Spectators oohed and ahhed with every colorful burst, and he plopped Lucy atop his shoulders for a better view above the crowd. Carolina made more sales as the show took place, and by the time the grand finale lit up the sky, only a few trinkets and toys remained.

  Carolina drove them back to Holland's house, where he'd left his truck. Lucy crashed during the short ride, and Silas plucked her from between him and Carolina and carried his daughter to the truck.

  She stirred as he strapped her into her booster seat.

  "Daddy?"

  "Yeah, baby."

  "Today was the best day ever," Lucy said without opening her eyes. "Will Carolina keep me?"

  Maybe it was the way Lucy worded her question but Silas felt his heart crack at the pain it brought. Lucy came first. Always. And so did Lucy's happiness. "I'll ask." He kissed her cheek and left the truck to find Carolina waiting nearby. "You get the cart locked up?"

  "Yes. Silas… thank you. For today, and helping with the cart."

  "You're welcome," he said, shoving his hands into his pockets to keep from doing what he wanted to do, which was tug her close and kiss her again to see if it blew his mind as much as the first kiss had. If she didn't take the job, he could do just that. But if she did… "Are you still interested in babysitting Lucy?"

  "Oh, yes. Absolutely."

  Disappointment filled him, but he reminded himself that it was two weeks, and maybe it was time he needed to get his headspace straight. "Mak leaves Monday. I thought about what you said about watching her at the inn and coffeehouse. If you can change your schedule for the duration, I'll be okay with that."

  "Consider it done."

  "Okay. Well, I should get Lucy home."

  Carolina took a step forward as Silas stepped back and he caught a flash of hurt surprise on her features. "Carolina… about today and what happened. If you're going to be Lucy's babysitter, I don't think we should… I mean, maybe it would be best if we didn't muddy the water, you know? At least while Mak is gone."

  "Oh. Oh, of course. I-I totally understand. Today… It was… Yeah, I get it. I-I agree. Of course."

  He inhaled and the sea breeze carried the alluring scent of her perfume. He wanted to kiss her again. Ached to. In two weeks' time, maybe he would.

  "I'll text you my schedule so you know where to pick her up," Carolina said.

  "Thanks. Good night, Carolina. I'll… see you Monday evening."

  Chapter 14

  The next two weeks crawled by in a haze of awkwardness, because with every Lucy pickup Silas performed, he acted as though he hadn't kissed Carolina thoroughly enough to make her toes curl in the sand. And while she wanted to talk things over with her sisters to get their take, she couldn't. Not when it meant opening herself up to their criticism because why would she want things with Silas to be more when she planned to leave town to travel once the season was over?

  Finally the last day of babysitting arrived. Lucy was currently curled up in the break room behind the desk at the inn, and Carolina stood nose deep in the spare linen closet, restocking extra sheets, toiletries, and the like for after-hours housekeeping requests.

  "That was an awfully heavy-sounding sigh."

  Silas.

  Carolina momentarily froze before lifting her chin and pinning a smile to her face. She tucked the tag of a towel beneath the material on the shelf and then firmly shut the door after snagging a roll of paper towels to hold on to because she needed something to do with her hands. "Hey. How was work?"

  Inane, stupid question. But she always asked and he always said—

  "Good. Glad to be home with my baby girl, though."

  Yeah, that.

  "Lucy asked me last night if you could babysit her after school or weekends when Mak isn't able to. Sort of a backup plan from now on. I told her I'd ask."

  She stared up at him. Took in the dark, dark tan he had from being in the sun so much and the way it made his eyes practically glow. "Oh, um… yeah, she mentioned it, too, but I don't think I can. I mean, I'd love to. Lucy is wonderful and certainly not any trouble, but I'm looking for another side hustle so it's unlikely I'll be available."

