by Jen Talty
“It might not be possible. And you boys have to accept that,” she said. “Sorry. I’ve got to run.”
“Please, tell your family I said hello, and congratulations to your parents,” Reid said.
“Will do. I’ll see you boys tomorrow.” She squeezed Reid’s hand and smiled before continuing down the dock toward the parking lot, her hips swaying in that perfect motion that made him want to go run after her and beg her to meet him for a drink.
Reid inwardly groaned. Seeing her again served as a doubled-edged sword.
“Did you know she’d be on that boat?” He sat back down and glared at his business partner, wondering why the fuck they were still working together. They didn’t even like each other much anymore, though they pretended well enough, they could be up for an Academy Award.
“You’ve got to be fucking kidding me. If I’d known, I would have blown up the damn ship. If you’d like to cancel, I will.”
“No. I don’t want to bail.” He waved his finger. “And you’re not going to give her a hard time. You’re going to have a fabulous fucking time and let her do her job. I won’t tolerate conflicts. Not if you want me totally on board with moving forward with the contracts with the movie companies and potentially persuing manufacturing.” Reid held up his hand and swallowed the vomit that trickled up to his throat as he lied through his pearly white teeth. “If all the rigorous tests I set up go well. Though that could take months.”
“Fine on the tests.” Preston let out a short breath as if conceding under protest. “And just to be clear, I can behave. Really, I can. The question is, can you keep your dick in your pants?”
That was a fair question when it came to Darcie, but he had it on good authority that she would rather have all the pubic hair on her body plucked one follicle at a time than ever hook up with him again. He was pretty sure she’d shut him down if he made a pass. And did he want to open that can of worms again?
They’d still have the same problems they had when they broke up a year ago.
His business decisions were still driven by his dead ex-girlfriend, and the woman he currently loved wouldn’t consider a job that had her in one state for more than three months out of any given year. It was the same rock and hard place, and it was still as uncomfortable as fuck, the same as it was a year ago.
They wanted different things, and he still had one foot in the past.
Chapter 3
Darcie entered her childhood home from the back patio and made her way into the kitchen, where she poured herself an extra-large glass of expensive red wine and took three hardy gulps. Her family was used to her being fashionably late. It was her role, and she didn’t want to disappoint them.
And she was still shaken up by seeing Reid.
Sexy as all get out with his low-hanging jeans, black V-neck shirt tucked in, and a dark belt with a sexy cowboy buckle. His hair with its thick dark wave that curled across the back of his neck and perfect highlights made every girl in the room want to run their fingers through it and ask about his conditioner and any other products he might use.
The kitchen door screeched as she made her way down the Bowie hallway of fame and into the great room. Ten years ago, she’d tried talking her parents into making the kitchen open to the rest of the house, but they liked the old-fashioned separation. And right about now, as she took another sip of liquid of courage, so did she.
Pressing her back against the wall, she closed her eyes and took in a long slow breath, focusing on the deep timbre of her father’s voice.
“I love these little cookies, Nic. Your bakery is the best,” her father said. “I just wish I could drive by once in a while and not stop, but it’s impossible. It’s like my car has your address on autopilot or something.”
“My Nic. She does make the best decadent treats within a hundred-mile radius. Or more,” Matt Montgomery, Nic’s husband, said.
Darcie’s mouth watered at a vision of her and Reid sharing a piece of chocolate cake the weekend she’d brought him home to meet her family. She’d thought he was the one.
The one who understood her and accepted her for who she was, not what he wanted her to be.
But that had all ended when he made it clear that her going for her captain’s license was something he would support, but not something he could get on board with long-term. If they were to make a go of it in a forever kind of way, she needed to find a new career path.
“Save some for Darcie,” her mother chimed in. “I got those little chocolate ones with the vanilla frosting specifically for her. They are her favorites.”
