Chapter 1
Miles – a surfer who still hasn’t figured out how to rectify the biggest mistake he made in his life
Miles
I secure my surfboard under my arm before splashing through the waves onto the shore. I plant the board in the sand and lean over to shake out my hair. Water droplets fly everywhere.
“Hey! You’re getting me all wet,” Kai complains.
I smirk. “I know.”
My brother shoves me. “You’re such a child.”
“Says the child who’s shoving me.”
My oldest brother, Eli, clears his throat. “Can you two behave for five minutes?”
“He started it,” Kai and I respond simultaneously.
Rhett, another one of my brothers, groans. “Act your age.”
I wrinkle my nose. “Sounds boring.”
Zane sighs while Jaxon checks his watch. “Can I leave now?”
I roll my eyes at my brothers. Yes, more brothers. I have five of them – Eli, Rhett, Jaxon, Zane, and Kai. We used to be ‘those Raider brothers’ as in the shit stirring, pranking, fun revelers. But not anymore.
All of my brothers have found love and they’ve become – gag – domesticated. Eli, Rhett, and Zane even have children. While Eli and Rhett’s children were planned for, Zane’s baby was a complete surprise. Some woman he doesn’t remember dropped baby Adele on his doorstep and – boom! – instant dad.
Rhett throws an arm around Jaxon’s shoulders. “No, you can’t leave. It’s the Smugglers’ Blaze.”
The Smugglers’ Blaze isn’t any old New Year’s Eve bonfire. It’s a glorified excuse for the entire island to gather on the sand, drink moonshine that should require a warning label, and pretend they’re sending the year’s mistakes up in smoke.
“I’m ready to say goodbye to this year,” I mutter.
Watching all of my brothers fall in love while the woman I want won’t give me the time of day has not been my idea of a fun year.
Rhett grins. “Let’s do this.”
He hands out shot glasses before pulling a bottle of moonshine out of his bag.
Jaxon fiddles with his glasses. “I thought we agreed to say goodbye to the year with my new Christmas whiskey.”
Jaxon is the master distiller of Buccaneer’s Whiskey & Distillery, the distillery Eli founded after becoming a billionaire. Eli insisted his brothers were the only people he wanted to manage the brewery with him and, now, we all work there.
Jaxon loves it. He couldn’t wait to start developing whiskeys and moonshine. He’s extremely anal about his work. The nerd. But he is freaking fabulous at his job.
Unlike me. I’m the sales manager and I don’t suck at it but it’s not the job I want to be doing. I should be traveling the world on the surfing pro tour. Instead I’m stuck on this island working an office job.
Don’t get me wrong. I surf as often as I can. I even give surfing lessons to tourists in the summer. But it’s not the same as going pro – riding the biggest waves in the world while everyone watches.
My shoulder aches to remind me of why I’m trapped working an office job. I injured my rotator cuff at my first professional surfing event in Hawaii. I worked my ass off at rehab but I never re-gained the strength needed to be a professional surfer.
“It’s traditional to drink moonshine at the Smugglers’ Blaze,” Eli says before lifting his shot glass. “Here’s to the ones who sank their ships, lost their hearts, and still showed up for last call.
May next year bring smoother seas, stronger drinks, and fewer regrets — though not too few.”
“Smugglers!” We shout before downing our shots.
Rhett quickly refills our glasses. “To bad ideas that turned into good stories, to moonshine that burned just right, and to the fools who keep coming back for more. May the new year find you not older, but wiser.”
“To good stories!”
The moonshine burns as I drink the second shot but it’s doesn’t stop me from holding out my glass for a refill.
“To another year of bad ideas, good liquor, and the kind of family you can’t outrun — no matter how far you surf!” I shout before downing the third shot.
“I’m done,” Kai announces. “I’m helping Harper at the Rumrunner booth.”
I roll my eyes. Of course, he is. Harper is his girlfriend.
She’s also the owner of the speakeasy – Rumrunner.
But the bar isn’t open tonight since everyone on the island is on the beach.
Instead, she set up a booth near the boardwalk to sell liquor until the crowd gets too rowdy and she shuts it down.
