“Can’t imagine who I got it from.” Grandad lets out a laugh, one that shakes his whole body. My chest tightens, knowing how fucking lucky I am to be in my mid-thirties and to still have him around. He’s climbing up there in years and yet he’s still fit as a fiddle.

  “Only the best. Now, you gonna tell me what or who has you hosing off the same part of the boat while cussin’ up a storm?” I’ve yet to dock the boat in its normal slip, instead choosing to stay far away from Kelsey. I look down at the deck, and sure enough, I’ve gotten nowhere. May as well turn the nozzle off and talk to my grandpa for a bit. I’m still in the boat when he hits the nail on the head. “Ah, I know that look all too well. Kelsey got your heart thumping along with something else, huh?”

  “Jesus, Grandad. Don’t hold back, do you?” I shake my head, hop over the side of the boat, landing on my feet and propping myself on the wood pylon.

  “Calling it like I see it.” He takes a seat on the wood bench we keep on the docks for customers who are waiting for their friends and family to come back from the store. We looked into building an indoor storage facility to dry dock boats. Rules and shit made it impossible from what Mom said. My version is it costs too damn much and would take years to see a return on our investment. So, for now, we’ve got thirty or so slips at any given time and a waiting list a mile long for the next customer at Captain T’s marina and convenient store.

  “Alright, I’m all ears. Tell me, old wise one.” I cross my arms over my chest and settle in. You never know how short or long a conversation with Grandpa Scott will be, but truth be told, I’ve got all the time in the world for them.

  “Let’s start with this. She make your heart beat out of your chest when she’s around?” I nod at his question.

  “She make you lose all track of the life spinning around you in circles?”

  “Yeah.” There’s no hesitation.

  “Then go after her, my boy. There’s no time like the present.” Grandad makes it sound easy. Maybe he’s not aware of all the fucking obstacles being roadblocks. “I can see the cogs turning in your brain. Let me tell you something. You know your grandma passed away well before her time.” His green eyes take on a faraway look. There hasn’t been a time in my life since she passed when I haven’t seen Granddad kiss his fingers and press them to her picture when he walks out of his house. They shared a love that most could never dream about. A damn shame she left this earth ten years ago, suddenly, too.

  “I know.” Emotion clogs my throat.

  “There was a time I was in a similar place such as yourself. Except I had more balls than you, it appears. Your grandma was nineteen when I met her, a lot younger than I was at thirty. That didn’t stop me from going after her.” He leaves the rest up in the air.

  “No one said anything about your age difference?” I ask, wondering how I’ve never heard this story before.

  “Oh, they said plenty, her brother, her father, my own family. My busted lip and broken ribs were a testament to how they felt. I’d have taken it ten times over to have her by my side.” Grandad clears his throat. “Now you have to ask yourself if Kelsey is worth going through all the trials and tribulations in order to find everlasting love.”

  Grandma was it for Grandpa Scott. A few locals would ask him if he’d thought about going to the local moose clubs on single nights. He shut them down real quick, saying he’d rather roast in hell than to leave this world by tarnishing his wife’s name.

  “I guess you’re right.” I’m rewarded with a sharp look my way.

  “Guess? Boy, I damn well know I am. Quit coming up with excuses. Figure your shit out and quit taking it out on the damn boat.” He stands up. I do the same, pushing off the pylon already knowing what he’s after. “Give me a hug, boy, then you better get to work. Your momma is on her way down here. She’s looking to either chew one of us out or put us to work.”

  “Well, fuck, did you leave the toilet seat up in the office again?” I joke as he pulls me in for a hug. Meanwhile, Mom has her arms swinging as she walks like a woman on a mission, and whatever it is that’s got her in a tizzy, we’re all going to pay the price for it.

  “You two knuckleheads. I see you sitting on the job,” she hollers, her voice echoing over the water. We pull apart. Grandad lifts an eyebrow and I shake my head.

  “Someone pissed in her Cheerios today. Get back to the boat. I’ll head her off.” He does me a solid.

