Page 136 of Banter & Blushes

“Something on your mind?” Beck asked, catching the shift in her expression, the doubt creeping in.

She shook her head. “Nope. You?”

“Nothing but you, Mayor Hollis.” The casual flirtation in his voice was impossible to read.

“You don’t say.” An edge of tension tugged at the edges of their light banter.

“Just for the summer.”

“Good save, Beck.” Caroline tapped her pen restlessly, unsure if his cool exterior was an act, or who he really was.

He stood from his chair, the sudden movement breaking the charged atmosphere. “So, back to work?”

“Back to work.” She set her lips in a determined line, fighting the way their chemistry kept derailing her meticulous plans.

“Let me know when you find a sea creature,” Beck called as he headed towards the door. “I know you’ll put it on your schedule somewhere.”

As she watched him leave, her father’s voice echoed in her head:Caroline, you need more than a cat and a house. Get out. Find romance.

Is this really what it was?

It had been ages since she had felt an attraction to anyone, and now she was unsure if she could even recognize it anymore. The ambiguity gnawed at her, leaving her on edge. It felt like she had left the door ajar, inviting the unpredictable chaos of the world to flood in without warning, yet part of her longed for it.

“Beck?” Caroline called softly as he paused at the door, turning on his heel to face her. “Yeah?” he responded, curiosity clear in his voice.

“What are you doing tonight?” she asked, her tone casual but with a hint of anticipation.

“Why?” He raised an eyebrow, teasing slightly. “Are you interested in going over the latest iteration of the Bluebell Bay visitor’s website?”

“No,” she replied, a smile playing on her lips. “You did a great job.”

“We’re lucky my niece loves computer stuff,” he chuckled. “So, what did you want to do?”

“I thought since we’ve done a lot of work …” She glanced at the scattered papers on her desk. “We are ahead of our project plan.”

“Uh-huh,” he nodded, intrigued.

“It might be a good chance to take advantage of some of the free time you mentioned.”

“Free time?”

“I thought since Gigi didn’t drop a casserole off to you today, maybe I could make you dinner,” she suggested.

“Are you inviting me to your house, Hollis?” Beck asked, his eyes twinkling with amusement.

“That’s where my stove is,” she admitted with a playful shrug. “I have a cat, but you can bring Quint.”

“Wouldn’t miss it,” he replied, his smile spreading into a reckless grin which sent a flutter through her stomach, and she realized just how easy it would be to fall for him.

CHAPTER 8

BECKETT

Beck pulled into Caroline’s driveway at precisely 7 o’clock and instantly felt as if he’d driven straight into a picturesque postcard. It was always dark when he dropped her off, so he never saw just howCaroline-esquethe house was.

The house wasn’t just big—it wastwo-stories-of-seafoam-green-and-pink-shuttersbig. It exuded an air of whimsy and elegance. It was the kind of place tailor-made for hosting elegant garden parties, bustling town council meetings, and perhaps even the occasional royal coronation.

Both levels boasted large decks and gleaming white railings curved gracefully around the building. Beck let out a low whistle of admiration as his eyes followed the expansive, polished wood decks stretched out invitingly. They dwarfed his entire cottage, making it seem like a mere dollhouse in comparison.

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