Page 33 of Sunrise

We both get a donut, a piece of chocolate and a hot chocolate, then we make our way out to the end of the pier that’s across the street.

It's a peaceful walk with the sounds of town fading behind us and the crashing of the waves on the pier getting louder. The lights on the posts guide the way, and each fisherman we pass nods and gives us a smile, but I know they are also taking notes for their wives down to the type of donuts we carry.

Once at the wide end of the pier, we take one of the benches and thankfully have some privacy. When I sit on the opposite end of the beach from Kade, he scoots next to me.

"Still too many eyes out here, best not to chance it," he whispers before we start eating.

"So, the Sunset Inn has the pool and dinner that the Sunrise guests can use. What does the Sunrise offer Sunset other than breakfast?" he asks.

I smile. "We have the event spaces. Small conferences and mostly weddings. It's nothing for the event space to get booked and then all the rooms at both inns to be booked at well. The Sunset will cater food for the event, so we both benefit."

"But they are run as two separate businesses, right?" he asks.

"Yep. Sunset is all hers, and Sunrise is all mine. Though if one of us were to sell, we'd probably offer it as a package deal. Not that we ever will." I add because the thought of selling the inns makes my stomach roil.

Kade nods, and we watch one of the guys reel in a fish and toss it back.

"What is the Chasing the Sun event I saw mentioned in the packet in my room?"

"Oh, that was Brynn's dad's idea and what actually gave the inns their names. We handle all things Sunrise. During the season, I am up and take anyone who wants to go out on the beach and watch the sunrise. I provide blankets and hot coffee. Many photographers set up a tripod and get amazing photos. I feature some of them on the website. Then in the evening, Brynn takes them up on the roof of her place to watch the sunset over the water."

Brynn's inn is also three stories high, making our inns the tallest buildings on the island, so there is amazing breathtaking view from her roof. When the sun sets and paints the town in the orange lights, it's like you are somewhere else entirely.

"Why not go across the street to the beach instead of the roof?" he asks.

"Ah, we don't own that land. The owner is some guy who doesn't live on the island, and he has made it clear we are not to be on the property, and he doesn't want our guests on it either. We've had plans to try to buy it and expand, but he refuses to sell. He's older, and his kids plan to sell to us when he dies, so it's a waiting game. It's also one of the only undeveloped pieces of land on this side of the island. I think that's why he's being stubborn."

"What's on the other side of the island?"

"The Arch Rock State Park is at the tip of the island. It's the smallest state park in North Carolina. It doesn't even have a building other than the guard stand. The park ranger lives on the island year round. The beach there is protected, so it's pretty popular during the summer. The land around the state park is all undeveloped. A few people in town bought it, and nothing has been down with it for years. So, the townspeople have a few hiking trails on it."

"We should go out that way one day," he suggests.

"Not exactly in the public eye," I tell him.

"Yes, but if even one or two people see us, that works. It’ll look like we are trying to get away from prying eyes."

He's right. I know he is, but I don't know if I can handle being alone with him, not after how well this evening has been going.

“We should take our slow walk back, making sure everyone sees us before the shops close," I tell him.

He nods and stands. After we throw our trash away, he takes my hand again, and I try to ignore how right and comfortable it feels to have his hand in mine. It's all for the show, I remind myself.

We talk and laugh, and then a sober thought hits me. This feels very much like a real date. When did I stop playing pretend?

Kade squeezes my hand. "Hey, what's wrong?" he asks.

I bite my lip, which draws his attention there, and I have to be imagining the heat in his eyes, right?

"I just realized this feels like a real date," I whisper.

His eyes meet mine, and the stare is intense and filled with heat. My body warms the longer his eyes are on me, and the tingle shoots straight to my core.

"It does." He agrees as his eyes go to my lips again.

Is it my imagination, or is he slowly leaning in toward me? Is he going to kiss me? Right here for everyone to see? It’s the perfect place I just didn't think it would be tonight.

A throat clears, and he jerks back, his breathing heavy and lips parted, looking at me before we both turn to look at who interrupted us.

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