Page 34 of Sunrise

"What can I do for you, Mayor Jones?" I ask.

"Don't forget about our meeting tomorrow, what with your big date and all," he says, his eyes darting between Kade and me.

"I will be there and ready, so I don't waste your time," I assure him. I don't like this man, but that doesn't mean I won't treat him with respect.

"Just what your father always said. See you then!" he says and hurries off.

"And my father hated you too," I mumble under my breath, but Kade must hear me because he chuckles.

"What's the meeting about?" he asks.

"The mayor is making plans to turn this main strip commercial. Take out all the mom-and-pop stores and bring in chain stores and make it one big outdoor shopping mall. He's working with a developer, and the designs are horrible. I am going in with stats, emails, and research proving the inn’s guests come for the small-town charm and to get away from the big box stores. That doing this would kill the town." I doubt he’ll listen, but I have to try.

"These mom-and-pop places are what make this town. I'd hate coming down here and seeing nothing but chain stores. Honestly, I wouldn't have booked the inn if that's what it was. I'd have gone elsewhere."

"Exactly! Can I use that in my meeting?" I ask him.

"Of course. It's true. When I needed to get away, I wanted away from the city life, something slower and more personal. If I wanted all the big stores, I'd have stayed in LA."

"Exactly. Everyone in town is against this, yet he keeps pushing forward. I'm hoping maybe when he's hit with the numbers and stats, it will make him see reason," I say.

"Want to me to come and tell him myself?" Kade asks.

"No, I got it. Besides, after tonight, he won't see you as a guest or tourist. He will see you as my boyfriend, no matter what label you truly have. I think it would discredit me more with him."

"Okay. Well, any other place else on our list to show our faces, or are we done for the night?" he asks.

I look around the street. Everything is closing up, and people are slowly lingering far enough away to be out of ear shot but close enough to see everything.

"It's time to head back. We have done more than enough tonight," I tell him.

We still take our time walking back to the car, neither of us seems to want the night to end. I know Brynn will be waiting on the details, so my night is far from over.

Chapter 16

Kade

Once back at Sunrise, we both walk inside slowly and quietly. Does she not want the night to end like I don't?

"I don't know about you, but I'm not going to get to sleep any time soon, and the longer I can avoid Brynn, the better," Lin says.

"Want to go sit on the back porch?" I suggest.

"Yeah, I'd like that."

We make our way to the back porch, sitting on the couch in the corner together. The salt air fills my lungs, and the sound of the waves sweeping up the shoreline fills the air.

"Why do you want to avoid Brynn?" I ask.

"It's a girl thing. She'll want all the details. As an owner, she’ll want to know it went well and who all was there. Plus, she has this ridiculous idea... and she will want to know if I took her up on it." Even in the moonlight, I can see the light blush that coats her cheeks as she tucks her hands under her legs.

I pause and look her over for a moment, then decide to ask.

"What is her ridiculous idea?"

She ducks her head and clears the throat.

"Well, ... um, It's stupid really. I shouldn't have said anything," she stammers.

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