Chapter 21
“This day did not turn out the way I expected.” ~ Harper
Harper
I groan as I lift the keg into place. My muscles are aching, and the day is yet to begin. And it’s going to be a doozy of a day.
Today is the first day of the Moonshine & Merriment Festival. It’s basically an end of the summer party, which culminates with a dance to crown the winner of the sexiest man on the island competition.
I have no interest in the dance, but Rumrunner has a booth set up downtown for the festival today and tomorrow. It’s a great way to earn extra cash since the festival is always packed with tourists.
And those tourists love my Mermaid Moonshine. I basically add blue food coloring and some sprinkles to Smuggler’s Hideaway Moonshine and voilà – Mermaid Moonshine, the tourists can’t get enough of.
Sloane runs toward the booth. “Sorry, I’m late. Boozer was throwing up all over the place this morning. I didn’t want to leave him alone.”
Damnit. I need Sloane today, but if her dog is sick, she can’t leave him alone. “Where is he now?”
“With Pam. She’s the best doggy sitter in the world.”
Phew. Working the festival with two people is hard enough. With one? Practically impossible since people will riot if they can’t get their drink on.
“Good. The keg is hooked up. But we need to prep the moonshine, get the…”
She holds up her hand. “This isn’t my first rodeo.”
We get to work. By the time nine a.m. rolls around – when we are officially allowed to serve alcohol – I’m sweaty and my back is protesting. I can’t wait for Monday morning. Only forty-eight hours to go.
“Incoming smugglers,” Sloane murmurs and I pop up from behind the bar to scan the area.
Kai and Zane are making their way through the crowds toward us. They aren’t too hard to spot since it isn’t too busy yet. Most visitors are still sleeping off their hangovers from Friday night.
“Hey, Slugger,” Kai greets. When he reaches me, he tries to pull me into his arms but I step away from him.
“I’m dirty and sweaty.”
Zane chuckles. “Dirty and sweaty are my favorite things.”
“You would say that,” Sloane mutters .
“Are you saying you don’t enjoy dirty and sweaty?” He waggles his eyebrows.
Sloane rolls her eyes. “I prefer to get dirty and sweaty with someone who hasn’t slept with every mermaid on the island.”
Zane puffs out his chest. “Not every mermaid.”
“Do you even bother to learn their names?”
I give Zane and Sloane my back. I’m not interested in their bickering. Not when Kai is standing in front of me.
“You’re up early for a Saturday morning.”
“I can hardly spend the day working the festival if I’m lazing around in bed.”
“Working the festival? I didn’t realize Buccaneer’s Whiskey has a booth.”
“We don’t.” He bops my nose. “But you do.”
“You want to work in my booth?”
“Yep.”
“Are you feeling well? Slinging drinks for eight hours under the hot sun is not my idea of a fun Saturday.”
“It’s a good thing you won’t be slinging drinks for eight hours then.”
I wipe the sweat off my forehead with the back of my hand. “What will I be doing?”
“We’re here,” Blossom announces as she hurries toward me. She’s holding hands with an adorable little girl while Dakota trails behind her, pushing a baby stroller.
“Holy mermaids!” I squeal. “Is this Pearl and Mira?”
Dakota and Rhett are fostering the two children. There’s a whole story about Dakota wanting to foster children since she grew up in care but I don’t know the details since Dakota never told me and I ignore gossip as much as possible.
“This is Pearl,” Blossom says, and the little girl hides behind her leg. “She’s a bit shy.”
Kai kneels in front of Blossom. “But she’s not shy with her favorite uncle.”
“Uncle Kai!” Pearl throws herself into his arms. He lifts her and flings her in the air.
“Kai,” Dakota growls. “What did I say about throwing my daughter?”
Kai rests Pearl on his hip. “She loves it.” Pearl giggles. She’s adorable.
Kai appears comfortable with a child on his hip. As if he does this all the time. I bet he’d make a great dad. He’d be the goofy dad who the child runs to when I get mad at her.
Whoa. Hold the dolphins! I am not having children with Kai. We’re barely dating. But a baby with his blue eyes would be the most adorable baby in the world.
Stop it. My hormones must be out of whack. I inhale a deep breath and get myself under control.
“Do you want to meet Mira?” Dakota asks as she lifts the baby out of the stroller.
I immediately steal the baby from her. “She’s adorable, Dakota.”
“She’s my sister,” Pearl says.
“You’re very lucky to have a sister,” I tell her.
Kai tickles her. “Brothers are better.”