“No way,” her father said. “If she can’t show up on time, then too bad for her. Besides, that job is taking her nowhere and fast. Did you know that Hector offered her a job managing the marina and running the sailing school? And she turned it down. I can’t believe she’d do that. That girl needs some stability in her life. She’s always running off into the sunset, chasing some pipe dream. Only she doesn’t even know what the hell she wants.”
“She called and said her boss threw her a curveball and she’s got a charter in the morning so she’s got to flip the boat,” Jagar, her oldest brother, said. “And she’s taking her captain’s license test soon. She loves what she does, and it’s not like my or Troy’s jobs are conventional. I mean, I’ve been shot. Twice.”
“Don’t go getting your mother all riled up about that now,” their father said.
At least Jagar tried to stick up for her most of the time, though he did agree that her job was a bit harsh and that, at some point, she should consider a change.
“For as long as I’ve known Darci,” Nic said, “she’s wanted only one thing, and that’s to be on the water. She’ll figure out what that looks like soon enough. She’s still young.”
“But she’s not getting any younger,” her father said. “Yachting isn’t a stable profession. Too many unknowns. Too much risk.”
“I really don’t understand her industry or how it works. And why the hell is she living on a boat?” her other brother, Troy, said. “I mean, really, who lives on a boat?”
“You’re a sailor. Don’t you live on a dinghy that floats sometimes?” Ziggy asked.
“That’s different. And I don’t think you can call a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier a dinghy. Besides, isn’t our baby sister living on like a fifty-foot sailboat? Is that like a Tiny House thing?”
“Not sure it matters where she lives since she’s never home,” her father said. “And it’s worse since she and Reid broke up. I really thought he was the one. I don’t know what she’s so afraid of. As soon as she gets close to someone and things are going good, she runs. And now she’s not giving herself any breaks between ships. She goes right from one charter season to the next. We’re just lucky she got a job here for the summer.”
“I wonder what Reid is up to these days,” her mother said. “He was a nice young man.”
“I miss that boy,” her father said. “Best thing that ever happened to Darcie, and she just tossed him away. Much like she did college and that opportunity she had at that sales job.”
Her mother laughed. “You thought Reid was too old and wild for her when she started dating him.”
“He had Jagar run a background check,” Matt said.
“I changed my mind. He was perfect for her, and if I had his number, I’d call him and tell him,” her father said.
Fuck. Her father would reach out to Reid because her dad, God love the man, was a meddler. Worse than her mother.
“We don’t know what went on behind closed doors,” Ziggy said. “And let’s not forget they broke up in part because he demanded she give up something important to her. That’s a pretty uncool thing to expect of someone.”
Darcie pinched the bridge of her nose. While she wasn’t going to go chasing after Reid—that ship had sailed—she was contemplating her career choice in a long-term sense. She was tired of the traveling. Tired of the drama. Tired of dealing with childish deckhands who only wa
nted to get wasted and laid when they were off duty.
Simply put, she was just plain fucking tired, and she didn’t have it in her to live the life of a yachtie anymore. She could get a job as captain of one of the ferries. She’d be on the water doing what she loved.
It was an option.
She groaned. Okay. Perhaps not. She’d rather teach sailing. And, truth be told, she still wanted to captain a superyacht for maybe a year—or two.
But then she was done.
Her family had a point, and perhaps it was time she listened.
About her career.
Not Reid.
It was also time to shut them up. They’d had their gossip fun.
She inhaled sharply and let the breath out slowly as she plastered a smile on her face and entered the family room. “Hello, family. Sorry I’m late. Hope you enjoyed talking about me.”
“It wouldn’t be a family gathering if you didn’t show up last,” her sister Ziggy said with a big kiss and hug. “And if you mention the fact that I’m dateless, I will scratch your eyes out,” she whispered.
“Ziggy. What? No date? Again?” Darcie did a little curtsey.
“I’ll get you for that,” Ziggy said, holding up the plate of cookies. “I think these are all for me.”
