Chapter 19
Rowan Rafferty gets ideas
Kendra hadn’t said much since declaring the new direction of “Operation Break Up.” She didn’t spare a glance at the new catamaran docked next to her houseboat, but I did see her tense up when we got into the golf cart to travel to BIMBO.
I had already spent time in Pleasure Point’s Town Hall when I signed the docking deal with the Mayor, but tonight’s after-hour festivities gave the building a different feel.
We walked down a deserted hallway filled on either side with glass cases. There were trophies, plaques, framed pictures, and a strange piece of wood tucked into the rest. I veered off course to look inside the case.
“Does that say—” I squinted to get a better read. “The Coxfire? What is that?”
Kendra joined me by the case. “The Coxfire was the pirate ship of Bloody Mary Maul, The Scourge of the Dry Tortugas.”
“A lady pirate?” I asked.
A smile tugged at the corner of Kendra’s mouth. “Indeed. She became a very wealthy woman through revenge. Uma Maddux, the Mayor of Pleasure Point, found the treasure washed up on a beach after a hurricane. And that funded the town’s founding.”
Something tickled the back of my brain—the beginning of an idea that wasn’t quite ready to speak out loud. Instead, I asked Kendra to show us the rest of the way.
When we entered the multipurpose room, I instantly felt the weight of scrutiny pressing down on us.
The overhead fluorescent lights were too bright, illuminating the space that resembled a high school gym, complete with polished floors and faded banners hanging on the walls.
Unfamiliar faces filled the seats around round wooden tables, and I caught the curious glances of attendees, seemingly waiting for us to make our move.
The man who came with Mayor Maddux to Flamingo Cove, Bolt, waved at me from his table, only half full. I waved back at the same time as Kendra.
I turned to her. “You know Bolt?”
She smirked at me. “Something like that.” She grabbed my hand and tugged me toward Bolt’s table.
He stood next to a petite woman with grayish-blonde hair. The woman held out her hand toward me. “You must be Rowan. I’m Chloe, Bolt’s wife.”
“Pleased to meet you, Chloe.” We shook hands.
The woman then grabbed Kendra in a big hug and kissed her forehead. “It’s good to see you, sweetheart. I heard you got a new boat.”
I frowned at the women. “You two know each other?”
Kendra’s lips twisted to the side. “Yep. That’s my mom and dad. Bolt and Chloe Jarrett.”
“Ah.” The familiarity I felt when meeting Bolt a few weeks ago made sense. “I didn’t put together the last name.”
“Not sure I shared my last name with you, son.” Bolt winked at me. “I hear congratulations are in order for you two.”
I don’t know why I was surprised. Everyone was in everyone else’s business on this island.
“Dad, I was going to tell you.” Kendra blushed.
Bolt pulled her into a side hug. “Don’t worry about it, sweetheart. We know you didn’t want to undermine Jesse and True’s big day. That’s why you kept it secret, right?”
Kendra’s mouth opened, and she looked at me.
“That’s right, sir. We didn’t want to upstage anyone,” I answered.
Kendra’s eyes softened, and she mouthed “thank you” as the senior hippie with the flyer grabbed the microphone, and it let out a squeal that hurt my fillings.
“Well, come. Well, come. Please take your seats. I’m Ziggy and will be your master of seriousness this evening,” the man said.
There was movement in the back of the multipurpose room as Jesse and True slipped through the closing doors.
They beelined toward our table. Kendra grabbed my hand and squeezed, tugging me into a seat.
When the wanker and his bride arrived at our table, Jesse took the seat next to Kendra.
True sat on the other side of him. He gave me a wink, then rested his arms on the back of both chairs.
I sent mental daggers his way.
When everyone settled, Ziggy picked up the microphone again. “We have a special edition of BIMBO this evening. BIMBO stands for Brides In Marriage Bind Opportunity, of course.”
“Opportunity,” Kendra whispered to me. “Exactly!”
She wiggled in her seat like fire ants were in her pants. I patted her thigh to get her to settle down, but she was making me nervous.
“Two groups of loveturds will be competing tonight. The dudes and dudettes will be parted and asked a series of questions. They’ll write the answer on a card, and when they return to the great room, all hello will break loose when we see how well they know each other,” Ziggy explained.
“Like The Newlywed Game,” I murmured.
Bolt grinned at me. “Exactly, son.”
“I wonder which idiots they picked for this?” I pondered.
