In Too Deep (Wildfire Lake)

by Skye Jordan

  There will have to be some discussion about just how quickly Chloe made a connection with a cop when we’ve only been here a few days, but first, we have to reach a table.

  I return my gaze to Samantha, stomach tight, not knowing what to expect.

  As soon as our gazes meet again, she breaks into a grin and hugs me hard. “It’s so good to see you.”

  Gratitude and relief swamp me, and I hug her back. “You too.” I lean away. “You look amazing, all glowy. Pregnancy agrees with you.”

  She puts a hand on her basketball belly. “Thank you. It’s been crazy for sure. Let’s get you a table.”

  We make small talk as we pass through the restaurant—when she’s due, if she knows whether it’s a girl or a boy. I make a mental note to pick up a baby gift for her. Then she hugs me once more before leaving us. “If you have time, let’s get together while you’re in town.”

  “I’d love that.” And it isn’t a lie. I have far too few friends and way too few allies. Sam is both rolled into one.

  We slide into a booth with KT and Chloe on one side and me on the other with all the purses. I like this position. I can see the door and the bar, and I’m definitely going to keep an eye out for Mr. O’Malley.

  A girl comes by with water, and we order drinks. When she wanders away, Chloe’s still got a dreamy look on her face. “That man could seriously make me reconsider celibacy.”

  “Gag me,” KT says.

  “Jealous,” Chloe says.

  KT smiles. “Whatever.”

  “Considering so many people around this town don’t like me,” I say, “we could use someone making friends.”

  “What does that guy have against you?” KT asks.

  I shrug. “The same thing others have against me—not keeping up the marina. I can only hope it’s short-lived.”

  “Are we telling the waitress it’s our birthday?” Chloe asks, expression hopeful.

  “Please, no,” KT says. “I’ll buy your dessert if you don’t say anything.”

  Chloe drops her chin into her hand. “Whatever.”

  A waitress comes to our table, and we all look up.

  “We’re not quite ready,” KT says.

  “Oh, I’m not your waitress. I’m just stopping by to say hi to Laiyla.”

  She looks familiar, but I can’t place her, which makes me uneasy, not knowing whether she’s friend or foe. “I’m sorry, you look familiar, but—”

  “Tina,” she says. “Tina Morris.”

  Oh, shit. This isn’t going to be pretty. “Right, good to see you.”

  “No, it’s not. We’ve always hated each other.”

  I frown. “I’ve never hated anyone.”

  “Well, you might when you hear Levi and I have a thing.”

  A thing? I don’t even want to know what that means to her. Jesus, could this night get any worse? Tina is pretty, and she’s got one of those bodies that is naturally voluptuous when young, but one that will sag as she ages if she doesn’t work really hard at taking care of herself. But the worst is that she’s got a mean spirit. Always has. She’s also always been a compulsive liar, and I doubt that’s the kind of thing that fades with time. The thought of her with Levi turns my skin inside out.

  “Good for you, I guess.” What the fuck else am I supposed to say? Then I remember the bet Levi mentioned that first day. “So, you were in on the bet that I’d never come back?”

  She grins. “Yep, and I won. I knew you’d show up eventually.”

  “What did you win?” I want to know.

  She dodges the question. “We went double or nothing about how long you’d stay. Levi bet a month, and I took it. You won’t last more than a week.”

  It’s bad enough that Levi bet against me once, but even more hurtful to learn he did it a second time, knowing my plan. Especially after that kiss. “Good luck.”

  When I still don’t take the bait, annoyance flashes across her face. “Just steer clear of him and we’ll be fine, but if you get too close, the claws will come out.”

  “Threat noted.” I gesture to the table. “In front of witnesses. Thanks for that.”

  She saunters from the table, smug.

  “If Chloe wasn’t blocking my exit,” KT says, “her ass would be on the sidewalk.”

  “She’s not worth the effort,” I say.

  “So, Levi’s still in town,” Chloe says.

  Nope. Don’t want to go there. “Let’s focus on the here and now. Cop talk. Spill.”

