Chapter Twenty-Two #2
“Fuck off,” I say, laughing. “You’re definitely sexting and you know it.”
Ryan grins now. “You should try it some time, Beck. Spice things up with your girl, especially while you’re stuck down here.”
I roll my eyes as I take a long sip of my beer. “Trust me, dude, Kels has got no complaints when it comes to our sex life, and I’m more than happy making up for the ten years we’ve missed out on.”
Ryan laughs, pocketing his cell as he turns to look at me. “So what was the talk with the captain all about?”
I exhale, running a hand down my face. Fuck. “I just told him that I needed to get back to Rockport, ASAP. Filled him in on the situation with Kels and how I wanted to be there.”
“And?”
“And he was very understanding,” I say, staring at the bottles lining the wall behind the bar. “Said I could take all the time I needed as soon as this trial was over.”
“And what happens then, Beck?” Ryan asks. I turn to look at him. “When this guy’s caught and your job protecting Kelsey is done?”
“My job protecting her will never be done,” I say, my words harsher than I mean them to be.
Ryan holds up his hands as though he didn’t mean to piss me off. “I know, I know, that’s not what I’m saying,” he says. “What I meant was, what are you gonna do next, given she’s in Rockport and your job is in Boston?”
I take a deep breath, letting it out as a long slow exhale, before turning back to stare at the liquor bottles. “I have no fucking idea,” I admit.
Ryan says nothing and I get the feeling he’s trying to come up with a solution to all this as well.
If things pan out with him and Erin, which I’ve no doubt they will, then he’s gonna be facing the same situation.
And as much as both of us love our jobs, I can’t see how either of us can make both Rockport and Boston work.
“Well, I guess you’ll have to take up sexting after all,” Ryan says, trying to lighten the mood.
I laugh as I turn to look at my friend. “Fucking idiot,” I say to his grinning face. But at the same time, I pull my phone from my pocket and open up the message app, thinking it can’t hurt. When I do though, I see there’s a message from the DA who was handling today’s trial.
Good news. Guy changed his mind. Got the deal, he’s going away for 10. Thanks.
“Fuck,” I breathe out, looking up at Ryan.
“What, can’t think of what to say to her?” Ryan says laughing. “Here, give me your phone.”
I roll my eyes as I shake my head. “No, trial’s over; dickhead’s taken the deal. Ten years.”
“Shit,” Ryan says. “Thank fuck for that.”
“Yeah,” I say, nodding.
“Well, what are you waiting for?” he says, gesturing to my phone. “Sext your girl and tell her you’re coming back.”
I grin now, opening up a message to Kels’ new number.
Me: good news baby, I’m coming home. Make sure you’re naked, I’m gonna need a couple of hours getting reacquainted with your pussy.
“Nice,” Ryan says, slapping me on the back.
I shake my head. “Fuck off.”
Chapter Twenty-Three
Kelsey
Thankful that the wedding is over, I look out the window of my office and see the rain is falling hard and the grounds of the inn are now a wet, soppy mess.
The gray cloud covered sky lights up as a crack of thunder echoes through the inn.
It makes me jump, causing Bella to be on high alert, growling at nothing but the noise.
The rain is endlessly pelting the windows and making the air thick with humidity.
This is the worst kind of weather, especially during the tourist season.
Despite the awful weather, I can’t stop smiling.
Just a few minutes ago I got a text from Beck saying the trial is over and he’ll be on his way back to me soon.
I press my hands against the cool glass of the windowpane, looking out onto the water as the last of my charter captains brings a whale watching tour boat back into dock. The group is all huddled under a few umbrellas, scampering along the worn decking and back to the inn.
A few minutes later, Tom, my charter captain, pokes his head in my office. “I’m heading home for the night, Kelsey. Boats are all tied up and the guests are back here in their rooms.”
When I turn around, Tom is soaked, absolutely dripping wet, and I feel terrible that he was out on the boat in this weather.
And then after that, spent the last ten minutes making sure all the boats were tied up.
I toss him a beach towel I have stacked on a chair in my office and he smiles at me gratefully, rubbing it over his face and his head.
“Thanks, Tom. Have a good night. Go have yourself a nice warm shower.”
“Will do,” he says, stepping out of my office and closing the door behind him.
With the wedding consuming most of my time over the last few days, I take a seat at my desk and finish up approving payroll before I decide to head home for the night.
