Page 26 of Sunset

“You won’t this time,” Kade says.

“What?” The mayor narrows his eyes at him.

“If no one steps up to run against you, then I will. I can guarantee I’ll win, too.” Kade smirks.

“Go ahead and hold up our permits, we’re still winning, because you can’t touch Main Street. Remember, we’re watching, and if you go against the state’s orders, that means jail time.” I smile sweetly at him.

“Now, I’m going to have to ask you to get off my property,” Kade says, pushing both Lin and me back behind him and Jasper.

The mayor purses his lips, “This isn’t over.” He says, as he turns on his heel and stomps back to his car.

We all watch him leave. Then, Kade turns and pulls Lin into his arms, kissing the top of her head. Jasper turns to me, and I can see the fight in his eyes. He wants to pull me in for a hug too, and because I could use one right now, I reach for him. He wraps his arms around me and holds me tight. I try to forget the past and remember the last time I was in his arms.

That was the last time I truly felt safe, like everything was going to be okay, and it was, before my parents died. The same feelings wash over me now, like the outside world can’t touch me here in his arms. It’s dangerous to let my walls down like this; to trust him again, but it can’t hurt just for a minute, right?

“I’ll fix this, don’t you worry,” Kade says, and I know he will.

He isn’t afraid to pull strings if needed to get what he wants.

Chapter 12

Jasper

It’s become a routine for me that after the dinner service I go for a walk on the beach. After being in the hot kitchen all night, the waves seem soothing. I don’t normally find Brynn sitting on the beach, though.

So, I walk over and sit down beside her. She doesn’t move, turn towards me, or speak.

“What are you thinking about so hard over there?” I ask her.

“My parents. I wonder what they would think about all this. About Lin and me fighting to save Main Street, about the villas, you working in the kitchen, and how Lin and me are doing with The Inns. I wonder how my dad would have reacted to Kade, though, I know my mom would be gushing over him. She’d be in heaven right now, planning the wedding with Lin’s mom. Can you imagine? She’d decorate the whole town.” She smiles.

I can see it all, too. The first time I stepped foot in Sunrise, after being back from New York City, I had the same thoughts.

“I know what you mean. When I think about how my dad would feel about me coming home, I know he’d be happy. But can you imagine how he’d have reacted, when Kade stepped foot in his restaurant?”

“He’d have shoved every dish on the menu at him. Then, chase you around with that metal grill spatula for the way you treated them.” Brynn laughs.

I cringe, because she’s right. My dad loved that spatula. In fact, I have it in my office at the restaurants, because no one uses it anymore. We’re quiet for a while, and maybe, some of her defenses dropped, because it seems she needs to build them back up.

“So, how was your date the other night?” She asks.

“Oh, God. It was horrible.” I groan.

“Good!” She laughs.

“She ordered a salad! I mean, I’m a chef, I can cook you just about anything you want, you’re eating from my kitchen, and you order a salad!”

Brynn is laughing, “Well, it’s my kitchen, and you’re just borrowing it.” She says, when she calms down.

I smile, but again, I don’t say anything. If I have it my way, I won’t be leaving it, but she doesn’t need to know that, yet.

We sit in silence again for ten or fifteen minutes, or it could have been a half hour. It doesn’t matter, because I don’t care, and just sitting here with her is enough. But I know I need to start mending fences.

“I get what you went through more than ever now. It’s why I hesitated in coming home right after Dad died. I was scared to face you.” I admit.

“What? Why?” She asks, like I’m crazy.

“Well, the kiwis for one, and I knew I’d have to have this conversation with you, where I admit what an idiot I was, and how I didn’t know what I was doing.”

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