Chapter 27
NATALIE
Yesterday had inspired me. I couldn’t stop thinking about how to do better.
After feeling the wheel in my hand and the boat gliding across the water, I wanted to tweak a few things.
I couldn’t believe it had taken me this long to figure out I was failing my customers by not actually using the craft I was designing.
There was one design that had been sitting in a file for quite a while.
I always knew there was something missing.
I just wasn’t sure what that was. I knew now.
After yesterday, I knew exactly what I needed to do to fine tune the plans.
I was going to be sending them on to the shop as soon as I was confident the design was perfect.
I would start marketing it as soon as things got underway.
When I woke up this morning, it was with a newfound lease on life. The last few years almost felt wasted. I couldn’t believe I’d been living in my own self-imposed prison for so long. Stepping onto the boat had been pretty amazing. Diving into the water had been the removal of the shackles.
I hated that I let fear hold me prisoner. My father would be disappointed to know I’d let his death kill a part of me. Everyone in my life told me it would be a shame to let the accident destroy my love of water.
I rubbed my eyes and blinked several times to clear my vision.
I’d been staring at my rough sketches and the computer screen all day.
It was late and I should have probably gone home an hour ago when Hux left.
He told me one of the guys was in the shop finishing up some sanding and staining.
I was happy to see the men Hudson hired being so committed to the job.
There was a knock on my office door. “Come in,” I called out.
“You’re still here,” a man said.
I glanced up to see the guy that had been just a little too pushy at the bar the other night. I had no idea he was the one who had stayed behind. I probably would have left with Hux had I known.
“I am. I’m just finishing up. Were you the one working in the shop?”
“That’s me,” he said, smiling.
I forced a smile. “Are you all finished?”
“I am,” he said. “You?”
“Just about.”
He walked in without invitation and sat down in one of the chairs. “I was just working on one of your boats. I put on the first coat of stain for that little one.”
“Oh, good.”
“How many of these have you put together?” he asked.
He wasn’t asking anything out of the ordinary.
It was typical conversation. There was nothing to be alarmed by.
But there was a warning in the back of my mind.
A little voice kept telling me I should leave.
The voice was relentless, even after I surveyed the situation.
There was nothing wrong. I talked with Hux all the time after hours. This was a normal conversation.
“I have designed maybe fifty,” I answered. “Unfortunately, it isn’t always the best business decision to build a boat that hasn’t sold.”
“Have the boats in the shop been sold?”
“Most,” I said, nodding.
“I don’t think I’ve ever met a woman that is passionate about boats,” he said. “But you don’t sail?”
“Actually, I think I’ll be picking it up again,” I replied.
“I’d love to go out on a long trip with you,” he said. “We could pack some food, drinks, and set off on our merry way.”
“I don’t think that is going to happen,” I said.
“Why not?” he said, shrugging. “Is there a boyfriend that is going to be jealous?”
“I just don’t see myself taking a journey,” I said. “I have a job. I can’t just leave.”
“I’m sure the men around here can live without you,” he said. “It’s not like you’re the head of sales or actually building the boats. You make your plans and pass them along.”
I didn’t like the way he was diminishing what I did. I knew I was a crucial part of the process. No, I didn’t sell boats. No, I didn’t singlehandedly build boats, but I was important.
“I think you are confused about how boats get built,” I said in a tight voice. “You can’t just walk into the shop and slap together some wood and fiberglass and get a boat. There are specific measurements. I matter.”
“Someone is a little touchy,” he said, laughing. “Let me buy you a drink to make up for the insult, which was unintentional.”
“No thank you,” I said. “I’m going to work a little longer.”
“I thought you were finished?”
The warning was back. It was more of a gong, banging against the back of my head.
Staying was not a good option. Staying meant I would be alone with him.
This was one of the problems I had in life.
I created safe spaces and getting me to leave those spaces was next to impossible.
I knew for certain I was one of the people in the freeze category when it came to a life or death situation.
I was not a fighter or someone that could run.
“I’m finishing up,” I said. “Why don’t you go ahead and go? I’ll lock up.”
“I’ll stay with you,” he said. “I don’t want to leave you alone.”
“I’ve been alone here plenty,” I said. “I’m fine. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
I was trying to keep my voice calm. I didn’t want him to know I was uncomfortable. This might be nothing. This could be me being paranoid. I wasn’t used to having this kind of attention. Most men looked through me. They didn’t look at me and think they wanted to have me in their bed.
He got up from the chair and walked around the desk. He leaned his ass against the edge while looking down at me. “I would like to take you for a drink.”
“Thank you, but no thanks.”
“Because I’m an employee or because you don’t go out with guys that have done some time?” he questioned.
My eyes popped up. “What?”
Hudson promised anyone he brought on was not dangerous. My mind was reeling with possibilities. What exactly did he do time for? Was he going to hurt me? My mouth was dry, but I was afraid to lick my lips. He might take that as an invitation.
