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

Cole asked. “You’re the most boring person I know.”
    “Thanks for that.” Anthony pressed his lips together, and I chuckled, glancing up at Anthony. He was a good inch or two over six feet and his presence was imposing, but his brother could somehow knock him down a peg or two, which surprised me.
    “How could someone in your line of work be boring?” I asked, the nausea subsiding slightly.
    Anthony shot his brother a cold stare and didn’t answer.
    “So, can you believe this is Garfield?” Cole asked, drawing me right out of my bliss.
    I hadn’t heard that term since high school—at least when the term was directed at me.
    “It’s hard to believe,” Anthony agreed. “I didn’t even recognize her.”
    I crossed my arms and shook my head. “What do you know about Garfield?”
    “Enough.” Anthony’s smile did surprising things to me, and I didn’t like it one bit. I liked being oblivious to the opposite sex. It kept me safe and my life smooth.
    I glared at Natalie, and her smile widened.
    “It was a bad hair dye. It wasn’t my fault,” I muttered, feeling the nausea continue to slip away.
    “How long did you walk around the island with orange hair?” Cole asked.
    “Long enough,” I chimed, eyeing Anthony out of the corner of my eye. He looked far too interested, and it was hard to believe he’d remember some fifteen-year-old walking around the island with bright orange hair.
    Then again, Fireweed Island wasn’t known for breaking news beyond a house getting toilet papered, a ferry not running, or a power outage that wiped out the electricity to the island.
    “About three months, wasn’t it?” Natalie answered.
    The wind picked up, and a maple leaf broke free from the branches dangling above us, slowly floating down to the deck. The weather was definitely shifting.
    “Why did you pick that hair color?” Cole asked, grinning.
    “I didn’t pick that color on purpose. I wanted to go blonde, and the bleach was way too harsh. I never should have tried an at-home kit. We couldn’t do any color correcting until my hair stopped breaking off.” I cringed at the memory. Not only did my hair turn bright orange, but my strands were so damaged that my long hair eventually turned to an uneven pixie.
    “Not many could pull that color off, but you did. I thought you were cute,” Anthony said, glancing at the crushed leaf.
    I narrowed my eyes at Anthony, unsure of his intentions.
    “In a sexy cartoon kind of way,” he added.
    “You certainly are smooth. Did you learn those lines in rock star school?” I joked.
    “No, I made them up on the spot.”
    “I never would’ve guessed.” I turned my attention back to Natalie and Cole, who were both watching me as if this were a test. “I do need to get to bed. My shift starts at four in the morning. One of our housekeepers is out sick at Loxxy. The joys of a promotion.”
    “You work at the hotel?” Anthony asked.
    “I do. I also work at Island Bluff.”
    “That’s a great restaurant.” Anthony nodded.
    “If a person can afford it.” I suddenly felt ridiculous talking about restaurant prices in front of someone who probably doesn’t even give a receipt a second thought.
    “Are you feeling better?” Anthony asked. He seemed genuinely concerned, which also puzzled me. “Should you be alone?”
    “Who said I was going to be alone?” I asked, arching my brow. I caught Natalie rolling her eyes, and I couldn’t help but laugh. “But yeah. I’ll be fine. I just need to head out before it gets too dark.”
    Natalie gave me a quick hug and whispered, “Let Anthony drive you home.”
    “I’m just going to walk to my apartment, but thanks,” I whispered back.
    “You won’t make it home before the sun sets,” she said, loud enough for Anthony to hear.
    “I’ll drive you,” Anthony offered. “I need to head out anyway.”
    I froze in place. “No. I’m fine. I like to walk.”
    “Well, I’ll walk with you then,” Anthony