Page 63 of The Lighthouse on Plum Island
“It wasn’t a waste,” Brad said, shaking his head. “Would you like to have lunch with me tomorrow?” His eyes held hers captive. “I’d still like to hear your perspective on those locations.”
“I—“ Caroline swallowed. Her throat felt like it had sand in it. “Of course.” She nodded. “But only if you allow me to cook for you as a thank you for all you’ve done.”
“I’d like that,” Brad accepted her offer.
“Great.” Caroline nodded. “Come to the lighthouse at twelve tomorrow?”
“I’ll be there,” Brad acknowledged as his head dipped lower and his lips were drawn to hers.
Caroline started to feel lightheaded and realized she was holding her breath, waiting for his lips to touch hers. But as they neared, the sound of Jules’s laughter echoed through the hallway, and Brad straightened, letting go of her hand. Leaving her feeling like she was hanging suspended on a highwire with no net beneath her as the door burst open. Jules, Jennifer, and Finn ambled into the room with the smell of coffee and toasted bagels filling the air and making Caroline’s stomach gurgle, reminding her she hadn’t eaten the whole day.
“Hi, Brad,” Jules greeted Brad with a big smile. “We thought you might be awake and got you a coffee and bagel.”
Finn handed him a brown paper bag and a cup of coffee from the cut of a cardboard box he had the food and beverages balanced on.
“Thank you,” Brad smiled gratefully. “I am hungry and dying for a cup of coffee.”
He looked at Caroline and smiled. Brad’s eyes held a promise that the moment they’d almost shared was to be continued. Despite herself, she smiled before forcing herself to look away from his hypnotic eyes and take her food from her brother.
Two hours later, Caroline was back home, showered, and grateful that Jennifer had cleaned the place after the late-night intruder had turned her living room upside down. Jules and Jennifer were rushing around Caroline, ensuring she took it easy.
It was both sweet and irritating as Caroline had work to do. She also needed to find a way to get Jules and Jennifer out of the house for her lunch with Brad the next day. Caroline’s brows shot up.
“Shoot, I have to go grocery shopping,” Caroline said out loud.
“We’ll go for you,” Jules offered, looking to Jennifer for confirmation.
“Of course we will,” Jennifer agreed with her. “Write us a list, and we’ll go to the store.”
“I’d rather go myself,” Caroline told them. “But thank you for offering.”
“Mom, you can’t go walking around a store on your own,” Jules’s voice was laced with concern.
“No, you can’t,” Jennifer stood behind Jules’s resolve. “But, we can go with you.”
“Oh, no!” Jules’s eyes widened. “I’m supposed to meet Lila, Tucker, Connor, and Reef at Cobble Cove Beach.”
“Oh?” Caroline looked at her daughter curiously. “You’ve been spending a lot of time with Reef Donovan.”
Caroline ignored Jennifer’s warning look.
“He’s a friend of Tucker’s.” Jules shrugged and frowned at her mother. “I’ve been hanging out with him since he moved here with Carly three years ago, Mom.”
“Yes,Mom,“ Jennifer’s eyes narrowed on Caroline. “Jules and Reef have beenfriendsfor three years.”
Caroline glanced at Jennifer, giving her a black look and reinforcing Jennifer’s fierce one.
“Okay. Sorry, honey. This bump on my head is making me a little weird.” Caroline hoped the smile she forced her lips to form looked warm, encouraging, and genuine. She looked at Jennifer. “Would you mind taking her to the beach?” She reached for her phone on the table beside the chair. “I’ll ask Finn to bring Jules home later.”
“Can I stay with Lila tonight?” Jules asked, and her eyes widened. “Sorry, Mom. Don’t worry about that. I’ll stay here with you.”
“Don’t be silly, sweety,” Jennifer answered for Caroline. “I’m here to keep a watchful eye on your mother. It’s summer vacation.” She turned to Caroline. “My brother will ensure the girls are okay andbehave.”
Caroline’s smile loosened into a genuine one, realizing what Jennifer meant. Liam was more strict with his daughter than she was with Jules. She made a mental note to message Liam and ask him to keep an eye on Jules and Reef.
“Is that okay with you, Mom?” Jules looked at her with pleading eyes.
Caroline’s heart melted. Since their New York trip, her and Jules’s relationship had started to mend, and they were becoming as close as they had been before the divorce. And before her daughter left childhood behind to become a teen.
