Chapter 1
Presley Miles smiled and waved to the passengers as they disembarked from the vessel Liberty.
“Thank you so much,” the primary guest said, holding a thick envelope. “What a beautiful boat and what an incredible day. We’re so glad we picked Driftwood Tours.”
Presley preferred these small charters on the forty-five-foot catamarans over the snorkel tour boats, but just because she was the owner didn’t mean she took all the high-tipping clients regularly. She needed to spread the wealth, even if that meant postponing paying off her ex-husband. “You’re incredibly welcome. We hope you’ll look us up if you’re ever on Big Island again.”
“Not only that, but we plan on telling all our friends. Hands down, this was the best day cruise we’ve ever been on.” The guest placed the tip money in Presley’s hand. “You’re a great captain and the chef on board was fantastic.”
“I appreciate that.” Presley nodded. She stood on the dock and waited for the guests to get to land before turning and climbing aboard Liberty.
This boat was a beauty. A few years ago, she’d replaced two catamarans, which had given her an edge over the other local companies—something she desperately needed. Only, that had put her more in debt. Vernon had thrown a fit. Not because she’d bought the boats, but because she hadn’t discussed the trade-in with him first. Well, it wasn’t his decision. He might own part of the business, but he was absent most of the time. He wanted to collect a paycheck. That’s how it had been since they divorced. When he did show up, all he did was give her a hard time about the decisions she made, citing his way would have been better.
Bullshit. The worst part was he kept proposing stupid ideas and booked charters when he wasn’t supposed to, often offering discounts, cutting into her bottom line.
She peeked into the envelope and counted the bills. Nice. On day charters like this, there was a chef, one deckhand, who also worked as the stewardess, and herself. “Are you two ready to see what those nice folks left us?”
“Absolutely.” Adriana, the chef, wiped her hands on her apron as she stepped from the galley. “They were so much fun. Adorably sweet. I wish all customers were like that.”
“Me too,” Jeff, the deckhand, said, making room at the aft table. “They make this job worth all the rich assholes who treat me like their maid and personal boy toy.”
Presley laughed. “This tip has to be the best one we’ve gotten all season.” She yanked the cash from the envelope. “Three hundred apiece.”
“You’ve got to be kidding me?” Adriana blinked. “That was generous of them for a day trip.”
“Hey, boss, you’ve got an unwanted visitor.” Jeff jerked his head toward the end of the dock. “I heard he’s been giving you a hard time again.”
“Again? He’s never technically stopped. If it’s not in person, he’s sending me dumbass emails.” The last thing Presley needed was a face-to-face meeting with her idiot ex-husband. She should have known he would break her heart and leave her with nothing but trouble based on his first name.
Vernon.
Who the hell falls in love with a man by that name? Sadly, she’d been smitten with a scam artist. She fell for his charm hook, line, and sinker.
What a fucking sucker she’d been.
“He’ll have to go jerk off because we need to turn this boat over. It’s going out at eight sharp for a three-day rental with Bobby as captain and Tilly as deck. Adriana, you’re the chef on that one.”
“I heard the guests have never been sailing before and that this a bucket list trip for them,” Adriana said.
“I’ve already got some good snorkel and fishing spots set up, but the sailing on the second day looks like the wind will be perfect around the other side of the point. I think we’ll pick up a ball over there rather than staying around here.”
“Sounds like a good plan, but file it in the office. I’ve felt a few rumbles from our friend on the other side of the island.” Presley jerked her thumb over her shoulder. It had been a while since the volcano had erupted. Everyone enjoyed it when she gave them downtime, but they walked around on tiptoe, waiting for her to spew ash and a little lava.
Kilauea could cause damage. She was a fucking volcano. But she was also a way of life for the people of Big Island.
“I’ll listen for the reports.” Jeff nodded. “But that cove is protected, and Kilauea generally pushes lava on the other side of the island. We won’t be going there. Worst case if she erupts, I’ll call for a dock at a marina.”
“And stay with my boat.” She lowered her chin. “Remember what happened with Fred’s boat. Maritime law can be fucked up, but you abandon ship, and anyone can claim Liberty.”
“You do love to quote the law.” Jeff rolled his eyes. “And I can leave the boat once at port.”
“You know what I was referring to.” She squared her shoulders. But Jeff was partially right about her babbling on regarding different laws and procedures. Being a woman in this business was tough. She didn’t sit behind the desk and crunch numbers. She ran the charters. She was a boat captain. And some people still haven’t taken her seriously after all these years. She needed to not only show her skills, but state them as well.
