Hometown Star Read Online Free PDF

straightened, before wiping his hands on his jeans. Cade oiled the fishing poles while Brad swabbed the deck, and then put away a stray life vest.
    “Ready?” Cade asked when the boat was tidy.
    “Yep,” Brad replied.
    Cade stepped off the Mary Rose first, Brad behind him. Water lapped at the pier, the sound as soothing as the motion of the dock under his rubber boots. Cade inhaled, the salt air going deep into his lungs, salt air mixed with the smell of fish guts. Man, he loved that smell. To this day the scents stoked him, reminding him of warm summers and the days of endless free–time and fishing just for the pure joy of the sport.
    Cade grabbed one handle of the cooler that held the day’s catch, Brad automatically took the other. They walked up the gangplank toward the parking lot.
    “Good day, Cade?” Cy Alder called as they passed by. The retired fisherman spent his afternoons sitting on the same bench, asking the same question of each local fisherman as they stepped off the pier each day.
    “The boat limited.” Cade grinned. They hefted the cooler of fish up into the bed of the truck. “No kings, but some impressive silvers.”
    Cy nodded. “Good day then.”
    “Yep,” Cade agreed. He liked it when the boat limited, when all the customers were happy. Happy customers meant repeat business.
    Brad climbed into the truck, in the driver’s seat.
    Cade was trying to decide if he wanted to pick a fight with Brad and tell the kid to slide over when he spied Star and Brandi coming out of Finnegan’s Restaurant. The two women chatted away. Brandi’s hand rested on her huge belly. When was she going to have that baby anyway? It seemed like she’d been pregnant forever. He couldn’t help but notice the difference between the two sisters. They looked nothing alike, and why would they? They didn’t share the same father. Brandi had dark brown curly hair and brown eyes. And while Brandi was pretty, Star was a show–stopper, a real looker just like her mom.
    Brad honked the horn to get Cade’s attention.
    Both Star and Brandi looked right at him.
    “Hey, Cade.” Brandi waved. She took Star’s arm, practically dragging her across the street.
    Cade went to the driver’s door of the truck, yanking it open. “Slide over.” The honking of the horn had doubled his irritation with Brad.
    “I want to drive,” Brad whined. “What good’s a license if I never get to use it?”
    “I said, slide over. Driving is a privilege, one you have to earn. After last night, I’m not sure when driving is going to be part of your life again.”
    “Cade,” Brandi said, forcing him to acknowledge the sisters.
    He turned and noted that Star looked about as happy as he did at the forced meeting. “Ladies.”
    “Any chance you could give Star a lift home?” Brandi asked, the words coming out in the rush.
    His gaze cut to Star.
    “It’s really not necessary.” Star shot her sister the “death” look. “I can drop you off, Brandi, and take your car.”
    “But he’s going your way.” Brandi turned her doe eyes on Cade. “You’d be doing me a favor. Sally called in sick and I can get an extra shift at the diner if I can get over there ASAP.”
    “Brandi—” Star started to protest.
    “Hop in,” Cade said, cutting her off. “It’s no problem.”
    “Are you sure?” Star’s brow wrinkled as if she were unconvinced.
    “Positive.” Cade leaned into the truck. “Jump in the back, Brad.”
    Brad sighed, loudly and rudely, before he got out of the truck and into the rear seat.
    “Thank you, Cade,” Brandi said. To Star she said, “Bye.” The two sisters hugged. “I know we didn’t get as much done today as we wanted, but I’ll get back over tomorrow. Then we’ll tackle Patsy’s room. I promise.”
    “Only if you’re up to it,” Star said. “You need to rest. You don’t need to be working extra shifts.”
    “We need the money.” Brandi patted her belly. “Babies aren’t cheap.”
    Cade walked