Chapter Twenty-Three
Wells
“What do you think?” Victory asks as she comes out of the dressing room at Oceanside Boutique on Main Street, looking like a million laid-back bucks in cutoffs and a light blue tank top that brings out her eyes and has I Chilled on Silver Island printed above a silhouette of a lighthouse, waves, and two birds flying over the water.
This is the second outfit she tried on. The first was just as gorgeous, though dressier.
“You look dangerously sexy.” Her hair is loose, untamed waves spilling over her shoulders, just the way I love them, and the smile she’s been sporting all morning is another new one.
She not only looks happier and more relaxed than ever, but she also has a bounce in her step that wasn’t there before.
Seeing her come out from under the weight of her secrets is like watching her bloom to life again, and it’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.
I draw her into my arms and lower my voice. “Keep looking at me like that and you’re going to land right back in my bed.”
She taps my chest. “That is not a threat, my friend.”
We slept in and spent the morning loving on each other before heading into town.
“Good.” As I press my lips to hers, her hand flattens on my chest, and I wonder if I’ve embarrassed her and she’s going to put distance between us. But her fingers curl into my T-shirt, keeping me close.
When our lips part, she says, “If they’re going to talk about us, we might as well give them something to talk about.”
“Who?”
“Anyone and everyone,” she says cheekily.
“I like the way you think.” As I lean in to kiss her again, I spot the owner of the boutique headed our way.
“Wells Silver, I thought that was you.” Mrs. Smythe, a short, stout brunette, says. She gives Victory an appreciative once-over. “I see you brought a friend, and she found one of my favorite tanks.”
“Mrs. Smythe, this is my girlfriend, Victory.” Girlfriend rolls out full of pride, and I fucking love the way it feels to claim her. As I put my hand on her back, her smile tells me she’s into it, too. “Mrs. Smythe owns this boutique.”
“Hi,” Victory says. “I love your shop.”
“Thank you. It obviously loves you, too,” she says kindly. “You were made for that outfit. You look beautiful.”
“Thanks.”
“I was in Trista’s café this morning getting coffee, and the air was buzzing about our Wells being hit by Cupid’s arrow,” Mrs. Smythe says. “I’m happy to see it’s true. They don’t make ’em any sweeter than this young man.” She touches my arm.
“I agree,” Victory says. “I’m a lucky lady.”
“Don’t let her fool you. I’m the lucky one.” I go for a change of subject before things get awkward. “How is your granddaughter?”
“Missy is a hoot,” Mrs. Smythe says. “And your nephew, little Stevie?” She puts her hand over her heart. “What a doll baby he is. Maybe one day you two will give him a cousin.”
Jesus. “How about we make it through the weekend first?”
Amusement rises in Victory’s eyes.
“Of course. I didn’t mean to push,” she says. “It just comes naturally when I talk about grandbabies. I’d like to have a house full of them. But enough about me and my nana needs. Is there anything I can help you find, Victory?”
“I was about to take a look at your footwear,” she says.
“And a bathing suit,” I add. “Something skimpy.”
“ No ,” Victory says with a playful lilt in her voice. “Something not too skimpy, please, or knowing this guy, we’ll never leave the boat.”
“That’s a good problem to have, honey,” Mrs. Smythe says. “Let’s start with footwear. Are we dressing the outfit up with wedges or strappy sandals or keeping it casual?”
“I’m here for the weekend and looking at other outfits, too, so maybe a cute sandal and something comfortable for knocking around town.”
“I think we’ve got just the thing. Come this way.” As we follow her to the footwear, she says, “We got a shipment of the cutest Keds slingbacks yesterday, and we have an array of strappy sandals.”
Victory’s eyes shimmer with delight. “You had me at Keds.”
When we leave the shop, Victory is wearing new lingerie, which I can’t wait to strip off her, the outfit she tried on, and white slingback Keds with navy polka dots. We bought two more shorts outfits, more lingerie, sandals, a sexy pink bikini, and a breezy white skirt.
“I love that woman,” Victory says.
“You love that she had Keds,” I tease, taking her hand.
“That was a definite bonus, but I like that she knows you so well. It’s nice.”
“Silver Island, where everyone knows your name and your business.”
Main Street is bustling with tourists. Open flags wave by the entrances of shops, and window boxes are overflowing with colorful flowers.
“Isn’t that Leni’s sister, Jules?” Victory asks as we head down the sidewalk.
I look around the family in front of me and see Jules standing next to a stroller, putting sunglasses on one of the two iron giraffes by the entrance to her gift shop, the Happy End. Red balloons dance from strings tethered to the giraffes, matching the red-framed picture windows on the shop.
