Total pages in book: 104
Estimated words: 100608 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 503(@200wpm)___ 402(@250wpm)___ 335(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 100608 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 503(@200wpm)___ 402(@250wpm)___ 335(@300wpm)
Red Hake Bed & Breakfast is something Shelly and I can build together and enjoy. We’re paying homage to the vacations we spent in Nantucket visiting the local B&Bs there with our family but give it the Kincaid twist to make it just a cut above the rest. Those trips were some of my fondest memories. When Dad would exchange his briefcase for a fishing pole and his business scowls for smiles. When he passed away, Shelly and I needed a change. Our little brother Callan more so than us.
This is a good thing.
We’re going to make Brigs Ferry Bay our home.
“Yoohoo,” Shelly chirps as she walks into my office. “You’re going to be late.”
I tear my gaze from the window to sweep over her outfit. Paint speckled overalls. Baggy shirt and tennis shoes. Dark hair twisted into a messy bun. Shelly Kincaid has changed from the boardroom boss woman she once was. Seeing her so…free…is invigorating. It’s a reminder that we made the right choice.
“I like that smile on you, big brother.” She plops down on the edge of my desk. “You really are going to be late, though. Not the best way to officially greet the townspeople for the first time.”
I roll my eyes at her. “They’ll live with my tardiness.”
“That right there, mister, is the New Yorker asshole attitude you were supposed to leave behind,” she chides. “You’re a small-town B&B owner now. Time to get friendly with the neighbors and make friends.”
“I made friends with the antique guy,” I blurt out.
A laugh tumbles past her lips. “You can’t buy friendships, Dante. Besides, Mr. Sullivan didn’t exactly seem like he wanted to be your buddy. He was edgy the whole time we shopped.”
“I’m working on him,” I lie. “What about the cute twink from Blur & Focus? He’s my friend.”
Her brow hikes up. “Oh yeah? What’s his name?”
Bitch.
“Derek.” I shift my eyes past her to a Nantucket family picture taken when we were kids framed on my bookcase, not meeting her penetrating stare. “Derek Blur.”
“Oh my God,” she groans. “You’re such a bullshitter. His name is Kian Abrams.”
That’s right. I remember now. Kian. Friendly smile, pretty eyes, tight ass. I’m definitely going to work on the friendship thing with him a little more. Might even be able to coax him into a friendly sleepover. I’d absolutely fuck someone like Kian. He’s the kind of guy I’d dominate in bed and love every second doing it.
“It doesn’t count,” I argue, shaking away images of what Kian might look like naked. “You’ve been here since this summer while I wrapped shit up in the city. You have had months to meet these people and learn their names.”
“Fine,” she agrees with a huff. “My point is, you’re going to have to get better at this peopling thing around here. The townspeople are charming, but they’re odd. Resistant to change. I had lunch with Addison the other day and she was in tears.”
I frown, crossing my arms over my chest, and lean back in my chair. “Why? Was someone rude to her?”
Addison, like us, is a New York transplant. Back in the city, their shop was quite successful, but since her sister Adeline had a stroke, they wanted to slow their pace. When they’d discovered we’d moved to Brigs Ferry Bay, they grabbed some retail space on a whim while visiting and made the impulsive decision to relocate Granger Home Décor.
“Not exactly rude,” Shelly says with a sigh. “Just not so accepting. They still make a killing on online sales, most of which is shipped to New York, but their walk-in business is rare, and some townspeople refuse to even walk on their side of the street.”
“That’s idiotic,” I grumble. “The other businesses should be supportive of one another. Plenty of customers to go around for all of us.”
“My thoughts exactly,” Shelly agrees. “Which is why you need to grab your coat and get to that meeting. The old fuddy-duddies in this town need a Kincaid to show them the way. And while I could go in your stead, you know you’ve always been the face. Just like Dad was. There’s something about you that people admire and respect.” She smacks my shoulder. “Though I’m still trying to figure out what that thing is.”
I smirk at her. “Brat.”
She slides off my desk and grabs my hand, pulling me to my feet. “Go. Make nice with the other business owners. Be friendly. Get us some more bookings so we don’t fail before we even start.”
“Fine,” I concede as I walk over to my coat that’s slung over an armchair. “I’ll go to this meeting and schmooze.” I pull on my coat and then button it up. “You want to go to Blur & Focus with me tonight?”
“Raincheck. I have a date.” She grins at me. “With a local.”