“Funny thing, that,” Bolt chuckled. He waved at Ziggy, who brought him the microphone.
Bolt stood to address the packed audience.
“We’re lucky to have two young couples in the midst of pledging forever to each other.
And we thought it would be fun to do a PRE-newlywed game!
What do you say? Would y’all like to see if Kendra and Rowan know each other better than Jesse and Truette? ”
“Wait, what?” Kendra turned to Bolt as the blood drained from her face.
“Isn’t this fun?” True leaned in toward Jesse, who looked as thrilled for this game as I felt.
The crowd was clapping and murmuring as Bolt snagged Jesse and me to follow him to another room in the building. I glanced behind us to find Chloe dragging Kendra and Truette in the opposite direction.
Bolt led us into a small meeting room and handed us giant cards and a permanent marker.
“Okay, here’s the drill. I will ask you questions about the ladies in your lives.
You’ll write down the answer on these cards.
Then, I will ask you questions about your life and the same thing.
The couple that gets the most answers right gets a weekend getaway to a friend’s Bed and Breakfast in Key West.”
“I love Key West,” Jesse said. “We’re totally winning this, Papa Bolt.”
I rolled my eyes—this kiss arse.
Bolt grinned at Jesse. “Well, then you better get writing.”
Jesse held up his marker over the first card. “Hit me.”
Be happy to, you fuckwit.
Bolt pulled up his phone and tapped the screen until he found what he was searching for. “First question. What is your lady’s dream job?”
“That’s easy,” Jesse said, scribbling furiously.
I narrowed my eyes at him but wrote down my answer. He leaned over to look at my writing, but I flipped the card over before he could.
“Next question,” Bolt said. “What is your lady’s favorite pastime?”
“I thought these questions would be hard!” Jesse exclaimed, scribbling down his second answer.
“Final question about your ladies,” Bolt said, glancing up from the screen. “If your lady won a million dollars, what would she do with it?”
I had to think about that answer. I knew what she’d do with it, but I wasn’t sure she’d admit it in front of her family, neighbors, and the wanker. I decided to go with my gut.
Bolt then asked us questions about ourselves, and we wrote down our answers.
After putting our cards in order, we marched back to the multipurpose room, where Kendra and Truette were already sitting on stage with their cards.
Cheesy game show music blared from the speakers.
I swear I saw money change hands at a table down front, but they shoved it into pockets so quickly when I stared that I could have been mistaken.
Bolt led us to the steps to the stage. I tucked the cards under my arm and grabbed the railing to take the steps. Jesse shoved past me on the stairs and bounded onto the stage. Thankfully, I had a good grip on the railing; otherwise, I would’ve landed on my arse in front of a hundred people.
Jesse flopped into the seat next to Truette, splaying his legs out in front of him and throwing his arm across the back of her chair.
I gingerly stepped around his long legs and eased into the seat next to Kendra.
She cleared her throat a few times, then rubbed her hands on her pant legs before chewing on a hangnail on her thumb.
I took her hand out of her mouth. “Are you okay?”
“Fine. Fine. So so so fine.” Her voice was so high that dogs on the mainland could probably hear her.
“Take a breath, Goldilocks. That’s an order.” I stared into her eyes.
She glanced at the floor, then back at me. “Aye, Aye, Boss.”
“Stop calling me that,” I chastised.
Bolt tapped the microphone at the podium and announced the beginning of the round. “The first question is for the ladies. What is your dream job? Kendra, you go first.”
Kendra held up a sign that said, “Boat Captain.”
I smiled.
“And Rowan, what did you think she would say?” Bolt nodded toward me.
I held up my sign that said, “Boat Captain.”
“Yes!” Kendra held up her hand for a high-five, which I gave her.
“Truette, let’s see your answer,” Bolt prodded.
True held up a card that said, “Bakery Owner.”
Jesse frowned at her answer. “Babe, that’s not right.”
True’s smile became strained as she spoke out of the side of her mouth. “What are you talking about?”
Jesse held up his card that read, “Stay at home mom.”
A sad trombone sound effect blared over the speakers.
“Where did you get that idea?” True turned to Jesse. “I’ve never said that.”
“Sure you did,” Jesse insisted, scratching his cheek. “I know you did.”
True’s face began turning red.
“This is great,” Kendra whispered to me.
“Yeah. Great,” I deadpanned.
