Summer with a Billionaire (Love Beach Collection)

Chapter 1

1

A WEEK EARLIER

“ W hat the fuck do you mean?” Beckham’s deep voice boomed through the phone.

Damn, Fletch hated disappointing Beck. But, he had no choice this time. Fletch was well aware of the importance of the upcoming cruise with investors in a few days.

The anger in Beck's voice didn't help matters either. He wasn't afraid of Beck; they'd known each other since they were kids. Counted on each other. Protected each other. Established and grown their company together. So no, he wasn't afraid of him, many people were, but not him.

Beckham was a driven man. Driven to succeed, driven to work harder than most. Driven to make his visions happen. BFR Industries, a multi-billion company, was proof.

“I’m sorry, Beck, but…”

“How badly are you hurt?” Beck interrupted. Fletch heard the concern in Beck’s tone. Once you got through his grumpy, leathery outer shell, he was as soft as the insides of a cream puff. Not many people ever saw that side, leading him to be highly misunderstood. Ruthless many would say.

Which Fletch knew was how Beck preferred it.

“Spiral fracture to my left shin. I’ll likely be out of commission for about eight months. You should see the contraption they have me in.” Fletch learned long ago trying to spin humor on a situation sailed right past Beckham…as it did right now. But, Fletch never failed to try.

“And you did that how?” Beck’s voice was steel.

“You know what happens when I’m dared.” Fletch paused, feeling sheepish for thinking he could manage a skateboard in one of the skate parks without taking a header. He was lucky he hadn't killed himself.

He waited for Beck’s scolding and was surprised when it didn’t come.

“Sorry, boss.” Sure Beck was his boss as owner of the yacht, but both held equal shares in BFR.

“Yeah, yeah. You’re a big boy and know how to handle yourself. Don't call me boss…er…hang on, Fletch.”

Fletch heard Beck’s muted conversation with Rob. He was also a shareholder in BFR and served as CCO - Chief Communications Officer. They met him in high school and it'd been the Three Musketeers ever since. Beck told him what happened.

“What a tool. He should know better by now." Fletch smiled listening to Rob's assessment of his adventures. "That’s how it goes when he’s dared. Luckily he didn't kill himself. Oh, wait…maybe not,” Rob commented and Fletch laughed. Beck chuckled.

They'll never let me live this down.

“I doubt he’ll ever learn. Will you, Fletch? Don’t answer because you can’t teach an old sea dog like you new tricks.”

“I’m not old…just a sea dog," he told him.

Beck laughed and Fletch relaxed. Beck was usually far too serious to laugh, but when he let himself loosen up, he had a great sense of humor.

Beck sighed. “Well, buddy, so what now?” His voice edged with weariness. “If you can’t be here as captain, we’re going to have to postpone the whole thing. Shit. What a nightmare.”

Rob spoke, and Fletch waited until he was done.

This was an important next few weeks. They didn’t need any complications and his broken leg certainly was a complication. After the cruise to the barrier islands, it was final prep provisioning time for the July 4th yacht party. Eight months of organization and there was no way he'd let it fail. BFR's new venture would be finalized by then, if everything went well on the trip to the barrier island BFR acquired.

“Are you pacing?" Fletch asked. Knowing he was — it's what he did when things went down the shitter.

“Fletch, my man, I’m looking at the yacht club, from our mooring at Passion Cove. I’m damn glad you got us here and settled before you decided to be stupid.” Beck was never backward at coming forward.

Fletch chuckled. That's one way of putting it. Intrepid was big and drew too much draft to tie up at the docks, so she was anchored in the protected cove. Intrepid was his baby too. She was huge and impressive, she was his passion and pride wasn't far off with the attention she got wherever they sailed. He'd been with Beck when he'd commissioned her and traveled to Gdansk for the outfitting and launch and inaugural cruise to the Med.

Murmuring in the background continued and Fletch listened.

"It’s not going to work now. No way can we cruise to the barrier islands without him. Rob, how many guests are expected at the party? We'll have to reschedule the inspection as well. Fuck!”

Fletch stayed quiet and waited for an opening to tell them the solution he had to the problem.

“As it stands now, Gail has had 53 RSVPs. Still waiting on more.” Gail was the company event planner and good at her job.

"How many did we invite? I don't want Intrepid overrun with people snooping about." Frustration edged Beck's tone. “Make plans to organize another tender, actually wait. Only one helps with crowd control.”

“Gail already has a second tender arranged, but if you don't want it then we'll cancel it," Rob replied.

"Have it on standby, just in case." Fletch heard the wind through the phone. Beck had gone out to his private deck off his office.

“Is she making alternative plans to replace the cruise to the island? Damn, the investors will be pissed."

“Beck, I've—” Fletch tried to interrupt him.

“Hang on, Fletch,” Beck told him.

Fletch sighed and adjusted his leg to get more comfortable. This leg was going to be a pain in the ass.

“She’s working on it.” Rob's voice was louder, he must be on the deck with Beck.

“How without Fletch?” Beck was getting aggravated, Fletch heard it. "Without a captain, we ain't going nowhere,"

“Beck, I need to tell —

“A moment, Fletch. Rob, get Gail — "

“Beck! Shut up and listen to me a goddamn minute," Fletch shouted.

There was silence. Fletch knew he was the only one that got away with talking to Beck like that. Not to mention Beck needed to hear what he was going to say.

“What?” Beck’s voice was steel.

“Chill, you're getting too wound up. I’ve got it all taken care of. Do you think I'd let it all go to hell in a handbasket? I have arranged a replacement for me.” Fletch waited for a reply knowing full well what he would say. Fletch was prepared for it.

“Replacement captain? Absolutely not. No one but you can be at the helm of Intrepid . It’s not happening." Usually that would put a stop to any further conversation. Not this time.

“But —

“No.” Beck was firm.

“Listen and stop being a dick, Beck. For fuck’s sake, I have a solution." He could be just as firm and stubborn as Beck.

After a moment, Beck said, “Tell me.”

Fletch sighed. “Finally you’ll listen to reason. You're frustrating as hell sometimes. You know that?"

"Fine, fine, I know. But you're still kicking around in my world, aren't you." Fletch heard the smile in Beck's voice. "So who's this captain?"

"Well, I'm not easy to replace, I'll give you that." He drew in a breath. "I trust and trained Mick. Intrepid will be in safe hands. I guarantee it.”

Silence.

“Beck, it’s your only alternative.”

“I want you on board to oversee —

“Not happening. I won’t and don’t need to babysit Mick,” Fletch told him.

Silence again.

“Fine. You’ve never steered me wrong before and I trust you. But, I’m not happy about it.”

“Yeah, whatever. Don’t worry, it’ll all be fine.” Fletch sighed glad that was over.

Before he could say anything more, Beck disconnected.

Now to tell Mick the job was a go. He pressed the number in his contacts. Moments later…

“Hello?"

“Hey, girl, I’ve confirmed the gig for you.”