My Uptown Girl

by C. Morgan

  She laughed, shaking her head. “I don’t think so, mister. I’m all about equal workload.”

  We settled back into the comfortable silence, listening to the water lapping at the side of the boat and the occasional seagull overhead. It was the perfect day to spend fishing and relaxing.

  “Oh!” she yelped and jumped to her feet.

  She startled me. I jumped up. “What’s wrong?”

  “It’s tugging! Does that mean I have one?”

  I stepped closer, noticed the end of the pole bowing, and nodded. “You do. Reel it in nice and slow.”

  “Oh, oh, oh!” she sang out, shifting from one foot to the next.

  Watching the excitement on her face was priceless. I was getting to see her catch her first fish. I hoped it was only one of the firsts we got to experience together. I stood behind her, my hands over hers as she slowly turned the reel, bringing in the catch a little at a time. Her ass rubbed against me. I immediately thought of sex and then quickly dismissed the thought. As much as I wanted her, now wasn’t the right time. Seriously though, I always wanted her.

  This was her moment and I wouldn’t ruin it by trying to push up on her. I would save it for later.

  Chapter 30

  Amara

  “Oh my god, oh my god, what do I do?” I squealed.

  The fish on the end of the line felt like I was pulling in a whale. I couldn’t believe how powerful it was.

  “Hold on,” Fulton said, his mouth close to my ear. “Slow and steady.”

  His strong hands were over mine, pulling the rod and helping me stand straight. The line stretched tight and the pole looked like it was going to bend in two. “Fulton!”

  “Shh, you’re doing great. I’m going to let go and grab the net, okay?”

  I squealed again. “What if it breaks?”

  He released me and was already moving. I watched as he leaned over the side with the net in his hand. A second later, the tension released, and Fulton was bringing my big fish over the side. I watched with sheer joy as he removed the hook from the squirming fish. “Do you want to keep it?”

  I looked at the poor fish gasping for air or water or whatever the hell they breathed. “I don’t know,” I hesitated. “It’s one thing to have them in my kitchen but this feels so sad.”

  “Keep or toss?” he asked again.

  He was leaving it all up to me. I appreciated him letting me make the decision, but I wasn’t sure I was able to make it. “Toss,” I groaned, feeling like a failure.

  He grinned and dropped it over the edge. “I thought so.”

  “I’m sorry,” I said. “I really wanted it, but I couldn’t do it.”

  “It’s cool.”

  “How did you know?”

  “How did I know what?”

  “That I wouldn’t want to keep it?”

  He shrugged. “I don’t think I kept my first fish either. It’s tough to kill something.”

  His reasoning would be sound if I didn’t kill lobster on the regular. “I kill lobster.”

  “But you didn’t catch it.”

  “Your reasoning makes zero sense, but it is spot on,” I said with a laugh. “I’m so sorry. I thought I wanted to fish, and I know I want to have a fish fry.”

  “The joy of fishing rarely involves the actual catching of the fish. It’s the relaxation and thrill of reeling one in.”

  I watched as he baited the hook and set my pole up all over again. “Do you want me to cast again?”

  “Unless you would prefer not to.”

  “You’re not giving up on me?”

  “Never. If you catch another one, we’ll see if you’re ready to do it for real.”

  We settled back into our chairs. I was hoping I didn’t catch another fish. I wasn’t sure I wanted it that badly. It was crazy to compare the hard man I knew he could be with the man sitting beside me. He was patient and a very good teacher.

  “Do you ever catch and keep?” I asked him.

  He smirked. “Yes. Often. I don’t come out here enough to toss back what I catch. If I come out, it’s for a reason.”

  “I see.”

  “Did you get those shelves put together?”

  “I did.”

  “Good girl,” he said with a proud smile. “Do you need anything else done around the place? You mentioned you were going to do some repairs.”

  I hated rejecting his offer to help. I would much prefer him over some stranger. “Actually, my dad stopped by earlier. He was a little upset that I didn’t call him about the flood.”