  She accepts my deflection. “Sexy, right?”

  “I believe celibacy has been given notice,” KT says.

  “Oh, I’m not ready to go there again. Bodhi left a bad taste in my mouth.” She points at KT. “Not meant to be a double entendre. Get your mind out of the gutter.”

  KT laughs. “I don’t even have to say anything, and I still get in trouble.”

  They toss around more good-natured banter, but that damned kiss with Levi is still on my mind, and now it’s tainted by the disgusting idea of him with Tina. But he kissed me. Sure, I kissed him back, but he started it, and Levi was nothing if not loyal to a fault. Tina’s lying. Again.

  Our waitress comes to the table, and we all order. At the last second, I say, “Is Tina dating Levi?”

  I don’t have to say his last name. There’s still only one Levi in town.

  The waitress sputters. “Pfffft, she wishes. They might have had a thing for like a second forever ago. But that’s it.”

  I nod. “Thanks.”

  When I refocus on the table, KT and Chloe are giving me a look like they’ve just uncovered some deep dark secret.

  “What? I wanted to see if she’s still a compulsive liar.” And now that I know she is, I allow myself to remember the feel of Levi’s mouth on mine, the taste of his tongue, that hard body wrapping me in lust and warmth and affection.

  In a matter of seconds, Levi pumped more heat into my system than an entire day out in the sun. I’m still tingling to prove it. Unfortunately, all that did was remind me of everything I haven’t been able to find in other men.

  “Where did you go this morning?” KT says, eyes narrowed in clear suspicion. “And don’t use the donut excuse. I saw you leave in a suit and come back in shorts.”

  “How in the hell do you seem to know everything that goes on?”

  She points two fingers at her eyes, then at mine. “Gotta keep your head on a swivel in the engine room. Where did you go?”

  I tell them about my meeting with the loan officer and conveniently leave out the part about Levi. “I was embarrassed he knocked me down, and I wasn’t ready to talk about it.”

  “You can always tell us you don’t want to talk about it,” Chloe says.

  “You can even say it’s none of our damn business,” KT adds, and Chloe agrees with a nod.

  “After you woke me up this morning,” KT says, taking out her phone and tapping into the internet, “I did some research on houseboat rentals.”

  “Seems random, but okay.”

  “You were talking about it the night before, and I think it’s a great idea. Not so random. I looked into the demographics of the surrounding area, and the average cost of a family vacation. Turns out, American families are very predictable, and while they’re willing to spend a good chunk of money on a vacation, there’s only so much cash to go around, so the more a family can do in one place, the better.

  “It really does make more sense to create a family getaway here rather than an escape for the rich and famous. Celebs and millionaires have all kinds of choices for vacation. Money isn’t an issue. So while they may come here for novelty, they will most likely spend the majority of their vacation days somewhere more exotic.”

  “I’m the first to admit it wasn’t the best idea,” I say, embarrassed about it now. “But my mind was racing, and you guys weren’t available to knock some sense into my head. I’m fine with a family resort. Maybe a little disappointed, because I do love my luxury and my bling. And I’m not a mom
, I’m a career-focused millennial.”

  “You’re also influenced by years of doing blingy work for your parents,” Chloe says. “Makes sense you’d move toward what you know. I think gearing it toward families in the summer and retreats in the winter would be a great plan for year-round income. And year-round income looks good to potential buyers.”

  The door to the pub opens, and customers enter the shadowed foyer.

  “You may be able to work with celebs,” KT says, “but not everyone can, which could cut out a lot of potential buyers.”

  “True,” I say. “Fine. I’m onboard with creating a new plan.”

  The man who just walked in saunters toward the bar, and I instantly know it’s Levi. The way he moves, the cut of his hair, his build. My stomach grows wings and takes off.

  “You have a lot of good stuff in your original plan,” KT is saying. “It’s really just a matter of taking it down a notch and adding some family-friendly things to the property.”

