AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Maggie and Blair linked arms as they perched on the bow of Justyn’s boat. Reid and Justyn anchored themselves near the steering wheel. They were taking turns pointing out good fishing spots they had heard called out on the radio earlier in the afternoon.
The sun was setting on Taylor’s Creek, and Blair was ecstatic to get off the island for the night. Justyn had promised live music and lots of drinks. Maggie had said she wanted to see the shore from another vantage point, but Blair knew it probably didn’t hurt that Reid was the one who had suggested the whole cruise idea.
Fifteen minutes later, the boat eased toward the small downtown waterfront dotted with shops and restaurants. Before she could even see it, Blair heard music from a live band filtering into the night. She was elated. Real people. Non-island people she could talk to.
Maggie squealed. “Is that Come Monday?”
Reid smiled at her. “Yep. That’s the Fin Notes. They are a popular Jimmy Buffet cover band around here.”
“They’re good!” She sang along to the words.
Justyn careened the skiff to an open slip two piers down from the infamous Dock House. Reid jumped out to tie the boat to a cleat. The Dock House was crowded. Patrons had spilled out onto the boardwalk to make room for the dancing fans holding their drinks in the air.
“Can I get you two something?” Reid finished his knot tying and turned his attention to her and Maggie.
“What do you recomme
nd?” Blair piped up over the music.
“Well, the Long Island ice teas here are pretty good. How about four of those?”
“Sounds good to me.” Blair reached for the bag she and Maggie had packed to offer Reid some money for the drinks.
“No, keep your money. This is on us.”
Justyn hopped onto the dock with his cousin. “We’ll be right back.”
“These boys are so confusing.” Blair fumed as the guys disappeared into the dancing crowd. “It’s not a date, but they are going to buy us drinks. What is going on?”
“Just enjoy it. Doesn’t matter what they want, remember? We have a plan.”
“Oh right. ‘Hey, Reid.’” Blair batted her eyelashes in an effort to imitate the greeting she witnessed earlier at the creek.
Maggie shoved her lightly in the shoulder. “I didn’t do that. Did I?”
“Uh-huh. You were all googly-eyed and everything.” Blair laughed. It was amusing to see her roommate come undone around the tanned mega-hottie.
Before Maggie had a chance to defend herself, the guys walked down the dock, each carrying two Long Island ice teas. Blair looked up at Justyn and Reid approaching and took a moment to drink in every toned inch of the men towering over her.
“Can you give me a hand?” Justyn motioned toward Blair. “Don’t want to slosh all the alcohol out of these drinks before we get the chance to enjoy it.”
Blair grabbed the drinks, handed one to Maggie and settled back into her spot on the bow. Cheeseburger in Paradise was in full swing.
“These drinks are huge,” Blair remarked.
She lifted the lemon from the edge of the Styrofoam cup and squeezed it into the drink. She tipped the cup back and gulped down a few swallows, wanting to feel the warm numbness the alcohol would spread through her body
“Hold on, girl. These are strong.” Justyn swooped in next to Blair, almost bumping Maggie to the floor.
Maggie cracked a knowing smile her way, stepped over the bags scattered in the boat and walked toward Reid sitting at the stern.
“I think I can handle my alcohol, thank you very much.” Blair knocked back another sip.
Justyn laughed. “Maybe. But I don’t want to carry my passengers home.”
He took a sip of his tea, and Blair watched his eyes as they carried over her shoulder, down her collarbone, and dipped between her breasts.
“Are you checking me out?” Blair blurted out before she had time to cap the filter on her words.
