A Kiss in the Moonlight (Pelican Bay #3)

4. Chapter Four

Chapter Four

Tyler stared at the laptop screen as Connor and Evan walked him through the proposed redesign for the Jersey Boy marina location. Ty knew his fair share of tech, but Evan used savvy software to mock up the design of both the outside and inside of the building, including foliage and furniture. They tweaked the design in real time and experimented with the color scheme until Ty was satisfied with the final product.

“What do you think?” Evan asked.

“It’s perfect, man. Better than I imagined,” Ty said. “How soon can you get started?”

“Once I’ve gotten the thumbs-up to use this project in the show, I’ll need a couple of days to coordinate with the directors and work out the filming schedule,” Connor said.

“It’s going to be fabulous when it’s done. I’m hearing that a few other businesses along the waterfront are getting snapped up,” Evan said.

“Oh yeah, which?” Ty asked.

“According to Cade, the Jolly Roger Pirate Boat Tours and the Crab Shack are pending closing,” Evan said.

“It’ll be nice to have neighboring businesses here,” Ty said .

“We’re pitching a waterfront renovation to the mayor tomorrow,” Connor added. “Walkways, decorative lampposts, small grab-and-go restaurants.”

“Fixing up the surrounding area will go a long way toward enticing people to come here even in the evening,” Ty said.

“Can’t beat a sunset over the bay,” Evan said, nodding toward the water, where the sun would be starting its descent soon.

“You know it,” Ty agreed.

They ordered a pizza and sat on the crushed shells in front of the building, eating and sharing a couple of beers. It was a perfect night, and other than a few seagulls that circled overhead, the three of them were alone. The sun slid down the horizon, splashing red, orange, and yellow rays across the sky.

Even during the town’s darkest times, nothing could take away from the beauty of the sunrise and sunsets on Pelican Bay. Over the years, Ty had had opportunities to move away. He’d commuted to community college before transferring to a local state school to get his business degree. He could have joined several classmates who got jobs in New York or Philly. But Ty never once felt the need to spread his wings.

His place was right here.

Unfortunately, finding a woman who shared his love for island life wasn’t as easy. The girls he’d dated loved the Jersey Shore in the summer and early fall months, but come winter they hated the isolation and took off.

Ty needed someone who loved this town as much as he did.

“You hear Maddy’s thinking of buying Broadway Betty’s?” Evan said.

Ty dragged his gaze away from the sunset when he heard Evan mention Maddy’s name. “She hasn’t mentioned anything. ”

Not that she would. Maddy was a closed book most days. They lived in the same house, but other than sharing kitchen space and an occasional meal, they didn’t say much. It was almost like she went out of her way to avoid him.

Of course, perhaps he was being paranoid.

Maddy had only committed to spending a year on Pelican Bay in order to work on publicity for the island. Ty expected her to return to her L.A. life and singing career when her time was up. Hearing she planned to buy a business on the island was a surprise.

“She wants to renovate and reopen it,” Evan said.

Ty tried not to get his hopes up. “What about her life in L.A.?”

Evan shrugged. “Not sure.”

And if anyone would know, it would be Evan.

He stood, picking up his trash. “I need to roll. Have a FaceTime call with my parents.”

“You’re kidding,” Ty said. Evan wasn’t close with his parents, and they hadn’t been on the island since before Samantha, when they were all kids.

“Their request. Go figure,” Evan said, and headed to his car. “Catch you both tomorrow.”

“Can you hang?” Ty asked Connor, who checked his watch.

“Abby’s working tonight, so I’m free for another hour or so. What’s up?”

“I started giving Dylan swim lessons.”

“I heard. How’d she do?”

“She was a little scared at first, but she got over it.”

“And?”

Ty squinted at the setting sun. “It got me thinking…about my own limitations. I used to come down here all the time with my dad. We’d crab or take his boat out.”

“He was a good guy. ”

No argument there. Mark Erickson was the kind of guy everyone knew and liked. He always offered to lend a hand and spent lots of time with his family. Ty’s dad had been calm and patient, even when Ty or Emma did something they shouldn’t have. At sixteen, Ty had still been a kid when his dad died…at that awkward age where you weren’t a kid but not yet a man.

Almost ten years later, and Ty still felt the loss of his dad every day.