  “Thanks, Grandad. I owe you one.” I’m still not sold on going after Kelsey Rae, and maybe some time working on the boat will clear my head enough to figure out what the fuck I’m gonna do.

  “Damn straight, you do. I’ll take it in the form of a few beers, a couple of poles in the water, and my grandson having his head on straight.” Those are his parting words. He already knows I’ll never tell him I can’t spend a few hours with him even though I’m dog tired. As he likes to say, you can sleep when you’re dead, and I’m beginning to realize he’s right about a hell of a lot.

  “Will do,” I reply, watching as he takes his time getting to my mom before jumping back on the boat to finish cleaning it up for the next run tomorrow.

  3

  KELSEY

  It’s rare that I’ll pull a double at Captain T’s. Tara almost never asks for such a thing. Usually I’ll either open or close, allowing her to do the opposite. Today is different. Earlier, when she came out of the back office, she was in a frazzled state of mind completely unlike her usual self. Apparently, there was an issue with the fuel delivery as well as the order she placed to restock the convenience store. No fuel or beer is essentially taking away our bread and butter. Tara mumbled a few choice words under her breath. I held back my laughter because some of what she had to say could make a sailor blush.

  That was hours ago and she took Grandpa Scott with her. They were both pissed as hell, understandably, too. It’s hard to offer services on products we don’t have.

  “Thanks, Kelsey, see you next time.” Mariah and her boyfriend, Spencer, are locals who come in every Saturday. Usually in the late afternoon right before closing, they pick up a six-pack each. Mariah goes for the fruity type of drinks, usually daiquiri-flavored of some kind, and Spencer buys whatever sale Captain T’s has on for the week.

  “See you. Have fun.” There’s no telling where they're off to tonight. Sometimes a group will get together on one of the islands, have a bonfire and a few drinks.

  “We will. Haven’t seen you out there recently. You should come.” The thought sounds like a good idea, except by the time I’m done at work and grab a bite to eat, I’m going to be ready to crash.

  “Maybe, depends on when I get out of here.” The last thing I’m going to do is commit to a party. While my high school friends still get together every weekend, there are other things I’d rather be doing than reminiscing about those good old days. I mean, how many times do I have to hear Bobby talk about his football stats or that he was destined to go pro until he tore his ACL? Thanks, but no thanks. I’d rather sit at home, have a drink of my own, and do it in peace.

  “We’re closing,” Talon states as he walks through the doors. My gaze locks on him. His eyes are reminiscent of spring, lush and vibrant. The backwards white baseball cap on his head only amplifies his facial features. Whereas the sun can do a lot of damage to people’s skin, it hasn’t to Talon’s. It has a deep olive tone. His jet-black hair is peeking out under the edges of his hat, and the way he hasn’t shaved his beard in a while, well, it makes my damn knees week. Did I mention his green eyes? My god, are they something else.

  “We were leaving.” Spencer must notice the stern pitch in Talon’s voice. Believe me, my insides sure enough have. I’m a pile of desire. It’s taking everything I’ve got not to drop to my knees and beg for more.

  “I’ll lock the door behind you.” Talon tilts his head to the side, waiting for Spencer and Mariah to continue their journey. The last thing I expect him to do is mouth the words, ‘Wait for me when you’re done.’ I nod, then, like a good little worker bee, I get to work. There’s a lot to be done for opening and closing Captain T’s, and truth be told, I’d much rather open than close. In the early morning, when the sun is slowly lifting in the sky, the world is still minus the water lapping along the seawall. It’s soothing. The closing usually has a wave of customers trying to get that last-minute purchase before we shut down, making us work at a frantic pace. Whereas in the morning, you’ve only got the diehard fishermen in to get beer, ice, and bait. Thankfully, I don’t have to deal with that area. I’m not worried about getting my hands dirty or holding live bait, but there’s a smell you can’t get off your hands after working all day. Tara and Grandpa Scott hired another person to help on the weekends. He’s here until the early afternoon or whenever we run out of bait. Most days by the time the clock strikes noon, we’re out of stock, and Mattie heads out the door to do some fishing of his own.

