Page 25 of Anchored Love
We lined up to ride single file. Everly commanded the dirt path in front of me, giving me the perfect view of her ass in those shorts she was wearing each time she leaned forward. Blades of grass whipped against my calves as we rode down the narrow path. Some of the trees provided a little shade against the heat of the sun.
The funny thing was our tour started at none other than Wingfield Estate. Looked like we’d be getting that tour after all.
“Wingfield Estate was once owned by the family of Thomas Jefferson,” Everly told me.
I shook my head. “Did you read that when you were reserving our tour?” I teased.
“Maybe.”
The estate housed the remains of the stone structures built by British masonries. The land had a rich history. It hadn’t always been a sugar cane plantation, but it had its start farming tobacco and indigo before a hurricane wiped out the tobacco crops. We walked around the property, taking in the petroglyph rock carvings.
Our tour continued through the rich green tall grasses and rocky paths of the island, navigating to the Romney gardens and exciting trails. Trading our ATVs for loungers, I was happy to get some shade at South Friar’s Bay. Mostly I craved an ice-cold beer and something to fill my stomach. Riding on ATVs for hours had worked up my appetite.
Drake and the rest of the family were waiting for us at Shipwreck Bar, and Jane Lynn looked ready to throw Ev over her knee. Her eyes cut to Everly, narrowed into tiny black slits. If looks could kill the woman’s gaze would have leveled me.
“I thought we were going to have to contact the authorities. Where have the two of you been all this time? I thought someone had kidnapped you, or worse. You could have told me you had better things to do besides enjoy this vacation with your family.”
“Geez, Mom, take a chill pill. We missed you in the plaza, so we went on an ATV tour that started at that estate. We were trying to catch up with you, but I guess we barely missed you. Don’t spaz out on me. I’m here now and ready to have lunch with you guys and do some snorkeling.”
“It’s inconsiderate and rude. I couldn’t enjoy my tour. All I could think was what if something happened to you and Mason, and you were kidnapped or gotten lost. You’re trying to turn me more gray-headed, aren’t you?”
“No, Mom. Let’s not fight right now.”
I excused myself to order a beer. I didn’t want to be in the middle of the family drama. Jane Lynn, while reserved, was a woman you didn’t want to be on the bad side of. I was a grown man, and yet she had the ability to make me feel sixteen again when her mom voice came out. I didn’t enjoy that feeling one bit.
They bickered for a few minutes, but then the fight seemed to resolve itself. I was glad. I could see how tense Everly had grown since we’d met up with her family. While we rode the ATVs, she wore a smile the entire time.
Her shoulders sagged forward as she leaned on her elbows. I hated conflict. I wished there was something more I could do for her.
I handed Everly a beer and took a seat next to her at the table across from Jess and Casey. Everly’s mother and stepfather went on down to the beach to relax. They had already eaten lunch. I knocked back my beer, relishing in the bitter cool taste as it soothed my dry throat.
After enjoying burgers and home-cut fries, Ev and I took a bucket of beer to the beach to kick back and let our meal settle before setting out in the water to go snorkeling.
I settled down on the blue and white striped lounger, taking in the peaceful view of the gorgeous blueish-green water and white sand. Now this was what I called a real vacation. No office. No annoying co-workers. No stress. Just kicking back and enjoying the sunshine and the sight of Everly in her swimsuit.
Jess, Casey, Drake and Kelsey were out on the water attempting and failing miserably to paddleboard. The sight looked downright comical. Kelsey seemed to have given up trying all together, instead laying on her board as though it was a float.
Ev stripped down to her bathing suit and took up the chair next to mine. Her mother and Herbert were on the other side of her. Her stepfather appeared to be napping with his hat pulled down over his face, while her mother pulled a romance novel out to read.
“Oh my God,” Everly squealed, and I turned my head to see what she was excited about.
A spider monkey and his partner in crime were doing their best to swipe a bottle of beer from our bucket.
“That’s amazing. Hurry! Grab my camera from the bag, please.” She grinned like an eager child on Christmas morning. Her smile stretched wide, her spirit had lifted and shifted away from the tiff with her mother back at the bar.
I dug around and found the camera, managing to snap some photos of Everly squatting behind the spider monkeys with the cheesiest grin plastered on her face. She was goofy and adorable. I thought she was going to cry every time she noticed them doing something different.
An hour later we were in the water exploring. There had to be a billion fish surrounding us. All shapes, sizes, and colors. The ones that stuck out the most were white and black striped with yellow on their faces. Everly swam gracefully next to me like a mermaid who was part of the scenery. There was a shipwreck nearby, but I wasn’t sure we’d have the time to explore. We had about another hour before we would be picked up and shuttled back to the ship for dinner and a show.
Everly swam ahead of me, then glanced back over her shoulder, her blonde braids moving with the current. She was so beautiful I physically ached to kiss her. Instead, I directed her attention to the fire coral and sea urchins. The prickly little bastards were everywhere. Which was why the swim shoes were needed. I’d heard horror stories of how painful it could be to step on one and get those spines stuck in your feet.
Back on the powdery sand of the beach, I finished off my last beer while Everly gushed about seeing starfish.
We loaded up to return to the pier. Our group was exhausted, and I wondered if Everly would rather get room service than go to dinner and a show. The moment her head hit my shoulder she was out, smelling of the ocean and sunshine. Sand gritted in places I wished it wouldn’t under my shorts, but the day had been great. Jane Lynn stared at her daughter and me, but I couldn’t read what she was thinking.
I leaned my head against the window and closed my eyes, in need of a nap myself but unable to find peace. I could feel Jane Lynn’s gaze on us still when we arrived back at the pier. I had this sensation pricking at the back of my neck that told me maybe she didn’t approve of my being with Ev. Sure, our relationship was fake for the duration of the trip, but the idea she wasn’t a fan of our coupling stung me deeper than I wanted to admit. Maybe because there was a time when all I wanted was to make Everly Woolsworth my girl. Part of me still dreamed of making that happen.
