by Violet Paige
“I think I can handle my alcohol, thank you very much.” Blair knocked back another sip.
Justyn laughed. “Maybe. But I don’t want to carry my passengers home.”
He took a sip of his tea, and Blair watched his eyes as they carried over her shoulder, down her collarbone, and dipped between her breasts.
“Are you checking me out?” Blair blurted out before she had time to cap the filter on her words.
“Darlin’, I’m just takin’ in the view.” He smiled. “You aren’t making this easy. I’m just trying to help my cousin out.”
“What does that mean?” The compliment sounded backhanded, as if Reid had commissioned him to babysit her.
He sat and watched a sailboat cruise past them, headed toward the sound.
“Hey, Justyn, you playin’ tonight?” a rowdy voice called from a crowd of boardwalk walkers. They were teetering on the railing, which ran in front of the Dock House.
Blair looked at Justyn quizzically.
“Nah, not tonight.” He raised his cup to them.
The guys started to laugh. Blair wondered what was so funny. She wasn’t fond of inside jokes if she didn’t know the secret.
“Oh yeah, sorry, man. Looks like you’ve got other plans.” They staggered off to the dark side of the pier.
“What were they talking about?” Blair asked.
Reid piped up from the stern. “Our Justyn here is a real celebrity.”
“Cut it out, Reid. Shut up.”
Maggie peppered Justyn with more questions. “Celebrity? Are you a musician or something? Really?”
A smile slid across Justyn’s lips. “I play a little. Sometimes on open mic night.”
“Are you any good?” Blair couldn’t help herself. Justyn was becoming more interesting by the minute. She would let the babysitting innuendo slide.
“Well, now I guess you’d have to tell me that. I just play.”
Reid shuttled past Maggie, grazing her shoulder as he maneuvered around her. Blair suspected the touch was on purpose.
“He’s being modest,” Reid said. “Justyn’s awesome—writes his own music, plays up there—and you should see the girls. They go crazy the nights he sings.”
“Again, shut up.” Justyn cast a stern eye in Reid’s direction.
Blair felt little needles of green envy surfacing at the thought of other girls throwing themselves at Justyn on stage. Not that she was interested, but still, she didn’t want other girls at his feet.
“Oh, Blair and I would love to hear you play one night. Will you tell us the next time you perform?” Maggie spoke for them both before Blair could recover from the momentary jealous pang.
“Uh, sure. I’ll let you know.”
“Good! We need a summer concert—not that this Jimmy Buffet cover band isn’t awesome.” Maggie glanced over her shoulder to watch the crowd bobbing around using their hands to form fins on their heads.
Her friend’s eyes lit up, watching the festive chaos unfold under the stars and low lights of the Dock House. “You want to go up there?” Reid must have noticed Maggie’s eagerness too.
“Yes! I mean, if everyone else wants to.” Maggie eyed Blair.
“Yeah, let’s try it.” Blair stood and looped her arm through Maggie’s. “Want to dance, girl?” She giggled to her friend.
Seven
Justyn
The girls hopped on the deck and followed the notes of Margaritaville as if the Fin Notes were the Pied Piper singing on the Beaufort waterfront.
Justyn shoved his hands in his pockets while he and Reid watched the pair bounce into the dancing crowd, laughing and shaking their bodies with the music. “Man, what are we doing with these girls?”
“I don’t know. Just thought it would be fun to bring them out. We needed a little break from the business.” Reid’s eyes followed Maggie’s every shake and shimmy. “Come on. Let’s have some fun. Don’t you think Blair’s cute?”
“Cute isn’t the word I would use to describe her. More like trouble.” Recklessly, he chugged the rest of his Long Island ice tea.
How did Reid convince him to take these two ding-batters out anyway? If he wanted to ask a girl out, he knew how to ask a girl out. He didn’t need Reid and Shirley trying to set him up all the damn time.
Reid laughed. “Whatever you want to call her, let’s go. We can’t leave them up there dancing like that. The trawlers will pounce on them any second.”
