after all. But there was something in his expression this time. Like he knew exactly what I was talking about.
“Palmer, you’re not the woman you were when jerks like Deacon were in your life. You’re strong, independent, smart, and one hell of a catch, if you ask me. And Mason… I don’t know him all that well, but from the small amount of time I’ve spent with him, he really seems like a great guy and fantastic father. He has a good head on his shoulders, from what Addie says, and he fiercely loves his son. Anyone can see that.