“Did you know my dad got me interested in swimming?” he said.

“He teach you?”

“Beginner stuff. When he saw I was really into it, he enrolled me in the swim club program.” Ty stared out at the water. “This bay here was my first swimming pool. We’d come out here a few times a week.”

More than anything, he wanted to be comfortable in the water again. He could handle himself fine in a pool, but hadn’t been able to step into the ocean or even the bay without shaking or hyperventilating. He’d never be able to swim the triathlon without being able to swim in the bay.

Besides, how could he offer customers services he was too afraid to do? How bad would it look if they needed help or a demonstration and the owner was afraid?

In the year following Samantha, his mom and Gram had tried to get him back in the water, even hiring a sports psychologist to work with him. The best they’d been able to do was get him to swim at Egg Harbor Swim Club, where he had been part of their competitive swim team.

Even now, instructing and working with teens to get their lifeguard certification was fulfilling, but he felt incomplete.

He felt like a fraud.

Ty swung his eyes to Connor. “I want to swim in the bay again.”

“You’re doing the triathlon? ”

“ We’re doing the triathlon.”

Connor let out a whoop and clapped him on the back. “I’m in.”

“When do you want to get started training?” Ty asked.

“No time like the present,” Connor said, and rose.

Taking Connor’s lead, Ty followed him to the water’s edge, where his friend had already stripped down to his briefs. Slowly, he practiced controlled breathing, as he had been taught to stay calm. He visualized himself in the water, strong and confident, swimming.

Then, stripping, he waded in to join his friend.

After reading Dylan her favorite bedtime story, The Little Mermaid , Maddy kissed her daughter’s forehead and tucked her into bed.

Downstairs, she considered pouring a glass of wine but wasn’t in the mood to drink.

Restless, she headed out to the patio. Lost in thought, she didn’t notice Emma and Jason cuddled on the outdoor couch, bathed in fairy lights and the glow of citronella candles, until she was almost on top of them.

“Crap, I’m sorry,” Maddy said, and backed away. “As you were.”

Emma sat up, straightening her top, which Jason had his hand under. “It’s okay. Don’t go.”

Maddy hesitated, not wanting to further interrupt her friends’ alone time. This was why she needed her own place. Unless she got a rental, she and Dyl would be underfoot for the foreseeable future.

“Dylan fall asleep okay?” Emma asked.

“Yeah, she passed out a little more than halfway through her story,” Maddy said, dropping into a chair across from them.

“She had a big day today,” Emma said .

An understatement, for sure. “Between swim lessons and camp, I don’t know how she keeps going all day,” Maddy said.

“How’d the lesson go?” Jason asked.

“According to Ty, it went well. She seemed comfortable in the water after they played a couple of games and put her face in to blow bubbles,” Maddy said.

“That’s good. It’s all part of the process,” Jason said.

“And how were you?” Emma asked.

“Terrified. But Ty’s coworker, Ivy, got me to sit in the water…on the steps.”

Emma widened her eyes. “Really?”

“And I may have walked around the shallow end a bit.”

“Maddy, that’s progress,” Emma said.

“Only because I didn’t pass out, even though I had a semi-panic attack and almost face-planted in the water,” Maddy said.

Until Ty steadied her, his powerful arms making it impossible to fall. She could still remember the feel of his hard body pressed against hers, and the thought of it was enough to make her lightheaded.

She needed air…needed to move.

“I’m going for a walk,” she said.

“You want company?” Emma asked.

She did, and yet she didn’t. Besides, it may have been over five years since Maddy had had sex, but she knew signs of a seduction when she saw it. Between the intimacy of the candlelight and the two glasses of wine, her two friends had been five minutes away from being naked…until she interrupted them.

“No, I’m good. Dylan should be down for the night, but could you listen out in case she calls for me?”

“You got it,” Emma said.

Maddy rose. “Thanks. ”

She went out the back gate, making sure it clicked in place. With a brief glance behind her, she saw Jason had wasted no time in resuming his make-out session with Emma.

Maddy was happy for her friends, who had been high school sweethearts. After years apart post-Samantha, they had found their happily-ever-after. They deserved every bit of happiness.

Yet Maddy couldn’t help but be the teensiest bit envious.

