Page 219 of Steamy Ever After

We can meet, she responded to Brodie.

Moonstone?

What time?

You tell me, he replied.

Nine?

Perfect.

Why not take another walk down Heartbreak Road? She was beginning to know its dead end all too well.

BRODIE

Brodie moved the plain cardboard box from the front passenger seat of his truck to the floor in the rear. It wasn’t the only reason he wanted to see Peyton, and he didn’t want it to be the first thing they talked about.

After a night of tossing and turning, he’d gotten up this morning knowing that, if he wanted to sleep tonight, he had to see her today. He didn’t have a plan other than spending time getting to know her. Then he’d force himself to give her the box and close that chapter of Kade’s life.

When he pulled up to the same parking spot on Moonstone Beach Road as yesterday, Peyton’s car was already there, but she wasn’t in it.

He got out, walked to the edge of the boardwalk, and spotted her down the beach, near where Santa Rosa Creek spilled into the Pacific Ocean. She was walking away from him, but turned around and waved. He did too. Rather than wait, Brodie ran down the path and caught up with her.

“Wanna keep going?” she asked.

“If you do, then absolutely.”

They continued walking until they reached the edge of the state preserve, where Peyton stopped.

“It gets rocky through here. Maybe we should…”

“Should what?”

“Turn around?”

“You’re not just being nice, are you? Have you heard my stomach loudly reminding me I haven’t eaten breakfast?”

Peyton smiled, and her cheeks turned pink. “Neither have I.”

Brodie looked at his watch. “What time do you have to be at work?”

“We’re closed today.”

“That’s great! I mean, that you don’t have to hurry in to work, but I don’t want to keep you if there’s something else you need to do.”

“Nope, not a thing. I’ve got all day and nothing on my calendar. Except picking up the boys.”

“What time is that?”

“Not until five. They’re both in basketball after school.”

Since Peyton hadn’t taken advantage of a single out he’d offered, he stopped. “How about breakfast, then?”

“I’d love it.”

As they walked, they discussed the business of wine-making, a subject they were both passionate about, and Brodie told her he was impressed with the work she’d done since taking over Stave. She gave most of the credit to Alex, but he knew better.

“Where should we go?” Brodie asked when they arrived in the parking lot where her car and his truck were parked.

---