  “He wanted to help you?”

  “Yes. He’s making some calls and getting someone out to do an inspection of the plumbing and electrical.”

  He nodded. “Good. That’s good. I’m glad you have him to help you.”

  “So am I, even though he can be a little overbearing at times.”

  “He’s a protective father,” he said. “That’s not a bad thing.”

  “I suppose not.”

  “If he needs any help, you can have him call me. I have many talents.”

  “Don’t I know,” I teased.

  “You haven’t seen all my tricks.”

  A shiver ran down my spine. He always had me in a state of arousal when he was around. “I look forward to seeing more of those tricks. I’ll let my father know he can reach out.”

  In the back of my mind, the very idea of my father asking for help was ludicrous. My father would rather eat glass before he asked Fulton for help. I was just hoping he never found out who he was. I did not want them to ever meet. My dad would be a complete dick. I already heard his opinion of him. It was one thing for him to say it to me and something entirely different if he said it to Fulton. I refused to let him hurt Fulton or insult him because he worked his ass off for a living. There was nothing wrong with the way he chose to live his life. He lived it on his terms and that was pretty damn impressive.

  “Hungry?” he asked.

  I shrugged, realizing I was feeling a little snacky. “I could eat. Do you want me to go down and grab the cooler?”

  “Nope. Sit tight.”

  He got up and left me alone on deck. I inhaled deeply. The scent was familiar. It smelled like Fulton. It was the smell of freedom and independence. It was masculine and earthy and so him. I reminded myself I couldn’t fall for him. Then I remembered that ship had sailed. I was already head over heels for the man. I just needed to keep my heart protected and all would be well. We were having fun. I enjoyed spending time with him and the sex was a bonus. I could handle the relationship and my restaurant as long as I maintained a little distance.

  “Here you go,” he said, handing me a paper plate with a sandwich cut in half. “I’ve got some wet wipes here.”

  I used a couple to wipe my hands while he reeled in the line and laid the poles on the deck. The sandwich was basic ham and cheese and the best sandwich I ever had.

  “Sorry it isn’t anything fancy,” he said after taking his own bite. “I never put any vegetables on the sandwiches. I never know when I’m going to get a chance to eat, and wilted, soggy vegetables are not good.”

  “I get it. It is perfect just the way it is.”

  “Thanks.”

  “I think I have a new appreciation for the sea and what you do,” I told him.

  He smirked. “This is not what I do.”

  “Is what you do harder?”

  “Yes. I’m not trying to brag, but it is a lot harder. It’s far more physical and there is an element of risk to it.”

  “I’ve heard stories,” I said. “Not good stories.”

  “You’ve probably seen a lot of fishermen in town missing fingers,” he said with a laugh. “That’s what happens when you aren’t paying attention.”

  “And the storms?” I asked. “I can’t imagine what it is like to be on the water when we get one of our famous storms.”

  “It isn’t pleasant. Even the hardiest fisherman can get seasick. The waves roll you back and forth to the
point you feel like you are in a washing machine on the spin cycle.”

  “I think I would be terrified the boat would sink.”

  He shrugged, taking another bite. “It’s kind of one of those things that’s always in the back of your mind but there isn’t much you can do. You pay attention to the weather and stay ahead of it.”

  “Have you ever been caught in a storm?”

  “More often than I care to count,” he said in a grim tone.

  I was suddenly afraid for him. I couldn’t imagine losing him. Now, I would always be worried about him if he was out when a storm started brewing. I looked around the boat. I wasn’t an expert, but his boat was not in good shape. I was sure it was seaworthy, but how well could it stand up to Mother Nature?

  “You really should think about getting a new boat,” I told him.

  He frowned. “Why?”

  “Because this one is older, and I imagine it won’t survive too many more storms.”

  He finished his sandwich before getting up. “I don’t try to catch storms. I don’t actually like getting caught in them.”