She’d thought Reece was the one. He’d been funny, and they shared a love of music. But he’d been too self-centered, and that was even before he hit it big. And it wasn’t as if Maddy hadn’t had her own success, but Reece had wanted more.

Maddy had been fine with her record contract. It had its own set of demands with tours and concerts, and while a part of her missed that, it was only a small part of who she was. And if she were honest with herself, the lifestyle was lonely. While Reece hadn’t been able to get enough of it, she was fine touring for a few weeks.

She walked along Bayview Ave toward the Eleventh Street Bridge, which was the only way on and off the island. As a teenager, she couldn’t wait to take that bridge and put Pelican Bay behind her.

But now…

Now, she wanted something different. Maddy wanted to give her daughter a normal life without living on the road. She had the financial security that had been lacking in her own childhood. With that stability, she could put down roots and surround herself with friends who were as close as family.

As she neared Twelfth Street, Maddy saw the old Pelican Bay Water Rental place and remembered Emma saying Ty now owned it. It was a large building, and while she had never gone near there, many of her friends had. She even remembered being invited to a birthday party on a sightseeing ship, but had declined because of her fear of water .

A fear she wanted to overcome.

The sound of splashing caught her attention, and she moved across the shell-encrusted road to the tiny beach. Someone was swimming, and she admired the fluid strokes used to move through the water. Whoever was out there made it look easy.

The night swimmer broke the surface and bobbed in the water, staring up at the sky. When he rose, all it took was one look at the broad shoulders and narrow waist to recognize him.

Tyler.

She hadn’t realized she’d said his name, but maybe she had, because he turned and caught her staring. He took a few steps inland and paused.

Under the evening sky, he looked like a god rising from the water, glistening under the full moon with a six-pack she wanted to explore with her hands and mouth.

He was the sexiest man she knew.

And off-limits, although for the life of her she couldn’t think why.

“Nice night for a swim?” she said, trying to keep her voice level and not full of the desperate need she felt.

He swiped a hand down his face. “It is. Come join me.”

Her eyes widened. Was he crazy? “You know the answer to that.”

“You wanted help with swimming, so let’s start right here.”

She shook her head. “I don’t have a bathing suit.”

He shrugged. “Neither do I.”

Maddy scanned the surrounding beach until she saw a pair of shorts and a T-shirt in a heap in the sand.

Was he naked ?

Thinking he could be caused her body to throb in places that hadn’t in a long time.

Could I ?

He took a few steps closer. “Come on, Maddy. I won’t let anything happen to you.”

Before she could doubt herself any more, she looked around to make sure they were alone and slipped off her sandals. Taking a deep breath, she dropped her shorts and tank top, leaving her standing in bikini panties and a bra.

It was like wearing a bathing suit, right?

The water was colder than she expected. Of course, that could be because she was so hot.

She waded in so her ankles were covered. “The bottom’s squishy.”

“You get used to it.”

He watched her, his gaze intense as he took in her body, making Maddy self-conscious. She had never worried about her weight other than when she was pregnant. While she’d shed most of the baby weight, she couldn’t help but feel her stomach would never again be as flat as it had once been.

Okay, maybe laying off the pastries at Shore to Please Donuts would help, too.

With her eyes focused on Ty’s, she took baby steps until her torso was covered. With her heartbeat erratic and breathing uneven, she inched her way forward, staying locked in his gaze, like it was a tractor beam pulling her in.

When she reached him, he took her hands and smiled, revealing two perfect dimples in his cheeks. “Nice job. You never would have come out here a couple of days ago.”

“Don’t remind me.”

He tugged her deeper into the water. “All the way out.”

She complied, focusing on him and not on the water that now covered her breasts. When she stepped and felt the water on her chin, she panicked and flailed her arms.

“It’s fine. Let’s take a step back. ”

He helped her, pulling her close to him. She wrapped her arms around his neck, clinging to him for dear life.

“Put your feet down, Mad.”

She did, and the water fell just under her breasts. “This would probably be better during the day.”

“I like the moonlight and the quiet. Like we’re the only two people on the planet.”

Maddy held on to his shoulders and looked up. “Why are you swimming at night?”

“You’re not the only one battling water demons.”

She looked over his shoulder at Barnegat Bay, at the moonlight spilling out over the stretch of water that connected the barrier island to the mainland.

