Total pages in book: 85
Estimated words: 79190 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 396(@200wpm)___ 317(@250wpm)___ 264(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79190 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 396(@200wpm)___ 317(@250wpm)___ 264(@300wpm)
“You’re on vacation. It’s okay to disconnect from people,” he told her.
“I know, and I’m sure she’s okay with it. It just feels weird now that I’ve mentioned it.”
“You should have her come visit.” Dune suggested.
“Then you wouldn’t be with me every night.” Caroline pointed out.
Dune huffed and then smiled. “But if you miss her and seeing her would make you happy—”
“You make me happy.” Caroline leaned forward and Dune did the same. They shared a chaste kiss and then pulled away from each other.
Their food came, and while they tried to eat, people kept coming up to Dune, looking to talk shop. “Shop” being everything from the weather to how the fish are biting or whether the cruise ships coming to port have booked their excursions. It was a never-ending line of people.
“I can see why we’ve never come here during the day.” Caroline observed.
Dune sighed. “Yeah, most of them are in bed by eight or nine.” He laughed at his joke.
“I think it’s cute that you know everyone. I like the small-town feel.”
“You know, I can’t imagine it any other way.”
Her mood changed for a moment and gone was the carefree feeling she’d experience all morning. She worked to mask her facial expression, though. Dune proved in one sentence, why they were a summer fling and not long-term relationship material. This was his home, and he’d never leave. Not that she’d ask him to.
After he finished, Dune suggested Caroline stay and enjoy another cup or two of coffee before coming to work. He kissed her goodbye and told her he’d see her soon. He had to make sure all the gear was ready to go before the ten guests booked for the snorkeling trip arrived. While Dune and Caroline would be out all day, Speed and Wilson would hold down the fort, so to speak, and take care of the other tours and excursions planned for the day. Now that the students were out of school and most of the college kids were home, Blue Lobster Adventures had plenty of staff to go around.
Caroline sat at the table and watched the town come to life. The diner never waned in popularity. People kept coming in and everyone knew everyone. Caroline saw, firsthand, what it was like to be in the mix. Some stopped and made small talk, while others waved. They knew her, thanks to Dune. Had she not met him, Caroline would be just another tourist. Another outsider.
The trolley went by, and people hung from the windows, taking photos as it drove down the street. It was a free service offered during the summer for people to get around town. She had yet to take it, even though it was on her list. There were still things she hadn’t done, and her days were coming to an end. Soon, it would be the end of July, and then August. And then she’d be on a train heading to New York to start her job. While she loved working with Dune, she wanted to explore. She wanted to tour the mansions and go sea glass hunting. She still wanted to try each restaurant and visit each shop. Yet, she felt like she didn’t have any time left.
Caroline finished her coffee and was about to slide out of the booth when someone sat down across from her. She paused and assessed the man. He acted like he knew her, which unsettled her. The man seemed to be around Dune’s age, maybe older. She wasn’t a great judge of specifics like that and always joked that she wouldn’t make a good witness. He had short dark hair and eyes, with tanned skin, which stood out against his white T-shirt. It meant little, since everyone around here had a tan. She looked at him and then all around her, wondering if someone was playing a joke on her.
“Uh, can I help you?”
“You’re Caroline, right?”
She nodded slowly, questioning whether she should acknowledge him. “And you are?”
“Bryant.” He stuck his hand out for her to shake. She did so, but it took her a moment and then she barely touched him. Nothing like the firm handshake she gave her potential boss or someone from her school.
“Do I know you?” she asked hesitantly.
“Hey, Bryant,” Penny said as she came to the table and set a clean mug down. “I didn’t know you knew Caroline.”
“We just met,” he said with a devilish smirk.
“What can I get you?”
“Just coffee today, Penny.”
She nodded and poured him a cup without questioning why he would sit down with her cousin’s girlfriend, especially when they didn’t know each other. The food sitting in her stomach turned sour. She didn’t like the situation she was in right now.
“I’m waiting for someone,” she said, lacking the confidence needed to execute her words with conviction.