“Not.” Laughing, Darcie stretched out her arm and snagged a couple of the cookies.
“You know, I brought another box.” Nic waved her hand toward the kitchen.
“I think we better go get them.” Matt took his wife by the hand and led her through the maze of family and close personal friends.
“Look at you.” Darcie took her sister-in-law, Callie, by the hands. “You actually look pregnant.”
“Better than looking fat,” Callie said.
Darcie kissed her brother Jagar. “Are you ready to be a dad?”
“Nope,” he said, looping his arm over his bride. “But I don’t have a choice anymore, now do I?”
“I guess not.” Darcie laughed. “I will enjoy watching you attempt this.” She patted Callie’s belly. “You do know my big brother dropped me on my head when I was a baby.”
“Everyone dropped you,” her mother said.
“Right. That’s your excuse for why I turned out this way.”
“Those are your words. Not mine.” Her mother held out her arms and wiggled her fingers.
No matter what, Darcie would always be the baby of the family, and there was nothing she could do about it. She just wished everyone would stop treating her like she was incapable of making grown-up decisions.
“Hey, Mom. Dad. Happy Anniversary.” No matter how the family dynamics played out, or the razzing she took, she would always click her heels together and remind herself that when push came to shove, these were her people. Whenever the world caught her off guard, her parents and siblings had her back.
No matter what.
Even when they disagreed with her and her life choices.
There was still no place like home.
“How’s my pumpkin?” Her father kissed her temple and hugged her close. “I hear you have to leave bright and early in the morning.”
“I hate to do this, but I won’t be staying the night. I’ve got to sleep on the charter tonight.” Total lie, and she wasn’t going to sleep on The Weatherby. Nope. She was going to get a bottle of tequila and do a few shots before climbing into her bunk to pass out, and hopefully not dream about Reid.
“Do you have to?” Her mother lowered her chin and fluttered her lashes over those big blue eyes.
“Ma. That only works on Dad.” Troy laughed. “But I’ve got some bad news, too.”
“No.” Her mother raised her hand and cupped Troy’s cheek and gave it a good shake. “You have to leave tonight, too?”
Troy nodded. “Unfortunately. I have to be on a C-150 transport plane leaving for Germany at one in the morning. I’m lucky that I got to come at all. Duty calls. You know the drill.”
“We’re just glad you got to be here, son.” Her father clapped Troy on his shoulder. “We understand and we appreciate what you do for our great nation.”
Darcie resisted rolling her eyes. Both her brothers got a shit ton of respect, and they deserved it. One being a fighter pilot for the Navy, and the other being the Chief of Police for the Langley Police Department. They were noble professions, and she was honestly insanely proud of her older siblings. They inspired her every day to be a better person.
And her sister, Ziggy? Wow. She was a firecracker who didn’t take no for an answer and always got what she wanted. Darcie had always wanted to be more like her sister, but Ziggy had this big personality and always managed to be in the right place at the right time.
But Ziggy didn’t work in a man’s world, nor was she constantly looked at as if she didn’t cut the mustard.
It wasn’t that Darcie worried she wasn’t good enough. She knew she was good at her job and that she’d make a great captain. She had the skill set, the passion, and she knew more than half the yahoos who went into yachting in the frist place. But she struggled because most of her efforts ended up washed out to sea because yachting was still a man’s world, and no one would take her seriously. And even if they did, she still felt like she had to prove herself to the point where it became a ridiculous game.
“We’re so blessed to have such great kids and soon to be our first grandbaby.” Her mother planted her hands right on Callie’s stomach. “I can’t wait to meet this little creature. And more importantly, I so look forward to watching Jagar try to change a diaper.”
“You and me both,” Callie said. “I bought a toy baby for him to practice on.”
“Yeah. That’s not happening,” Jagar said. “I’ll have you all know I plan on being the best dad ever.”
Darcie laughed. “I’m struggling with that concept.”