Especially when Vernon still owned half.
Fucker.
“I got some bad news for you. Vernon’s headed down the dock and he doesn’t look happy.” Adriana stood. “That’s my cue to go back to my galley. That man scares me.” She scurried through the doors.
“You’re going to have to talk with him, boss. And you know why.” Jeff squeezed her shoulder. “I’ll be on the bow if you need me.”
“Thanks.” She tugged at her ponytail and stepped off the vessel and back onto the dock. This wasn’t the first time her ex-husband had overbooked a charter. Every time he did this, it put her and her business in hot water. There were at least five bad reviews on the internet because of it and she was damn tired of Vernon’s antics.
“What the fuck do you think you’re doing?” Vernon marched closer, swaying his hands back and forth in that god-awful walk he had. “I just learned you tried to cancel my charter tomorrow. Thank God, I assured them that wasn’t happening. You have to stop doing that. It’s not good for business.”
“I didn’t try. I did cancel it.” She folded her arms and widened her stance. She wasn’t about to be bullied by Vernon. Not now. Not ever. He might still have a stake in her family business, but not for long. She would buy him out if it was the last thing she did.
Being tied to that man was going to be the death of her. Their marriage had been a union based on lies and manipulations. He was a swindler. A user. And nothing had changed.
Even three years after their divorce, he still had a choke hold over her life.
Motherfucker.
“You can’t do that. I personally made the reservation. Frank Armstrong is a very important client of mine. I get his business, and it’s smooth sailing for me. I need that charter to go out.” Vernon planted his hands on his hips and glared. His nostrils flared in and out with each obnoxious breath. He practically foamed at the mouth like a damn rabid dog.
Client? That meant someone he wanted to swindle. Hawaii was filled with tourists. Rich tourists. Groups of people Vernon could use his charm to sweet-talk into investing in bullshit concepts and ideas that would never materialize.
When she first met him, he worked as a salesman for a time-share. He was so fucking good at it that Presley was in awe of him. Every sales job he touched, he succeeded.
Or so she thought.
“If you had gone through proper channels, you would have known that all the boats are booked.”
“Um. I did look at the system.” He cocked an arrogant brow. “I saw that Waylen wasn’t in use.” His lip twitched and his brow furrowed. “I can’t believe you named a boat and then our fucking cat after an ex. That’s cold, even for you.”
“He was never your cat and blaming me for… We’re not having this argument,” she said. “I’ve asked you a million times to go through the proper channels when booking a charter.”
Vernon laughed. “I own half this business, in case you’ve forgotten that detail. I walked into the office, looked at the schedule, and I saw what and who was available. It’s not rocket science.”
“If you had looked at the notes or hadn’t bullied my staff, you would have seen that Waylen is scheduled for a tune-up.” She lowered her chin. “She’s not going out tomorrow, especially not for a five-day charter. I don’t have a captain in the rotation that can go out for that long.”
“Last I looked, you were a capable captain, and you’re who I scheduled.” Vernon inched closer. “Look. Take this client out. Show him the kind of time that I know you can, because I’ve seen you in action. We might have had a shitty marriage, but I’m willing to give you kudos where they’re deserved.”
“Gee, thanks.”
“You’re welcome.” He smiled. “Come on, Presley. We both need this. They are paying full fare. No discounts this time. I swear. They will tip well, that I can guarantee.”
“It’s a safety issue,” she said.
“It’s a newer boat. Waiting a week to get the engines serviced will not hurt.”
“Not the point, and you know it.”
“Do this and I’ll consider selling you the rest of Driftwood Tours for half the market value.”
“Don’t fuck with me, Vernon. I don’t have the time for this,” she said. “Besides, I was planning on buying you out at the end of the season.”
“We both know that’s not going to happen. Your parents let this place get run-down and you’ve been scraping by ever since.” He took her chin with his thumb and forefinger. “You make this charter work, or I will come in the same capacity as when we were married, and I will start making some changes around here. I’m tired of this business being barely profitable. We could be doing so many other things if you would listen to me. You know I’m good at what I do.”
She didn’t want him anywhere near this business. When he had full access, he’d fucked it all up. She’d made a deal with the devil and was now paying the price. Fucking hell. She should have known he was too good to be true when he came waltzing into Driftwood Tours with his dazzling smile and promises of making her life perfect and easy.