“Yeah. That’s her gift shop.”
“I know. I went in with Leni last time I was here. She has the cutest stuff.”
Jules looks up as we approach. “Hey, you guys!” Her hair is pinned up in her signature water fountain on top of her head, and she looks cute in shorts and a flowy top. “Bellamy told me your secret .”
“It’s not much of a secret anymore, Jules.” I lift our joined hands.
“Good! I’m so happy for you!” Jules hugs me. Then she hugs Victory and lowers her voice like she’s sharing a secret. “I have been pulling for you two since the holiday party. Sparks were flying , and at Sutton’s wedding I thought for sure you’d end up together.”
“I tried to escape his charm, but he was relentless,” Victory says.
“Don’t listen to her, Jules. She practically stalked me.”
“I did not .”
“Well, I don’t care who did the stalking,” Jules says. “I’m just glad you’re together and happy.”
“Is that Stevie?” Victory peers into the stroller. Stevie is lying on his back in a white-and-blue striped onesie. He yawns, and his tiny fingers curl into fists. “Look, Wells. He’s even more precious than his pictures.”
“That’s Uncle Wells, thank you very much. Jules, is it okay if I pick him up?”
“Always,” Jules says cheerily. “He loves his uncles.”
“Hey, little buddy,” I say as I pick him up and tuck him into the cradle of my arm. I tickle his belly, and he pulls his tiny legs up. “I want you to meet someone special.” I glance at Victory, and she’s watching me with a dreamy expression, shaking her head. “What?”
She waves a finger at me. “This whole you -with-a-baby thing is…” She puts her hand over her heart and sighs.
Damn, that feels good.
Jules giggles. “He looks good with a baby, doesn’t he?”
“Ridiculously good. Would you mind if I hold him?”
“It’s only fair.” Jules eyes me. “Wells, give my sweet little one to your sweetheart and see how fast your heart goes thumpity thump thump .”
As I hand Victory the baby, I say, “She already makes my heart go…” My words are lost as Victory nuzzles Stevie’s cheek. Her eyes are closed, and she has the most serene expression on her face.
Hell if my heart isn’t doing something funky.
I think back to the way she looked at the kids when we were at the aquarium, and on the heels of that comes yesterday’s grief-stricken confession.
I started feeling like I might want kids one day, and I’ve been burying those feelings.
But then I met you, and…I just feel so guilty .
“See?” Jules says gleefully.
Victory lifts her face, and something in her eyes tells me we’re both tumbling down the same hill, and I ache to reach the bottom first, so I can catch her.
We stop at Rock Bottom on the way to the marina to pick up lunch, and while we’re there, I show her around and introduce her to the staff. She’s her usual easygoing self, and I can tell she likes meeting everyone.
“There’s something to be said about seeing you in your element as a caring and effective boss,” she says as we head to my office.
“You might have to visit more often.”
“Aren’t you worried I’ll dole out demands to your chef?”
I can’t believe she remembers that. “I wouldn’t care if you did.” I tug her into a kiss.
“Guess you’re not cranky anymore,” Meghan says as she comes down the hall.
I texted her this morning to let her know I was taking the weekend off and would be available by phone for emergencies.
“Way to call a guy out.” I put my hand on Victory’s back.
“Victory Braden, this is Meghan Young, our ever-efficient manager. Meghan is the reason I’m able to open a second restaurant. ”
“It’s nice to meet you, Meghan.”
“You as well.” Meghan smiles. “I was hoping I’d get to meet the woman who swept Wells off his feet last night. It’s all anyone could talk about.”
“Sorry. I didn’t mean to cause a scene,” Victory says.
“Don’t apologize,” Meghan reassures her. “If any guy is worth a scene, it’s Wells. You guys have fun this weekend, and don’t worry about a thing. I’ve got this place covered. I have to get back to work. It was great meeting you, Victory.”
When we get to my office Victory says, “So this is where you put on your boss hat.”
“You could say that.”
“I like it.” She checks out the photographs. “I love this picture of everyone together. That has to be Olivier.” She points to him. “He looks as kind as you described him to be.”
“He was.”
She walks over to the window and looks out at the water. “I bet this view never gets old.”
“It sure doesn’t,” I say, referring to her.
She saunters toward me. “I was talking about the water.”
“It doesn’t compare to your ass in those shorts.”
“You have a one-track mind, Silver.” She eyes the desk and the leather couch. “How many women have you had your way with in here?”
“None.” I draw her into my arms and kiss her neck. “But I’ve thought about bending you over my desk many times.” Her breath hitches, and I brush my lips over hers. “And watching you ride my cock on that couch too many times to count.”