“Next question, and we’ll start with True and Jesse,” Bolt announced. “What is your favorite pastime?”
True held up a card that read, “Feeding the homeless.”
Jesse shook his head and held up his card. “Collecting seashells.”
Another sad trombone sound from the speakers.
“That’s zero for Team Tresse,” Bolt said, then he covered the microphone with his hand and leaned toward us. “That’s a combo of Truette and Jesse.”
Kendra’s shoulders tensed. “Yeah. We got that, Dad.”
“Now to Team Rowett!” Bolt exclaimed and turned to us to waggle his eyebrows. “Get it?”
“Yes, sir.” I nodded to him. “Rowan plus Jarrett.”
“Plus, the whole boat thing. We thought it was cute,” Bolt admitted. “Kendra, what’s your favorite pastime.”
She sighed and held up a card saying, “Collecting seashells.”
I could feel Jesse’s glare, so I smiled like a loon, turning over my card that said the same thing.
The crowd applauded, and people were high-fiving each other.
“Team Rowett is at two! Tresse at a big fat goose egg.” Bolt nodded to Truette. “Now, final question for the women. If you won a million dollars, what would you do with it?”
True sighed and turned over her card for “Open a Bakery.”
“Oh, come on,” Jesse complained, showing his card that read, “Travel around the world.”
Sad trombone and laughter from the crowd.
“Sorry, Jesse, that’s another zero for your team,” Bolt announced. “Maybe it’s good we work these things out before the wedding, eh?”
The crowd laughed louder.
I could see Jesse’s face turning red, and it looked like he was holding his breath. Was this douche-nozzle having a temper tantrum?
And why did that please me so much?
“Kendra, what did your card say?” Bolt asked.
Kendra sucked her lips into her mouth and flipped over her card. “Eco-Boat Tours.”
My heart soared as I flipped over my card, and we added another point on the board.
Bolt waited for the crowd to stop clapping before he turned to Jesse. “Now it’s the men’s turn. Jesse, what is the nickname you have for your fiancée?”
Jesse’s smug expression returned as he flipped over his card that read, “Blondie.”
True hit him with her card that said, “Babe.”
Sad trombone. Laughing.
“Too bad, so sad,” Bolt said to Team Wanker Plus One. “If Team Rowett gets this next question right, they win the whole enchilada. Rowan, what is your nickname for Kendra?”
My card said, “Goldilocks.”
Kendra didn’t waste time holding hers up to show we were a match. I stood, letting the rest of the cards fall to the floor, as she jumped out of her chair and grabbed my face. “We won!”
“We did,” I said before she pressed her lips to mine and kissed me.
As our lips met, time stood still, and the world faded into a whisper.
The kiss was soft yet electrifying, a delicate combination of warmth and tenderness.
It felt as if she was telling me a secret and making an intimate promise that needed no words.
Her lips, sweet as strawberries and cream, left a lingering taste that stirred something within me.
I wrapped my arms around her and pulled her tight, lifting her off the floor. Deepening the kiss and demanding she open for me. My tongue swept into her mouth to taste and to claim anything she would be willing to give me.
At that moment, I didn’t care who she secretly lusted after, who she thought was her soulmate, or who she would spend a weekend in the Keys.
All that mattered was right here. Right now.
The two of us locked in an embrace while everything else faded away - the worries of my disability, expectations from my father, and the noise from the outside world - it was just us.
In a cocoon of something much more than lust. Something deeper that should have scared the shit out of me, but damn, if I wouldn’t sign up for twice as much more if she’d give me a chance.
A tap on my shoulder brought me back to reality. I gently eased away from the kiss, remaining as close to my woman as she would let me. Staring into her blue eyes as they searched mine for answers I couldn’t put into words yet.
“Are you two done sucking face?” An annoyed voice broke the spell. “True’s returned to Demeter House in a huff, and I need a ride.”
Kendra touched two fingers to her swollen lips and then glanced at Jesse. She pulled out of my embrace so fast I had skid marks on my arms.
“Sure, sure!” Kendra said quickly. “No problem. Let’s go!”
She ran away from us. Two idiots on the stage.
“I hate to watch her go, but I love to watch her leave,” Jesse muttered, smacking me on the chest. “Am I right?”
“Fucking wanker.” I punched him in the arm and felt gratified when he stumbled. “Be more respectful. And come on. I can see her leaving us here if we don’t hurry.”