I hurried around the small front room sweeping up my clothes and shoes. Maximus filled the hall doorway with his massive shoulders. He crossed his arms and his smooth brows dropped into glower position. Considering his size and the fact that he was naked, I had to work hard to pretend not to notice him standing there in all his angry magnificence.

"You can't go, Rikki. It's too dangerous for you to go anywhere near the underworld."

I wriggled into my jeans and lifted my chin up to look at him. "Just ten minutes ago you had me naked against that kitchen counter and now you're treating me like a kid again. I have to go. It's the family business."

"What about fishing?"

"Oh come on, Max. You know that income from fishing is sporadic. There are good years and very bad years. Besides, it's not just about the money. It's about a legacy."

I leaned against that same kitchen counter, silently squashing the erotic memories from just a few minutes before, and pulled on my sandals.

Maximus stepped toward me, but I scooted away, pushing the edge of the counter into my back. I figured it would only take one good kiss or touch, and I'd be listening to his commands. But I was an adult, and I had a huge responsibility to my family. I wasn't going to ignore it just because of some slimy underworld leader and his nefarious scheme.

"Rikki, just listen. By now Vapour has discovered that your dad escaped. Whatever the hell Vapour's up to, he'll be looking for your dad. And he's going to assume that the ferryman under the cloak and veil is his lost prey. I was putting together some things in my head, and I'm sure that Vapour sent that wraith to unmask you. He knew he had your dad in the cave and yet the ferry kept running. It's possible he was planning to stick one of his ghouls on the ferry so that he could keep the ferry income for himself. It might even be as simple as that. Vapour's a greedy scumbag. Always has been. Either way, you can't go back there."

I slipped past him and plucked my sweatshirt up from the arm of the couch. The sleeves were inside out, and I had a small war with the damn thing as I tried, three times, to punch my fist through. "Argh! Damn sleeve."

Maximus walked over and helped me pull on the sweatshirt. "Let the ferry stand without a captain for a few days. Feenix will take notice. Then he'll know something is up."

"And he'll fire my dad, and that will be the end of it." My voice trailed off as my throat bound up around the words. As badly as I didn't want to cry, the darn tears pooled in my eyes. I used the same annoying sweatshirt sleeve I'd just fought with to wipe them away. "Max, I'm going to go to work on the ferry. I have to. I just need you to understand that. I'm not new to any of this, and I'm well aware of the dangers. After all, who told you about the ghouls' fear of fire?"

Maximus looked only ten percent convinced. But he didn't have a choice in this, and he slowly seemed to come to that reluctant conclusion.

I tapped the side of my head with my hand. "Oh my gosh, I'm such a knucklehead. Although, I can't blame it all on myself because you are just a bit too impossible to resist. I came here to tell you that my dad has some theories about what he thinks Vapour is up to. It seems like a big deal. Can you go see my dad? He promised me he'd stay home and rest today. He insists he'll take my place on the ferry just as soon as he has the strength. But I know he wants to talk to you."

Maximus nodded. "I'll get dressed and go see him."

"Stop looking like the kid who just got the final out in the championship game." I smiled weakly and hopped up to my toes for a quick kiss. "Besides, I've got Steemer just across the way, and there's always Catch. He'll step in if I'm in trouble."

His dark lashes blinked over his eyes a few times. "You don't actually think that a tubby, peg legged accountant and a wormy goblin are making me feel better about this?"

"I'll be fine. I promise." I turned and walked to the door.

His big hand slapped against the door, holding it shut.

I spun around, sandwiched between the door and his hard, naked body. It seemed just my nearness caused his cock to grow erect. I took a fair amount of satisfaction in knowing I caused that kind of reaction in him.

He placed his hand against my face, a gesture that always made my chest ache. His mouth came down firmly over mine and he kissed me. He stole nearly all the breath from my lungs before he lifted his mouth away.

"Stay safe, my stubborn little ferry captain."