  That wasn't the real reason. It was a reason, sure, but the real reason was that she'd had a really hard time the last two weeks liking a man who only looked at her like a babysitter, and she didn't want to be on pins and needles every time she got a call or a text from him because he wanted her to keep his precocious kid. Mak was dating age. What were the odds that if she agreed to be the backup, Silas would eventually call her to keep Lucy because he was going out that night as well? No. Nope. Nada. Not doing it. "Sorr—"

  She wasn't sure how it happened. She couldn't quite make eye contact during her heavily prepared speech, so she didn't see him move toward her. Didn't know he'd lowered his head while at the same time fitting a hand under her chin to lift it. His lips brushed hers before lifting and she gaped up at him. "What… What was that for?"

  "Turning me down."

  "Okay. I'm… confused."

  "Carolina, I'm smart enough to know I can't kiss Lucy's babysitter. Not without risking Lucy getting hurt."

  His gaze lowered to her lips and her heart rate soared.

  "But since you've officially turned down the job…"

  "That makes me kissable?" Dang, those little crinkles around his eyes were sexy when he smiled.

  "Yeah. It does."

  She'd felt his and Lucy's desperation in needing help during Mak's absence, but looking at him now, she kind of wished she'd said no two weeks ago.

  "What are you doing tonight? Aren't you getting off work soon?"

  She swallowed hard and nodded. "Six."

  "Can I pick you up at seven?"

  "As in a date?"

  "Yes."

  The question practically scrambled her brain. To give herself a moment to think and deal with the scattershot of her thoughts, she asked, "Do you have childcare?"

  He chuckled at her question and slid his hand along her jawline to tuck her hair over her shoulder. "Mak is on standby. Since I was near the airport earlier, I offered to pick her up and she said she's anxious to earn some cash since she blew a lot of her savings on the trip. I told her I'd let her know if I was going out."

  "And if I'd agreed to watch Lucy for you in the future?"

  "I wouldn't have asked."

  Wow. The man had some serious boundaries. Good to know.

  "So, what do you say? Will you go out with me?"

  His thumb brushed over her lower lip and she realized she'd bitten it to the point of pain. Should she do this? Go? She definitely wanted to but what if… "I'll be ready at seven."

  * * *

  Evening arrived and Carolina's room looked like a tornado had blown through before swirling back around for a second performance.

  Carolina stared at the utter chaos of her clothes and shoes and bags and dresses and wanted to scream. She'd picked out the perfect outfit for her date with Silas, but when she'd put it on, she'd smudged makeup on her blouse, which meant changing. And changing. And changing. Now she was still in her underwear—and locked in panic-mode because she'd heard Silas's voice downstairs five minutes ago.

  "Caro? Hey, your date is wai— wow," Holland drawled after she poked her head inside of the bedroom. "Look out, Hurricane Caro."

  Carolina turned and something about her expression must have registered the depth of her panic, because Holland quickly ducked inside the door and shut it behind her.

  "Take a breath."

  "I can't. Tell him I can't go."

  "What? He's here. Caro, you went out with him on the Fourth and you said it was fun."

  "Yeah, it was up until he said he couldn't date me."

  "Why was that?"

  "Because of Lucy. Silas didn't think it would be a good idea to go out if I was her babysitter."

  "Okay, wow, again. I really wanted to not like the guy after the not-date-you comment because I thought maybe he was stringing you along, but that's… admirable."

  "I know."

  "So, if you admire him, what's the problem? Why the drama?"

  The drama was because just when she didn't think she could like Silas more, he went and upped his likeableness. Most men were horndogs who'd do whatever to whomever whenever they could get away with it, but Silas had not only set boundaries to protect his kid, the last two weeks he’d proved to her that he was a man of his word by sticking to them.

  It wasn't the date that made it different. It was the man. But she couldn't say that. Because saying it out loud meant she already knew she was in over her head where Silas was concerned and that?

  That terrified her even more. Who felt like this in such a short amount of time? It was weird. It was a disaster waiting to happen. It was… lust?

  Holland moved over as though to sit on the side of the bed, but there were so many clothes thrown atop it, she changed directions mid-stride and headed for the bench in front of the window. There, she shoved a half-dozen purses onto the floor.