Without a car still, I send Finn a quick text asking if he wouldn’t mind picking me up.
I walked to work this morning, given the weather was quite nice, but clearly things have taken a turn for the worse and unless I want to get soaked and possibly freeze my ass off, I need someone to give me a lift home.
My phone chimes with Finn telling me to give him twenty minutes and he’ll be here.
I hook up Bella’s leash and pack a few things to take home to work on until Beck gets back.
I know the rest of the night at the inn will be a quiet one and more than likely, should this weather decide to continue, a lot of the weekend guests will undoubtedly check out early.
I can’t blame them; there’s very little to do in this town without the draw of the water and the usually beautiful weather.
Looking out the window, hoping the weather breaks, I notice one of the charter boats floating farther from the dock than normal. I step out onto the deck just outside my office for a closer look and realize it has come untethered from the dock.
“Shit,” I mutter, knowing this is exactly how one of the boats ended up with a hole in its hull a few weeks ago.
The wind has picked up and the sky has grown darker as the storm increases in intensity. Thunder is crashing wildly, making me long for Beck to hurry his ass up, as I try to figure out how I’m going to get that boat back where it belongs.
I quickly go through a list in my head of the staff that is left, but I realize I’m down to the bare minimum. The desk clerk, a few kitchen and waitstaff along with Sam, the rookie cop Finn has stationed here; there isn’t really anyone to send out to do my dirty work.
As much as I’m terrified of storms, I’m seriously contemplating waiting for Finn to come so I can give him some puppy dog eyes and beg him to do it for me, but I know he’ll be dressed in full uniform.
There’s nothing wrong with me and there’s no reason I can’t go tie that boat up myself.
Well, other than the fact that every time the thunder breaks through the silence I nearly wet my pants, but that’s no excuse.
And I know the longer I leave that boat drifting, the more likely it is that it will become damaged.
“Put on your big girl panties and suck it up,” I tell myself as Bella cocks her head to the side and gives me a look that asks why the hell I’m talking to myself.
Reaching down and patting her head, Bella nuzzles against my legs like she can sense my fear. I smile before telling her, “Okay, Bella, I’m gonna do this.”
Before heading out, I send Beck a text.
Me: You’d be so proud of me. I’m about to go out to the dock and tie up a loose boat…in a storm. ?
Beck: Good job, baby.
Me: Love you
I’m giggling as I pull on my raincoat and a pair of Wellies; I can’t wait for him to come home.
I push open the screen door to a wall of thick humidity just as a crack of thunder rings out and makes me jump back into my office, my heart racing in my chest. I shake my head at my ridiculous fear.
There’s nothing to be afraid of and as I watch the boat drift further from the dock, I know I need to get my ass out there.
Giving it a second attempt, this time my feet actually obey and I’m running down the dock toward the wayward boat, but not without my anxiety on full alert and adrenaline coursing through my veins.
Luckily, when I reach the boat, the rope is still hooked loosely around the cleat and all it takes is a couple of good tugs before the boat is back in position.
Pausing for a second to wipe the rain from my face, I laugh at my stupidity. It’s only rain, nothing more, nothing less.
I begin wrapping the rope around the cleat tightly; making sure each time I pull back on the rope to ensure it doesn’t come loose again.
When I’m done, I fall back on my butt and hang my legs over the dock as the rain falls all around me.
Already drenched and totally waterlogged, I figure there’s no point in hurrying, so I look up at the sky, and try to find some enjoyment in all of this.
The evening breeze picks up and carries the scent of salt water and rain through the air.
The water is rippling in circular patterns as the raindrops hit a million different places.
The sky now completely blackened as night approaches and when a flash of lightning streaks across the sky, I’m reminded of just why I don’t sit outside and enjoy what most would call a beautiful summer storm.
When I stand up, I’m face to face with Jason and in the moment, I let out a blood-curdling scream and forcefully shove the palm of my hand up into his nose. I hear the cracking of bone as my hand stings violently, sending the pain radiating up through my elbow.
Jason doubles over, his hands cupping his face as I see the blood seep through his fingers. I don’t hesitate any longer, realizing I only have seconds until he recovers from my blow; I begin to run towards the inn, my boots slipping on the wet dock.
“You broke my nose, you fucking whore,” he hisses, but I don’t stop to look back.