  I walk out from behind the counter. My first order of business is working on the stock. I’ll bring everything to the front of the coolers, so when Tara comes in tomorrow, she can work on replenishing them from the back end. I prop all the doors open, knowing how to make quick work of my task. Plus, I’m all about working as efficiently as possible to get out of here. If luck is on my side, the parents and neighbors next door cooked a feast and I’ll be able to pig out on leftovers. The protein bar I shoved down my throat earlier is slowly leaving the station, which means hangry Kelsey is going to come out soon. I hate that I’m the way I am. The minute my feet hit the floor, I’m pondering what to eat for breakfast. I don’t crave coffee or hot tea at all. Food is the main object of my desire, along with a glass of cranberry juice. Mom says I get it from Dad, and I’m exactly like him except he survives off coffee whereas I do not.

  “Done.” Thankfully, there are only four coolers to keep up with and it doesn’t take very much time. Now that I’m cooled off from the refrigerated drink coolers, a nice reprieve from the hot humid air, it'll help me cool as I straighten display cases.

  After that, it’s just getting the cash register. Captain T’s takes cash and card. Thankfully, all I have to do for the credit card machine is run the report, leaving me to only count cash and put away what we’ll need tomorrow to start the drawer. The rest will be put in another bag for one of the owners to deposit into the bank.

  “I’ll do the cash register.” I’m working on the clothing racks when Talon announces what he’s going to do after locking the doors. The last thing I expect is to feel him, though. My skin tingles in the wake of overwhelming sensations as the tips of his fingers graze my hips. When I put on my outfit today, never in my life did I expect the object of my affections and every fantasy all in one to make a move.

  “Talon.” My head drops back, resting on his chest. Talk about giving a girl whiplash. A few weeks ago, the man standing behind me pushed me away, and now it seems like he’s pushing his way into my life.

  “Soon. First, let’s get this shit done and locked up. Then I’m going to lay it all on the line, Kels.” The rasp of his beard slides along the slope of my neck. My knees attempt to buckle; the only reason they aren’t is because I was smart enough to lock my legs.

  “Okay.” I tremble when Talon steps closer to me. With my ass pressing against his hard cock, there’s no way to stop from trembling. The cat and mouse game we’ve been playing for far too long is finally coming to fruition.

  “You’re making it damn difficult to keep me from bending you over and finding out what you’re wearing beneath these tight-as-fuck shorts.” His voice is deep and husky, the kind of timbre you’d imagine he’d have first thing in the morning. Except now I know it’s when he’s turned on. My ass juts backwards, moving in the slightest of ways.

  “Who’s to say I’d stop you?” Should I be questioning why the sudden change in his behavior? Yes, yes, I should, except ask me if I care. All I know is Talon giving in is a beautiful thing, and I’m not going to run away with my tail tucked between my legs.

  “Damn it, Kels.” His lips land on my skin. Talon Scott is searing himself to me in more ways than I ever thought possible. He may as well brand me because I will never ever forget this moment. The kiss he plants on my neck causes a full-body shiver, from the tips of my toes to the top of my head. I barely hold back a moan. He’s right. We have work to do. And all of a sudden, my hunger for food has turned into a different type of hunger. One that involves Talon inside me any way I can have him. “Get to work, siren.” His hands slide to the cheeks of my ass, squeezing them, and then he’s gone. Damn him. How am I supposed to work when I’m consumed by thoughts of Talon and this talk we’re going to have? Muscle memory kicks in and my arms lift, then my hands start doing the work that needs to be done. Meanwhile, my mind is running a million miles an hour. It’s a damn good thing I can do two things at once.

  4

  TALON

  My eyes never left Kelsey the entire fucking day. The talk I had with Grandad did the trick, kicking me right in the ass to go after what I want. Enough was enough. Pushing away what I feel for the younger woman is dumb. After feeling and seeing the way Kels gives over to me, I already know once we wade through some of the bullshit, it’s going to be smooth sailing.

