Page 95 of Tempting Me

“It’s just that selling things in town when families you know are involved can be tricky.”

“Are you talking about The Marina?” Declan asks.

“Who said The Marina was for sale?” I ask quickly. Shay has shared some things with me, but as far as she knows, it’s not for sale yet. Unless this is the tricky part Linc is referring to.

“It’s not—technically. I shouldn't be talking about this with you guys.”

“I want to know. That place is part of this town, and the Parkers have owned it for three decades. They can’t sell it.”

Linc winces. “They can if that’s what they decide.”

“Then Shay can buy it.”

“I heard it was losing money and they won’t sell it to her.”

My attention snaps to Dutton.

He starts placing his lunch order with Hudson.

I would question him, but he is the brother of Shay’s best friend. If anyone were to know something about The Marina that was true, it would be him.

“I hate small-town rumors,” I murmur and get a collective response of agreement. “And it’s not fair to Shay that we are talking about her without her here, so let’s not.”

“It’s hard not to get caught up,” Dutton says. “We hear everything at the lodge. It’s just part of the town at this point.”

The rest of our lunch goes quietly. Well, quietly on the outside. My mind is racing with thoughts of Shay and the fate of The Marina. She has so much to worry about these daysthat my complaining over why I can’t tell people about us seems like it can wait.

Still, as I walk out of the bar and back to work, I glance down at my phone.

Still no response.

It’s fine.

It is. She doesn’t have to text me back if she doesn't want to. Like I said, she’s busy.

But fuck it, it’s going to drive me crazy until I see her tonight.

It hasn’t even been twelve hours and I’m counting down the minutes until I can see her again.

Text or no text, busy or not, I can only hope that she’s doing the same thing.

As soon asI pull up to The Marina, I let out a breath. The parking lot is still busy. But to be fair, I am early.

Perhaps she hasn’t replied because she’s simply just that, busy. I glance at the door, trying to tell myself that I don’t need to go inside and demand that she talk to me. I don’t wanna be that kind of guy, but fuck if I can’t get that woman off my mind. All day every day since our first kiss she’s all I think about. Did she sleep well? How was her breakfast? Does she want to have breakfast with me again, breakfast the way we had it this morning? Can I sneak over and see her in the middle of the day? I just want her around me all the time. It's driving me absolutely mad that she hasn’t returned my message.

The door opens, and there she is. Her gaze swings to mytruck, and her eyes widen. She ducks right back into The Marina, closing the door.

Oh hell no. I refuse to let things between us go back to the way they were. Ever.

I get out of my truck and march straight for the front door.

Shay doesn’t even try to hide as she stands behind the bar pouring a beer and pretending as if she had no idea I was here.

“Luca, how’s it going?”

She smiles at the customer who ordered the beer then acts as if there is an extra dirty spot on the counter in front of her.

“How’s it going?” I say with a sarcastic tone. “How’s itgoing?”

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