“Isn’t everyone?” her father said.
Life in the Bowie household had been filled with laughter, love, and a shit ton of teasing. No. More like harassing. Darcie had learned at a very young age that if she were going to survive in this family, she had to balance dishing it out and finding solace in her favorite hiding places when the energy level was at a category five.
She loved her family and wouldn’t give up the razzing for anything. She just wished she knew what to do with her life when her yachting journey came to an end. Being on the water had been all she ever dreamed about, but she didn’t want to be in the Navy. That wasn’t the right career. The military wouldn’t give her the proximity to the sea she craved. She could have ended up in a land-locked post, doing a job that had nothing to do with the water. She’d considered being a marine biologist for about five minutes in high school, but college wasn’t her cup of tea either.
Sitting still was something she hadn’t ever mastered.
“Thanks for the vote of confidence, people.” Jagar lifted his wine and took a long sip.
“Awe, don’t worry, babe. I know you’ll be a good daddy.” Callie patted Jagar’s chest.
“I’m glad at least one person believes in me,” Jagar said.
“Only because you made the decision to marry me.” Callie smiled brightly. “Otherwise, you’d be doomed.”
Darcie’s heart swelled. She could give her family shit all day long about their judgments, but they loved her and only wanted her to be happy. She knew that without a doubt.
All she had to do was figure out what happy looked and felt like. She knew from her older siblings that it sometimes took a while for the roadmap to show the actual directions. Wow. Her thoughts told her that perhaps the wine had gone right to her head. Good call on her part by using Lyft this evening.
“I don’t know, Callie. He couldn’t take care of me when I was a kid to save his sorry ass. He once left me on the ferry. I rode it back and forth five times before anyone found me,” Darcie said.
Jagar waved his finger. “I didn’t lose you or leave you. The truth is, you ditched me, and I totally freaked out. You didn’t want to get off th
at damned boat, and you hid from me. I ended up having to call the cops. We both got in trouble that day.”
Darcie laughed. “That has to go down as one of my fondest memories of childhood.” She plucked a mini egg salad sandwich off one of the trays. She stuffed the entire thing into her mouth and prepared for the onslaught of flavors. Her mother always stuffed a cucumber in the center, and to this day, it surprised her tastebuds. “Jagar, can I talk to you for a moment?”
“Sure. I need to freshen up my drink. Anyone else want something from the kitchen?” Jagar asked.
“I’ll take a water,” his wife said.
Jagar looped his arm over Darcie’s shoulder as they meandered down the long hallway where every accomplishment that any of the Bowie children ever achieved hung proudly.
Including her waving goodbye the day she left for her first yachting adventure.
She sighed. “Why does Dad have to belittle everything I do, and yet he does…this.” She tapped the picture.
“You could have done exactly what he wanted you to, and he’d still give you shit for it. It’s just the way he is.”
“Well, it’s annoying, and I wish he would razz you guys half as much as he does me.”
“You forget—or you were too young to remember—but we’ve all had our fair share of Mom’s and Dad’s judgments,” Jagar said. “I’m glad you got me alone. I actually have something I need to tell you, and you might need to sit down for this.”
“Nothing can shock me today.” Darcie found the bottle of red wine and topped off her glass.
Her brother did a double-take. “Maybe you already know that Reid’s in town.”
“I just ran into him. But worse, his company is my next charter.”
“That fucking sucks.” Jagar stuck his head in the fridge and pulled out his favorite beer. He twisted off the cap and tapped the longneck against her glass. “I still don’t understand why you broke up.” Jagar held up his hand. “Yeah, yeah, yeah. I get it. I meant it as a rhetorical question. I don’t need you to give me all the reasons why you and Mr. Perfect didn’t work out.”
“Obviously, he wasn’t so spectacular.” When she and Reid called it quits, it had been Jagar’s shoulder she cried on the most. He’d understood what it was like to lose the one person who understood you better than you did yourself.