“I don’t understand. You don’t swim in the bay?”

“Or the ocean. I haven’t since that night,” he said, and looked away.

“Because of me.”

Because I wouldn’t get off the coaster.

She didn’t say the words, but he heard them as if she had spoken them aloud.

His eyes snapped to hers. “Because of the storm.”

She looked away, hating how she couldn’t get over her guilt for what happened that night.

“What brought you out here tonight?” she asked.

“Connor was here earlier and agreed to work with me on swimming in the bay. Assuming I can do it, we’re going to compete in the triathlon in the fall.”

“That’s an impressive goal.”

“What have I got to lose?”

Good point. What was life without taking chances? Was she ready to take one now ?

She tilted her head up. “Do you do this often? Swim naked in the bay?”

“I never said I was naked.” He moved one of her hands from his shoulder to his chest. “Why don’t you find out?”

She sucked in a breath. Was he flirting with her? Did he want her to…

With her hand against his firm chest, she took her time and explored, pausing a beat over his heart, which pulsed erratically against her fingers. She moved further south over the muscles of his six-pack. At his bellybutton, she hesitated a second before slipping her hand under the water.

With her other hand, she explored his back, inching her way lower until she encountered a thin elastic waistband.

Underwear.

But rather than stop now that her question was answered, she kept going south, curious if he was as aroused as she. His breath hitched when her hand grazed his erection.

“Don’t stop,” he whispered, his eyes locked on hers.

He slid his fingers under her bra, pushing aside the material as he swiped his thumbs across her nipples. A moan escaped her lips, and she pushed his briefs down over his hard cock and took him fully in hand.

He swore and pushed against her.

Sensing he needed more, and wanting it herself, she slid her hand up and down, exploring the hard, velvety skin. He cradled her bottom with one hand while the other worked its way under her panties. She almost went off as soon as he touched her clit and squeezed him, which caused him to grow harder.

He thrust one, then two fingers inside her. She arched her hips, moving as he pulsed in and out. It was hard to focus on stroking him when her own needs were so close. He strummed her nipple and her clit, and she cried out, throwing her head back as she came. Doubling her efforts on him, she heard his grunt and felt the warmth as he spilled over her hand.

Breathless, they stared at each other, looking dazed at what had just happened.

He lowered his head as though he was going to kiss her, but she pulled back, embarrassed by her lack of control.

What must he think of her?

“I’m sorry,” she said, and took a few steps back.

Ty reached for her hands. “Don’t go.”

She stared into his soft brown eyes, warm and vulnerable. The eyes of a good man who deserved someone grounded and with a clear direction in her life. Someone not broken.

The opposite of her.

Ignoring the desire to stay, and not thinking of her fear, she pushed her way through the water toward the shore.

Back on land, she hastily dressed.

“Maddy,” Ty called, having caught up to her.

“We shouldn’t have done this. I’m sorry. I gotta go.”

With one last look over her shoulder, she took off down the street, feeling her heart ache with what could never be.

Ty alternated his days between each of his Jersey Boy Surf Shop locations. The original location was forty minutes south in Ocean Pointe—ideal, since it was a little past the Atlantic City Expressway and brought in lots of summer tourists. It also hadn’t been ravaged by Samantha the way many of the northern beach towns along the coast had .

The second location was in Sunset Bay, the town north of Pelican Bay. Smaller than its sister town, Sunset Bay had recovered more quickly in the storm’s aftermath and was close enough to make it a logical place for a store.

Ty parked his Toyota 4Runner in the lot behind his third and newest shop, located at the far end of the Pelican Bay boardwalk on Twentieth Street. Ty had strategically chosen the location since it was away from Erickson Fun Pier and closer to the stretch of open beach, providing easier access for surfers. Jersey Boy offered a full range of surfboards for all levels, and surfing lessons for the smallest to the oldest. Besides surfboards, customers could find boogie boards, kites, beach chairs, umbrellas, toys, clothes, and every beach accessory known to man.

He waved at two of the instructors, who were heading out with a man and woman carrying surfboards. As part of the grand opening, Ty had offered half-price surfing lessons the first month. So far, it was a successful promotion both for townspeople and visitors—they were getting a steady increase of day trippers, and while that may not translate to a lot of surf lessons, it brought in a lot of foot traffic and retail merchandise purchases that had exceeded expectations.

