Page 25 of Sunrise

As I look out over the water, I can't help but think of my parents. How would they feel about Kade's offer? They would probably laugh and tell me to do it and have fun, but only do it for me. Not to do it for the inn or the town, but only for myself.

My mom would have fawned all over Kade, asking all sorts of questions about Hollywood and insist he eats more and more food. Dad would have talked to him about the business side of things. He'd have loved to learn how movies and TV shows were done on the back end and the mechanics behind it.

I have no doubt they would have roped an invite to the set of his next movie by the end of the visit just to see it all in person, and they would have gone too.

Brynn's dad would talk with him about his future after movies, what he is planning to do with his life, is he saving and investing money, and why he doesn't get a degree online between movies so he has something to fall back on.

Brynn's mom would be a huge flirt. She would want to know all about the girl he's been with and if they were good in bed, and if this rumor or that rumor about her favorite actors were true.

Kade would have loved them, and they would have loved him. But they would be united that if I were to do this fake relationship that it needs to be for me and not for anyone else. The inns will be fine without the publicity. They have two years of advanced bookings prove that. The town will be fine without it, and the new shops that are opening prove that too.

I think they would gang up on me and tell me I need to live a little and have fun. Is Kade the type of guy I'd spent the rest of my life with? No, he isn't, but that doesn't mean he can't be the fun-for-now guy. They wouldn't have liked I haven't dated since Travis. They liked him, but I'm pretty sure my dad would have punched him in the face at the funeral in front of the whole town for dumping me that way.

That thought makes me smile. My dad wasn't a violent man, but he was very protective of my mom and me. I remember one summer he threw a family out when the husband grabbed my mom's ass. They were booked in the Sunrise Suite for three weeks. My mom was upset they lost the money, and the family left a bad review that my dad countered with what happened. A businessman in Wilmington saw the review when looking at places to stay a few days later and booked the suite because of that review. That man still comes to stay with us twice a year, even after my parents died.

At that moment, I know that if the offer is still on the table in the morning, I will take him up on the offer. I will have fun and live life for my parents. Maybe Brynn is right, and my prince charming will come out of the shadows when all this ends.

"I miss you guys so much." I whisper into the wind, "I know you are watching over us and probably laughing your butts off at all this and enjoying this. So, for you, I will do it. But if it all goes wrong, you better fix it." I try to smile around my tears.

I stand there another minute more and close my eyes, letting the wind hit my face and listening to the water hit the sand. I get my emotions in check before turning back around.

That's when I see Kade on his balcony looking down at me, and I stop in my tracks. We stare at each other for a moment, neither of us moving. I'm pinned to the spot and couldn't move if I tried. He's on the third-floor balcony, but I swear he's staring right through me with those honey-colored eyes that fill so many magazines covers.

A shiver runs through me, and I finally pull my eyes away from him and slowly make my way back inside. Once in my room, I head to the window and stare out at the water again.

Chapter 12

Kade

I've been up for hours now. I watched the sunrise and took my time getting ready. I don't want to call Wren too early, but it's now nine a.m., and while it's only six a.m. for him, I can't wait any longer.

I make my way downstairs and around to Lin's office. I don't see a trace of her around other than a smell of coffee in the air. So, I sit at her desk and call Wren, expecting to wake him.

"What took you so long to call, man? It's what, nine o'clock there? You are sleeping in already?" he asks wide awake, and for a moment, I'm shocked speechless.

"I really thought you'd still be in bed. I've been pacing my room for hours!" I sigh.

"Well, if cell phones worked, I'd have called you sooner. Anyway, I talked to Gina, and she jumped at the idea of this relationship with the inn owner. I zoned out a bit because she was talking so fast, but from what I got, I guess a fairy-tale romance with the Hollywood hotshot like yourself and a common girl will go crazy. Add in that she will look like the one to tame you, and we have a gold mind. I think we should amend her NDA—"

"No." I cut him off. "Her doing this for me is a huge favor and a lot to ask of her. I'm not binding her any more than I already have. You know as well as I do that while the media will eat this up, there will be some nasty fans who start attacking her. If it becomes too much, I want her to have an out at any time for any reason. The breakup will make her look good at all costs. That's my condition, and I won't budge on it."

Wren is quiet for a minute, and I'm willing to bet he's writing things down and looking over his notes.

"Okay. Listen, you need a well-staged first outing. The nicest restaurant in town. Someplace maybe she knows the owner since it's a small town. Make it look like she is introducing you around. You want it to be public because you want not just you posting your photo to social media. You want the people in town to share it. Maybe someplace where some younger people are, or work," Wren says.

My brain races there are a few restaurants into town, and Lin seems to know everyone. I will let her pick where she is comfortable.

"I will talk to Lin. She knows everyone in town," I say.

"Okay, and you want some outing that doesn't look staged but is close to the public eye, a walk on the beach, or downtown holding hands. A few well-staged almost kisses. Things like that. With the press not able to get to the island, we need to rely on the residents to post. Oh, is there a newspaper there? Maybe I can talk them into an interview. Can you imagine how pissed the tabloids here will be to get scooped by a small-town paper or website? Oh, I love that! I need to get to work talk soon," Wren says, then hangs up without me getting another word in.

I wonder if Wren even slept. With how much energy he has already, he must have, but I can't remember the last time he was up this early either.

I run my hand down my face and take a deep breath, trying to relax before I go find Lin. I need to make sure she is on board since Wren is already off and running with all this.

I worry she might tell me no. Hell, she should tell me no. Any sane person wouldn't agree to this. So, what does that make me? I have no idea.

I leave her office and make my way to the dining room and find her staring out the large windows at the water. She must not have heard me walk in because she doesn't turn around, so I take a moment to take her in.

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