“All right. All right.”
Justyn hoisted himself up onto the dock, and begrudgingly followed Reid’s lead to the growing crowd gathered outside of the town’s favorite party spot. If sneaking suspicions were right, he had a feeling this was going to be more trouble than it was worth.
The song slowed as soon as he and Reid were within five feet of the girls. He glared at the Fin Notes, suddenly suspicious that they were a part of the great island love-match conspiracy.
He watched as Reid roped Maggie in his arm and ushered her to the side of the dance floor that was less crowded. That left Blair.
Her eyes sank into his and she bit her bottom lip. Why was she making this so difficult?
“Did you come up here to dance with me?” She stepped closer, her chin tilted up.
He tried not to look in her eyes. Before the Fin Notes launched into the chorus Blair was wrapped around him, her cheek resting against his chest. This was all more than what he bargained for. It had to be the strong drinks that had her nestled against him.
He let his hand glide down her back until it palmed the curve along the small of her back. She felt like velvet under his rough hands. He felt his chest tugging to take a deep breath. What in the hell was happening?
“This is nice,” Blair murmured.
He nodded, not wanting to confirm the words out loud. Instead, he reached for her hair and closed his eyes as his fingers coiled along the strands. This was dangerous.
The song ended and he backed up too quickly, knocking Blair off balance.
“Whoa.” He snaked an arm around her waist to steady her. “I told you those Long Island ice teas are no joke.”
She giggled and looked at him. Those blue eyes stopped him in his tracks.
“I’m getting you home.” He ushered her along the boardwalk while searching for Reid and Maggie.
“So you do want to take me home?” she purred.
“Reid, get your ass over here. We need to get them back.” Justyn motioned to Blair, who was happier than he had seen her since they had met. The drink must have had a way of softening her. Maybe it was the drinks or maybe she was starting to have fun with him. He wasn’t sure.
“Already?” Reid looked disappointed.
“Yes, now.”
Justyn hauled Blair down the boardwalk and lifted her into the skiff.
“Is she ok?” Maggie rushed to the dock.
“G, I’m totally fine.” Blair giggled. He sat her in the seat next to him so he could keep an eye on her. The last thing he wanted was for her to tip overboard. He kept one hand firmly planted on her hip.
“Shove us off, Reid,” he directed, checking the slip behind them for boat traffic.
Reid tossed the lines in the boat, and then hopped aboard before they took off for the sound.
Justyn shook his head and cranked the engine. This was exactly the kind of trouble he didn’t want.
Eight
Justyn
“Do you think you might want to go on another cruise?” Reid was still talking to Maggie. Justyn had deposited Blair on the couch and was waiting for his cousin so they could get out of here. Maggie assured him she would get some water for her roommate.
“We’d love it.” Maggie beamed. She looked as bad off as Reid.
Justyn knew they were going to have to talk about continuing these late-night cruises, but right now wasn’t the time.
“All right. Good night.” Reid jogged down the stairs and jumped in the truck.
“Finally,” Justyn breathed.
“
What’s wrong with you? You’ve got somewhere better to be?”
He peeled out of the gravel drive and headed back to the creek. He still had to get Reid to his Jeep.
“Nothing’s wrong. I don’t like being set up,” he grumbled.
“Set up? You need to relax.” Reid rolled the window down and slung his elbow over the side.
“I am relaxed. I just don’t need a damn date every time we go out.”
“Blair’s got a little edge to her, but she’s hotter than hell. You’re not having a good time with her?”
He didn’t know how to answer. Every time they were together, it was almost combative. It was as if she was always trying to get under his skin, and it worked.
“All I’m sayin’ is we have too much going on this summer to get sidetracked. I’m not interested.”
Reid laughed. “Not interested in Blair?”
“That’s what I said.” Justyn pulled into the creek drive behind Reid’s Jeep.
“All right. See you at the house.” Reid jumped out and climbed into his vehicle.
