Page 65 of The Lighthouse on Plum Island
“Brad!” Alex’s booming voice echoed through the foyer, and Brad knew there was no escaping the attention of his lifelong best friend. “There you are, old man!”
Alex walked over to Brad, greeting him with the hand shake-hug.
“Hey, Alex.” Brad tried to keep the impatience from his voice. “I see you arrived early!”
“The warm shores of Plum Island beckoned, and we couldn’t resist the call.” Alex laughed. “I’m having an arrival in Plum Island dinner party on the yacht tonight. And I know you’ll be there.”
“Do I have a choice?” Brad asked hopefully.
“Everyone has a choice,” Alex answered. “Yours are, yes, and definitely.”
Brad sighed, realizing the inevitability of the situation. “Fine, I’ll be there,” he conceded, mentally preparing for an evening of Alex’s extravagant festivities before a thought hit him. “But I’m bringing a date.”
“Of course.” Alex patted him on the back. “I never thought otherwise.”
“I take it you have two or three dates?” Brad shook his head.
“Nah!” Alex surprised him by saying. “I’m taking a break from relationships for a while.”
“Ah!” Brad nodded in understanding. “Your father finally made good on his threat?”
“Yup!” Alex confirmed. “I’m here totally solo, and I have to stay that way for the entire first season of shooting Cobble Cove Mysteries or else.”
“Your father grounds you?” Harriet sneered from behind them.
Brad turned as he saw Harriet walking toward them from the direction of the dining room with a cup of ice in her hands.
“Hey, Harry.” Alex’s mouth lifted in a sexy smile as he eyed her like she was a prime steak. “Looking good as always, Princess.”
“Don’t call me Harry or Princess,” Harriet said through gritted teeth, her cheeks starting to heat as anger sparked in her eyes. “You should be over there apologizing to Dawn.”
She pointed toward the lounge, and Brad turned to see Dawn sitting there and not looking too good. Concern etched lines on his forehead as he looked at Harriet questioningly.
What has Alex done now?Brad asked Harriet. “What’s wrong with Dawn?”
“Alexander here,” Harriett gave Alex a smug smile, seeing him blanch at the mention of his full name, “insisted on Dawn accompanying them on the yacht to Cobble Cove, and she’s been ill since leaving New York.”
Brad’s heart sank further–he knew Dawn’s aversion to sailing and the inevitable seasickness that accompanied it.
“Alex, really?” Brad looked at him in disbelief. “You know Dawn hates sailing.”
“I thought she’d grown out of that,” Alex said nonchalantly. “Oh, come on. You’re mad at me for her condition?” He looked surprised. “I gave her seasick pills.”
“You know she can’t take them!” Harriet’s voice rose slightly with frustration as she glared at Alex. “You are such a jerk.”
She spun on her heel and stalked back to Dawn.
“Wow!” Alex watched Harriet, a dark emotion flashed in his eyes for a few seconds before his attention returned to Brad. “Harry is still such a firecracker igniting at the slightest spark.”
“You’re no slight spark, Alex.” Brad blew out a breath.
He knew he’d be breaking up a few of these spats between Harriet and Alex over the next few months of filming. The two didnotsee eye to eye, and when they were in the same space, sparks flew, and tempers flared.
“I’d better go see how Dawn is and take her to a doctor,” Brad told Alex. “Please, Alex, can you try not to lose us our head screenwriter or my executive assistant this time?”
“Geez, cut off all my fun, why don’t you!” Alex threw his hands in the air. “Between you, my father, and my stick-in-the-mud broody brother, these next few months will be like my own personal jail.”
“All we’re asking is that you tone down your larger-than-life personality and try to blend into the Plum Island way of life,” Brad advised. “This is a small, tightly-knit community, and they aren’t used to your extravagant lifestyle.” He glanced worriedly toward Dawn. “Try to be more Ethan than Alex while you’re here.”
