Page 71 of Meet Me on Blueberry Hill

Asher remained rooted on the street as the storm raged over him, soaking his hair, his clothes, and his hopes for the future.

He’d failed.

His family.

The island.

But most of all, Sadie.

With the festival only days away and tourists beginning to converge on the island, he had nothing of value to offer anyone.

Today’s tour was a catastrophe. Once the girl’s pictures swarmed social media, his privacy that he’d worked so hard to protect would be jeopardized.

The paparazzi would hover like vultures, waiting to pick at the bones for a good story.

He had only one option of salvaging the touring company and protecting his family.

It was time to leave.

Sadie was a fool. How could she have been so blind?

With her soaking wet hair falling in her face and clothes dripping, she struggled to unlock the bakery door. At least she’d had the common sense to carry her phone and keys in the matching mint reticule that hung from her wrist. Otherwise, she would’ve had to run all the way back to the cottage in the rain.

She’d go anywhere to escape Asher and his deception.

Rain pounded against the glass as she hurried inside the room that smelled of fresh paint and…she lifted her nose. What was that weird, dank smell?

She couldn’t worry about that. She needed to get out of her wet clothes and hide out until the storm passed. At least she had decided to change at the bakery instead of walking through town dressed as someone ready for some sort of reenactment.

She hurried through the store to the back storage room that she’d turned into a makeshift dressing room and reached for her hat only to find it wasn’t there. It must have flown off during her escape.

Releasing the hairpins, her hair tangled around her face. She brushed it aside and tried to unbutton her blouse, but she couldn’t quite reach the buttons in the back. Dani and Lily had helped her into the gown.

She wanted nothing more than to rip off the buttons, shed herself of the dress like a snakeskin, and pitch it in the trash along with her memories of her most recent time on island.

Dropping on a box full of baking pans, she buried her face in her cold hands. A chill slithered through her as a wave of anger and betrayal washed over her, humiliating her in the worst possible way.

She shivered and her teeth chattered as she pulled out her phone. She stabbed Dani’s number and put their call on speaker.

“Hello?” Dani’s voice sounded thick with unshed tears.

“I need you. Can you come to the bakery?”

“Yes, I need to talk to you anyway. I’ll be there in a minute.”

Sadie stood and pulled herself together the best she could. She hurried to the front of the shop and unlocked the door just as Dani appeared, enveloped by a light-blue rain jacket and matching umbrella.

Wind howled and blew rain inside as Dani pushed through the open door. Sadie closed it and pressed her back to the glass. Then she turned the deadbolt. Lights flickered a moment but remained lit.

Sadie grabbed Dani’s hand and pulled her toward the storeroom. “I need your help in getting me out of this thing.”

Dani grabbed Sadie’s wrist. “Wait. I have to tell you something.”

Sadie turned and found Dani looking at her with wide eyes as tears drifted down her cheeks. Sadie frowned. “What’s wrong?”

Shaking her head, Dani rubbed her fingers over her eyes. “Everything’s ruined.”

That was an understatement.

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