  "Hey. You're making more of a mess."

  Holland's expression could only be described as sardonic.

  "Like that's possible in here. Now, come on. What's going on?"

  "I don't know." How could she explain her fears to someone as sophisticated and worldly as Holland? Because even though she had a substantial amount of attraction for Silas, she couldn't label what she felt as strictly lust. She just knew it couldn't be love and wasn't sure what the middle-ground term was when it came down to "it."

  "Ha. You never could pull that with me. Fine. Don't tell me, but I'll find out. You know I will."

  "Holland, help me." She spread her arms to indicate the colorful array discarded in anxiety-thrown tosses. "I have nothing to wear."

  "Seriously? Carolina, what's gotten into you? Why are you so wigged out about this?"

  "I don't know," she repeated. But even as the words came out of her mouth, she knew they both knew the statement was a lie.

  "Amazing."

  "What?"

  "You. I've never seen you like this. You really like him, don't you?"

  She met her sister's gaze but couldn't form an answer… but wasn't that an answer in itself? "He's… a good kisser."

  "Okay. And?"

  "And… my freaking toes curled when he kissed me."

  "Dang."

  "I know, right? But— But— But—"

  "Buuut?"

  "Do I want that?"

  "Um, I'm pretty sure all women want that. With the right person, I mean." Holland's gaze narrowed. "Are you worried he's not the right person? Did he say or do something that sent up a red flag?"

  Carolina thought hard but… "No."

  "Caro, you seriously have to take a breath. It's just nerves."

  She winced. "You're not helping me."

  "Look, you obviously hit it off with Silas and it's rattled you. But there's nothing to be scared of," Holland said, lowering her voice to match Carolina's softer tone after Carolina frantically waved her hands in the air and motioned for her to be quieter.

  She was so scared Silas might hear her. Not what she needed right now!

  "Says you."

  "Fine. You know what, don't go."

  "What? But—"

  "But nothing. You agreed earlier but now your gut is obviously telling you not to go, so don't."

  "But he's such a nice guy. And I want to go, it's just… Dang it, Holland, I hate it when you use reverse psychology on me."

  Holland grinned. "Works every time, too. That's the amazing thing."

  Carolina picked up a pillow and threw it at her.

  Holland caught it and tossed the pillow aside. "No one says there has to be another date, you know. So go, enjoy if you can, and if not, there's your answer."

  She inhaled and held the breath in an attempt to slow her racing heart. "Right. Of course. I'm projecting. Worrying about something that might not be an issue. He could say something tonight that would be a total turnoff, right? What am I thinking? Of course." She plucked up a bright pink sundress. "It's dinner. No big deal."

  "That's right. But that's not the dress. Try that one." Holland waggled a finger toward a dress she'd given Carolina for her birthday.

  "Really?"

  "It's perfect for where he's taking you. Put it on."

  She pulled it over her strapless bra and underwear and twisted and turned to try to reach the zipper.

  "Turn. I got you."

  "Are you sure a dress isn't too much? What about shorts? Wait, you know where we're going? He told me it was a surprise."

  "Can we focus here? The dress is elegant and sexy but not overdone. And it looks great on you. Trust me."

  "But—"

  "He's waiting, Caro, and… he may have mentioned something about reservations."

  "Reservations?" She gulped. Did Silas have the money for that kind of thing as a single dad? As someone who'd lost everything?

  And while he was making reservations, here she was second-guessing her acceptance of the date. How awful was that?

  And the award for the Worst Date Ever goes to…

  "Don't panic. That just means this is the dress. Now, turn."

  Holland's hands settled on Carolina's shoulders and her sister flipped her around with dizzying speed.

  "Perfect. Spritz some perfume, grab some shoes, and you're good to go."

  "But—"

  "Caro, stop. He made your toes curl and it scared you. I get it. But maybe it was a fluke."

  Carolina stared at her sister. Maybe it was a fluke. Maybe the next kiss wouldn't curl anything and that… would be a good thing. Then all of the fear and anxiety she felt due to the potential decisions she'd have to make between the plans she had to travel and the guilt she'd feel leaving Silas and Lucy would be a moot point.