“Uh oh,” Blossom says. “You’re getting baby fever. ”
I snort. “I am not getting baby fever.”
I glance over at Kai to see his reaction. I wouldn’t mind, he mouths to me.
I ignore him. He’s crazy. “Do you want to hold your niece, Zane?”
He flashes a smile but it doesn’t hide the panic in his gaze. “I’m good. Mira looks happy with you. I should get going.” He scrambles away as fast as he can without breaking into a run.
Dakota frowns at him. I don’t blame her. An uncle should want to cuddle his niece whenever possible.
“What are you up to today?” I ask Blossom.
“We’re here to pick you up.”
“Pick me up?” I motion to my booth. “I’m not going anywhere.”
“I’m working for you today,” Kai says.
“Can I help?” Pearl asks.
He tweaks her nose. “Not this time, baby girl. But you’re going to have a fun day with your mom and Blossom and Harper.”
“Is Harper your girlfriend?”
“Yep.”
“We’re not…” I don’t manage to finish my denial before Pearl asks her next inappropriate question.
“Are you going to marry her like Uncle Jaxon married Aunt Blossom?”
Kai’s gaze clashes with mine. “If I can convince her.”
My heart pounds in my chest. Is he seriously declaring his intention to marry me? We haven’t even had sex yet. What we did at the office of Bootlegger doesn’t count. Maybe sex with him is horrible. Maybe we’re completely incompatible.
“Someone grab the baby before Harper passes out!” Blossom warns.
I glare at her. “I’m not going to pass out.”
She raises her eyebrows. “Really? You’re hyperventilating.”
“No. I’m not.”
“Well, not now since I distracted you from wedding bells.”
Wedding bells? My chest spasms. She’s joking, right?
Dakota lifts the baby from my arms. “She’s teasing you.” She glares at Blossom. “Stop it.”
Blossom shrugs. “What? I want to win.”
“Ignore her. Blossom thinks being competitive is a good trait. What it is, is annoying.”
They must be referring to the stupid bet going around the island about Kai and me. I’m not discussing the bet. And I’m most definitely not discussing marriage or children with Kai. No way. No how.
I might be falling for the man but I’m not ready for any type of commitment. I have too much going on in my life. I want to take things slow.
Kai sets Pearl on her feet. “Have fun today, baby girl.”
“Harper,” Sloane hollers. “We have customers.”
My eyes widen when I notice the line forming at our booth. “Coming,” I start for her but Kai blocks my way.
“I’m serious. I’m working for you today.”
I cross my arms over my chest. “I’m not paying you, Goofy.”
“I didn’t ask to get paid. ”
“You can’t spend the entire day working the booth and not get paid.”
He shrugs. “Okay. Pay me.”
I growl. He knows I can’t afford to pay him. I’m relying on the extra cash from the festival to pay Carl until the VA approves Dad’s application for medical assistance.
He sighs before wrapping his arms around me and drawing me near. “Let me do this for you,” he whispers into my hair. “I want you to have more fun. You work too hard.”
I bristle. “There’s nothing wrong with hard work.”
“And there’s nothing wrong with fun either.”
“Assuming you have time for it.”
“I’m giving you the time.”
“Ugh. Can you stop being perfect?”
Shit. I didn’t mean to say he’s perfect. I blame his smell. When he’s near me, I can’t help but get mesmerized but his scent of whiskey and worn flannel. Like the first night you sleep in someone else’s bed and realize you never want to leave.
He smirks. “I’ll try, but I was born this way.”
“Fine. You can spend the entire day running yourself ragged serving Mermaid Moonshine to all the visitors.”
“Thank you.” He presses his lips to mine in a quick, hard kiss. I lean into him for more but he lifts his head and nudges me toward Blossom and Dakota.
“Who’s ready to watch a pirate fight for his woman?” I ask since I’m apparently not going back to work.
Pearl jumps up and down. “Me! ”
I grasp her hand and lead her toward the main stage. Dakota and Blossom follow me.
Don’t look back. Don’t look back.
I glance over my shoulder. Kai waves and smiles at me.
I want to watch him wave as I leave for work every day for the rest of my life. I am falling entirely too fast for this man. Slow things down, Harper. Slow things down.
He’s a child and will break my heart if I jump into a serious relationship with him. He’s not ready for serious. He might think he is but he’s twenty-four.
No twenty-four-year-old man wants to be serious with a thirty-two-year-old woman. Especially not a thirty-two-year-old woman with a bar to run and a Dad to care for.