“You won’t be disappointed with the food here,” Caroline assured him, and he watched her stiff posture relax as she picked up the menu and read through it. “What were you thinking of having?”
“The Surf and Turf?” Brad looked at her questioningly.
“That’s my brother’s, his son’s, and my daughter’s favorite,” Caroline told him. “They swear it’s the best dish they’ve ever eaten.”
“That’s settled then.” Brad snapped the menu closed. “Surf and Turf, it is.”
Brad caught the waiter’s attention when Caroline was ready to order along with a bottle of wine. Soon, they fell into comfortableconversation. They talked about their kids, Plum Island, and the television series as they skirted around the topic of their New York romance.
“The lighthouse is amazing,” Brad said as the conversation turned to the first episode of the Cobble Cove Mystery series based around the lighthouse. “The Blackwells will arrive within the next few days along with the screenwriter, Dawn Vanderbilt. I’m sorry, but we’ll have to intrude into your home once again as they’ll want to see it.”
“That’s okay,” Caroline told him, “If you give me advanced warning, I’ll make sure Jules puts her animals away so there are no more incidents.” She glanced at his hand. “How are you feeling?”
“The scratches are fine,” Brad lied. They stung like heck! “I promise to call you before exploring your property again.” He grinned.
“That’s wise.” Caroline nodded. “Especially as I have a house filled with crazy critters and can be treacherous to navigate.”
“Liam told me about the crumbling boardwalk,” Brad told her, leaning back in the seat. “I’ve already organized a team of engineers to look at it so we can fix it.”
“Oh, no!” Caroline looked embarrassed. “There’s no need to do that.”
“Caroline, your property is the main focus of the series,” Brad explained, watching her eyes widen in surprise. “It needs to be up to a certain safety code. You do realize we’ll be filming there alot?”
“Honestly, I didn’t really think about it,” Caroline admitted.
“It’s something we’ll have to discuss when we meet with the Blackwells and Dawn,” Brad warned her. “I know they’re quite a trio, but I’d like to get our animal expert in to find out if we can work with your parrot, dog, and cat.”
“Blue Beard’s a Macaw,” Caroline corrected him.
“There’s a difference?” Brad’s brows drew together.
“Technically, Macaws are parrots, but they are bigger with longer wingspans, more colorful, and have bare patches of skin on their face,” Caroline told him distractedly. “Wait! You want to write my animals into the series?”
“Yes.” Brad nodded. “I think they’ll add a bit of fun, and they are such unique characters they will appeal to the audience.” He fiddled with the stem of the wine glass. “I’m sure Dawn will agree as she loves writing unique animal characters into her screenplays.”
“I still can’t believe I will be working with Dawn Vanderbilt!” Caroline’s eyes sparkled with excitement. “She’s an amazing writer.”
“Dawn is the best,” Brad agreed. Even though he and Dawn were back on speaking terms, he still felt uncomfortable talking about her. “So are the Blackwell brothers.” He took a sip of the wine. “You really impressed my father as he insisted that only the best of the best work in your television series.”
“Really?” Caroline’s eyes widened in surprise, and her cheeks pinkened.
Brad smiled to himself as his spirits lifted.My Caroline is still in there!He’d been worried that her walk into fame and fortune was changing her into the many other rising stars Brad knew. Many started off sweet and unassuming, as Caroline when he’d first met her, only to change as success took them, changing them into entirely different people. One of the reasons Brad had been enamored with Dawn was because even though she’d grown up in the industry with her famous family, she’d remained down to earth.
Brad shook thoughts of Dawn away as he and Caroline finished their meal and ordered dessert. While he was dying to ask Caroline what had happened that night when she never showed up at the party and then ghosted him, Brad was enjoyingher company too much to ruin it. So, he let it go for the moment and decided he would find out when the time was right, which wasn’t that evening.
“Yes, really!” Brad finished his wine and dessert. “Would you like a coffee?”
“No, thank you,” Caroline declined. “I’m so full.”
She glanced out the window, and Brad caught their waiter’s attention before following her gaze. A wistful smile played on Caroline’s lips.
“It’s a lovely night,” she remarked, her eyes reflecting the moonlit serenity that stretched across the beach.
Brad, captivated by the magic of the moment, leaned in. “How about a stroll on the beach?” he suggested, his eyes catching a subtle hesitation in Caroline’s expression.
A mischievous glint sparked in Brad’s eyes.
“Or,” he proposed, “How about we go on a spy mission and check on the kids at the party?” His gaze met hers, and he couldn’t help but add, “I was going to go anyway, but I’m not sure how to get there, and I tend to lose my way in the dark. As a local, I’m sure you know the way no matter the time of day.”
