And really good in bed.
While we wait for the tow truck, Riley puts on some music, and I keep thinking that by tomorrow, I can put this entire trip to Maine in the past.
Forever.
Merry freaking Christmas to me.
“That might have sucked, but it was worth it, boys,” I say to the guys while they sit on the bench in the wheelhouse.
Both play on their phones like zombies, and between the three of us, I don’t know if we have enough left in us to unload the lobsters we caught today.
“Suckedisn’t the word for it,” Connor says, yawning. “I don’t even wanna drive home; I’m so tired.”
“Drink another one of those girlie energy drinks; you’ll be fine,” I tease him, keeping my hand on the ship’s wheel as I sit in the captain’s chair.
Today was one of those rare days when there wasn’t anyone else out. Typically, I don’t like to put my crew in a position to be out on the ocean when there aren’t any other boats around, but we really didn’t have a choice. My brothers decided to be lazy, and I couldn’t do that.
Besides, the guys don’t know it yet, but when we get in, I’ll give them their Christmas bonus. Though they probably do know it’s coming because I do it every year.
Steaming into the bay, I’ve never been more excited to see my house from the water. As corny as it may sound, I always love looking up and seeing my house sitting among the trees. I think I like the view of our land from the boat more than anywhere else.
Taking a sip from my Monster, I yawn. It’s been a long day. It’s been windy as fuck, which means the sea has been building all day, making this sail into my wharf painfully long, and I’m beat.
Just like I have on the days out to haul ever since she’s been here, I nonchalantly look at the house where Stella is staying. And every day her car is still there, I’m more surprised.
Only today … her car isn’t there.
Instead, my fucking brother’s truck is pulling in.
Riley, you motherfucker.
I pull my laptop out and plop myself on the couch. Pulling the screen up, I click on the Safari icon before typing inoceanfront land for sale, Maine.
Looking at property after property, I know they aren’t big enough for what Ironbound plans to do, but I’m determined to find something—anything—that’ll make Victor happy enough to leave Ridge’s family alone.
Riley dropped me off not long ago, and though he offered to hang out longer, I made up an excuse that I needed to pack. It’s not really a lie; eventually, I do need to pack. But I’ll probably save it for tomorrow. I just didn’t want to lead him on and have him thinking that I was interested in any way. As cute as he is and funny too … I’m just not into him.
The faint sound of a loud vehicle engine, followed by a door opening and slamming shut, sends me shooting upward and setting my laptop on the coffee table before rushing toward the window to see who’s outside. I don’t even make it to the glass to look before a pounding sounds from the door. But I can see through the curtain, and I’d know Ridge’s profile anywhere.
Exhaling, I look upward and sigh before, finally, I step forward and pull the door open.
“Take it easy on the door, dickhead,” I say, waving my hand toward the spot he was just pounding on. “I don’t want to get charged for you denting it.”
“If it’s your dickface of a boss paying for this place, I’ll rip the entire thing off the fucking hinges,” he sneers before pushing his way past me and into the house.
“Um … yeah, sure. Come on in. Make yourself at home. Hey, want some tea?” I sass, shaking my head before slowly closing the door behind him.
When I turn around, he stands just a few feet away, looking at me.
“What are you doing here?” A putrid smell hits my nose, and I fight back a gag. “And what the hell is that smell?”
“I just got off the boat,” he says, keeping his eyes on mine. “It’s bait. Guess you wouldn’t know that, would you, city girl?”
“Nope.” I fold my arms over my chest. “Typically, I avoid rolling in bait and walking around. It’s not good for my dating lifestyle,” I deadpan. “And again, why are you here?”
“Why was Riley here?” His voice is cold—and dare I say, accusing, like he actually has any right to ask me that. “I saw his truck from the boat. What did you do, call him over for a business meeting in hopes he’d agree to sell to you?”
“Um, yes!” I nod frantically. “I figured if I gave him the world’s greatest blow job, he’d see my side of things and then … bam! Done deal. Ladder climbed. Happy day!”