Eli rubs his hands together. “Time to light the bonfire.”
I glance behind me at the fire structure.
It’s piled high with Christmas trees. It’s tradition to take down your tree on the thirty-first of December and bring it to the beach.
I didn’t bring my tree. Mostly because I didn’t have a Christmas tree.
There’s no sense decorating for the holiday when you’re alone.
My stomach sours. Being alone is not my choice. Unfortunately, there’s only one woman for me and she won’t give me the time of day.
I really screwed up with Hazel. We were high school sweethearts but when the chance arose to participate in a pro surfing event in Hawaii, I couldn’t dump her fast enough. I didn’t want to be tied down to this island.
Joke’s on me. I ended up injured and returned to the island with my tail between my legs. I should have run to her and begged her for forgiveness. But I was a fool. Too ashamed of my behavior and upset about losing the career I’d always dreamed of to do the right thing.
The crowd begins to chant, and I force thoughts of the past away.
“Blaze it! Raise it! Rum can’t faze it!” The crowd repeats as Eli makes his way to the pile of Christmas trees and driftwood.
“I’m getting my baby girl home before it gets dangerous,” Zane announces before stomping toward the Rumrunner booth where his girlfriend, Sloane, is helping Harper set up with his baby Adele strapped to her front.
At least, Eli, Rhett, and Jaxon aren’t running away – yet. Someone hands Eli a wooden torch, and Rhett helps him light it.
“All right, you glorious bunch of rum-soaked misfits.” Eli lifts the lit torch in the air. “It’s time to torch the past and toast the future. Here’s to bad ideas, good stories, and one hell of a hangover. Let’s set this year on fire!”
“Set the year on fire! Set the year on fire!” The crowd chants as Eli throws the torch at the pile. It catches fire and within seconds Smugglers’ Blaze is burning bright.
“Welp. I’ve done my duty. Time to get my family home.” Eli searches the beach. He smiles when his gaze lands on Paisley and their baby daughter Stephanie. He doesn’t bother to say goodbye before making a beeline to them.
“If you get arrested, I’m not bailing you out until tomorrow morning,” Rhett declares before making his way toward Dakota and their two children – Pearl and Mira.
“Yes, well.” Jaxon clears his throat before backing away.
“I thought Blossom would enjoy the bonfire.”
Unlike Jaxon whose face can be found next to the entry for ‘introvert’ in the dictionary, his wife, Blossom, is an extrovert who loves fun. The two couldn’t be more opposite.
“She didn’t come. She isn’t feeling well.”
“She’s not pregnant, is she?”
Jaxon fiddles with his glasses.
“Oh shit. I was joking.” I hold out my hand. “Congrats, brother.”
He shakes his head. “She’s not pregnant. Yet.”
I drop my hand. “I didn’t know you were trying.”
He shrugs. “We’re not, not trying.” He nods toward the boardwalk. “Anyway, I’m off. And you should get out of your wet suit.”
I glance down. I forgot I was wearing a wet suit. I wear one so often, it’s practically a second skin to me. But it’s no fun having to pee while wearing one. And since I’m planning to do more drinking tonight, I should probably change.
I grab my board before making my way toward my surf shack. This is where I keep my surfboards and other equipment for giving surfing lessons. I also keep extra clothes in here.
I quickly change into warmer clothes. I grab a beer from the fridge before locking up and meandering toward the bonfire.
I scan the crowd. Almost every inhabitant from Smuggler’s Hideaway is here. Except my brothers who bailed early on me.
Last year we closed this bonfire down. I also had the worst hangover on New Year’s Day and nearly threw up in the ocean during the Salty Dip, but it was worth it.
Things are changing for the Raider brothers and I don’t approve at all. With five brothers, I’m not used to being alone but alone is exactly what I am.
My gaze catches on long, red hair. Hazel. Anticipation barrels through me as my fingers tingle with the desire to touch her.
I finish my beer and throw the bottle in the trash before strolling toward her.
Maybe I don’t have to be alone this New Year’s Eve after all.