Tangled Love on Pelican Point (Island County Series Book 3) Read Free

forward.
    “Your honesty is refreshing.”
    My brows furrowed, and I shook my head. I wasn’t clearheaded enough to know what he was talking about. I took another sip of water and noticed a group of women inside the house staring at Anthony.
    What would it be like to always have people staring or whispering about you? I wanted to ask, but I didn’t know him well enough to pry.
    Anthony followed my stare and shook his head.
     “You’re disappointing your admirers. You might want to go back inside so you don’t lose any fans.”
    “I’m not worried about fans. I’m more interested in creating converts.” His gaze swept over my lips before he brought his eyes back to mine, and my breath caught. “Sorry about my brother’s choice in music. He likes to take any opportunity he can to use as a PR moment for my band.”
    I shook my head in confusion before the pieces of the puzzle slowly started to fit together in my hazy mind. My heart dropped to my toes, realizing that I’d just asked the lead singer of Crimson Strings to please shut the door on his own music. Now I really was sick.
    “I’m so sorry,” I said, jerking my gaze away. My stomach was getting worse by the second. “It’s a good song. It’s amazing. It’s totally me, not your music. I’m so—”
    “No apologies necessary. I’m tired of hearing it myself, and I’ll gladly take a reprieve,” he interrupted.
    I flung my head back and looked toward the heavily clouded sky.
    Suck me up now, heavens.
    It was definitely time for me to get back to the comfort of my apartment. This was why I stuck to taking care of my dad and working several jobs. It kept me out of trouble and out of awkward situations.
    The doors flung open, and the music flooded the deck again. Thankfully, the song had changed, and the new singer to insult was nowhere to be found.
    “There you are,” my best friend, Natalie, hollered. “I thought you might have slipped out without telling me.”
    Natalie nearly floated over to me. I’d never seen her this happy, and it made me love the idea of love. I’d never experienced love before. I probably got close a time or two, but something always went drastically wrong right before that particular emotion coated the relationship in the sweetness others had tasted.
    “So you finally bumped into Anthony,” she gushed.
    “I did.” I nodded, peeking at him through my lashes. “Sort of.”
    “She didn’t realize someone spiked the punch,” Anthony informed her. “I saw her out here and thought I’d better bring her some water.”
    “Oh, no. Are you going to be okay? You’re already such a lightweight,” Natty teased.
    It was true. Drinking wasn’t my thing. I did it now and again, but this was usually where it got me.
    “I’ll live, but I do have a busy day at both of my jobs tomorrow, so I should probably get home and into bed.”
    “Tomorrow’s Sunday,” Anthony said.
    Natalie smiled, and I caught a flicker of something run behind her gaze. What was she up to?
    “Sophie works two regular jobs, and she helps me out at my floral shop,” Natalie informed him.
    “So this is the Sophie?” Anthony said, a wry grin spreading across his lips. “I didn’t even recognize her.”
    “What do you mean, the Sophie ?” I asked, scowling at Natalie.
    What had she been telling him?
    I spotted Cole walking onto the deck, and my suspicions grew as he cautiously eyed his brother.
    “Isn’t it a little cold out here?” Cole asked, circling his arm around Natalie’s waist.
    “Not when you’ve had too much punch,” Natalie informed him.
    “It wasn’t supposed to have alcohol,” I protested.
    “Ooh, yeah. I have my suspicions for who made it that way.” Cole smiled and Anthony took a step closer to me.
    “Nick?” Natalie asked, and Cole nodded.
    “He was acting shifty,” I agreed. “Nick’s known for livening things up, one way or another.”
    “That’s usually my job.” Anthony laughed.
    “Who are you kidding?”