Total pages in book: 85
Estimated words: 79190 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 396(@200wpm)___ 317(@250wpm)___ 264(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79190 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 396(@200wpm)___ 317(@250wpm)___ 264(@300wpm)
Caroline stuck her hand out. “It’s nice to meet you, Crew.” She now knew what Dune looked like as a teenager. He was definitely someone she would’ve crushed on in high school.
“You too,” he said.
“You’ll be working with Caroline when you’re out of school,” Dune told him.
Crew rolled his eyes. “I might stay here all summer.”
“And I might beat the ever-loving crap out of you later,” Dune said with a smile, which only earned him another eye roll from his brother.
They placed their order and stood off to the side to wait for someone to yell their number. Only a few people lingered, while the rest found places to sit.
“How old is Crew?”
“He’s eighteen and the baby of the family.”
“All boys, right?”
Dune nodded. “There are four of us. The other two are Tidal and Sail. You’ll probably meet Tidal soon, but Sail stayed in Miami for the summer.”
“Wow, that’s a vacation.”
“He’s a student at the university, majoring in partying, women, and parental avoidance.”
Caroline snickered at the face Dune made. “Are you jealous or bitter?”
He shrugged. “Oh, definitely bitter. I need him here for the summer because he’s a helluva sailor and having him behind the helm means more boats on the water for us.”
A young kid yelled their number and Dune went to retrieve their food. They stocked up on napkins, plastic ware, and condiment packages before heading back to his truck.
“We don’t have far to go,” he said as he put their food in a cloth cooler. “This will keep things warm.”
Caroline and Dune climbed into the Bronco, buckled up, and were on the road, heading back toward the waterfront. They drove by her cottage, and then onto another road, through a residential area, and then, boom, the vast ocean was in front of them, with waves crashing loudly against the rocks.
Dune parked, and Caroline stared out the window. If he hadn’t brought her here, she would’ve never known about it.
“I guess I should’ve rented a car.”
“There’s a trolley that will take you all over Seaport. No need to rent one, especially if I’m around.” Dune reached into the backseat for their food, completely unaware of the magnitude of his words and how they affected her. He wanted to spend time with her. She liked that. A lot because that’s exactly what she wanted, even though she told herself she wouldn’t get involved with anyone. But Dune wasn’t just anyone. He was the first man to look at her, for her and not her father’s connections. She swallowed the lump in her throat and focused on him, their food, and their gorgeous surroundings.
Dune set their food on the dashboard and the condiments on the console. Together, they ate, shared food, and feared for their lives as the seagulls ganged up on them. “Ignore them,” Dune said, which was easier said than done.
“They have no fear.”
“Nope, they don’t. But they give up after a bit.”
As they ate, Dune talked about his childhood and the adventures he had growing up. She laughed at his stories of daring stunts and mischievous pranks, all while admiring the way he moved when speaking. The setting sun cast a warm glow on him, highlighting every feature of his handsome face.
“Growing up here has its drawbacks,” he told her. “Especially when everyone knows your parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins. One of my older cousins was a holy terror in class and I ended up with his eight-grade teacher as mine. She hated me because of who I was related to.”
“It can’t be all that bad?”
Dune chuckled. “Have you ever snuck out of your house?”
She shook her head. “My parents would’ve sent me to boarding school if I broke rules. They were very strict.”
“I’m sorry,” he told her. “That must’ve sucked.”
“It did.”
“Anyway, here if I snuck out someone always told my parents. The small town gossip wheel is exactly what you think it is.”
“My sister, Jackie. She’s my best friend but she’s spoiled. The “can do no wrong” one of the family because she’s the baby. My dad favors her or at least it seems that way.”
“He probably just wants the best for you.”
Caroline sighed. “I know, but hearing your stories and seeing how you are here, I feel like I missed something growing up.”
“I’ll help you make up for it all,” he told her in a soft, sensual voice. She looked over at him and smiled. As much as she didn’t want to, she was falling for him. She was captivated by him in an entirely new way. It wasn't just his words or actions anymore; it was everything about him—the sound of his laugh, how easy it was to talk to him—that made her heart flutter with excitement.
When they finished eating, Dune put everything back into the cooler to keep the birds out of their stuff and then took Caroline on a walk.