Page 27 of The Lighthouse on Plum Island
Tanith stood in front of the tall man who loomed behind her and turned to Caroline, shrugging and mouthing,I’m sorry.
Caroline’s heart froze in her chest, and her breath caught in her throat as her eyes collided with the startled ones of Brad.
“Caroline?” Brad’s voice echoed the shock in his eyes.
“Brad?” Caroline spluttered back.
She gripped the edge of her desk as the sight of him made her legs turn to jelly, while a handful of butterflies went wild in her stomach, jolting her heart to start racing. A frown creased Caroline’s brow as she tried to remember if she’d told him where she lived or worked.
“What are you doing here?” Caroline and Brad chorused together, gaping at each other in shock.
“I’m here to meet Carrie Lines,” Brad said distractedly before his brows shot up thoughtfully. “You live here?”
“Well, no, not here.” Caroline swallowed as her throat was feeling dry.
“You don’t live on Plum Island?” Brad’s frown deepened, looking at her in confusion.
“I do.” Caroline nodded.Shoot. Get it together, Caroline.“I meant I don’t live in the library.”What the heck, Caroline!She gave her head a slight shake, holding up her hands. “I work here in the library. What are you doing here?”
“You two know each other?” Tanith looked from Brad to Caroline, and they both nodded.
“We met on my trip to New York,” Caroline’s eyes finally broke away from Brad’s to look at Tanith.
“Wait!” Tanith’s voice dipped. She raised her hands before her, and a mischievous glint sparked in her eyes as she looked from Caroline to Brad again. She pursed her lips and pointed at each of them. “So, you two know each other but obviously don’tknoweach other.“ She snorted. “Oh, this is so good.”
“Tanith, what is wrong with you?” Caroline asked her angrily. Her shock over seeing Brad looming in her doorway faded into anger as the last time she saw him flashed through her mind.
Brad’s eyes narrowed as he looked at Tanith.
“I really don’t have time for this,” Brad said impatiently. “I have a busy day, and I thought you were taking me to meetCarrie,not Caroline.”
The name Carrie shot through Caroline like a volt of electricity, sending pinpricks of shock through her nerve endings as her jaw slackened and she gaped at Brad in disbelief.
Did he just say, Carrie?Caroline gave herself a mental shake.Did I hear him right?
“Did you say Carrie?” The words popped through her lips before she could stop them.
“Yes, I’m here to meet Carrie Lines.” Brad glanced at her coldly and gave a curt nod before turning away from Caroline as if dismissing her and addressing Tanith. “If you could please take me to her. I have a busy day and am in no mood to be fawned over by adoring fans.”
Anger at his words and the blatant brush-off coursed through Caroline.The nerve of the man!Her eyes narrowed, her jaw clenched as she straightened her shoulders and lifted her chin.Adoring fans?She was about to give him a piece of her mind before swatting him off his high horse when Tanith beat her to it.
Tanith raised an eyebrow at Brad, not flinching under his angry, impatient gaze or letting his words rile her. She tilted her head to one side before saying sweetly. “While I’m certainlynota fan of yours, whoever you are,“ Tanith’s gaze never wavered as Brad’s eyes narrowed warningly. “I am ahugeCarrie Lines fan.“ She bowed slightly at the waist and used her hands in a dramatic sweeping gesture toward Caroline, like a talk show host introducing a famous guest. “I give you Carrie Lines.”
Tanith turned and gave Brad a smug smile as his face fell and his eyes registered his shock. “Call me if you need me,” Tanith said to Caroline before giving Brad a mock salute and marching off.
Brad and Caroline stood staring at each other again for a few minutes before Brad spluttered in disbelief, “You’re Carrie Lines?”
“Yes.” Caroline raised her chin a little higher, staring at him down her perfectly straight nose defiantly. “AndIcurrently don’t have time to deal withfawning fans!”
She took immense pleasure in throwing his rude words back at him.
How dare he think they were fawning fans just because he was a wealthy playboy who mingled in high society? Just because he was a hot-shot producer? Her eyes widened as a thought struck her, and her breath again caught in her throat.Oh no! Please no!
“Why are you looking for Carrie Lines?” Caroline asked, afraid that she already knew the answer.Does he work with theBlackwells?Jenny had mentioned earlier that week that the Blackwells were directing the series.
“We’re supposed to meet later, but I was hoping to change Carrie’s mind about lunch,” Brad told her. His eyes held hers and still shone with disbelief.
“Why would I be meeting you this evening?” Confusion washed over before a thought struck her.Brad must work for Danes Productions.
