Total pages in book: 94
Estimated words: 91286 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 456(@200wpm)___ 365(@250wpm)___ 304(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 91286 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 456(@200wpm)___ 365(@250wpm)___ 304(@300wpm)
The other ladies ohh and ahh as we get closer.
Meanwhile, my concern sparks. What is Ronan doing here?
On impulse, I fish out my phone to see that he messaged me.
Ronan:
I need to talk to you. I’m coming by the docks.
The excitement I felt a moment ago withers, replaced by panic as I stare at those words.
I need to talk to you.
About what? It sounds serious, which can only mean … Did Abbi break her promise?
Is the bottom about to fall out from under our whirlwind romance?
The women are buzzing with appreciation for Ronan as I edge into our mooring spot. There is no way he can’t hear their disorderly comments about his tailored pants and fitted golf tee.
All I can focus on is his face. Does that look like a man who just found out his fun-time girl is hiding a huge secret? I can’t tell. He’s his usual unreadable self, his mood impossible to gauge, especially when it’s partially hidden by those aviators.
The bumpers barely nudge the dock when Tabitha stumbles out, yelling, “Ahoy!”
With lightning-quick reflexes, Ronan dives for her arm to keep her from tripping and falling into the water on the other side. “You look like you had a good time.”
“Oh, Lord, that voice. It’s so raspy and deep.” Beverly drops her own voice a few octaves in a poor but comical attempt to match it, earning a round of unhinged laughter from them all.
“We heard all about you, and it sounds like Sloane’s having an even better time,” Tabitha purrs, a slur in her words as she gapes up at him.
Oh my God. “Don’t forget your things!” I manage as my cheeks burn.
If Connor were here, he’d be strutting like a peacock. But all they get from Ronan is a flicker of amusement across his face.
The ladies step off one by one, each one grinning up at Ronan on their way past, heading for the stairs with careful steps.
“Our ride is four minutes away!” Darlene, who made the reservation and is the least inebriated, hollers before muttering, “It’s like traveling with kids.” She grabs a towel and a T-shirt from a hook before slapping a wad of twenties into my hand. “It’ll be hard to top this day. Thank you so much for everything, sweetheart.” With a wink, she hops off.
Up ahead, Tabitha stumbles again while laughing hysterically.
“How about I escort you lovely ladies up to the parking lot.” Jeremy trots forward and links his arm through hers.
I should have done that—God forbid one of them tumbles off the dock or falls while climbing the stairs—but I’m too distracted.
With them gone, I turn to Ronan.
When he left my house this morning, he was wearing clothes from last night. Now, he’s in a coral-colored golf shirt and light gray dress pants, and I can’t decide if I want to admire him as is or peel his clothes off to enjoy what’s beneath. “What are you doing here?” Suspicion laces my voice.
“Didn’t you get my text?” Ronan wastes no time, hopping onto the tiki and coming around to herd me into my captain’s spot.
My back hits the helm. “I did, just now.”
Leaning in, he meets my lips in a soft kiss, much like this morning, pulling away just far enough to whisper, “Hey.”
“Hey.” I close my eyes for a moment to inhale his cologne. “What’s up?”
He presses his body flush against me.
“Besides you,” I clarify. Whatever brought him here hasn’t upset him. That’s a good sign, I think?
His chuckle tickles my ear. “I’ve got to book a decent fishing charter for a rich and important guest, and I figured you’d know the good ones. My assistant found four that can do it. Everyone else is booked.”
“A fishing charter? That’s what this is about?”
“For tomorrow morning.”
I breathe a heavy sigh of relief.
He frowns. “Why? What’d you think it was about?”
“No idea. What are their names?”
He digs his phone out of his pocket and opens it up. “First one is Marlin O’Keefe. You know him?”
“Yeah, and you don’t want him. That guy’s boat looks like it’s a day from sinking every day. How he keeps his license is beyond me.”
“Okay. What about Barry Philips?”
“Barry?” I scoff. “Did your assistant read any reviews before calling?”
Ronan’s brows pucker. “So, not a good choice?”
“Not unless you get off on being verbally abused. He makes Frank look like Winnie the Pooh. That guy is one of the most miserable assholes in Mermaid Beach. Seriously, look him up on Yelp. I think he has a one-star average rating. There’s a rumor that he made his crew swim to shore once. I don’t know if that’s true, but I wouldn’t be surprised.”
“Shit, I can’t bring Olivia out with someone like that.”
My stomach clenches. “Your client is named Olivia?” As in, a woman?
“Yeah. Apparently, she’s big into fishing.”