Only for the Season (The Raider Brothers)

Chapter 1

Jeremy – a billionaire who’s beginning to regret his decision to visit Smuggler’s Hideaway for the holidays

Jeremy

“Turn left in fifty feet on Treasure Trap Trail.”

“Left? Where? Treasure Trap Trail?” I search the area, but there’s no road to the left. There’s only a dirt trail. Am I supposed to drive on it?

“Turn left here.”

“I’m turning already.”

I’m also talking to my GPS as if it’s human. I blame my isolation for the past weeks, trying to get this new app developed for my company, Apparoo. It’s been tough not having anyone to talk to. But I also haven’t vented my frustration on anyone, so HR should be happy with me.

My rental car bumps down the dirt road. Why in the world does Eli live on a dirt road? As the co-founder of Apparoo, he has enough money to pave all the roads on this island.

Why the hell does he want to live on Smuggler’s Hideaway anyway? An island is nice for a vacation. Not as somewhere to live.

Baa!

“Shit!” I yell and slam on the brakes before I hit the sheep in the middle of the road. Where the hell did it come from?

My heart batters in my chest as the car screeches to a halt inches from the animal. I’m not an animal lover, but I don’t want to kill some innocent beast.

I wait, but it doesn’t move. I honk my horn. The sheep still doesn’t move.

Great. Just what I need.

I roll down my window and shout at it. “Move on. Get out of here.”

Awesome. Now I’m shouting at some random sheep on a dirt road in the middle of nowhere. Can this day get any worse?

The sheep starts to move. Good. I can get out of here. But instead of wandering away, it turns around to fully face me. Baa!

Damnit. I fold out of the car.

“Go! Move!”

Baa!

“Don’t you baa me. This is a road for cars. Not a road for animals.”

Baa!

Screw this. I’m not getting into a fight with a sheep. I climb back in the car. There’s no way Eli lives on this road. I’ll turn around and drive back into town to get directions.

I turn the steering wheel fully to the left to drive across the road. I barely make it a foot before I reach the edge. Shit. Turning around on this narrow road is going to be impossible. I’ll have to reverse the entire way.

Stupid sheep. Stupid island. Stupid app I can’t figure out how to program.

I slowly reverse down the road. The sheep continues to bleat as I drive.

“I’m going already!” I shout at it.

I’m almost at the main road when I notice a man walking through the field. Is he the sheep herder? Do sheep herders still exist? Whatever.

“Hey!” I shout to get the man’s attention.

He waves and continues on his way.

“Hey!” I shout again. “Can you help me?”

He switches direction and makes his way toward me. “Your fancy car break down?” He lifts his ball cap to scratch his forehead. “I’m not any good with cars but my brother is. Do you want me to call him?”

“The car is fine, but I’m lost.”

He smirks. “I kind of figured as much when I saw you driving down the animal trail.”

“Animal trail?”

His nose wrinkles as he stares down at me. “A trail for animals.”

I growl. “I know what an animal trail is.”

“You seemed confused.”

“Because my GPS sent me down this road.”

“GPS doesn’t work on Smuggler’s Hideaway.”

I frown. “GPS works everywhere unless the signal is obstructed or weakened. This includes indoors due to thick walls or metal roofs, underwater, underground, or in areas with dense tree coverage.”

He lifts his hands in the air. “Okay, Mr. GPS Expert. You believe what you want to, but I’m telling you, GPS doesn’t work on Smuggler’s Hideaway.”

This is ridiculous. There aren’t GPS black holes. It’s a—

What am I doing? Arguing with a sheep herder about how GPS works is not going to help me find Eli’s house.

“Do you know Eli Raider?”

“Maybe.”

“I’m trying to find his house.”

His eyes narrow. “You’re not a reporter, are you?”

“I am not a reporter.”

He studies me for a moment before nodding. “Okay. You take a left here. Drive about half a mile. Turn right at the mermaid monument. His house is at the end of the street. You can’t miss it.”

“Thank you.”

“Welcome to Smuggler’s Hideaway,” he replies before ambling away.

I finish reversing down the animal trail – I should have known something was up when the GPS called the road the Treasure Trap Trail – and take a left. I drive half a mile, and sure enough, there’s a mermaid monument.