  “What would some of those family-friendly things be?” I ask, my gaze following Levi as he leans on the bar and talks to Samantha. “I haven’t exactly had the best role models.”

  “Our ships are all about family fun,” KT says. “I’d suggest a playground for sure. A pool or water play area. Even though you have the lake, families with little kids would get a lot of use out of a purified water source. And the kids love going from one play area to the next, even if they’re all basically the same.”

  “Playground and pool. Totally doable.” I enjoy watching Levi while he doesn’t know he’s being watched. His posture is easy and loose. His face is bright and happy. He knows everyone, and he’s well loved.

  Yeah, that’s my Levi. Only he’s not mine anymore. Not even after that kiss.

  “Mini golf?” Chloe asks. “You’ve definitely got the room for it. How many acres is this property anyway?”

  I pull my gaze away from Levi, but my body is buzzing on high octane now. “Nine hundred and sixty-eight.”

  “Holy shit,” KT says. “That place has got to be worth a fortune.”

  “It is.”

  My cell pings with a message, and I glance at the display. It’s from Michael, a friend who is also an occasional date, more to satisfy our parents than because we’re romantically interested in each other. Michael and I have bonded over self-involved, demanding parents, but seeing Levi again has shocked me into realizing just how completely I’ve been settling in all my romantic relationships.

  Happy Birthday! Saw your parents today. They said you’re on a girl’s getaway, but didn’t mention your birthday. I’m assuming they forgot again? Typical, right? Let’s get together when you get back. I’ll buy you a birthday drink. Can’t wait to hear about this trashy marina your mom’s bitching about.

  That makes me smile, and I shoot a quick text back. Thank you. Will text you when I get back to town.

  When I look up, Sam says something to Levi and his head turns, scanning the restaurant. I feel the moment he finds me. His gaze holds mine, and a little smile lifts his lips. We’re across the space, half-hidden in dim lighting, but I can almost read his thoughts. You look great. That kiss was amazing. I want you, but I shouldn’t.

  “Have you thought about leasing some of this land to vineyards?” KT asks, pulling my attention back. “This is prime vineyard acreage.”

  “Wow.” The idea explodes in my head. “What a fucking fantastic idea.”

  When I search out Levi again, he’s still staring. Someone beside him at the bar is talking to him, much the way KT is talking to me, but we can’t seem to stop staring at each other. The intimacy of our locked gazes is off the charts. This feels more intense than sex. At least, sex with anyone other than Levi. I can see his thoughts shift, dropping into a smolder. Something hungry darkens his expression in such minute ways, I could never explain it in words.

  “I know your previous plan calls for fancy new boats,” KT says, “but with this new idea in mind, you could buy five older boats for the price of one new one. And I know how to fix them, so you could get some great deals.”

  Levi turns toward Samantha and trades a bag for a credit card.

  I frown at KT. “You’re only here for a few days.”

  “Yeah, I’ve been thinking about that.” Then she goes silent.

  “Seriously,” Chloe says, “you drop a bomb like that and then go mute?”

  “Okay,” she says, “this is so totally your baby and I’m absolutely okay if you tell me I’m out of my flipping mind,” she says to me, “but this place is beautiful, and the minute I saw a marina filled with boats needing love, I got that in-alignment-with-the-universe tingle inside me.”

  “Of all the people I know,” I say, “I expected you to be the very last one to jump onboard with Chloe’s message.”

  “Yeah, well, I’m used to surprising people. Every new mechanic who comes on board the cruise ship thinks he knows more than I do. Every guy who gets handsy uninvited is surprised when I punch him in the gut. Every woman who makes a pass at me is surprised I’m not gay.” She holds her arms out to her sides. “Just because I can handle myself and I wear a uniform means they think they can judge my sexual preference? But I digress. This just feels so right for the next chapter of my life, even if it’s just a short chapter.”

  My mouth drops open. “Oh my God, you’re serious.”

