Total pages in book: 21
Estimated words: 19939 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 100(@200wpm)___ 80(@250wpm)___ 66(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 19939 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 100(@200wpm)___ 80(@250wpm)___ 66(@300wpm)
“I texted Lori and Parker earlier. They’re exhausted after their day on the beach and want to get room service to rest up before the fireworks show tonight.”
“Would you like to join me and my mother?”
For the briefest of moments I thought I saw a bit of panic in her eyes before she smiled. “I would, but I haven’t seen Lori and Parker hardly at all, and I feel a bit bad for ditching them today. But we are meeting up for the fireworks, right? After all, you did say you had a special place to view them.”
Winking at her, I replied, “I do, indeed, and please feel free to invite Lori and Parker.”
“I will!” she said with excitement in her voice. “I’ve loved fireworks since I was a little girl. We would always pack a little picnic and go and watch them at my grandmother’s house. She didn’t live far from where the city of Austin would do their annual fireworks show. We got to avoid the crowds and sit on her front porch and watch the show. It was always so much fun.”
I tucked a piece of her hair behind her ear as I said, “I’m glad you have fond memories of it.”
She frowned. “You don’t?”
Letting out a humorless laugh, I shook my head. “My father was never one for doing things like going and seeing fireworks, or visiting Disney World. He spent nearly every waking moment in his office, even on the Fourth of July.”
“Lynn didn’t take you to see them?”
“No, she usually threw a party and had all her friends over. A couple of years she hired some people to do a few fireworks, but nothing that held the attention of a young boy and his little sister. The older we got, the more we tried to stay away and spend the night at a friend’s house.”
She took my hand in hers. “I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be,” I said as I kissed the tip of her nose. “I never wanted for anything, which is more than a lot of kids can say.”
“You still deserved a fun childhood.”
I shrugged and stood to take her hand. The boat had docked and it was time to part ways. I tried like hell to ignore the way that made my chest ache. We walked in silence down the dock until we reached the end.
“I’ll call you after dinner is over.”
Reaching up onto her toes, she kissed me gently on the mouth. “I look forward to it.”
She turned and headed down the path toward the guest cottages. I wasn’t sure how long I stood there, not leaving until I could no longer see her.
I pushed my hand through my hair and headed toward my own cottage. I only had a few more days with Amelia for me to decide what in the hell I was going to do.
i
Chapter Seven
LORI AND PARKER HAD POUNCED on me the moment I walked through the door. Apparently, it had been written all over my face that Jax and I kissed. It hadn’t taken me long to open up and admit to them how much I liked Jax.
Talking with her mouth full of French fries, Lori asked, “Are you going to sleep with him?”
My cheeks heated and I glanced down at my burger.
“Oh my God, you really like this guy!” Parker gasped. “What does this mean?”
When I looked up, my two best friends were both gaping at me. “I don’t know what it means. The last few days have been great, and he wants to go see the fireworks tonight which, by the way, he has a special place on the island to watch them and invited y’all. But after that, we only have a few more days.”
“So what! If you feel a connection with this guy, just go with it, Mel!” Lori stated.
“I agree. You’ve always been the responsible one. The one who makes the plan and sticks by it. For once in your life, Mel, do something you want to do, even if it is crazy.”
Chewing on my lip, I closed my eyes. When I opened them again, I sighed. “I’m afraid.”
Parker took my hand in hers. “Of what?”
“Falling for him. I mean, when he touches me or smiles at me my heart does this stupid little flip, and when he kissed me this morning it felt like I melted into him. I’ve never felt this way before.”
Parker and Lori exchanged a look before they both focused back on me. “Of all the guys, you have to fall for one not in Texas!”
I laughed at Lori. “I have a feeling he won’t be staying in Florida, but I don’t think I want a long-distance relationship, and my God… What am I even saying? So what, we’ve gotten along and I feel an attraction toward him. That doesn’t mean anything, and here I am planning my future.”