Page 28 of Moonstruck Kiss

I don’t know if it’s his puppy dog eyes that strip away my filters, but I find myself confessing, “I’m sorry, too. To tell you the truth, the compounding reason I’ve kept a grudge against you for so long is because you reminded me of my ex.”

“Really? How so?”

My mouth continues to flap despite my misgivings. “We met when I lived in Sydney for six months to work as an art teacher. Then, when I said I’d like to come back home, he laughed at me. He was very disparaging of Moonstruck Cove even though he’s only been here once. He even said there’s no way in the world that successful people like him would ever consider moving to places such as this town.”

I huff, remembering the derogatory words that idiot also said about me. I’m not gonna share those, though, so I settle for, “I never felt so insulted for my fellow Mooners.”

“And he was a too-handsome-for-his-own good, high-flying executive,” Brax murmurs.

“Yeah.” I smile sheepishly. “Talk about painting everyone with the same brush, huh?’

Brax places a hand on my arm. “I’m sorry you dated an asshole city slicker. I promise you I don’t share his sentiments regarding Moonstruck Cove. I might not be someone who’d prefer to live here, but I’ve come to know this whole town and its people as beautiful and amazing.”

“Why, thanks,” I breathe, the heat from his touch awakening my nerve endings.

“And for the record,” he continues in a lower voice, “I find you utterly stunning.”

Heat rises up my cheeks, and I’m a jumble of emotions.

And thoughts.

Because I’m suddenly thinking of my fling experiment and Brax has again shot to the top of my candidates list.Not that I have other candidates in mind.

Talk about inappropriate thoughts at an inappropriate time, Joey!

I smile brightly to cover up my fluster. “Well, thank you for coming to your senses and apologising. I forgive you, so there’s no need to flatter me. But let’sneverforget you owe me a favour for keeping my mouth shut, okay?”

Brax chuckles. “Yes, I do owe you, big time. But I totally meant what I said.”

I’m staring into his eyes again. It’s as if his gaze has become so hypnotic that I can’t fight its power no matter how hard I try.

Am I even trying?

For the first time since our fight, I feel myself dropping my resistance and opening up to him?—

The front doorbells chime, breaking the mood.

Three excited women, who look no older than twenty, burst in. Their sun visor hats and short tennis skirts tell me they’re tourists.

“Braxton Quinn!”they scream out.

The dismay on Brax’s face is almost comical.

“Hey, why are you shouting at my dad?” asks a bewildered Ollie.

“Oh, sorry, Oliver,” one of them answers. “We’re just excited to see you and your dad here. We’re from the States, too.” They trot towards Brax, who takes a few steps back until he hits the counter.

My shock at their exuberance wears off. “Girls,” I call out. “Can I help you with something?”

They ignore me.

Uh-oh. I hastily open the back door while keeping an eye on Ollie. “OB!” I shout to my family. Since the stock room lies between the shop and the kitchen, I hope they can hear me.

“What?!” Dad yells in response.

“OB!” I repeat.

Josie’s head appears behind the kitchen door. “What?”

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