Page 26 of My Brother's Forbidden Friend

“Who’s that?” Speaking of which, Rowdy just returned from a charter. I recognize the two guys walking up the dock as guys who’ve been coming to him every year around this time.

“You didn’t hear it from me, but the Bakers are expanding their business interests.”

He frowns. “Fishin’ excursions?”

“Bingo.”

We watch as they get the new boat into the slip. Working the delivery are a group of guys we all call the Baker Muscle—the same four guys who do all the heavy lifting. Neither Mr. Baker nor Cam is even here to see it being delivered.

“More competition. Great,” Rowdy says. “I barely made rent last month and somehow my bill hasn’t come for this month. Did you get yours?”

My forehead wrinkles. “Yeah, last week. That’s weird that you didn’t.”

“I know. It’s almost as if someone paid my bill, but unless I got some fairy godmother I don’t know about, that’s impossible. They’ll probably double bill me next month, really put me out of business.”

Rowdy used to be the only one doing fishing charters. I felt bad when I started Reelaxing Fishing Tours, but we cater to different clientele. He has a long list of customers and takes out groups no bigger than four. My boat is bigger and I can go up to ten, so I usually handle the bigger parties. I suppose Rowdy is the small, I’m the medium, and now Cam will be the large.

“What do you know about it?” He nods toward the new boat.

“Cam’s heading it up.”

He stares at me for a beat. “I heard somethin’ about a scuffle on Porter’s boat last night…”

I nod. It doesn’t matter. By tomorrow, everyone will know that Cameron Baker beat up a guy because of me, but I’m not going to be the one who spreads that news. Besides, the bruise on my face is clearly visible, even with the foundation I put on before I came down here.

“I always found it so interestin’,” Rowdy says, both of us watching our competition being placed in the prime spot in the marina.

“What?”

“How the apple fell so far from the tree.”

I laugh because that is so Rowdy, saying something odd that needs explanation. “What do you mean?”

“Cam isn’t anythin’ like his family. He’s always down here, talkin’ to us, not up there lookin’ down on us.” He nods toward the building. “He looks out for us and…” He looks me up and down. “Protects us.”

I scratch my neck and turn away from his piercing eyes. So, he knows. Great.

Rowdy is right though. Mr. Baker never walks the docks. The Baker Muscle does all his work for him, whereas Cam is down here with us in the trenches. Hearing the stories, making sure everyone makes it back to port, lending a hand when someone needs it.

As they finish with the boat, Vinny, another captain, walks down the pier and stops to see what we’re looking at.

“Heard a rumor about the Bakers starting a new venture.” He looks at me. “You good, Chevelle?”

I nod. “Fine.”

“Glad to hear it.” He admires the new boat that will be a permanent fixture here. It’s definitely the odd boat out and looks as though it belongs down in California somewhere, not Alaska. “Man, I just got in off the water. Have either of you seen that Five Seas boat?”

“One with the purple stripe?” Rowdy asks. “It’s a beaut.”

I frown. “I haven’t seen it. I’ve never heard of that boat company.”

“I heard it’s new, out of Winterberry Falls or something. You’ll know it when you see it. They are some gorgeous boats,” Vinny says.

“Fishing charters?” I ask Vinny.

He shakes his head. “No, they’re like classic wooden boats.”

“I’ll have to keep my eye out.”

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