  “Are you going to count the same bills over and over again?” Fuck, my mind wasn’t on closing the register at all. Kelsey’s ass kept my gaze laser-focused on her, those damn shorts, that damn top, all her damn hair. The woman has it going on—ass, tits, and hips. She probably has no idea the looks she catches from other guys. I’ve had to hold back so many times, my joints ache from clenching my fists.

  “Kels, it’s damn hard to get anything done when I’ve got one hell of a view.” The corner of her lips tip upward, rewarding me with a smile. I also take notice of the way a light blush appears across her cheeks. Goddamn, this woman is my kryptonite. I never stood a chance with the girl next door, and I’ve realized a shit ton of shit. Kelsey Rae Taylor may be younger than me, but she’s all fucking woman.

  “I’ll take that as a compliment. I wasn’t sure I’d ever see the day when the infallible Talon Scott couldn’t focus because of some woman.” She’s slowly edging closer, and if it weren’t for the display case in front of me, I’d be doing a whole lot more than watching her every move.

  “You’re not just someone, Kels. You’re you, only you.” She remains quiet. I watch as she doesn’t make so much as a single move. I’m not sure what’s going on in that pretty head of hers, but I’d bet my last dollar it has to do with me. Only weeks ago, I was pushing her away, yet now I’m pulling her in. I’d say that would fuck with anyone. While she stays where she is, I keep one eye on her, and with the other, I get this shit taken care of. It’s clear as fucking day there’s a shit ton of confusion.

  I pull the cash out of the drawer. Usually, I’d make sure all the bills match the same way, but I can’t be bothered tonight. I go through the motions of counting the one-dollar bills, five-dollar bills, and ten-dollar bills, setting them in piles of a hundred and putting the rest over to the side. Mom has her way of doing shit, and I have mine. She’ll probably bust my chops tomorrow. Fuck if I care. And I’m not giving more work to Kelsey. The woman has done enough for one day. Hell, she’s on the schedule for tomorrow, too.

  “Um, is there anything I can do while you finish that up? I’ve already cleaned up the racks and display cases.” Damn woman can’t sit still to save her life. I don’t respond right away, mainly because I’m wrapping up the counting of the cash register. This is the last thing and then we can both blow this popsicle stand.

  “Nope, I’d suggest sitting down and taking a load off. Except you won’t do it. Figure you probably didn’t take a lunch break either.” Kelsey doesn’t respond, which is all the answer I need. “Ready?” I finish scrawling the amount on each stack of bills. One for profit, the other with the amount to start the day tomorrow.

  “Yeah. I could have done that, you know?” I walk around the counter, my hand reaching for hers. Kelsey entwines her fingers with mine as we make our way to the back office.

  “Know that. Also know you’re running yourself ragged and me helping out a bit so we both can get out of here won’t kill me.” We walk through the open office door. Unfortunately, I let go of her hand to make the deposits into the locked drop box.

  “Today wasn’t so bad. I mean, my feet hurt, but I think that’s going to be par for the course with my choice in career.” I’m back to her in less than a minute. This time, I’m going to have to lock the office and back door to the convenience store. Sucks for me. I’d love nothing more than to have some kind of skin-on-skin contact with Kelsey.

  “Might need to get better shoes.” We both look down at her choice of footwear. Kels laughs. The canvas sneakers she’s wearing aren't the most supportive, and she’s on her feet a hell of a lot more than I am on and off the boat.

  “You’re probably right about that. I’d much rather wear sandals on the weekends, but there are too many instances when items can be dropped. I kind of like my feet the way they are.”

  I let out a chuckle once we're done inside and the last of the doors are locked. “Come on, let’s walk you home. We’ll talk along the way.”

  “Finally. I feel like I’ve been on pins and needles since you dropped your little bombshell.” Kels doesn’t mince words, a quality I like about her. What you see is what you get. There’s no pretense, no fakeness. She’s a breath of fresh air on a hot summer day.

  “A man can only resist for so long. I can’t say there weren’t times I almost said fuck it and took you exactly how I’ve been dreaming about.” My hand goes back to hers, pulling her closer to my body. The scent of coconuts and mango wafts through the air, uniquely Kelsey with whatever it is she wears or uses, and I can’t get enough.

 

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