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)
“Where are you from, again?” I don’t think I asked that yesterday.
She grins, showing off pearly white teeth. “Born in Arkansas, but my dad was military, so we were all over the place. Berlin, South Korea, Australia. My mom’s from Dublin. I guess that’s why I sound the way I do. Picked up a little bit of this and a little bit of that and never been able to lose any of it.”
“I was wondering.” She has a slight accent—an oddly elongated vowel here, a dropped letter there—but I was unable to pinpoint it. Now that she says it, though, there’s definitely a slight Irish twang.
“Don’t know why. My brothers sound like they’re from Arkansas, like my dad.” Glacial blue eyes shine as she regards the display of pontoons, speedboats, and Jet Skis. They’re a stark contrast to her lengthy black hair that flutters in the breeze.
“I hear Midwest accents all day long. Yours is way more interesting.” I steer us in toward Jeremy, where the other half of this party of twenty-something-year-old girls is cheering and waving, ready for an afternoon of waterside fun. Sorority sisters, in town to celebrate a birthday and staying in one of their parents’ gargantuan beach houses.
“You made it!” Jeremy’s waiting with the tethering hooks.
“Because these guys are technically one group, we’ll connect and make one big floating bar. Normally, though, we anchor fifteen, twenty feet apart,” I shout over the music and laughter.
“Got it.” Bailey nods as if making a mental note.
“Have you ever anchored before?”
“Plenty. We had a big ol’ fishing boat for years. Took it out on some rough waters.”
“Then this should be a breeze. ’Kay. Toss it in, and make sure it’s fixed. The current here is deceptive. You’ll be getting pushed out, and you won’t even know it.”
Bailey moves with ease to the outside of the tiki and, hauling out the anchor from its storage spot, throws it in, giving it a good tug to ensure it won’t drag along the sand.
“Nice.” Jeremy nods approvingly. He hasn’t taken his eyes off her since I walked her down the stairs to show her the tiki.
I can understand why. Bailey’s beautiful and fit, with an angular face and a hard body. She told me she’s thirty-four, but she’s in better shape than any of these twenty-somethings we’re shuttling around. More importantly, she seems easygoing and up for anything, and she laughs a lot.
“She’s a natural.” She’ll make a fantastic addition to the Sea Witch team.
Until I’m forced to close up shop.
It’s taking every ounce of my energy to hold a positive attitude. Maybe Frank shouldn’t have told me about Henry’s grand plans. I’d rather live in ignorant bliss for as long as possible.
Then again, I know why he did. It changes things for me. Before, my biggest concern was raising a baby as a single parent, when all the other elements of my life—my home, my business—were a constant. I’ve been starting to picture myself holding a baby in my arms, and every time, it’s always against the backdrop of the back porch or the coffee shop. Now, suddenly, when I try to imagine my life in a year, I can’t see anything clearly.
My path ahead leads into dense fog in unfamiliar territory. That’s terrifying.
And what was possible yesterday no longer seems possible today.
“Go forth and enjoy!” Jeremy hollers as the two groups merge. He cranks up the volume on his speaker, the summer tunes carrying as bodies drop into the waist-deep water with splashes and laughter.
With them gone, he swings his lanky body over his bar and hops aboard Tiki One. “So, Bailey, how’s it going so far?” His eyes trail her toned arms and the tattoos adorning them. The uniform shirt I gave her is a bit big—it was meant for AJ—and it reaches halfway down her thighs. I’ll have to put in an order today.
She checks the latches on the cooler. “Well, Jer, it’s been fifteen minutes since you saw me at the dock, but I think it’s going okay. Sloane, what do you think?”
“Yeah, the first fifteen minutes have been good.”
“Okay, okay.” Jeremy waves us off as we tease him. “If you ever need any help or advice, I’m here. Seven days a week, sometimes. Just a text away.”
“Damn, Sloane works you to the bone around here, huh?” But she winks at me to offset the barb.
We’re going to get along well.
“It’s a grind, yeah, but she treats her staff well. I haven’t paid for a coffee in years, even during off-season.”
“Hallelujah, I was praying for that perk.” Bailey holds her hands together in mock prayer.
He grins. “You stayin’ in Rainbow Alley?”
“Uh … no, I’m staying with my aunt in her cramped one-bedroom in Old Town until I find a place.”
“Oh man, Sloane …” He nods toward me as if to say, go on, tell her.