Page 86 of The Lighthouse on Plum Island
Caroline’s fright caused a chain reaction as her pets felt the change in her demeanor.
“Intruder, intruder, intruder.” Blue Beard started flapping his long wings warningly.
Sandy’s hair stood up on her back, her body rumbled in a low growl as she bared her teeth at Brad while Melton stayed on his back like a dead possum enjoying his belly scratches.
“So much for no one finding me here!” Caroline hissed, her heart hammering in her chest with fright.
“If Jennifer hadn’t drawn me a map of how to get to the throne, I wouldn’t have found you,” Brad told her. “May I come in?”
Caroline’s eyes narrowed on him. Her flighty heart skipped a few beats and started hammering so loud in her chest that it woke the pesky butterflies in her stomach. But she felt much more relaxed, knowing her family would be out of town and safe soon. Being in her and Jennifer’s hiding place always relaxed her, so she smiled at him.
“Before I let you in, you have to promise never to tell anyone else about the throne,” Caroline said playfully.
“I already had to do this before Jennifer would draw me this map.” Brad held up the crude drawing.
Jennifer was never good with drawing maps or directions. Caroline was amazed Brad had managed to find the place. Caroline had often worried that Jennifer had managed to relocate people after they’d given up trying to find their original destination while following her friend’s directions.
“Wait a minute!” Caroline leaned forward, squinting at the map. “That doesn’t look like one of Jennifer’s maps.”
“No.” Brad shook his head and looked at it. “Sam stopped me as I headed out and fixed it for me.”
“Sam knows our super secret hiding place?” Caroline feigned outrage.
“Sam knowseverything!“ Brad grinned, playing along. “He’s like the Wiseman of Plum Island.”
“That he is,” Caroline agreed and sighed. “Fine, you may enter.” As she relaxed, Sandy and Blue Beard settled down but still kept a watchful eye on the newcomer.
Brad folded his long frame onto the smaller rock bench beside her. Caroline swallowed as she could feel his warmth while hissubtle scent tantalized her senses. She hardened her resolve and forced herself to concentrate.
“Jennifer sent you, huh?” She looked at him with a lopsided knowing grin.
“I lost the coin toss,” Brad told her honestly. “But I must tell you that your friend Jennifer is a cheat.”
“Yup!” Caroline nodded, enjoying the light banter between them. “I know. She also hasn’t got a good sense of direction, so you’re lucky Sam redrew that map for you, or you’d be trudging around the sanctuary.”
“I thought she was deliberately trying to confuse me.” Brad laughed, ran a hand through his hair as he turned, and their eyes locked. “But I’m glad I lost.” His voice grew hoarse. “I wanted to apologize for Vanessa and—“ He broke eye contact and looked out at the sea. “Everything.”
“Everything?” Caroline’s eyes widened. “That’s a lot to apologize for.”
“I have a lot to apologize for,” Brad told her. “I’m sorry that you’ve gotten pulled into whatever trouble is following me around.”
“That’s not your fault.” Caroline shook her head. “Unless you did something bad to someone, and now they’re retaliating.”
Brad let out a breath. “I’m not sure!” He looked at her. “I hate that you got hurt because of me.” His eyes searched hers. “Caroline, you’re the last person I ever wanted to hurt.”
“It’s okay,” Caroline’s voice was barely a whisper as she started getting lost in his eyes. “I’m sorry I’ve been Miss Overreacting.”
“There’s nothing between Harriet and I,” Brad blurted out. “There never has been and never will be. She’s like a sister to me. Dawn and my engagement ended rather publicly two years ago, but we’ve patched things up and are getting back to being friends.”
“Brad, you don’t have to explain anything to me.” Caroline’s heart started hammering in her chest as excitement tickled her stomach.
“Yes, I do!” Brad told her, not breaking eye contact. “I hardly know Vanessa other than having had to take her out on my mother’s insistence once to reintroduce her to New York society.” He shuddered. “Contrary to what the tabloids love to write about me, I don’t cheat on someone—“ His eyes pierced hers, and his eyes darkened with emotion. “Someone that I love.”
Caroline’s breath caught in her throat. She didn’t know who made the first move, and as their lips met and melded together, it didn’t matter as time and space spun away. The world came crashing back a few minutes later when Sandy’s angry bark made them jump apart.
Dazed, they turned and watched the German shepherd growl and bark at the cliff above before taking off toward it as they saw a figure turn and flee.
CHAPTER 20
