Page 11 of Sunrise

"Yeah, but you have been photographed with more women than who live on this whole island."

"So that makes every story written about me true?" he asks. I can't get a read on his voice, so I stop in the middle of the lobby and just stare at him.

He looks a bit amused, but maybe a bit hurt as well? That has to be the alcohol playing tricks on me.

"No, but it makes it easy for them to paint you in whatever light they want."

"Now you sound like my manager." He shakes his head.

"Well, I'm this way." I point at the hall at the back of the lobby.

"Good night, Lin," he says before turning to head to the stairs. The fact that he takes the stairs and not the elevator even turns me on. What is wrong with me?

"Good night, Kade," I say, though I doubt he hears me.

Chapter 6

Kade

I can't remember the last time I was awake to watch the sunrise without having been up all night. But today, I find myself drawn to my balcony to watch the sunrise over the water. It's almost like soul-cleansing with how peaceful it is. A promise of a new start. Today will be what I make of it.

I take my time getting ready to head downstairs, just enjoying not being on any schedule or anyone's timeline but mine. When was the last time that happened? Even when I would go home to visit my parents, I'd have a schedule of phone interviews or local radio station spots. My time has never been my own like this. I'm not sure what to do with it, but I know I'm going to enjoy it.

When I make my way downstairs to the dining room area Lin showed me yesterday, I find blueberry muffins and coffee on the table. I grab a muffin and walk over to the wall of windows overlooking the beach.

It's not a long walk out to the beach from the back of the inn. There are several couples out walking on the shoreline holding hands. One guy has a metal detector out, and another is just sitting on the beach with a notebook, sketching maybe?

I'm so lost in how peaceful everyone looks I don't hear anyone enter the room until a throat clears.

I turn to find Lin watching me.

"I didn't expect you up so early. How's your head?" I ask.

I loved spending some time with her. Drunk Lin is full of giggles and just carefree. Nothing like this girl with the weight of the world on her shoulders now. Though I didn't like hearing I was part of the reason she was drinking. I didn't think of all the preparations it would take to get ready for me to be here.

"I'm a morning person. A little coffee and I'm good to go. Brynn will be the one hurting today. Do you need anything while I'm in town?"

Not really, but I want to spend some time with her and see the town she and Brynn seem to have a love-hate relationship with.

"Well, do you mind if I go with you? I'd like to see the area a bit, and I will go crazy if I don't get out of the inn," I admit, trying to get her to agree.

I don't add that I want to spend time with her more than anything because I'm pretty sure she will write it off as the Hollywood playboy using his lines to pick up a girl. Knowing those lines won't work on her is also a turn-on.

As she eyes me up, I know she is trying to come up with an excuse to put me off, but I also know she is too nice to tell me no, so I hope that part wins.

"Fine, let's go. But if this goes bad, it was your fault, and I still demand my bonus," she says and turns to walk out of the room. I follow her and catch up easily.

"Deal. Let's take my car," I suggest.

"No way! That thing is too flashy as it is. We have to worry about people recognizing you. Got your hat and some sunglasses?" she asks.

"Yeah, in the car," I tell her.

"Go get them and meet me at the Sunset side door we went in last night. I need to get Brynn's list," she says and turns to head over to Sunset without another glance at me.

I nod and jog out to my car and get the hat and sunglasses and jog back to the door. I don't want her changing her mind.

The fact that she is treating me like a normal person and is a bit irritated with me instead of fawning all over me makes me want to be around her more. Being able to feel like a normal guy has been rare since my first movie hit number one.

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