Ty entered through the back door to the area used to store rental equipment.

“Hey, bossman,” a slim Asian-American guy called out.

“Morning, Dave,” Ty said. “How are things going?”

David Chan was Ty’s go-to guy for anything related to lessons. He’d met Dave in college, and they became fast friends. When Ty decided to open his first Jersey Boy store, he reached out to Dave to help him with the lessons. Together, they’d created a program that was successful and gaining recognition along the Jersey Shore towns.

Now, Dave ran the surf school .

“Business is busy, but lessons are filling up more than we expected. We’re having to turn people away,” he said.

Like Ty, Dave bounced around each location to ensure lessons were being conducted properly, assisted with new personnel selection and training, assessed equipment for damage or replacement, and helped with lessons.

“Let’s grab Ally and talk about staffing,” Ty said.

Dave gave instructions to two college students who worked the lesson counter before following Ty to the office area.

A pretty blonde looked up from her laptop. “Perfect timing. I just made a fresh pot of coffee.”

Ally Parks had been the second person Ty hired when he opened his first Jersey Boy shop four years ago. A couple years younger and also a Jersey Shore native, Ally had gotten her associate’s degree in business from a local community college and been looking for work while she continued pursuing her bachelor’s degree part time.

With each new location, Ty brought Ally over to help set up and oversee the retail operations part of the stores. The two of them were Ty’s closest friends. They’d help grow the Jersey Boy chain into the successful business it was today.

“I’m more interested in what you picked up for breakfast,” Dave said, and reached into the box from Shore to Please Donuts and grabbed a glazed donut.

They had the same conversation at every meeting, which earned Dave an eye roll from Ally. Ty poured and fixed himself a cup of coffee and, after a few seconds of deliberation, grabbed an apple cider donut.

They sat at a rectangular high-top table that served as their collaboration center. While they each had desks, it was more common for them to be found kicking around ideas at the table or while playing at the foosball table Ty had purchased .

“Let’s start with sales,” he said, opening his laptop. “I read through your report, Ally, and the store is off to a great start.”

“The grand opening was a hit, and there’s been a steady stream of customers since,” she said. “Our sales continue to exceed your projections.”

“Music to my ears,” Ty said. “How’s inventory?”

Ally scrolled through notes on her laptop and inserted a cable from the TV on the wall into the HDMI port to display her computer screen. “Sand toys, beach games, and boogie boards have been selling hot. Hats, T-shirts, beach towels, bathing suits, and sweatshirts have been strong as well. We’ve been keeping the shelves and racks stocked, and I have a list of items to be picked up from the central storage unit.”

Ty scrutinized the numbers, pleased by what he saw. “Looks good. Send me the list, and I’ll bring them in tomorrow. How’s our staff doing?”

“All good on the retail side,” Ally said. “Lots of college and older high school students. Everyone is excited to be here.”

“Good to hear. I’d like to plan a staff bonfire at the end of the summer, before the college kids return to school,” Ty said.

“Maybe a friendly beach volleyball tournament,” Dave added.

“Make it happen,” Ty said.

“Like I mentioned, lessons are almost fully booked. Surf camp starts in a week and we’ll need more staff than we forecast,” Dave said. “I’d like to hire three more instructors so we don’t have to turn people away for private and group lessons.”

Dave stretched to Ally’s laptop, clicked the mouse, and brought up the registration summary for surf camp.

Ty studied the numbers, pleased to see the camp enrollment almost full. “Makes sense. I’ll take out an ad. ”

“I can put up signs in the window and at the counters,” Ally offered.

“That works. In the meantime, I’m also keeping in touch with the lesson coordinators from the other stores to see if they have a few instructors who’d like extra hours,” Dave said.

Ty wanted to offer to help with lessons, but he was far from ready for that. If Connor could help him swim in the bay, then maybe there’d be hope that one day Ty could surf again.

“Sounds like you both have it covered. Keep me posted on the applicants. I’m moving forward with renovation on the marina location,” he said.

“Hot damn. Will it be ready this season?” Dave asked.

“I want it to be ready for the Fourth of July, but that may be pushing it.”