I turn right. I frown when I notice the sign for Mermaid Mystical Gardens.

I don’t know what mystical gardens are, but it appears I’m going to find out anyway.

Less than a minute later, the road opens onto a parking lot.

Not a small parking lot for Eli’s house. A huge parking lot filled to the brim.

I pull to the side. Crowds are making their way to the entrance of what appears to be an amusement park.

What the hell? Did the sheep herder send me on a wild goose chase?

Enough of this. I was trying to surprise Eli with my visit. He invited me to celebrate Thanksgiving with his family. I initially told him no, but then I got stuck on the coding of the new app and needed a break.

I thought a trip to Smuggler’s Hideaway would get the creative juices flowing again. Not thus far.

I dial Eli’s number and listen to the phone ring over the speakers. And ring. And ring.

“You’ve reached Eli Raider.”

I hit disconnect. His voicemail won’t give me directions to his house.

I whirl the car around and drive toward Smuggler’s Rest – the town I drove through when I first arrived on the island. Someone there must know Eli and where he lives. The place isn’t very big after all. And Eli is a billionaire.

When I arrive at the main shopping street, I notice most of the stores are already closed. I search for any business with its lights on. Aha! There.

I park in front of the building. Pirate’s Pastries. Is everything on this island pirate or mermaid themed?

I frown when I reach the door. The lights are on, but the sign says ‘closed’.

I knock on the door. I wait but when no one answers, I knock again and shout, “Hello! Is anyone in there?”

The door behind the counter swings open, and a woman hurries out.

Her cheeks are flushed, flour dusts her hair like a scattering of snow, and the messy pile of hair on top of her head shows off the graceful line of her neck and the sharp cut of her cheekbones.

As she comes closer, I notice the clear, bright blue of her eyes and the playful tilt of her nose.

My gaze drops to her body. She has curves for days. Another man might think she’s chubby, but I think she’s perfect. Things are looking up.

She points to the sign. “We’re closed.”

“I just have a question.”

“If it’s about your order, it’ll be ready on time.”

“It’s not about an order.”

She plants her hands on her hips. “What’s it about?”

I point to the door. “Can you open this up?”

She frowns. “Do I look like an idiot to you?”

“No.”

“Then, you should understand why I’m not opening up the door to a strange man I’ve never met before.”

“I’m not here to hurt you.”

“Said by every man in the world seconds before he decides to hurt someone. Usually a woman.”

“Fine,” I grumble. “Can you give me directions to Eli Raider’s house?”

Her eyes narrow. “Do you know Eli?”

“He’s my friend.” I’m not telling her my name. I don’t need another woman to fall all over me because of my money. Been there. Done that. Have the t-shirt to prove it.

“Sorry, friend, I can’t give you directions.”

“You don’t know where he lives?”

“Not what I said.”

“I have his address. I just need directions because apparently, GPS doesn’t work on this Podunk island.”

“If we’re such a Podunk island, you’ll be able to find his house on your own.”

“I tried. A sheep tried to kill me and then some sheep herder sent me to an amusement park.”

She giggles, and despite how annoyed I am, I can’t help but think the sound is lovely. “Call Eli. If you’re such good friends, he’ll give you directions.”

“I tried. He’s not answering his phone.”

She digs into the pocket of her apron. She pulls a measuring spoon, pastry brush, and sifter out before shouting, “Aha!” and flourishing her phone. She puts the phone on speaker before dialing.

“Hey, Parker. What’s up?” Eli answers.

“Your so-called friend is here and he can’t find your house.”

He groans. “You know what to do.”

“Gotcha.” She hangs up.

I smile at her. “Directions, please.”

She smirks. “Sure. You drive out of town for about a mile and turn right at the mermaid statue.”

I groan. She’s sending me on a wild goose chase. The same way the sheep herder did.

“What is wrong with the people on this island?”

“Maybe you should leave the island and then you won’t have to deal with us.” With those words, she pivots on her heel and marches away.

I bury my face in my hands. Why did I think visiting Eli would help me get over my coder’s block? Things aren’t looking up after all.