Page 40 of Small Town Schemes & Summer Kisses
She simply …strategically distanced herself from the situation.
After the kiss, things had been perfect. For exactly six hours and twenty-four minutes. Now Beck had disappeared again.
No text. No porch swing. Not even a sarcastic note taped to her binder, which had gone missing again.
Caroline, who absolutely did not panic, was now standing on the boardwalk outsideThe Holler & Forkwith her phone at 17% battery and a blueberry muffin she no longer wanted.
Sandy appeared at her side like some kind of caffeinated seagull whisperer. “You’re pouting.”
“I’m pondering.”
“You’re pouting. I haven’t seen Beck all morning, so unless you kissed him and he spontaneously combusted, I’d saysomething’s up.”
Caroline sighed. “Maybe it was too fast.”
“Or maybe he’s just building something.”
“What do you mean?”
Before Sandy could answer properly, the ancient speakers on the boardwalk crackled to life. Boomer’s voice rang out, triumphant and unnecessarily loud.
“GOOD MORNING, BLUEBELL BAY. The mayor has been located safe and sound after weathering last night’s storm in the company of one Carter Beckett. Eyewitnesses confirm a cozy dinner over candlelight, a goodnight kiss, and sweatshirts that haven’t seen the light of day since 1984. What’s next? Stay tuned! Over.”
Caroline groaned and dropped her coffee cup into the metal trashcan near the door and headed towards City Hall. By the time she reached her office, she was officially annoyed.
At herself.
With Beck.
At her growing inability to think clearly when he was around.
She pushed open her office door and stopped cold.
Beck was there.
Sitting at her desk.
Withher binder.
“Hi,” he said, looking up. “Before you yell—.”
She blinked. “You were supposed to meet me atThe Holler & Fork.”
“I forgot. Forgive me? I started working and …”
“You could have called.” She took a seat on one of the guest chairs.
“I was building the site.”
Caroline blinked again. “What?”
Beck turned his laptop toward her. “The new website. I did this for the town. Really, for you.”
“I thought your niece had already done something.”
“She did, but I had an idea come to me in the middle of the night.”
On the screen was a stunning homepage: rolling shots of the boardwalk, the beach, the diner’s neon sign, and the marlin from the sweatshirts. The tagline read:
