Chapter 13
Chapter Thirteen
“You aren’t really going to make me wear this,” Cece said, holding the red bandana Joe had just given her to use as a blindfold.
They were sitting in his car, a well-kept, late-model Jaguar convertible, and still in her driveway.
He looked entirely too pleased with himself. “You’ll ruin the surprise otherwise.”
His amusement entertained her. She gave him a wry smile. “What if people see me and think you’re kidnapping me?”
“Hmm. There’s a very slim chance that will happen, but maybe you should put your sunglasses on over the blindfold.”
If he wasn’t handsome and charming and the most fun she’d had in ages, she wouldn’t be doing this. She got her sunglasses out of her purse. “This better be worth it.”
He laughed nervously. “Well, I hope it is.”
She tied the bandana around her eyes and put her sunglasses on. She was sure she looked like a fool. “All right. I’m ready.”
“You’re a good sport.”
The car moved and she slouched down in the seat, not wanting to be seen or for Joe to get in trouble, just in case some busybody really did think he was forcing her to do something against her will.
They drove for seven or eight minutes, as best as Cece could tell, taking a few turns, stopping a couple of times, and she pretty quickly realized that if she actually had been kidnapped, she’d have no idea where she’d been taken. As a reporter, she’d prided herself on being observant.
This was making her wonder if her abilities had dulled.
Then she picked up a few new scents and sounds.
Gulls, with a different sort of cry than they made on the beach.
It was more urgent, more insistent. Under the tires, gravel crunched as the car slowed.
And the saltiness in the air deepened, mixed with two other faint aromas that lingered like afterthoughts. Fish and fuel.
She smiled. “We’re at the marina.”
“What?” Joe let out a gruff sigh and turned off the engine. “How did you guess that?”
She laughed. “What can I tell you? It’s hard to pull one over on a woman who made her career on figuring things out.”
“I suppose so. You can take the blindfold off. Nicely done, by the way.”
He was smiling when she pulled the bandana off her eyes. They were indeed at the Colony’s marina. “Is this the surprise?”
“Almost. We have to do a little walking.”
“Lead the way.” She could pretty much guess they were going to one of the boats. It made sense with the dress code he’d given her. And the warning that accidental submersion might occur. A boat ride would be fun, and she was touched that he’d done this for her.
They got out of the car, he took a canvas tote from the trunk, and then they walked toward the boats together.
The attendant on duty waved at Joe. He waved back and they kept going, nearly to the end of the marina, then they took a right and went down one of the docks.
“That’s mine.” Joe pointed. “Right there.”
The boat was bigger than she’d expected. A sleek white vessel with navy trim that looked like it could easily hold ten or twelve people. “Yours? As in you own it?”
“Own it and lived on it while my house was being built. I still go out for a night now and then.”
As they got closer, she could see the name on the side. She smiled. “Second Verse. I like that.”
“I thought it was fitting.” He hopped on board and held out his hand.
She took it and let him help her across. Now that she was on the boat, it seemed even bigger. “This is really nice.”
“Thanks. I thought we’d go for a little sunset cruise.”
“I love that.”
His smile took on a curious bent, but he didn’t elaborate on why that might be. “Give me a minute to get her untied and we’ll head out.” He started the engine, then jumped back to the dock.
“Can I help?”
“Sure,” he said, voice steady and clear. He pointed. “Loosen that stern line first—just lift it off the cleat and let it slide. Not too fast.”
She leaned down carefully, the sun warm on her neck, the dock a few feet below her. The rope was heavier than she’d expected. “Like this?” she asked.
“Perfect,” Joe called back, nodding in approval. “Now toss it to me.”
Cece hesitated, judging the gap. “You sure? I’m not exactly known for my throwing arm.”
“Then we’ll find out if I’m still any good at catching.”
She lobbed the line toward him; it fell short, but he caught it with one smooth motion anyway, the rope slapping lightly against the dock.
“See?” he said, looping it deftly around a cleat in front of him. “You’ve got potential.”
“Beginner’s luck,” she said, but she was smiling.
Joe tugged once, securing the knot, then looked up at her. “All right, captain. Give her a little push from that side. Let’s see if she remembers how to dance.”
Cece braced her hand on the nearest piling and gave the boat a gentle shove. The Second Verse shifted away from the dock with a low creak, catching the soft swell of the tide. Joe stepped aboard easily, uncoiling the last rope, his movements unhurried and sure.
“Not bad,” he said, taking the wheel. “I bet you could get used to this.”
The Gulf breeze lifted strands of her hair and tossed them across her face.
She swiped them aside, laughing under her breath as she watched the dock drift backward, the gap widening between land and sea.
“Don’t tempt me,” she said, brushing her palms together.
“You might end up with a permanent deckhand.”
He grinned. “Wouldn’t be the worst thing that ever happened on this boat.” He gestured with his chin toward a smoked-glass door. “Go check out the rest while I get us on course.”
“Okay.” She went through and down a few steps into the kitchen. No, she corrected herself. On a boat it was called a galley.
And on the dining table in one corner was an ice bucket with a bottle of champagne in it, condensation dripping down. Next to the bucket was a sticky note that simply said, Open Fridge.
She did and found two beautifully arranged plates of salad with shrimp and veggies. On the shelf beneath those were two more plates, these with luscious slices of cheesecake liberally ribboned with chocolate sauce.
He’d not only planned this, he’d planned it well.
She went back up to the bridge with a smile on her face. “That’s quite the picnic you’ve organized.”
“Not much of a sunset cruise without champagne, but then I figured dinner might be nice, too.”
She’d never been treated this way. Like she was someone special. But maybe this was just what Joe did. Maybe this was his playbook. She hadn’t known him long enough to be able to judge that. “You do this for all the women you date?”
He gave her an odd look. “I haven’t dated anyone in a long time. In fact, last two women on this boat were my daughter-in-law, Ruthie, and my granddaughter, Wren. I brought them and my son, Dallas, out to see the dolphins.”
“You’re a grandfather?” Something about that made him even more attractive.
He nodded. “Proud Pop-pop of four-year-old Wren.” He grinned. “Four is a pretty great age.”
She remembered when Tyler had been that age. “It is. They’re so full of wonder at that age.”
“Wren loved the dolphins. She kept talking about how shiny they were.” He laughed. “Maybe next time they’re in town, you could come with us on the boat.”
“Maybe.” She inched closer. “You were married?” He hadn’t mentioned it. Seemed like an important detail to leave out.
His smile disappeared. “I was. She got tired of me being married to my job.” He shrugged.
“I don’t blame her. I screwed up. Worked way too much.
Thought I was doing the right thing advancing my career to give her and my son a better life, but I was doing it at their expense.
By the time I understood that, it was too late. She’d moved on.”
“I’m sorry.”
“So am I. But I was able to salvage my relationship with my son, so not all was lost.”
“You didn’t stop being a lawyer, though.”
“No. After Kelly left, my career was all I had. I worked even more, only making time to see Dallas.” He slowed the boat down even further.
“I made a lot of mistakes in the first half of my life. I’m trying to do better on the last half.
Trying to make better choices. And surround myself with better people. ”
He reached out to slip his arm around her waist and draw her in closer. “People like you.”
“You really think I’m a better person? After what I told you about how I lost my job?”
“After what you told me, I know you’re a survivor. Someone who knows how hard life can be, but keeps on fighting. Someone who isn’t going to accept less than they deserve anymore. You’re exactly who I want around me.”
“Thanks,” she said softly, his use of the word “survivor” sparking something deep inside her.
Maybe because she’d defeated cancer, which he didn’t even know about.
Maybe because she’d come through the scandal of losing her job over a bad source; maybe because she’d lived through her husband’s infidelity.
Whatever the reason, she liked the word.
She liked Joe even more. “But you’re a survivor, too. You’ve been through your own battle.”
“That’s why we work so well together. We understand each other.”
The sun sank lower toward the horizon, the golden light making everything a little more magical.
Cece’s heart beat faster but she wasn’t going to be afraid of what came next. “Do you…do you want to kiss me?”
Joe held her closer. “More than you can imagine.”