  “But isn’t this still risky?”

  “Isn’t everything?”

  I was pushing his buttons. Insulting the man’s boat was like insulting his dick size. “I’m sorry. I really don’t mean to insult you or your boat. It’s—well, to be honest, I worry about you.”

  That seemed to soften him a little. He leaned down and dropped a kiss on my head. “I’ll be fine. I’ve been taking this boat out for a long time. She hasn’t failed me yet.”

  “Do you want a new boat?”

  He shrugged. “I don’t need a new boat.”

  “But do you want one?”

  “It wouldn’t be terrible, but a new boat means a new payment. A big payment. I like my operation now. I don’t have to worry about losing my boat if I have a bad couple of weeks. It’s mine. No one else owns it. No one else gets a say in how I use it.”

  I could understand that feeling. It was why I wanted my own restaurant. I didn’t want a lease. I wanted to own the building. “Is it because it has sentimental value?” I asked, knowing I was pushing way past the boundaries we had established.

  “I’m not a sentimental guy.”

  He might not think he was, but I knew he was. He’d bought his father’s old boat. That was very telling. “Okay, I’ll leave it alone.”

  “I’m going to get us back home,” he said. “I’m sure we both have things to do.”

  I forced a smile. I hated that I had crossed the line. My big mouth got me into trouble all the time. “Okay.”

  I moved to stand beside him as he drove us back to shore. He was quiet as he steered the boat. I didn’t know what to say. I didn’t want to say anything to insult him further. Once back at the dock, he helped me off the boat while he tied it up. I looked at his boat lined up with the others. I knew some men would be ashamed of the boat but not Fulton. It was part of who he was, and he embraced it. He didn’t pretend to be anything or anyone he wasn’t.

  “Ready?” he asked.

  I nodded. “I am. You take really good care of your boat.”

  “Like you mentioned, it’s old. It needs a lot of tender loving care to stay afloat.”

  “I bet you are one of the few men out here that could keep it running so smoothly.”

  He shrugged. “There are a lot of old-timers out here that could run circles around me. They taught me a lot.”

  He drove me home, and when I was about to ask him if he wanted to come in, he gave me a quick kiss goodbye. That was a clear sign he wasn’t interested.

  “I’ll see you later,” I said, more as a question than a statement.

  “Yep, give me a call if you need a delivery.”

  Not exactly the invitation I was hoping for. “I will. Thanks again for taking me out.”

  “Sure,” he said before driving away.

  I groaned, shaking my head as I walked up to my apartment. “Good job, Amara. Open mouth, insert foot.”

  I went inside and kicked off my shoes. I was a fish out of water with him. Fulton was unlike any other man I had dated. I didn’t know if we were even dating. We hung out and had sex on occasion. There was no talk of commitment, not counting his declaration I wasn’t to fuck another man. That was just kind of standard operating procedure, I thought, but maybe it was one of those things that had to be said. I was too far out of the loop to know any better.

  For now, I would play it cool. I would wait for him to call me, unless by some miracle I needed more lobster. Right now, the freezer was stocked with it and I couldn’t really afford to load up on product I might not sell.

  Chapter 31

  Fulton

  I was exhausted. Beyond exhausted. My feet felt like they had lead weights attached. My back ached and I could barely keep my eyes open. Despite wanting nothing more than my soft bed, I was sitting outside Stanley’s place, drinking a cold beer. It was the only way to end three days of nonstop fishing.

  “I guess we made up for our losses,” he said after a long drink.

  “I think we did. It was a good run.”

  “I won’t be able to walk tomorrow but it was good.”

  I chuckled. “I think we are getting too old for this job.”

  “Yeah, right. Look at half the guys out there. They’re twice our age and still kicking ass.”

  “I don’t know how they do it. I thought I was going to fish until I couldn’t fish anymore but I’m not so sure about that these days.”

