Chapter 63
“ J ump on the front,” Dani says, slowly approaching the pier. Commanding the boat by herself, I smile at how capable she is. She expertly approaches the pier, and as I step onto the front of the boat with my arms full of snacks and drinks, she gently puts it in reverse.
“Very smooth,” I praise, kissing her, happy to see her after a couple of days. I sit across from her captain’s chair and open a bottle of wine. The boat is small and old but well kept up.
“It will take, like, two hours to slowly cruise around the entire lake,” Dani says, looking gorgeous in oversized sunglasses, a strapless hot pink bikini top and bottom with a netted tan cover-up dress over the top.
“You know how to go slow?” I tease.
“Ha!” she mocks. I’ve missed her sass. I hand her a glass of wine, in the same cups she borrowed the day we met. She smiles, also realizing.
“Cheers.” She taps her cup with mine and takes a sip. “I missed you.”
I smile, hearing her say that. “I missed you too.” She bites her lip. “What?” I flirt.
“Very hot casual vibes,” she says, checking out my outfit. “I might steal those Oliver Peoples sunglasses from you.”
I pull the sunglasses off my face, looking at the brand.
Dani knows her brands. “Nikola.” I shrug.
“These are my favorite right now, so tell her to get you your own pair.” She giggles.
“Seriously. If you want them, have her get them.” Relaxing into my seat, I take a sip of the wine.
“The grocery store carries a really nice wine selection.”
“Yeah, the stores all change their inventory in the summer to appeal to the FIBs.” I cock my brow, never hearing this expression before, and she says, “Fucking Illinois Bastards.”
“That’s funny.”
We start our tour of Geneva Lake going along the south shore. “What do you think of these houses?” I ask.
“I think it’s sad that they only get used a few weeks a year.”
I nod, considering how my friends with lakefront homes only use them a couple weeks each summer.
“That’s the governor’s house,” she says, pointing.
“Yeah, I’ve been there a few times.”
“Really?” she asks, her tone going high.
“Especially when he was fundraising.” I wink and hand her a bag of popcorn.
“I can’t believe you haven’t been on the lake yet this summer.”
“I’ve been distracted.”
“Good thing your distraction comes with a boat.”
I smile, loving how witty she is. “So, your parents let you take it when you want?”
“My dad launches it. Otherwise, yeah.”
“That’s nice.” It’s nice that her parents are so caring and still around.
“I love being on the water.”
“My water bug.” I look at the homes along the lake and then ask, “The last couple days … You weren’t working too hard, were you?”
“Were you ?” she asks in her cute, sassy tone.
“Yes, too hard.” Way too fucking hard.
“Same.” The tone she says it in, I can’t tell if that’s good or bad.
“Am I doing a good job getting you clients?” I ask, digging in a little further.
“Too good of a job.”
I smile, then say, “You can retire any time you want, you know.”
“Ha!” She throws a piece of popcorn at me. “I’m very happy for the work. Lots of exciting projects.” She smiles, and I see how happy she is. I love making her happy.
“You feel so far away,” I whine.
“I’m literally two feet from you.”
“I know, but I can’t hold your hand or touch your knee. You’re too far away.”
“Plenty of time for that later, Adam,” she says firmly, then giggles.
As we pass a crowd of boats anchored near a beach, she says, “You know, Big Foot Beach … it’s where the girls and I decided I was going to return the cups and flirt with you.”
“Oh yeah?”
“It’s pretty crazy that I … that we both went for it.”
“I’d say it was one of the best decisions of my life.” I stand to place a kiss on her lips before taking my shirt off. The cutest smile grows on her face. “It’s almost eighty degrees today. So hot!”
“I’d say,” she says, checking me out. “More wine, please.” She extends her cup to me.
“Take the cover-up off, and I’ll refill your glass.”
“So, bossy,” she whispers, the sex dripping in her tone, then slides the cover-up off and tucks it into the side panel.
“Sexiest captain.” I smile, taking in how beautiful she is. “You know … you’ll have to thank Greg.”
“For what?”
“Renting the cottage and shipping me here.” She makes a scrunched face, not liking the idea of thanking him for me being here this summer. “I’ve already thanked him.” I smile.
We both sip our wine, holding a heated stare.
“What do you think of that house?” she asks as we pass a huge stone mansion.
“Not my taste.”
“Nor mine.” She giggles.
“Would you want one of these houses?” I ask, curious.
“Maybe. I don’t know. I hear the taxes are, like, fifty thousand or more a year.”
“Death and taxes, don’t get me started.” I have talked about taxes way too much lately.
Passing the town of Lake Geneva, the piers are filled with tourists walking around.
“What was it like growing up in this area?”
“Weird.”
“Weird?” I press. “I would never describe my hometown as weird.”
“Everyone is normal, but then in the summer, people like you come up here. It’s a strange juxtaposition.” I take a sip of my wine, considering it. That is probably the perfect word to describe it. I love how smart she is.
“Pretty much everyone’s job is related to tourism. No offense, but the FIBs are awful.”
“Aren’t you one?” I tease. She’s been living in Chicago for years, after all.
“I don’t identify as one.” Dani smiles, and fuck, I can’t get enough. I missed her the last couple of days. “So, this is the north shore,” she says in a mock Waspy tone. “The old money of Geneva Lake lives on this side.”
I chuckle since I know three people with houses on this side of the lake. “Are you sure? Two of the three people I know with houses on this side are new money.”
“Historically, it’s the old money side,” she sasses.
The sound of loud music catches my attention. “This boat is getting close to us.”
Dani looks back. “I know these guys!” she says warmly, putting the boat in neutral. “Ben!” she yells.
The guy driving the boat is in his early thirties, and so are the other guys with him. “Dani!” he says, excited to see her. “When are you and your friends coming back into Charlie’s?” I push down how I feel too old for her right now.
“I don’t know. Soon, I’m sure.”
The guy looks at me, then Dani says, “This is Adam.”
“Hey,” he says, and I nod. Then, he looks back at Dani. “So, awkward question for you … Is Kelsey single?”
“Oh my God, is she finally old enough to ride that ride?” Dani squeals in excitement, and he blushes. “She’s single!”
I’m too relieved he’s not interested in her and take a sip of my wine.
“Purple drinks on me the next time you come in,” he says, then drives off.
“Purple drinks?” I ask.
“It’s their signature cocktail. A hangover in a glass.”
I laugh as she puts the boat back in gear and continues our cruise.
Passing Geoff Albert’s house, I send Declan a fast text, wondering what the status of his meetings is.
There goes my relaxation, with my mind now thinking back to work and how much younger Dani is than me.
I take a big sip of my wine, trying to refocus.
We continue past a couple houses until Dani and I both say in unison, “Declan’s.”
Curious, I ask, “Have you ever been?”