Chapter Eight #3
They started walking toward Victor Rogers’s place, and Zach heard Linc ask Kash, “Did you know your mom and I knew each other when we were kids?”
“You did?”
That was the last thing Zach heard before they walked out of earshot. He would’ve loved to witness the reunion between the mean girl and the boy she used to torment, but Marit took that moment to stick her head out of the fort and smile at him.
“This is really a cool fort. Bad Assery, indeed.”
“That wasn’t what we called it growing up,” Zach admitted. “Chad made that name up the first time he found Kash out here.”
“Well, it’s appropriate. And have you seen all the stuff Kash has lugged out here? Books galore and a telescope that looks pretty expensive.”
“Yeah. He’s a pretty special kid,” Zach said . . . and he found that he meant it. He hadn’t spent a lot of time around children, but Kash was easily smarter than any other kid he’d ever met, and Zach enjoyed spending time with him.
“You get everything secured?” he asked Marit.
“Yup.”
“Good. You want to see the rest of Lobster Cove?”
“Absolutely!”
The next hour was spent with Zach showing Marit around the land he grew up on.
He showed her the boat storage facility, then they walked through the smaller of the two rental houses, as the scheduled guests hadn’t arrived yet.
They went down to the auto shop, and she was able to meet Walt and Barry.
They’d been extremely busy ever since Camden, their part-time help, was thrown in jail for kidnapping Zach’s mom and Britt.
But they still took a moment to meet Marit, both of the men extremely friendly and welcoming.
Zach wasn’t ready to share Marit with his mom again yet, so he suggested they walk along the shoreline. “I haven’t shown you the lobster swing,” he said with a smile.
“That’s right! The whole reason we came over,” Marit said with a laugh. “Lead on.”
They walked in comfortable silence toward where the rope swing was attached to a large tree. Zach expected Marit to want to immediately take a turn when they arrived, but she surprised him by asking if they could simply sit on the nearby bench instead.
“I needed today,” she said softly after a moment.
Marit had her hand in his as they sat and stared out at the water. “You okay?”
“Just tired. I mean, I’m usually always tired, but seeing Lucas today, and hearing his awful taunts . . . it reminded me so much of how miserable I was in Portland. I truly don’t understand people, Zach. Why are they so mean? Why can’t they leave me alone?”
“I don’t have any answers for you, Marit.
But I agree. Mom always taught us to mind our own business.
As long as we’re taking care of our own issues and being good human beings, we shouldn’t care what others are doing.
We can’t control them anyway. All we can control is ourselves.
There are so many issues in today’s world that could be solved if people simply minded their own damn business. ”
“So true,” Marit agreed. “I’m not hurting anyone by working on a lobster boat.
I work hard, do the best I can. If I was ever a liability, I’d totally quit.
I’d never put anyone I worked with in danger because of my shortcomings.
I honestly don’t know why Thorne Deaton hates me.
So much so, he’d actually go out of his way to tell people in Rockville not to employ me!
The same with Lucas. I mean, he doesn’t even know me, and yet he felt perfectly justified in spewing all that hateful stuff to me in public.
So, yeah . . . that’s why I’m tired. Tired of fighting so hard to do something I love. ”
“Don’t let them get to you,” he ordered a little gruffly, turning toward Marit on the bench. “I think it’s awesome that you’re doing what you enjoy. Don’t let them take it away from you.”
“I don’t want to. But it’s really hard to do my job day after day, knowing there are people like Lucas and Thorne out there who would love to see me fail.”
“I’ve always liked to cook. From a young age, my favorite thing to do was be in the kitchen with Mom.
I’d put an apron on just like her, and we’d be in there for hours, baking, mixing, cooking.
As I got older, I was a lot like Kash. I worried that I wasn’t manly enough.
My dad took me aside and told me that as long as I enjoyed what I was doing, to hell with what others thought.
Of course, it was easier said than done.
When I joined the Navy, I had thoughts of becoming a Navy SEAL.
With my brothers being badasses in their own right, in their branches of the military, I kind of felt like I needed to go that route.
“That time, it was Linc who sat me down and had a heart-to-heart with me. He asked what would make me happiest if there was anything in the world I could do. And I told him be a chef. He said I was an idiot for even thinking about suffering through what prospective SEALs did, if my heart wasn’t truly in it.