Connor had texted him late yesterday that the network was a go on doing the renovation as part of Beach House Flippers . Ty had dropped off a key to the place when they’d met up for their morning run. They were meeting up later that afternoon to discuss the filming schedule, and for Ty to sign a contract with the network to allow them to renovate his property.

“I’ll flag any applicants who have paddleboarding experience,” Dave said.

“I’ll also need people at the rental area, plus at least two or three at the retail shop,” Ty added.

“When you do something, you do it big,” Ally said. “Put in another ad for those positions, and I’ll help interview. We can train them either here or at the Sunset Bay store so they’re ready to go when it opens.”

As usual, his friends were jumping in with both feet to help him.

After discussing a few other non-work things, Ty went out into the main store, pleased with the way it looked. He’d busted his balls to make the stores a success and felt a sense of pride to see the shelves full of Pelican Bay products. He’d even had postcards made up of the renovated Erickson Fun Pier and newly built Mark Erickson Pavilion, which housed the town’s historic carousel.

With ties that could be traced to the founding families, the Erickson’s had held a prominent place in the town since the early 1900s. Erickson Pier was a key business that drew in tourists throughout the year. Tyler’s great-great-grandfather had built the pier, and each generation of Ericksons had contributed and grown the business.

Ty’s entire life had been built around this town, and having his own stores—subsidiaries of Erickson Pier—to bookend the boardwalk filled him with a sense of accomplishment. His father would be proud of him.

But Ty wouldn’t feel complete until the marina shop was open for business.

If only…

If only he could share it with his dad.

Brushing away melancholy thoughts that could easily bring him down, Ty headed to the kids’ clothing area. There, he found what he was looking for…a mermaid bathing suit with an attached skirt that flared at the waist like fins. The other day, Dylan had said something about not being able to wear her skirt in the pool. With this, she’d have a skirt that was attached. While it wasn’t exactly the same, he thought she’d like it.

After finding her size, he paused in the women’s area. Besides standard beach T-shirts, they sold bathing suits for the entire family. The shop he rented was one of the larger spaces on the boardwalk and allowed Ty to ramp up the clothing selection he typically offered.

He searched the racks until he found what he was looking for—a woman’s two-piece bathing suit in turquoise, Maddy’s favorite color. The bikini had a modest enough bottom for lessons with a racerback top. The suit was practical for swim lessons and better than the one she’d worn yesterday, which he could tell by the way she pulled at the neckline was too small to accommodate her generous breasts.

Breasts that he’d cupped last night and now ached to kiss. Her bra had been plain and covered her, but the pale color became sheer when wet and left nothing to the imagination, much to Ty’s appreciation. Everything had happened fast—not something he was proud of—and he wanted nothing more than to peel her bra off and feel the press of her nipples against his bare chest.

Just thinking about it caused his pulse rate to increase, and he inhaled deeply to gain control. He didn’t know how he would get through being near her in the pool without getting a hard-on.

Perhaps he should buy her a wetsuit?

He grabbed a pretty white cover-up for Maddy and a pair of board shorts and water shirt for himself, along with water socks for both girls. They would be good for swimming in the bay.

Behind the counter, he handed his purchases to Ally, who rang him up. Although he didn’t have to, he insisted on paying for his own merchandise.

She raised an eyebrow at the bikini. “You’ve been holding out on me. Girlfriend?”

Ty shook his head but felt a flush rise in his cheeks. “They’re for a friend and her daughter. I’m teaching them to swim.”

“Uh huh,” she said, but Ty could tell by her tone she didn’t believe him. “Wait a sec.” She ran out onto the floor and returned with a kid’s cover-up, mermaid sunglasses, and a woman’s straw beach bag. “This is all the rave now with the ladies. We can barely keep them on the shelf.”

“Thanks,” he said when she handed him his purchases .

He turned and had taken a few steps away when she called out, “I hope Maddy and Dylan like everything.”

He paused, considered denying it, and, shaking his head, resumed walking.

Small towns were notorious for gossip. Ty thought he’d been doing a decent job disguising his feelings for Maddy.

Apparently, he was wrong.

He picked up the pace as he pulled out of the lot. Lessons with Maddy and Dylan started in thirty minutes. Despite the gossip, he drove a little above the speed limit, eager to see his two favorite girls.