  “Don’t feel like you have to entertain this idea just because of our friendship,” KT goes on, “but I’d be interested in joining this venture as a mechanic or boat specialist or boat renovator or whatever you decide you need. And you wouldn’t have to pay me. I’ve got money to invest from selling my dad’s business and the house, and with no real expenses for the last ten years, I’ve been saving all my earnings. I mean, it’s not millions, but it’s decent, and I would plunge it into this place in a heartbeat.”

  “Holy shit.” My insides warm and tingle and celebrate this idea. “Yes. Absolutely. I love this idea.”

  “Whoa,” Chloe says. “Don’t even think of doing this without me.” KT and I turn our gaze on Chloe. “I want in, but I don’t know what I can contribute other than money. I made a decent killing on my first book.”

  “You could handle all the events,” I say immediately. “Booking retreats and conferences and maybe even weddings. And you could even do your own spiritual retreats here.”

  “Oh my God,” she says. “That would be amazing. I’ve been wanting to expand my business into in-person retreats. But that doesn’t feel fair to me. You’re doing all the planning and managing, and KT’s doing all the work on the boats. I can’t do much until it’s closer to being done.”

  “That’s the beauty of it,” KT says. “I’ll be busy up front, fixing and renovating, but once the boats are refurbished, there’s only maintenance and a random problem to handle. You may not be doing a lot up front, but when this place gets close to opening, you’re going to be running your tail off.”

  I’m watching this fall together like the easiest puzzle in the world, with the people I love most, and nothing ever felt so right. Nothing but loving Levi.

  Levi.

  My gaze darts toward the bar, but he’s gone. The wings on my stomach retract, and it falls back into place, heavier now.

  I return my attention to the girls. “I absolutely love this idea. Nothing has ever felt so right, and there’s no one I’d rather do it with.”

  KT’s grin is big and bright. “So, it’s a go?”

  “Don’t you want to think about it?” I ask.

  “I have,” KT says.

  “I’d follow you both to the ends of the earth,” Chloe says.

  Inside, yeah, I’m freaking out. “Then I guess it’s a go.”

  “It’s a go,” Chloe says.

  Our waitress appears with a round of drinks we didn’t order.

  “These aren’t for us,” I say. “We didn’t order—”

  “A birthday round from an anonymous source.”

  “What are the
y?” KT asks.

  “Ladybugs.”

  Levi. He is so damn…just…Levi.

  We thank the waitress, I tell the others what’s in a Ladybug because they’ve never heard of the drink, and KT and Chloe play a round of guess-who-sent-the-drinks. But when the attention refocuses on our previous conversation, Chloe lifts her Ladybug with a big grin. “To our birthday deal!”

  KT and I meet her glass with our own.

  After we drink, Chloe asks for her purse and rummages inside, pulling out a blank notepad. “Who’s ready to brainstorm?”

  8

  Laiyla

  It’s been three days since my loan request was denied by the bank. Three days since I’ve seen Levi.

  KT, Chloe, and I have split up areas of the business to research. We meet every night over wine and takeout, deciding what aspects we want to include in the initial rollout of the resort.

  After six years in college and two decades in my parents’ hotels, I’m feeling a passion for my work for the first time. Long damn time coming. I have yet to tell my parents I’m not coming back to the company, but the way I feel about this project will make that so much easier than it would be otherwise.

  We still have a ways to go before we can say this project is viable without an outside funding source, but we all agree on what we’d like to see. Bringing those ideas to fruition will depend on the contracting price and our budget. I don’t want to tell my parents until I’m 150% sure everything will fall into line.

  I’m in my bed, using the internet to scope out similar houseboat rental facilities within a three-hour drive of LA. I want to know that what we’re building will exceed any facility already out there.

  A knock on the wall signals KT standing in the doorway. There are no doors and absolutely no privacy, but I’m surprisingly okay with that.

  “Hey,” I say, returning my gaze to the screen. “I’ve found more totally doable ways to bring in passive income. Launch ramp fees, dry storage, slip rentals, Jet Ski rental, pleasure boat rental, and you can charge separately for services rendered on visitors’ boats. Chloe can charge for retreats she leads.”