Page 20 of Sunrise

I nod and turn to leave.

"Wait. Lin, can we talk?" he asks.

Kade squeezes my hip, and I lose all train of thought. Both men are staring at me when I realize I need to answer.

"No, Travis, and I'd appreciate you staying off my beach," I say.

"Come on, I was just going for a walk," he says.

"On private property. You know as well as the everyday tourist that this is private property. This section of the beach is owned by the Sunrise and Sunset. Stay off it," I grit out.

"Don't be like that. Plenty of locals are on the beach. Hell, even Josh is." He points in Josh's direction.

"Josh is actually helping Brynn with a project. The ones here are people we like and who have helped us since our parents died. Not ones who tuck their tail and run like a coward," I say. Grabbing Kade's hand, I turn and walk away, pulling him behind me.

We walk for a bit in silence before Kade asks, "Who was that?"

"My ex. We dated in high school, and he was a part of our plan to go to Wilmington. When my parents died and I took over the inn, he dumped me at their funeral nonetheless and went to Wilmington the next day. First time I've seen him since."

Kade hasn't let go of my hand and squeezes it now in reassurance.

"Just sucks my parents died thinking I was going to marry him. We had our whole lives planned together and they liked him. Travis just couldn't handle the plan being disrupted." I don't know why I'm telling him this, but maybe I just need to get it out. "He is a huge fan of your movies, so it's a good thing you didn't talk. He'd have put it together even with the hat and sunglasses."

"It would have been worth blowing my cover to see his face when he thought we were dating. I would have done it in a heartbeat." Kade chuckles.

I can't help but laugh at the thought of Travis's face.

I glance up and see Brynn standing on the Sunset's back porch with her hands out to her sides, mouthing, “What?" I shrug my shoulders and drop his hand.

"I'm going to go warn Brynn he's in town. Maybe she will throw a pineapple at his face for me." I smile.

"Please make sure I'm there to witness that!" He laughs.

"I'm already feeling better, and I think it's all because I didn't have to face him alone. So, thank you," I say as I turn to him.

Again, I can't see his eyes, but I feel them on me. Neither of us moves until he smiles.

"See you at dinner, Goldie," he says before turning back toward the Sunrise. I watch him go and scan to make sure Travis isn't on the beach still before turning and heading up the porch to Brynn.

"Is it too early for a mimosa? Or an Irish coffee?" I ask as I collapse onto the porch swing.

"Sadly, yes." Brynn curls up next to me on the swing, facing me with one arm resting on the back of the swing holding her head up. "Now, were you really holding hands with Kade?" She giggles.

"Yes, but only because we ran into Travis," I tell her.

"What! That bastard is here? Was he on our beach? Let me at him!" She starts to stand, but I put my hand on her arm.

"Kade was there. Thankfully, Travis didn't recognize him, but Kade put his arm around my waist, and the look on Travis's face was worth it." I fill her in on his comment about the locals on the beach and what I said.

"I'm glad you got to finally go off on him. He deserves so much more," Brynn says.

"Oh, Kade asked to make sure he was there if you decide to throw a pineapple at Travis's face." I giggle.

She shoots me a side-eye. "One fruit, and I will never live it down. But for you, I'd throw a pineapple at his face for sure." She nods. We both know she won't, but her saying she would be enough for me.

We sit on the swing a bit longer and just talk about plans with the bridge down. She has already called the few check-ins we have and let them know and issued refunds.

"I have to get ready to go into town, but I'll see you at dinner tonight, okay?" she says as she finally stands.

---