by Rachel Real
Penny exhaled, relieved. Relieved that Stratton hadn't gone and spread any stupid lies.
Ryder continued. "You just have so much faith in me. And although it's not much. I wanted to show you my gratitude..."
Ryder then dragged the tarp off of his yacht that he'd been tirelessly renovating for the last three weeks...
PENNY LANE
Penny fell silent unable to even find the words to say. Ryder named his yacht after her.
"I want to whole clan to know, that you're mine," Ryder smirked, holding her closely. And as happy as Penny was, she looked as if she didn't deserve any of it. With Stratton hanging over her head, she'd never be at peace.
"Are you ready for the big race?" she uttered.
"I'm ready to win," Ryder growled, kissing her deeply.
He then helped Penny up to the boat and both of them watched as the rest of the competitors boarded their ships. All of the boats had to make one loop around the island. And whomever got to the finish line first, won the Bayside Regatta. A strong wind blew through the clear skies.
"Be ready to lose, Ryder!" Stratton hollered from his yacht.
Ryder hollered back. "Do you really want to go there, Stratton!"
Stratton only smiled, holding Estella by his side.
That no good lying cheating bastard! Penny fumed.
Suddenly, a smoke flare streamed through the air.
"That's our cue. Get the sails, Penny!" Ryder commanded.
Penny raced up the rope ladder, like she'd done a million times before. The sails majestically unfurled above her. Ryder veered the steering to the right to make the first turn around the island. Penny squinted, seeing a cluster of dark clouds.
"It's looking like it might rain," She uttered, lifting her open palm to the sky.
Ryder just focused on steering the ship on the choppier waters.
THUNK!
Both Ryder and Penny jolted forward when something hit their yacht from the side.
Ryder glowered his eyes. "Damn, Stratton!"
Stratton knocked into them on purpose to shove them off course.
"Is that the only way you can win, Stratton! By playing dirty?" Ryder roared.
Stratton laughed. "It means I'm willing to do whatever it takes..."
A light rain started to fall, and Penny got a bad feeling in the pit of her stomach. And her stomach was never ever wrong. The two boats streaked ahead, cutting a path through the unsteady blue water.
Penny could hardly hold on as heavy rain poured down on their boats. She held on as best as she could, but slipped!
Penny tumbled down into the water, Stratton didn't even stop. He only raced head for the finish line. Now, Ryder had to make a choice.
Save Penny? Or, win the race?
Chapter Nine
As much as Ryder had been waiting for his turn to get his revenge, there's no way in hell he'd lose his precious Penny twice. Ryder shifted into tiger form and plunged into the water. He grabbed on to Penny in his strong jaws and clawed his way back on the ship. Quickly, he shifted back in his human form and slapped Penny on her cheek. Her body didn't flinch. And then Ryder, parted her mouth and breathed air into her lungs.
Penny's eyes widened, and she turned over spitting up immediately.
The sky started to clear as Ryder's boat forged slowly toward the finish line. He held Penny in his arms, until they reached the shore.
Stratton had already made it to the beach first. The judges of the contest approached them both.
"What about winning the race?" Penny rasped, still coughing.
"I don't give a damn about the race or winning, Penny—not without you," Ryder stated.
He then held Penny like he'd die if he let her go.
"Excuse us, Mr. Strong and Mr. Claw," a judge uttered.
Both Stratton and Ryder turned and faced him.
"We have a winner, but it's not who you think..."
Penny and Ryder gawked at each other confused.
The judged finished explaining. "The Rules state that if anyone falls off a ship, all competing ships must stop to help or they are disqualified..."
"WHAT?!" Stratton roared.
"That means you, Ryder, are the first place winner of the Bayside Regatta."
Penny weakly shouted for joy, Ryder twirled her around in his arms. Ryder slipped something out of his pocket.
“I saved these for you...” He growled in Penny’s ear, handing her a chewy Twizzler.
Penny laughed and Ryder grinned before her kissing deeply.
Penny found it silly now that she trekked all the way to Bayside, hoping she'd meet a man, fall in love and live happily ever after like in all those movies she watched...
Instead, she met a broken (and very grumpy) tiger shifter—who taught her rough waters of love only make life a more interesting adventure.
––––––––
Thank you, dear reader, for making it all the way through 'till the end! I hope you enjoyed the story. If you did, please consider writing a review. Without reviews, an independently published author's books are virtually invisible on the retail sites. Let other readers know what you thought!
––––––––
If you’d like to be notified of new releases, special sales, and get FREE ebooks, subscribe for my mailing list here. Get your hands on hot, steamy and new releases!
I love to hear from fans! Chat me up @ [email protected]
More Books by Rachel Real
Bayside Tigers Series
Surf n’ Turf (1)
Furry Fling (2)
Wet N’ Wild (3)
Purrfect Paradise (4)
Roaring Waves (5)
Jungle Fever (6)
California Bears Series
Heat Wave (1)
Bear Mates (2)
Bear Bound (3)
––––––––
Also, I want to thank Lord F and Nattu for the cover photo! The creative commons is so important for the creation of art.
