Page 19 of Hot for the Jerk

“Seriously?”She had a modicum more pep in her step than I did as she slung her body off the bed and toward the door.“Are you coming?”

“Aren’t you going to get dressed first?”

Glancing down her body, she then gave me a face.“Why?I’m not naked.I don’t care who sees me in my pajamas.”

Nodding, I used the bed to help haul myself up and joined her.“Good point.”

With concrete in every one of my steps, I followed her out of the door and down the hallway with its wainscoted walls, and dark-blue and gold houndstooth wallpaper, then the stairs, where voices and the clink and clatter of utensils sounded more like church bells in my brain.

But once the aroma of fresh coffee and bacon floated up my nostrils, I was no longer considering burning the entire house to the ground.

“Good morning,” Lenora greeted us, coming out of the kitchen through the white swinging door with the diamond-shaped window in the center.She carried a tray heaped with flaky pastries.“I’m pleased to see you’re both still alive.”

“Barely,” I murmured, going to the coffee carafe on the console table along the far wall and pouring myself a cup.Just like the interior of the house—with its shabby-chic, beachy décor—the bowls, mugs, and plates, were all beach-grass-themed stoneware—white and with a spray of tawny seagrass on the sides.I glanced at Raina and grunted to ask if she wanted one too.She nodded, because her mouth was already full of pastry.

I snorted in amusement and poured her a steaming mug of java too.I always took mine black, but I had no idea how Elsa took hers.

There was only one other couple—probably old enough to be my parents—left in the dining room, and they appeared to be just finishing up.

Even though there were plenty of empty seats, I took the vacant one next to Raina.“I wasn’t sure what you took in your coffee,” I said, smirking when a big glob of red jelly fell out of her pastry and onto her plate as she took an unladylike bite.

“Just cream or milk, if they have it.”

Nodding, and taking her mug back to the shabby-chic painted console table, I added a splash of cream before bringing it back to her.Her plate was now loaded with bacon, cheese, avocado, and a fried egg on an English muffin.I had to admit, that looked pretty fucking perfect for my starving, hungover ass.So I went to work fixing myself the same thing.

“It’s really pretty in here,” Raina said, sipping her coffee.“I like all the blue and green stained glass in the windows.And the art is lovely too.”

Chewing my first bite of my amazing sandwich, I scanned the dining room, which seamlessly bled into a sitting room.There were French doors open that indicated the two rooms could easily be separated if needed.The space was nicely decorated, if not a little cluttered.Even the vintage furniture—like the overstuffed chair in the corner by the woodstove—with velvet upholstery, was in either tans or blues.Everything else was in shades of white, blue, beige, tan, or butter-yellow—like the throw pillows.Lenora was clearly leaning into the beach house theme, as all the art—which appeared to be original acrylic on canvas—was ocean or beach inspired.

Speaking of our host, the petite woman with white hair and no patience for Raina’s and my feud came to stand across from us at the table.“Will you two be needing to book another night?”

Raina instantly shook her head.“No, no,” she said, shoving food into her cheek.“I don’t think so.”

Lenora’s eyes and the tilt of her head said she didn’t think Raina should be making the decision so hastily.

Without saying anything, I stood up and went to the window to peer outside.The trees around the house danced like nobody was watching.They wouldn’t be making repairs to the terminal today, and I’d be very surprised if the harbormasters on San Camanez or Wayman allowed boats to go out.

I turned back to face Raina and Lenora.“I don’t think boats are going to be going out in this today.”

Raina’s eyes widened.“What do you mean?”

Lenora was nodding.“Harbormaster Ivan has already said it’s too dangerous for any boats to leave the marina from Wayman.He declared it this morning.And I haven’t heard anything about the terminal on San Camanez being repaired.”

Surging to her feet, Raina joined me at the window.“This is nothing.What do you mean no boats are allowed to leave the marina?I have to get home.I have to get back to my son.I can’t stay here another night.This isn’t right.”

Lenora’s attempt at an expression of sympathy was humorous.It mirrored what I felt inside.We all chose to live on islands.For the most part, it was great.Except during the stormy season when sailings got canceled and harbormasters declared marinas closed.Yeah, it was inconvenient, but it wasn’t like they did it just to piss people off.It was to keep people safe.

“Yes, we’d like to stay another night, please, Lenora,” I said, leaving Raina at the window and taking my seat again.I’d finished my sandwich and since there was still a bunch of fixings on the platter in front of me, and I was nowhere near full, I decided to make two more sandwiches.“If you have a second room available, that would be great though.”

Lenora’s pale-blue eyes turned sad behind her purple-rimmed cat eye glasses.“All we have is the honeymoon suite, which you’re in right now.Everything else is booked, I’m afraid.”

Raina made a noise of irritation as she stomped her way back to sit beside me.“I’m going to go see if I can find another place to stay then.Or maybe somebody I can bribe to take me back to San Camanez on their boat.”She said that last bit under her breath.

“I would appreciate another night, Lenora,” I said, ignoring the pounding in my head.“Please just bill me for the second night.”

Lenora nodded and scurried off back into the kitchen.

“You’re not going to find anybody willing to risk their life to ferry you over to San Camanez,” I said, spotting the jam behind the bowl of fruit and grabbing it.Yes, I’d already made myself two savory sandwiches, but the croissant with chocolate drizzle called my name.I slathered on the raspberry jam and took a bite, humming in delight.

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