  But they'd discussed her plans to travel while working on the golf cart, and Silas had asked her out anyway, so see? You are stressing for nothing!

  Holland tilted her beautiful blond head to one side, her confusion changing to dawning understanding.

  "Wait a minute… Caro, what aren't you saying?"

  "Nothing."

  "Liar."

  "It's just… Silas is great. But not liking him would keep things simple."

  "What things? Simple how?"

  Oh, no. She wasn't going to go down that rabbit hole. Her family didn't like her grand idea of traveling the world as a house sitter. Holland especially. She shrugged and avoided her sister's gaze. "Nothing. I have to go."

  Holland's expression revealed her suspicious thoughts, but after a glance at her fancy watch that probably cost more than Carolina made in a year working three jobs—which reminded her of her goals and dreams of worldwide travel—Holland shooed Carolina over to the pile of shoes lying on the floor outside of the closet.

  "Wear those wedges. Yeah, those."

  Carolina grabbed them and leaned her rear against the dresser for balance while she put them on. When she straightened, Holland waited with a perfume bottle at the ready.

  "Hold your breath."

  Holland spritzed her as Carolina twirled to get the full effect. Time to go greet her date.

  "Wait."

  Carolina frowned because of the seriousness of Holland's expression. "What? Do I look okay?"

  "You look great. Just… don't laugh."

  "O-kay." Don't laugh?

  "I mean it, Caro. Listen to what I'm about to say."

  A knot formed in her stomach but she nodded. "Okay, sure."

  "You've made quite a few comments about my life and dating over the years, and I'll admit it's been pretty amazing at times."

  Like she needed that reminder?

  "But… the thing is, I've never had a man make my toes curl."

  Carolina's eyes widened. Seriously? With all of the rich, gorgeous hotties Holland had dined with over the years working a job most people would kill to have… "Never?"

  "Never. I've been wined and dined in some of the most beautiful places in the world, but the whole time I was there? There was this… emptiness that I couldn't shake. Don't get me wrong. They were great guys. Just not the guys for me."

  "But your life is so glamorous and exciting."

  "At times. And at times it's nothing but delayed planes and deadlines and stress, just like any other job." Holland shrugged and laughed, though the sound was decidedly uncomfortable. "I'm not saying I haven't had fun. I've met some great people. Been kissed plenty of times. Some of the men have been intriguing but… none of them have ever had that li'l bit of something that made me wonder if I should stay longer or… hope there could be more."

  Oh, hold up there. "I never said it could be more with Silas."

  "You didn't have to, but my instincts are telling me that's why you're in such a panic."

  Carolina inhaled and tried to calm the surge inside of her. Her emotions seemed even more raw and exposed due to her sister's insight.

  She couldn't deny the anxiety she felt, but was that really it, though? Did she feel that Silas just might possess that "li'l bit of something" that had her thinking of her dreams and plans and wondering how they'd ever mesh. "It's too soon," she repeated. "We barely know each other."

  "And Mama says when it's right, we'll know it. Look, I'm not saying he is or isn't. You're the only one who knows that. But don't be in such a hurry to back away from something out of fear."

  Fear. Was she backpedaling out of fear—or simply focusing on dreams yet to come true?

  Chapter 15

  Carolina wasn't sure what to expect, but driving to the marina at the state park instead of traveling 421 was a pretty good start. She loved being on the water. Loved the salt air in her lungs and wind in her hair. And floating along the Cape Fear River was way better than battling the bustling summer traffic to Wilmington.

  The sun sank lower in the sky as Silas captained Jake's boat toward downtown. She liked that he didn't push the boat to its limits just because he could. Silas was respectful with his friend and boss's possession. Yet another thing to admire, not that she needed more.

  She'd watched a lot of men captain boats over the years. Nearly all of them had floored the gas and gone for speed, zipping along the shore too fast to enjoy the experience.

 

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