There was no such thing.
Her father always told her, never trust a guy who says he has all the answers—except for Waylen.
She bit back a smile.
Waylen had always been smarter than anyone she’d ever met. Her dad adored Waylen. Thought he was going places. That if anyone could make something out of nothing, it was Waylen. He wasn’t a liar, and if he didn’t have an answer, he wasn’t too proud to admit it. But he’d immediately go looking for it.
“I want it in writing that you’re going to give me half the market value,” she said.
“If I land this deal, I will.” He turned on his heel and strolled down the dock like he didn’t have a care in the world.
She fisted her hands. “Ugh.” She wanted to stomp her feet and scream at the top of her lungs like a damn toddler.
Or better yet, push the jerk into the ocean. He never liked swimming, especially in salt water. Who lived in Hawaii and didn’t enjoy the perks of the lifestyle?
“Anyone ever tell you your ex-husband’s a dick?” the sound of Blake’s voice smacked her eardrums like a favorite song.
“Yeah, you every time you see him.” Presley smiled as she approached one of the few women she called friend.
Presley had lived on Big Island her entire life. She’d grown up in this very marina. She’d never moved away, except for when she went to college. There were times in her life she had dreamed about leaving, but those fantasies were tied up with Waylen.
When she’d first met Waylen, he didn’t believe he wanted to live anywhere else. But as they both got a little older, and he had visions of following in his father’s footsteps, they would pull out the world map and stick pins in all the places they wanted to either visit or live.
Last she heard from Waylen, he’d gone to the Naval Academy, just like he’d always planned.
Good for him. She was proud that he’d done exactly what his dream had always been and what his father would have wanted. She assumed he’d had a career filled with travel, danger, and excitement.
All the things that made that man’s heart sing.
“What did you see in that jerk?” Blake asked.
“Believe it or not, he was good in bed,” Presley muttered. “Only place he wasn’t a selfish prick.”
“I still can’t believe you and he ever did the dirty.” Blake shook her head. “No offense. He’s good-looking but seriously.”
“Can we stop talking about him? It’s depressing as hell.”
“On one condition,” Blake said. “We get a beer and you explain to me what you saw in Vernon and how you managed to stay married to him for seven years,” Blake said.
“That isn’t closing the topic.” Presley laughed. “Make it tequila and I might consider having that conversation.”
“That bad?”
“The fucking worst.” Presley looped her arm through Blake’s. They hadn’t known each other long and Blake wasn’t the kind of chick who required watering, so to speak. She was cool, easy, and laid-back.
Much like Presley wanted to be but couldn’t. Her life had become too complicated, thanks to a few bad choices.
Her friendship with Blake didn’t require too much nurturing. When they saw each other, they hung out. When they didn’t, they didn’t go out of their way or get their panties in a wad. Days or weeks could go by and they wouldn’t see, hear, or text one another.
But if Blake needed Presley, or vice versa, they’d each come running.
That was the only kind of person Presley needed in her life these days. She didn’t have the bandwidth to deal with any drama, and Blake certainly didn’t bring that.
However, Blake had made it clear that she didn’t like photos taken of herself, and she sure as shit didn’t want images posted on social media. The only reason that had been brought up was because Presley used social media to promote her business and once asked Blake if she’d pose in front of one of her boats.
The answer was a big fat no followed by a please don’t ever post a picture of her and no other reason was given.
Presley didn’t press, but she had some suspicions. Whatever the reason, it didn’t matter. Blake was good people.
“In one sentence, tell me what made you fall in love with a man like Vernon,” Blake said.
“That’s actually easy. In the beginning he was kind. Sweet. Other than having ideas, he didn’t want to insert himself into my parents’ business. But when my mom got sick, everything changed.”
“How?”
“I was so wrapped up in helping my dad with the business that Vernon got pissed. He wanted me to be at my mom’s side. I thought that was so incredibly sensitive. He started taking a more serious interest in the business. He stepped up to the plate, but next thing I knew, my dad was freaking out.”
“Over what?” Blake asked.
“All the stupid, crazy, fucked-up decisions Vernon was making, without even consulting either me or my dad. I swear to God that’s what gave my father a heart attack and it was the beginning of the end of my marriage.”
“Not that it’s any of my business, but is Vernon making any money these days with his businesses?”