He didn’t know how many times he had to say it. He didn’t want a relationship. He had risked everything he had for this boat business and he wasn’t about to raise the stakes on that investment by a distraction like Blair.
It had been awhile since he had a girlfriend, and for now, that was ok. Island girls were too serious about marriage and kids, and tourist girls wouldn’t be here long enough to matter.
He thought about how Blair’s hair felt, how she melted into his chest, and how she wrapped her hot little body around him. Dammit. This is exactly why he needed to stay away from her.
Nine
Blair
“Can you believe this is our third cruise in a week?” Maggie chirped around the shower curtain.
Blair was brushing her teeth with a tightly wrapped towel around her body while her friend showered in their oversized adjoining bathroom. “No, what I can’t believe is that he hasn’t even tried to kiss me yet.” Blair spit into the sink and rested her toothbrush in the holder. “What in the hell is he waiting for? A better offer?”
Peeking out again with a head full of bubbles, Maggie lamented. “I know. I don’t get it either. Reid’s the same way. They must want to be summer buddies.”
“Buddies? I’m not anyone’s buddy!” Blair stomped. “No offense, G.”
“None taken.” Maggie ducked behind the curtain.
“All, I’m saying is that they keep asking us out, but then nothing ever happens. All he does is flash me smiles. Moonlight cruises, dancing in Beaufort, drinks out on the boat, and then…crickets…nothing. I don’t get it. This doesn’t happen to me.”
“Are you forgetting the pact already? It’s only been a week.”
Blair had retrieved her tweezers from her cosmetic bag and was critically studying her brow line. “No, I didn’t forget the pact, but seriously, I thought they were going to be more fun than this.”
“Ugh. That was the whole point of the pact—just summer fun—no entanglements. Just enjoy hanging out with Justyn and stop worrying if he’s going to kiss you or not.”
“Kiss me? If that’s all I get out of this, then it will be the biggest seduction fail in history.”
“Blair!” Maggie squealed in the shower.
“Sorry. Just being honest. I should at least get some this summer if I’m going to be stuck on the island.”
“Ok, we need to reprioritize your goals but we don’t have time for all of that before he gets here. Can you at least pretend to have a good time tonight?”
She exhaled into the mirror as she wiped on a second layer of mascara. “For you, I can. But he better try to kiss me tonight or I’m not going on any more of these stupid cruises. He didn’t try anything the other night. Not when we were dancing, not when he left me on the couch. Nothing.”
“Well, you were a little tipsy.”
“I was fine. I only had one drink. I mean it. Last cruise.”
“Fine. Whatever. Can you throw me my towel please; it’s on the hook behind the door.”
Blair lifted the towel from the hook and placed it in her outstretched hand. “I’m serious. No more cruises.”
She huffed out of the bathroom and embarked on the mission of finding the most alluring and seductive summer outfit in her closet. Nothing she had worn so far had worked. And she had never had to work for a guy’s attention before. It usually landed in her lap in the form of endless free drinks, unwanted texts, cheesy pickup lines, and the occasional awkward mis-grope. Blair wasn’t even sure if she wanted Justyn’s company for what was left of the summer, or if she just wanted to know he wanted her. Either way, she was giving him one last chance tonight.
She pulled up the strapless black dress. Perfect. If he can keep his hands off me in this, then he’s gay—definitely gay.
“You’re wearing that? On a boat cruise?” Maggie stared at her
“It’s cotton. Cotton’s a summer fabric.” Blair smiled.
“Well, if you want to send him a message, you’ve got it,” Maggie called as she headed toward the stairs.
“I do. If he doesn’t get it, then no more cruises or clambakes or whatever the island match-makers have up their sleeves.” Blair twirled a bit in the mirror and smiled at the hem of the dress. The black layers barely brushed the tops of her thighs. “This will work though.”