He urged me to talk to my recruiter and go a different route.
To be a CS. A culinary specialist. It wasn’t as impressive as a jet fighter, but I took his advice to heart, and I’m so glad I did.
“My point is . . . you gotta do what’s right for you. What you want. You can’t spend your life trying to please others. You’re great at what you do, Marit. Don’t let those assholes tear you down.”
“You’ve never seen me work,” Marit protested. “You have no idea if I’m good or not.”
“You are,” Zach said with conviction. “If you weren’t, Pearson and Deaton wouldn’t feel so damn threatened by you.” Zach put his hand on Marit’s cheek and gently urged her head around so she had no choice but to meet his gaze.
“You’re funny, sexy, smart, strong, sensual, kind, willing to try new things .
. . and I’m falling hard for you. I’ve never met anyone like you before, and I have a feeling I never will again.
My brothers like you, Kash is halfway in love with you, my mom is all the way in love with you already, and you won Walt and Barry over after being in their presence for five minutes .
. . and trust me, after the shit they’ve gone through with Mom and Dad’s former best friend and his son, that’s impressive.
Screw what those assholes think, Marit. They aren’t worth your time or energy. ”
Her muscles had gradually relaxed as he talked, and she rested her head in his palm. “Thanks,” she whispered.
Zach leaned in and gave her a kiss. “You’re welcome,” he said against her lips.
“I can try to ignore them, but they aren’t going to stop,” she said with a sigh.
“It’ll get old eventually,” he said, although he wasn’t entirely sure he believed that.
It was obvious Marit didn’t either. “Yeah.”
That one word was filled with doubt, but Zach didn’t know what else he could say to make her feel better, or even what he could do besides threaten Pearson to stay away from her.
“For the record . . . I’m very glad you went the cooking route. Because I definitely don’t like it myself.”
Zach chuckled, glad for the change of topic. He didn’t like to see Marit emotionally or mentally tired. Or frustrated. Or scared of someone. And it was obvious there was a bit of fear behind her words. He renewed his mental vow to make Pearson back off for good. Somehow. Someway.
“You want to try out the dish I’m thinking about making for Saturday? It’s one of the busiest days of Lobster Fest, and I need something that’s easy for people to carry and eat.”
“Um . . . duh,” Marit said with a grin. “What’re you making?”
“You said yes before you knew what I was planning on serving,” Zach pointed out.
“Of course I did. Whatever you make will be delicious. I have no doubt.”
“Lobster pot pie with a buttery biscuit topping. I thought I could make them miniature size and put them in little aluminum cupcake-size tins.”
Marit’s stomach growled. Loudly.
She giggled and put a hand over her belly. “Sorry. I swear my stomach is constantly growling around you.”
“Because I’ve done a crap job of making sure you’re fed,” Zach said. “Come on, let’s go say our goodbyes to Mom. Then I’ll take you back to town and make you pot pie for dinner. Unless you want to take a crack at the lobster swing.”
“After all the crate running, I think I’m done being in the water today. Rain check on the swing though. Lobster pot pie sounds perfect right about now.”
Zach went to stand, but Marit stopped him by putting a hand on his arm. He sank back to the bench beside her.
“Thank you. For sharing your home with me and for your words of encouragement. And for just being you. I think you’re pretty amazing yourself.”
This time when Zach kissed her, it wasn’t a short peck of affection.
It was deep, carnal, and it was all he could do to pull back and not take her right there on the bench.
The only thing stopping him was the fact he’d never be able to spend another nice family day at the swing.
Not if he was constantly reminded of having sex with Marit on the very bench where everyone sat while watching the swingers.
“You gonna stay the night again?” Zach couldn’t help but ask as he stared into her eyes.
“If you want me to.”
“I want you to,” he confirmed.
“I have to get up early,” she warned.
“Me too,” he said easily as he stood, taking her hand in his once more. “We fit, Marit. Our schedules, our personalities, our love of lobsters.” He grinned at that. “I really want this to work.”
“Me too,” she said a little shyly.
He liked how she could be shy one moment, and describing just what she wanted to do to him the next. The dichotomy was a turn-on. Made him feel as if he, and only he, got to know the real Marit.