Page 95 of Moonstruck Kiss

“What would you have done if you knew they’d signed? Continue to woo me and listen to our stories about what’s happening at Moonstruck Chocolatier?” I ask bitterly.

“No! I would have asked to be taken off the project. Come on, do you really think I could do that to you? To your family?” He glances at Mum, Dad, and Josie, who are listening avidly.

“And what aboutmyfamily?” Brax continues. “They would have had to deal with the repercussions of my duplicity if I did anything like that. Do you think I could have done that to them?”

I narrow my eyes. “You didn’t even want your family to stay here in Moonstruck Cove. You wanted them to sell the lodge! You didn’t give a hoot about their loyalty to this town.”

Brax’s shoulders droop. “That was true,” he says quietly. “But that was before you captivated me.”

I try to blink my tears away. “Isn’t it convenient that you can say that now? How do I know you didn’t extend your holiday here so you can continue to gather information for Teews?”

“Because I didn’t. I’m still here because I’ve fallen hard for you.”

I gasp, my heart stuttering. “What did you say?”

A phone chimes loudly, and my Mum pulls hers out of her pocket. “I bet we’ll be inundated with texts about this,” she mutters as she reads the message.

I let out a huff before shifting my attention back to Brax. The intensity of his gaze warms me, and I find myself softening, wanting to believe that what he’s saying right now is true. “What did you say?” I repeat.

“Don’t answer that!” Mum shrieks, waving her phone at Brax.

“What’s up?” Dad asks.

Mum bangs her phone on the coffee table and glowers at Brax. “How do you explain your meeting with Chelsea Banton yesterday afternoon at the Serenade Bay library?”

My jaw drops and coldness clutches my heart. “Yesterday afternoon?” I ask weakly, looking at Brax. “At Serenade Bay? You said you were meeting a client…”

Brax shuts his eyes. “Let me explain. I wanted to ask Chelsea about her negative review of Sweet n’ Moonstruck.”

“So why didn’t you tell me that? Why didn’t you want me to know it was her you were meeting?”

Dad jumps out of his seat. “Do you have anything to do with Chelsea’s scathing review?” he thunders. “Did you collude with her and Teews so the value of our business goes down? Did you tell your boss that we’re planning to buy Choc at Old and that’s why Teews made an offer to buy them as well?”

I gasp. “When did you know that?”

“They informed me last night that Teews is the other buyer.”

I turn to Brax, and he’s as white as a ghost.

He shakes his head vigorously. “I swear I don’t have anything to do with Chelsea’s negative review.”

“But you met her yesterday and you lied about it,” I point out in a low voice. “And you haven’t answered Dad’s other question. Did you tell your boss that we’re trying to buy Choc at Old?”

“I honestly didn’t think it would hurt your business if Lando knew. I actually thought it might be to your advantage because?—”

“Stop!” I sob.

“Joey, I?—”

“I don’t want to hear any more! Please leave now.” I bury my face in my hands.

“Joey…”

“You heard her,” Dad says ominously. “Don’t make me literally kick you out.”

It takes a few seconds before I hear the door open and close.

I sniff. My heart is constricting so much that I’m having a hard time breathing.

---