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Viv narrowed her eyes. “And I’m not in the mood to be snapped at. So if you want me to float this boat back out on the creek and drop these cages in the water, you’d better ask me nicely.”
A stifled giggle sounded at his back.
Beau spun around and frowned at Cal, who stood farther down the dock, beside Nate, amid several buckets of deep-cup singles.
“You got a vein bulging in your neck, Dad.” Cal laughed again.
Nate grinned. “And if you yell at Viv again, she’ll probably shove you off that dock and into the creek to cool you off.”
Viv smiled sweetly. “The thought has crossed my mind.”
“Oh, y’all think this is funny?” Beau waved his hand in the air again. “Go ahead and laugh. Get a real good giggle, because I’ll expect all of you to keep on smiling when we’re denied a permit to expand.”
“Not gonna happen,” Viv said. “We’ve got two years of experience under our belt, our data is great, our plan is as near perfect as you can get, and we don’t need anyone’s approval other than the Department of Natural Resources.”
“Maybe,” Beau said, “but proving your operation has adequate personnel to support it is part of the process of securing a permit. Quite frankly, Kit had a point last night when she asked about that. Plus, after last night’s debacle, I’m not sure too many folks will be clamoring at the gate to apply for a position. Not if it might end up costing them their reputation as decent citizens, and certainly not if the future success of our business is in question, which—after last night’s debacle—it probably is.”
Viv dragged her hand through her hair. “Just try your best to wipe last night from your memory. I’ll work on reserving another venue. Tip Allen’s restaurant, maybe? He’s definitely on our side. And we’ll pitch our plan again. One good presentation is all we need.”
Beau blew out a heavy breath. “All right. I’ll try.” He gestured toward the creek. “You best get those cages back in the water. You’ve had a long day, and it’ll be dark soon. You need to eat dinner and get a decent night’s rest if you’re going to be any use to me tomorrow.”
Viv pursed her lips, a teasing light shining in her eyes. “Only if I get a please.”
“Please.” He headed up the dock, then stopped, turned back, and summoned a half-hearted smile. “And thank you.”
Viv laughed and cranked the engine. “That’s the ticket.”
Moments later, the steady whir of the boat’s engine faded as Viv floated down the creek. Beau joined Cal and Nate, grabbed a bucket of oysters in each hand, ignoring the dull ache in his muscles, and headed up the dock toward the small climate-controlled storage building nearby.
“Hold up there, son,” Nate said. He motioned toward the front gate. “There’s another Teague over there, and I’m thinking she’s either here for you or Viv.”
Beau glanced at the gate, and sure enough, Kit stood on the other side. As she craned her neck and stole glimpses through the gaps in the ornate bars, she caught Beau’s eyes on her and lifted her hand in a weak wave.
“Good Lord above,” Beau groaned, his temper sparking. “Last night wasn’t enough?”
“I told you . . .” Nate lifted one shoulder as Beau glared in his direction. “Last thing you need is to get yourself stuck in the middle of Teague troubles.” He pointed his left hand at the gate, his right at the creek, then both at Beau. “And look where you are.”
Beau bit his lower lip and held his tongue, watching as Nate relieved him of the buckets and headed toward the storage building.
“Come on, Cal,” Nate called over his shoulder. “I expect your dad will want to have this conversation in private.”
Cal was craning his neck, too, straining for a clearer glimpse of Kit on the other side of the closed gate. “Why can’t I meet her, too? Y’all are always shov—”
“Do what you were told, Cal,” Beau said. “Grab a pair of buckets and go. Those things aren’t gonna carry themselves, and you still have to tackle homework after we finish.”
Cal snatched up two buckets and frowned at Beau. “I’m sick of school and work, school and work, school and work. We never do anything but work. We haven’t been fishing in months or done anything else fun. I’m sick to death of work.”
Beau sighed. “Cal, I mean it—”
“Yeah, yeah.” Cal kicked a bucket. “I know.”
Cal grumbled something else under his breath as he left. Something that included several insults regarding Beau’s intelligence, but Beau didn’t have the energy to reprimand him for this.
Beau waited until he and Nate were out of earshot before walking over to the gate with his hands shoved in his pockets. “What? No bat?”
Kit blushed, her dark eyes meeting his hesitantly. “I’m sorry.”
“For what?” He tilted his head, eyed her face through the gaps in the iron bars and registered the rosy color darkening her cheeks, the slight tremble in her lower lip, and the slow lowering of her thick lashes. She at least had the decency to appear ashamed.