Ten
Justyn
In perfect island form, Justyn pulled into the Buttonses’ gravel driveway at 6:45. He glanced at the time displayed on his truck’s dash. Dammit. Reid had asked them out again, and here he was picking them up for another evening cruise. If his cousin wanted to see Maggie, then why didn’t he ask her out? Spending all of this extra time with Blair was proving to be harder than he thought. Yeah, she was pretty—well, better than pretty, she was downright gorgeous—but there wasn’t a woman beautiful enough to convince him to get distracted this summer. He and Reid had more boats to build than they could handle, a pile of bills to pay, an upcoming meeting to garner financial backing, and there wasn’t time for anything else.
His eyes traveled to the second story of the house where he saw two narrow shadows floating behind the curtains. Is that Blair’s room? Wonder if she sleeps naked? Dammit, enough. This is it. Final cruise, then Reid can do whatever the hell he wants with Maggie. I’m out.
Justyn took the steps two at a time, and ran his hands through his light brown hair. Moths flitted around the porch, and he took a big breath before knocking on the door. He knew he needed to steel himself for this night.
After two raps on the screen door, he heard the girls trotting down the stairs.
“Hey, Justyn! We’re ready,” Maggie called out to him. She grabbed a canvas bag and stepped to the side.
His eyes were smacked with the whole Blair picture. Shit, this just got a lot harder. He swallowed hard as his eyes traced the elegant lines of her tanned legs that seemed to never end. The hem of her black dress danced over the highest point of her thigh. If she bent over... Oh, if only she’d bend over.
“Justyn?” Blair smiled.
“Yep.” He tried not to stammer. “Y’all ready?” He held the door open for the girls to pass under his arm.
Blair walked dangerously close, brushing against Justyn’s chest with her bare shoulder. She threw him another flirtatious smile.
Maggie elbowed her friend on the way down the stairs.
Justyn glared at the two giggling girls as they darted toward his truck.
Reid was waiting for them in the skiff when they pulled up to the creek. Justyn watched his cousin pour the remaining bag of ice over the beer in the cooler and toss the plastic in the trash can roped to the end of the pier. Even though the sun was setting, the air was still thick and warm. Reid reached into the cooler and pulled out a chilled beer. He tossed a second one Justyn’s way before he reached the boat.
“Looks like you could use this, man.” Reid chuckled.
“Don’t get me started,”
Justyn growled. “Like I said earlier, last cruise.”
Reid hopped out of the skiff and ran to the side of the truck. Undoubtably toward Maggie. Justyn suppressed a sigh and thought about the cold beer waiting for him on the boat. He watched his cousin play the rescuer role. Reid could never resist a damsel in distress.
“Hey, Maggie, let me get that for you.” He released the bag from the seat belt strap, and heaved it on his shoulder.
“Thanks, Reid. I don’t know how I got it wrapped around the seat belt.” She pushed a few locks of her coffee-colored tresses from in front of her eyes. “Where are we cruising tonight?”
“Have you ever been to a lighthouse at night?”
Justyn wished he had covered his ears before that question was posed. Maggie’s scream rang out in the creek.
“Blair! Did you hear that? We’re going to the lighthouse!” She raced toward the skiff and hopped in faster than her usual entrance.
Justyn glared at her. “We’re not going to be sneaking in anywhere if you scream like that, girl.”
Maggie covered her mouth. “Oh, sorry. I’ve just always wanted to go the lighthouse. But wait. Did you say sneaking in? Is this legal?”
Reid caught up to the group and lowered the bag into the boat. “Depends on how you define legal, Maggie.” He chugged the beer in his hand.
“Wait a minute,” Blair chimed in. “I’m not doing anything illegal. I have a career to think of.”
“Calm down, princess. No one is asking you to break the law. If you don’t want to go, my keys are in the truck. You can drive home.” Justyn pointed to his parked vehicle.
“Whatever. Let’s go.” She shot him an icy look.
Justyn cranked the engine, threw the skiff in reverse, and pointed her toward the blinking light hovering above the skinny strip of Cape Lookout’s shores. The foursome settled into their now-routine seating habits. Maggie and Blair perched on the bow while the cousins manned the steering wheel.