Her eyes flame. “Well, I am here all weekend.”
“I fucking love”— you —“the way you think.” I seal my mouth over hers, kissing her until she melts against me. It takes everything I have not to lock my door and take her right here and now, but we have other plans, so I whisper, “Soon.”
We drive down to the marina. Victory grabs her shopping bag, and I snag my backpack with our toiletries and my clothes since we’re spending the night on the boat. There’s a warm breeze coming off the water as we make our way down to the docks.
Roddy is talking with Grant, Fitz, Brant, and Archer outside the harbormaster’s office. The Remingtons have owned the marina for several generations, and Roddy runs it.
They glance over as we approach, and Roddy says, “You two look like you’re ready for a day on the water.”
“We’re going to boat around the island,” I say. “You all remember Victory.”
“We sure do,” Roddy says as Grant and Fitz say, “It’s nice to see you again.”
Archer lifts his chin. “How’s it going?”
“It’s great to see you again, Victory,” Brant says.
“Thanks. It’s nice to be here,” she says.
“Is something going on down here?” I ask. “I didn’t expect to run into everyone.”
“Nah,” Grant says. “We’re just shooting the shit. I’m helping Brant fix a boat today, and Roddy was giving us his two cents.”
“Which is worth about half that,” Roddy says with a chuckle.
“I came down to talk to Archer and found him giving these guys a hard time,” Fitz says.
Archer cocks a grin. “It’s the highlight of my day. Wells, are you going to the bonfire tonight? Sutton and Flynn should be in town by then.”
“Yeah, I think so,” I say.
“I’m looking forward to it, and it’ll be nice to see my brother,” Victory says. “Are all of you going to be there?”
“Not me. I have a hot date with my missus,” Roddy says.
Victory smiles. “Good for you. I look forward to seeing Gail again at Leni’s wedding.”
“She’s looking forward to seeing you, too,” Roddy says.
“The rest of us will be there tonight with our better halves,” Brant says.
“Except Fitz,” Archer says. “He’s still learning how to pick up women.”
The guys laugh.
Fitz scoffs. “I’m single by design.”
I slide my arm around Victory, earning a sweet smile, and say, “I highly suggest you think about changing that. We’ll see you later. I want to head out before it gets too late.”
“Did you warn her about your boating skills?” Archer asks.
“Archer.” I shoot him a warning stare.
Grant winces. “That means he didn’t.”
Fitz sidles up to Victory and whispers, “Wear your life jacket,” and makes an okay sign with his fingers.
Victory laughs. “You guys are relentless.”
“We’ll see if you’re still laughing when you get back,” Brant says.
“ If she gets back,” Grant says.
“We haven’t seen Kitchen Kelly since she pulled that stunt at the restaurant and Wells coaxed her out on his boat,” Fitz says.
“ Jesus ,” I grit out.
“Don’t forget about Peppermint Patty,” Archer says.
“Who’s that?” Victory asks.
I grit out, “ Nobody .”
“She was another clingy girl,” Grant says. “But Wells knows how to take care of them. They go out on his boat, and they rarely come back.”
Victory looks at me curiously, and I shake my head.
“Don’t let this whole gentleman in the streets thing fool you like he fools the police,” Fitz says. “He’s got a long history of being a freak in the sheets.”
She meets my brother’s gaze and says, “I happen to like his freakiness.”
And I fucking love you . “That’s my girl.”
“More power to ya, but word on the street is that he keeps trophies from the ones who don’t return,” Archer says.
Roddy tugs on his earlobe and mouths, Earrings.
The guys all nod with cautionary expressions.
“ Jesus , you guys. We don’t have time for this crap. Let’s go, sweets.” We head for my boat.
“Don’t forget the life jacket!” Fitz calls out after us.
I flick him the bird without turning around.
“You kids be safe out there,” Roddy hollers.
“Always,” I call out, and pull Victory closer. “Especially with precious cargo on board.”
“More precious than Kitchen Kelly?”
“She was never on my boat, and before you ask, Peppermint Patty was a girl who had a crush on me in seventh grade. She gave me Peppermint Patties every day at lunch, and her family moved away the following year. The guys just like to give me shit.”
“I figured as much. It was fun to see you getting worked up, glaring at your friends, that muscle in your jaw jumping as you grit your teeth.”
“I’d prefer to get worked up with you.” I tug her into a kiss, and the idiots whistle and cheer.
“I grew up with brothers. I’ve got this.” She turns around and takes a bow, then blows them a kiss, earning more shouts and whistles.