Sunrise

Chapter 3-2

KADE IS LATE, BUT IT'S not like I have anything better to do than wait on him. I'm resisting the urge to go check on the Sunrise Suite again, but knowing Kade will be here any time, I don't want him to find the front desk empty. So I'm sitting at the desk reading a romance book Brynn just finished, and I'm so into it that I don't hear anything around me until the side door to the lobby slams.

The only person to do that would be Brynn, so I finish the paragraph I'm reading and take my time to mark my spot on my tablet before looking up at her. This doesn't stop her from talking, though.

"Girl, you will never believe who I saw at the farmers' market! f*****g Jasper is back."

She is still in love with Jasper, her ex, even if she won't admit it. They had plans after high school, and after a little hiccup, he followed the plans, and she didn't. Then our parents died, and neither of us could leave, even if we wanted to. Which we don't. We both love it here and intend to raise our families and take our last breath here. We have it planned out in detail.

She continues her story, not even waiting on my response. "I threw a kiwi at his face, and... OH. MY. GOD. Kade is here. I thought he'd be checked in by now!" She gasps.

My eyes snap to the front door, and I find Kade Markson staring at me. The heat in his gaze has me frozen in my place. I can feel every spot his sparkling blue eyes roam over me, and I suddenly wish the counter wasn't blocking me so I could feel that gaze on my lower parts.

His jeans hug his hips perfectly and show off his muscular thighs. His T-shirt stretches across his broad shoulders and displays his California tan and his well-built muscles. Muscles that I'm sure will do well to hold me against the wall as...

No. I need to stop these thoughts. The Hollywood playboy isn't interested in me, and if he is, it's just to add another notch to his bedpost and not for anything serious. I can't let myself go down that road. As sexy as he is, I won't be just another girl, even if it will be a cool story to tell tourists one day.

My eyes make their way back to his, and the air is sucked out of the room. Everything fades away, and time stands still. This has to be the Kade Markson effect everyone talks about. Just being in the same room with him is supposed to be intoxicating if what Brynn said is true. That's all this is.

I shake my head and paste on my best smile.

"Welcome to Sunrise Inn on Hummingbird Island, North Carolina's best-kept secret. If you give me just a moment, I have the paperwork Wren wanted."

At the mention of his manager, his eyes go stone cold.

"Well, Wren abandoned me in the airport, though I shouldn't be surprised. Also, I thought you signed an NDA, which means no telling your friends about me." He waves his hand in Brynn's direction without looking at her. Brynn starts making faces at him, which he either doesn't see or chooses to ignore. I have to bite back a laugh so as not to draw attention to her.

"No one is supposed to know I'm here. If I can't trust you to do that, there will be... consequences," he says with a bit more enjoyment than I think there should be in his voice.

Why does the word consequences bring images of him pulling me over his knee and s******g me? Why does that turn me on?

My smile falters just a moment before I paste it right back on at the end of his little rant. That seems to set him off kilter as his face softens a bit, and there is an unsure look in his eyes too.

When he takes a break, it's my turn, and in my best Southern hospitality voice my momma taught me, I say to him, "Hello, I'm Lin, owner of the Sunrise Inn. This is Brynn, owner of the Sunset Inn next door. We run the inns together, and she has not only helped me get ready for your visit, but she has also signed your nondisclosure agreement. She will be feeding you dinner every night, so it might not be in your best interest to make her mad. She's also my best friend, so it's also in your best interest to treat us both with the same respect you want us to treat you with."

I level him with my best I'm not f*****g around look as I keep the smile on my face.

He smirks, and his eyes roam over me once again before he picks up the bag next to him on the floor and adjusts the one slung over his shoulder. He approaches the desk in a confident swagger that I'm sure he's perfected for the Hollywood crowd.

Once in front of the desk, he sets his bags on the floor and opens one to pull out a folder. I hand him the NDAs signed by us and the staff, and he hands me a check for the stay. If the deposit made me smile, this check might have made me pass out. I don't think I've seen so much money come in at once to the inn.

Since it's the off-season and the money wasn’t in the budget, I haven't had time to plan what to do with this money. Brynn and I will sit down with our accountant once Kade leaves, but I already have a few ideas. I want to ramp up our advertisements of the inns being wedding venues and market it to the city crowd.

Once the paperwork is exchanged, I turn to him.

"I have you set to stay in our Sunrise Suite. You'll have your own private balcony and views of the beach. It is the best room in the inn, but you, of course, can have your pick of rooms. Did you want a different room?" I ask.

"No, I checked your website, and the Sunrise Suite looks perfect," Kade says.

"Will you need more than one key?" I ask.

There was no mention of him having a guest, but I'm sure if there is a girl in the picture, he will want her to have a key, too, right?

"No, just me."

I nod and hand him our welcome folder.

"In this folder is a map of the inn and of the Sunset Inn next door. You are entitled to amenities at both places, though you have only rented out this inn. We plan to bring your meals to Sunrise's dining room if you don't wish to dine in the main dining room. There is a private dining area if you wish to head to the Sunset as well. There is also a map of the island and info on local businesses if you wish to explore. Per hotel security and security agreed upon with your manager, you will need to sign in and out each guest you bring on the property. Due to heightened security, we do ask you to limit the guests as we have limited personnel on site per your request, so the more people you bring onto the grounds, the harder it will be to keep you safe." I've been working on this spiel all morning, and I take a deep breath when I finish.

"Don't worry. I have no intention of throwing a party or having a bunch of guests. I don't plan to have any guests, really. Not when the locals are so... entertaining." His heated eyes are on me again.

"Okay then. Here is your key, and I will show you to your room." I say.

I turn to Brynn. "I’ll meet you in the kitchen, and I expect to hear about the flying kiwis." I almost laugh as I round the desk and come face-to-face with Kade Markson, Hollywood playboy, for the first time with no buffer between us.