Page 93 of Rum Sips and Salty Lips

This isn’t a regular charter where my goal is to be as polite and friendly as possible, but I still need to be on my best behavior. I can’t have Beckett hate me if I want a good relationship with Coastline Beach House. And Carina wouldn’t want me to get in a fight with her ex-boyfriend.

But I can adjust the sail and the helm. TheTwisted Riggingpicks up speed and tilts just enough to cause Hamilton and Beckett, the only two standing, to stumble into a bench and spill their drinks. “Hey! Watch the teak!” The railing is high enough that they weren’t in danger of falling over or anything. I’m not that reckless.

“Sorry, man.” Beckett grabs a towel and wipes up the mess. “You’re not really her date. It was a numbers thing. You’re her plus-one since she wasn’t inviting anyone anyway. She’ll be spending most of her time with the wedding party. Hamilton is her counterpart. Why would you want to spend the wedding with an ice queen like Carina? Sienna has a ton of hot cousins. And Haley is single again.”

“I know how to get her warmed up.” Hamilton tries to fist-bump Christian who keeps his hands to himself and glares back. “How do you even know her?” Hamilton drops his hand to his side while his eyes narrow to judge me.

“We’re next-door neighbors.” I have years of customer service experience. I can remain expressionless under his scrutiny. I know what I have with her. I’m not worried about him.

“Oh shit. I didn’t think you’d be able to afford that place,” he says.

I shrug. He doesn’t need to know about the two thriving businesses I run. It’s not worth my time to explain myself to him.

But of course, he can’t stop running his mouth. Once he realizes I’m not responding, he continues. “I’ve been talking to her a lot with this whole fabric shit Nebula is dealing with. She’ll take the trip to get away. She’s so depressed about it. She’ll take anything to cheer her up.”

“Do you know what happened with that anyway?” Beckett asks. “She blew me off when I asked.”

Hamilton lights up as if he’s been waiting for the chance to explain this. “A supplier went behind her back. She should have listened to me in the first place. I told her trying to be ‘green’ would hurt her bottom line. It’s a marketing strategy anyway. It doesn’t make a difference. It’s her fault, really.”

My knuckles are completely white from gripping the helm. I wouldn’t be surprised if I broke it. I’ve been the one taking care of Carina every night when she’s terrified she won’t make payroll. I’ve made sure she eats dinner when she’s sick to her stomach over what people call her online. I’ve told her every day she is more than this. This won’t define her. She’s been so brave, taking full responsibility for something she had no control over. But she doesn’t see it that way.

I need to talk to her. I need to see her face. Before the wedding I need everyone to know she is mine.

“Things will change when we get back together. She and I have so much history. We’re inevitable,” Hamilton states.

Once we reach the anchorage,I head below deck. I need a minute away from these jackasses. I unlock the door to my cabin and shut it behind me.

I stare at the bed where Carina and I spend so much time. I’d cleaned up before today because it was what I could do to make it more sterile. But I don’t want any of them in this sacred space.

There’s a knock a minute later and Christian’s voice comes through the door. “Hey man, you got a sec?”

I open the door. “Yeah, what’s up?”

“You want a beer?”

“I can’t drink and sail,” I say.

He shrugs. “I figure we’ll be here a minute. You could relax.”

“I’ll relax when this day is over.”

Christian opens it instead. “They’re off the boat. Alex is making sure they don’t do anything stupid.”

“Bets on how long that lasts?”

He laughs but doesn’t comment further on the subject. “How long have you been with Carina?”

“I’m not,” I lie.

“Right. I’ve done the whole secret thing in the past.” He notices the look on my face. “Long time ago, way before Autumn. I know the glances and the excuses. You and Carina have something going on. You’re not as subtle as you think.”

I sigh and rest against the storage bench as he leans in the doorframe. I don’t want to lie to him. But if he can see it, there’s no point in denying it. I want to get this off my chest. I want to talk to someone about how amazing she is and how happy I am. He’s married. I want his advice on how to convince her to tell people, and tell him how terrified I am she will dismiss us.

“She doesn’t want anyone to know,” I confess.

“That sucks,” he says, taking a drink of his beer. “But I like the two of you together. She needs a little chaos in her life.”

“She really does.” Is that what I am to her? Chaos? Is that a good thing for her?

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