  He made a good point. I wasn’t sure how long I would be able to keep going. The work was grueling. The cold and the wet could leave a man chilled to the bone. “We’ll prop each other up,” I joked.

  “Shit, I would squash you.”

  “I can hold my own.”

  “Yes, you can.”

  He sipped his beer. We had a fire in his firepit, but it was more about the ambiance. It was a warm night and we didn’t need the heat but there was something about a fire that soothed the soul. It also helped keep away the mosquitos.

  “I’ve got a girlfriend,” he announced.

  I almost choked on my beer. “What?”

  “You heard me.”

  “No shit? When did this happen?”

  He shrugged. “We’ve had a lot of time off. I’ve had time to go out and meet people, like Amber.”

  “Amber, huh?”

  “Yep. She’s a looker. I’m not sure why she’s with me, but things are going well so far.”

  “Well damn, Stanley. Good for you. I’m looking forward to meeting her.”

  “Nope.”

  “No? What do you mean no?”

  “For one thing, I haven’t met your lady.”

  “That is more about work. I want you to meet her one of these days. It just seems like we work a lot and she works a lot. She isn’t the type that needs constant attention. She’s cool doing her thing while I do my thing.”

  “Yeah, yeah, excuses, excuses.”

  “I’m serious. She is all about being independent. She doesn’t like to leave anything up to anyone else.”

  He laughed. “That’s why you like her. She’s the female version of you.”

  “That is not entirely true, but she is not afraid of a little hard work. You should have seen her tearing up that tile. She worked harder than you.”

  He said. “I doubt that.”

  “I don’t know,” I teased. “She might give you a run for your money. I might have to teach her how to fish lobster.”

  “Do it. Then I can sit back on my ass and watch her work.”

  “Bullshit,” I snapped. “You don’t get to watch her do anything.”

  He made a cat sound. “Someone is a little touchy about his woman. Since when did you turn into a caveman?”

  “I’ve always been a caveman,” I confessed without hesitation.

  “Do you beat your chest and howl at the full moon?”

  I turned to look at him. “What the fuck is that even suppos
ed to mean?”

  “I don’t know.”

  I closed my eyes, praying for patience with the man. “It was a good day,” I said with a contented sigh. “Besides the busted backs and the tired muscles.”

  “Do you think we’ll slow down soon?” he asked.

  “Not if I can help it,” I said.

  “Do you think we’ll be the kind of fishermen that will die old bachelors, or we’ll have little ladies sitting at home, waiting for us to come home every night?”

  I mulled it over. “I don’t know. I haven’t thought that far in advance.”

  “Your lady is a chef, right?”

  “She says she isn’t, but she can cook.”

  He nodded, clearly deep in thought. “I bet it would be nice to go home to a hot meal every night. A good meal, not a TV dinner.”

  The idea did sound appealing. I could get used to the idea of a woman waiting at home for me with food on the table. An even more appealing idea was being with that woman every night. I didn’t think I wanted that, but when it was an actual possibility, it sounded far more appealing.

  “We’ll have to have a barbecue or something and get the ladies together,” I offered. “We can all meet and maybe we’ll be that cute little foursome that goes to movies together, eats dinner together, and shit like that.”

  “I’m not sure I want to do that,” he said.

  “Why not? You just said you wanted to meet Amara.”

  “I do, but I don’t think I’m ready for you to meet Amber just yet.”

  I was probably going to regret it, but I had to ask anyway. “Why?”

  “Because I’m feeling a little self-conscious. I don’t want her to look at you and think she could do better than me.”

  “Stanley, I would never move in on your woman. I can’t believe you would even think that. Give me a little credit.”

  “You might not, but she might have a wandering eye.”

  “If you are worried about that, then you need to dump her now. Any woman that would move in on your best friend is not someone you want in your life.”

  He took another drink. “I like her. I’m going to try my best to lose a few pounds. I want to get in shape for her so she isn’t tempted to leave.”