Page 28 of The Lighthouse on Plum Island
His brows shot up as he stared at her. “You made an appointment with Harriet this morning.”
“Is Mr. Danes unable to make the meeting tonight?” Caroline was starting to get a sinking feeling as a thought she refused to acknowledge nagged at the back of her mind, trying to make itself clear.
“No!” Brad’s brows crumpled into a tight frown as he stared at her, mystified for a few minutes before something sparked in his eyes. “Oh!” He nodded as understanding dawned on him. “I’m Brad Danes—you made an appointment with my executive assistant, Harriet, to meet with me.”
A whooshing noise resounded in Caroline’s ears, and she gasped at the information, feeling as if she’d been punched in the stomach, winding her. She forced air into her lungs when she started to feel lightheaded and made herself focus as she made sense of it all.
Brad was Brandon Danes—Travis Danes’ son!Caroline’s mind whirled.How didn’t I piece that together?
Brandon Danes’ name had come up a lot when she was speaking to Travis in New York. Caroline was supposed to have met Travis’s son, but he’d been unavailable at the time.
“You’re Brandon Danes?” The word shot out her mouth before she could stop them.Fate really has an evil sense of humor!
“You’re Carrie Lines!” Brad’s eyes narrowed suspiciously, and he gave his head a shake. “How did I miss that?”
“I’m asking myself the same thing!” Caroline’s brain fog started to lift, spurred on by another painful surprise. She knew where she’d seen Harriet before. She shared an intimate moment with Brad at the yacht party in New York!
Anger, humiliation, and hurt spurted through her as the image of Brad and Harriet together flashed through her mind. But before they had a chance to say another word, Tanith reappeared.
“Caroline, Principal Becks is here for your meeting.” Tanith’s breathless voice cut through the tension building between Caroline and Brad.
Caroline dragged her eyes away from Brad and glanced at Tanith. Her cheeks were flushed, and her eyes had that dreamy look she had always gotten when the handsome young Principal Tanner Becks was around.
“Take him to meeting room one, offer refreshments, and let him know I’m on my way,” Caroline instructed Tanith, grateful for the distraction.
She scooped her notepad and pen off her desk then walked to the door. But Brad stepped in front of her, completely blocking the exit as his tall, broad-shouldered frame dominated the doorway.
“Please let me pass.” Caroline’s eyes narrowed. “I have ascheduledmeeting.”
“Caroline, wait!” Brad stepped closer to her, and she automatically stepped back, making him stop and run a hand through his hair as their eyes met and held. “Can we please talk?”
“I’m sorry, but I have to go,” Caroline said. She felt like she was sleepwalking through a bad dream.
She tried to sidestep him, but Brad reached out and grabbed her arm to stop her, making her skin tingle where he touched herand her treacherous heart leap, stirring up the butterflies in her stomach.
“Please, have dinner with me at Summer Inn tonight,” Brad’s voice was soft. “We have alotto talk about.”
Caroline swallowed and took a breath to control her wayward emotions before glancing pointedly at his arm, which he immediately dropped.
“As I told yourexecutive assistantthis morning, I’ll be there to discuss the television series, but I cannot stay for dinner as I have a previous engagement,“ Caroline told him in a cool, professional manner. “I’ll meet you at six thirty at the Summer Inn. Now, if you’d please excuse me, I have someone waiting for me.”
Brad sighed, nodded, and stepped aside. “Fine, I’ll see you at six-thirty.”
Caroline walked away on shaky legs, trying to control her erratic heartbeat. She didn’t allow herself to look back as she walked into the meeting, filing away the questions reeling in her mind.
CHAPTER 8
Brad slid into the limo’s backseat, his mind reeling with the events that had just unfolded in the library.
Caroline?Brad swallowed as he leaned back against the plush leather seats.Caroline lived on Plum Island!He ran a hand through his hair.And she’s Carrie Lines!
Brad had felt like he’d been hit in the face when he’d pushed the door open and saw her standing behind her desk. She looked different with her new chic haircut, contact lenses, and neat suit that emphasized her slender figure while showing off her shapely calves. Caroline seemed like a completely different woman to the one he’d met in New York. The only thing that hadn’t changed about her was her soft, tantalizing scent.
Brad rubbed his eyes and let out a breath as he played their time together in New York over in his head. His heart did the little skip it always did when he thought of her—which had been more than he’d have liked over the past six weeks. California had been loaded with women wanting his attention, but Brad’s mindhad been too full of Caroline. He’d even taken up surfing to try and get her out of his mind, but it hadn’t worked. Instead, he was plagued with wondering what had happened that she’d never shown to the party and then just left without a word.
Brad had tried to call Caroline’s friend, Jennifer Gains, but the woman hadn’t been helpful or friendly. In fact, Ms. Gains had been cold and rude to Brad over the phone and warned him not to call her again. Thoughts of Jennifer made his brows shoot up, remembering she was also Carrie Lines’ publisher and liaison with Danes Productions for the television series.
“I should’ve put it together!” Brad slapped his forehead.