He laughed like there was something funny. “Relax, I was kidding. Mostly. I served a little time, but not for anything serious. I got a little drunk and had a little too much fun. Your body is safe from me. Unless you don’t want your body to be safe from me.”
I frowned at him. Now, he was pissing me off. “You should go. I have to finish up.”
“Natalie, I’m only joking,” he said. “I’m not trying to start anything. I’ll walk you home.”
“Not a chance,” I said.
I shut off my computer and stuck my sketches in my black binder.
I zipped it closed and got to my feet. There was nothing I needed to do that couldn’t wait until tomorrow.
I wasn’t going to get shit done at this point anyway.
He had me flustered and ill at ease. My very vivid imagination was plotting out a number of scenarios.
None of them ended with me being unviolated.
“I’m sorry,” he said. “Am I making you uncomfortable?”
He was still leaning against my desk. The office was small. In order for me to get to the door, I was going to have to go over his legs. He knew that. I had no doubt in my mind that was why he was doing what he was doing. He was purposely making me uncomfortable, which really pissed me off.
“I’m going,” I said. “You need to leave as well. I have to lock up.”
“Alright,” he said and stood to his full height.
He wasn’t as tall as Hudson, but he was big enough. I walked to the door and stepped out of the office. He slowly made his way out. “Is the shop locked?” I asked.
“I’m not sure,” he answered. “I can check.”
“No, I’ll do it. You can go.”
I left my stuff on the front desk before heading to the door that would lead out to the shop.
I expected him to leave while I locked up.
I was glad I came into the shop. The back door was unlocked.
I was going to assume that was an accident on Huxley or Hudson’s part.
My overactive imagination was imagining it as a setup for someone to get back in after hours.
“This is my favorite,” Trey said from behind me.
I jumped two feet in the air and spun around. I never heard him coming. “What are you doing?” I snapped.
His hand was running along the hull of one of the boats. “I was making sure you were okay.”
“I’m fine.”
I moved to step around him. He stepped to the side and blocked me. “What are you doing?” I asked.
“I think you have the wrong idea,” he said.
“I’m leaving,” I said firmly. “You need to leave as well.”
“You don’t have to be a bitch,” he snapped.
I ignored him and walked for the door. He was behind me.
I could feel his presence. It felt dark.
I wasn’t sure if he was dangerous, but I didn’t like what I was picking up.
The guy had no business being as close as he was.
I grabbed my things off the desk and kept moving to the door.
I didn’t dare look behind me to see if he was following.
My hand pushed open the door. I had to make it outside.
If by chance something happened, I wanted someone to hear my screams.
“You’re being ridiculous,” Trey said and stepped out of the shop.
“I don’t appreciate you trying to intimidate me.”
“I’m not intimidating you.” He snorted. “You’re freaking out over nothing. I was just being nice.”
“Fine, my bad. I’m going home. Can you please move out of the way? I need to lock the door.”
He was purposely standing in front of the door.
I didn’t believe it was an accident by any means.
He was doing it on purpose. He was purposely trying to bother me.
It was intimidation. While I was prone to jump to conclusions, I knew for certain this was not my imagination.
He knew he upset me, and he was doing it on purpose.
“I didn’t know you were so uptight.” He snorted and stepped out of the way. “Fuck, I thought you were cool.”
“I’m plenty cool,” I said and used my key to lock the door. “I don’t appreciate whatever it is you’re doing. I don’t like it and I won’t put up with it. You are an employee as a courtesy to Hudson. I will not tolerate this behavior.”
He laughed at me, which made me feel about two inches tall. I wasn’t an overly confident person. I preferred to go with the flow and avoid confrontation and conflict. I was trying to be strong. I was trying to act like I was not intimidated by him. I hoped it was working.
“Whatever,” he said with a shake of his head. “Suit yourself. You probably wouldn’t be single if you weren’t such a bitch.”
I wasn’t going to get into a big, ugly argument with him.
I stomped away. I rounded the corner to my street and finally took a moment to look over my shoulder.
I wasn’t about to lead him directly to my house.
I didn’t see him, but once again, I let that little voice guide me.
He could be hiding, waiting for me to walk home.
I ended up walking around the block once and then went through a neighbor’s backyard to my back door.
I let myself in without turning on any lights.
Because I was paranoid, I doublechecked to make sure the front door was locked as well as the windows.
It was going to be a stuffy night, but I preferred to run the AC than sleep with my windows open like I normally did.
I didn’t bother making myself anything to eat.
I didn’t want there to be any signs of life, just in case Trey was roaming outside.
I went to bed hungry and stressed. I knew women were inclined not to listen to their gut.
We were so afraid of being thought a bitch.
We were nice, to our own detriment. This was how women got kidnapped or caught in horrible situations.
If I was lucky, he would quit. He wouldn’t show up tomorrow and things would be fine. If he did show up, I hoped he would keep his distance. I was going to make damn sure I wasn’t caught in the shop alone with him ever again.