“He’s up and down,” Presley said. “I hate to admit it, but he does have some talents. The biggest one is to snow people. My dad warned me about not having a prenup. He really wanted me to push that with Vernon when we got married. I should have listened, but I didn’t expect my father to die so suddenly, leaving me with something of value.” She pursed her lips. “I couldn’t say anything to my dad because I didn’t want him to know that things in my marriage were that bad. He was so sad about my mom’s passing. If I told him about what was happening with me and Vernon, it would have made things worse. All he ever wanted was to give me this business. He thought he was doing right by his little girl.”
Blake shook her head. “You were stuck between a rock and a hard place.”
“It sucked and as soon as my dad died, Vernon wanted to make all sorts of changes. But by then, I had finally grew a pair and my dad had his will set up so that I technically owned fifty-four percent. My dad at least did that right. However, when I divorced Vernon, he wouldn’t give up his half and I still can’t afford to buy him out.”
“What did he want today?” Blake asked.
“He chartered a boat for a fucking five-day cruise—with me as captain of all things—for some asshole he’s brownnosing about something.”
“Why don’t you tell him to fuck off?”
“Trust me, I did. But he’s offering to let me buy him out for half the market value if I do this one thing for him.”
“And you believe him?” Blake pushed open the door to the small marina bar. It was more like a skanky biker bar, but hey, it had beer, whiskey, and good tacos. What more did one need? Besides, it was owned by two of the best people in the area. She’d known Lisa and Al since she’d been in diapers.
“Not really, but if there’s a chance he’ll keep his word, I need to do it.”
“I can’t fault your logic there,” Blake said. “First round’s on me.”
“You won’t hear me argue.” Presley climbed up onto the stool. “So, what do you have going on this week?”
“Not much. A few local runs. One later in the week with the Brotherhood Protectors ranch. Other than that, same old shit, different day.”
Presley set her cell on the counter and ordered her drink.
“I’ve never noticed this before, but is that a picture of you behind the bar?” Blake pointed.
“Yeah. That’s me.”
“Oh my God. You’re adorable. How old were you?”
“I think thirteen.”
“Who’s the hottie?”
“Just some kid who used to hang around the marina. He and his dad had a boat here. They came fishing every chance they got. His dad was in the Navy. Deployed a lot, but fishing was their thing.” Anytime anyone asked her what that boy’s name was, she shrugged and told them it was a long time ago, avoiding saying his name out loud.
There were a handful of people who knew exactly who that boy was, but no one who knew her dared to mention his name, at least never to her. They knew better.
She only wished Al and Lisa would take down the damn thing.
“Is that picture over there him and his dad?”
“Yup.” Presley really didn’t want to get into this conversation. She’d almost rather continue talking about Vernon.
“An old boyfriend?” Blake asked.
“Nope. Just a friend. He moved away a long time ago. I have no idea what happened to him.” She stared into Waylen’s eyes. He’d been fourteen in that picture. He’d just started his growth spurt and stood tall at five foot ten, but had yet to fill out. For a geek, he was incredibly handsome. He loved fishing and surfing. He also had a passion for reading and all things computers and video games. Waylen was the perfect human. He was kind, considerate, passionate, a daredevil, and the sweetest human she’d ever met. And she missed him with her whole heart.
For years, she’d chosen to forget about him. To push him out of her mind. Or at least she tried.
But the reality was, he was all she could ever think about.
“Here’s to old and new friends.” Blake raised her glass.
Presley smiled. Meeting Blake had been a godsend. The divorce had pushed Presley deep inside herself and further away from being social outside of those she worked with. She’d become untrusting, not just of others, but of her instincts and ability to read motivations and intentions of those around her, which made her crazy.
“To bitches in the air and in the sea. May we not crash and burn, nor sink,” Presley said.
“That’s the worst toast I’ve ever heard.” Blake tapped her shot glass on the counter, tossed her head back, and downed the shot.
Presley did the same. She shivered. “Yeah, but it’s a good thing to wish for, especially when I’ve got a boat going out that’s ten hours past its service mark. That’s never a good thing.”
“You’re meticulous with your boats. I’m sure it’s fine.”
Blake was right. Waylen was a solid vessel. Presley kept her boats in tip-top shape. She rarely let service go late and this boat hadn’t had any issues since she’d bought it.
Presley was worrying for nothing.
Her fucking ex-husband had crawled under her skin. Nothing more. Nothing less.