Total pages in book: 82
Estimated words: 79433 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 397(@200wpm)___ 318(@250wpm)___ 265(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79433 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 397(@200wpm)___ 318(@250wpm)___ 265(@300wpm)
Harlee shook her head. “I’m actually curious to hear Brody’s answer.”
He frowned. “What was the question again?”
“What do you think about sex toys?” I stated.
A wide smile grew across his face. His silence must have made Sutton curious, because she slowly dropped her hands. He looked right at her. “I think they’re great. For personal use and with a partner.”
I watched my sister’s cheeks turn bright red as she looked away from Brody and studied her cup of fruit.
Harlee and I exchanged a glance before Brody continued, “I need to get back to work. Enjoy the day, ladies.”
With that, he turned and walked out of the restaurant. I watched Sutton keep her gaze on his back until she could no longer see him. When she turned back to the table, our eyes met.
I tilted my head and asked, “Sutton, is there anything going on between you and Brody?”
“What?” she croaked out, her voice cracking a bit. “No. We’re friends, and he’s been helping me with some things at the shop.”
“What kinds of things?” Harlee asked in a super low, seductive voice.
Sutton pushed her away. “Stop it. It’s not like that. We’re just friends.”
I laughed but wondered if Palmer was right. There was something more going on between Brody and Sutton. From the way Harlee looked at my sister, I knew she was wondering the same thing.
“I better get back to the store,” Sutton said. “Harlee, I’m totally serious about this if you want to talk more about coming to work at Coastal Chic with me.”
Harlee wiped her mouth and put her napkin on her empty plate. “I’ll stop by later. First I need to run to the paper and check on a few things, then I’ll be over this afternoon.”
“Sounds good,” Sutton said as she stood. But before leaving she turned to me. “I’ll see you at family dinner on Sunday?”
I nodded. “If not before.”
The restaurant was closed on Sundays, and my parents always made sure to plan a big Sunday dinner. It was one of the things I’d missed about not being home in Seaside.
“See you guys later,” Sutton said, then headed out of the restaurant.
Turning to look at Harlee, I asked, “Do you really think Sutton will sell sex toys in the store?”
She smiled. “I do. I have a feeling there’s a whole other side to Sutton Bradley that we don’t know about. She’ll keep it on the downlow at first, but eventually word will get out. How do you think your folks will feel about it?”
I shrugged. “Mom will be okay with it, I think. My dad…yeah, he might have another heart attack.”
“Good thing you’re back then,” Harlee said with a wink. “Listen, I need to run. It was good to sit down for a bit though. And I still want deets on your picnic and overnight stay with Gannon. Drinks soon?”
I chuckled. “Drinks sound good. Text me with whatever day works for you since my schedule is wide open.”
“Will do,” Harlee replied, reaching for her purse. “Later!”
After they both left, I stood and started to clear the table. Ron, the new busboy my mother hired, came rushing over to help.
“I’ll get that, Adelaide.”
“Nonsense,” I said. “Let me do it. You go bus the other tables.”
He gave me a look that said he wasn’t sure if he should listen to me or not. When he glanced over to find my mother and father busy in the kitchen, he relented and allowed me to bus the table.
After I got everything cleaned up and asked the front of the house if they needed any help, I made my way back to the kitchen. My mom was making a pie, while my dad was grilling up a burger. It wasn’t long before my mother brought up the gossip column.
“I see you and Gannon were featured again.”
I rolled my eyes. “Yep. Seems like we’ve got the attention of whoever this writer is.”
She huffed. “Well, I, for one, do not like having my daughter’s private life splashed all over for people to read.”
“You?” I stated with a laugh. “How do you think Gannon and I feel?”
Mom stopped mixing ingredients to glance over at me. “Well, hopefully soon they’ll find someone else to talk about and leave the two of you alone so you can…” Her voice trailed off.
“So they can what?” Dad asked.
“I was going to say rekindle their romance, but it seems like it’s moved past that stage and is already a full-on blaze.” Mom gave me a wink.
My father groaned, and I laughed.
“Do you guys need any help before I take off?” I asked. “I’m going to move into Palmer’s place today.”
“No, I think we’re all good,” my mother said. “The two new waitresses are working out wonderfully. Both are so good with the customers, and Ruby is here as well.”