Chapter Nineteen
THE NEXT MORNING Bella stood on the deck of the fishing boat docked at the marina, anxiously watching for Caden and Evan to arrive. The sun beat down on her shoulders and a gentle breeze brushed across her back. Everyone from Seaside except Jamie and Vera had arrived early. They were too excited to wait at the cottages. Amy, Tony, and Leanna were at the helm talking with Joe Bloom, the owner of the boat, while Kurt prepared a comfortable place for Vera to settle into inside in case she wanted to get out of the sun. His thoughtfulness was endless.
Jenna paced the deck in her red bikini top and a pair of cutoff shorts. “What if Pete doesn’t show up?”
Bella shaded her eyes from the sun and peered in the direction of the parking lot. “Then we’ll go out and catch some fish and have a great time without him.”
“I know that.” Jenna put her hands on her hips. “But what would it mean?”
“That he’s an idiot and it’s time for you to move on.” Bella draped her arm over Jenna’s shoulder, but Jenna shrugged out of her reach.
“You’re a total buzzkill.” Jenna tugged at her bikini top.
“Oh, stop. He’ll show up. The real question is where are Caden, Evan, Jamie, and Vera?” She leaned against the wooden railing.
“Well, don’t worry. If they don’t show up, you can always move on.” Jenna smirked.
“Ugh. Jenna, I was kidding. I just wish Pete would jump at the chance to be with you.” Bella turned back toward the parking lot. “There they are.” She pointed to Caden and Evan. Pete was nowhere in sight.
“Pete isn’t with them.” Jenna rolled her eyes. “See? He’s totally not interested.”
“Don’t jump to conclusions.” Bella went to greet them.
“Sorry we’re late.” Caden looked sporty and handsome in a pair of khaki shorts and a white tank top. He carried a small duffel bag and raked his eyes down Bella’s body. He settled a hand on her hip, leaned in close, and said quietly, “Love that bathing suit, babe.”
She had worn an emerald-green bikini that accentuated her bust, along with a white cotton miniskirt. She loved getting a rise out of Caden, and the suit earned her another lascivious look.
Caden pressed a kiss to her lips. “I’ll go put our stuff inside and be right back.”
“Sounds good.” She turned her attention to Evan, who was scrolling through texts on his phone. “Hey, Ev. How’s it going?” Bella said.
“Good. Thanks for hooking me up with TGG. I called on the way over, and Dad’s taking me to meet them Friday.” Evan wore a black tank top, revealing his gangly arms. He quickly scanned the boat. “Where’s Jamie and Vera?”
“They’re not here yet, but hopefully they’ll get here soon.” She watched Evan cross the deck and join Amy, Tony, and Caden.
Her heart went out to Jenna, standing at the edge of the boat, peering over the parking lot. “He’ll be here, Jenna.”
“I’m not so sure.” Jenna nodded toward Jamie coming up the dock. “Where’s Vera?”
“No idea.” Bella wondered that, too.
Jamie waved as he approached. His thick, dark hair stood on end against the breeze.
“Hey, sorry I’m late.” Jamie stepped onto the boat. “Gram wasn’t up to coming, but she sent chocolate chip cookies for Evan.”
“Lucky kid. Is Vera okay?” Bella asked.
“She said she was really tired. I think she had second thoughts about spending the day on the water. You know how she is about ruining other people’s fun. If she got tired or hot, she wouldn’t mention it. She’d rather suffer in silence than make a boat turn back.” He rubbed his stubbly chin and turned compassionate eyes to Jenna.
“Jenna, don’t kill the messenger, but Pete stopped by and said he had a pool emergency.”
Jenna rolled her eyes. “What kind of excuse is that? A pool emergency?”
“Jenna, he does pool maintenance,” Bella reminded her. “I’m sure it’s not an excuse.”
“Whatever. You know what? Men suck.” Jenna touched Jamie’s arm. “Not you, of course.” Jenna stomped off toward the far end of the boat.
“Sorry.” Jamie shrugged. “For what it’s worth, he seemed pretty bummed about missing the fishing trip.”
“You know Jenna. She’ll shake it off in five minutes and be back to her bubbly self. Please do me a favor, though. Can you clue her in that Pete was bummed? You know it feels like a rejection even if it was a valid excuse.”
“Sure.” He followed Jenna across the deck.
Bella watched as he gave her the news. Jenna hugged him, and Jamie said something that made her laugh; then he slung his arm over her shoulder and offered her a cookie. She was glad to see Jenna smiling again.
The boat moved swiftly through the water as they left the marina and headed out into the open water. Bella and Caden leaned against the railing at the bow of the boat. The crisp air stung against her skin, but beneath Caden’s protective arm, Bella was toasty warm.
“Evan’s really excited about TGG. I don’t think I properly thanked you.” He kissed her cheek. “It means the world to me that you include Evan in your thoughts.”
She turned toward him, and her hair whipped across her cheek. Caden reached over and gathered her hair in his big hand and held it away from her face. “That’s how you first stole my heart, remember?”
“I remember.” He glanced at Evan, feverishly texting on his cell phone.
She loved the way he was conscious of acting appropriately in front of Evan. It made their stolen kisses even more special. Heck, she loved everything about him, stolen kisses or heated, exposed kisses, and it still surprised the heck out of her, because she’d been dead set on sticking to her plan.
“I missed you last night.” He moved so close she could see his long eyelashes tangling at the corners of his eyes.
She felt her cheeks heat up as the others joined them.
Caden took a step back, but the heat of him remained.
“None of that kissy-face stuff, please. It’s depressing me.” Jenna pushed her way in between them. “I’m instigating a five-foot rule.” She pointed to Leanna and Kurt, standing arm in arm. “You too. Five feet between you at all times. Give a girl some slack, will ya?”
“You’re such a nut. Jamie said Pete was bummed about not coming with us.”
“I know. But Jamie’s so sweet he probably made that up.” Jenna smiled at Jamie.
“I’m not that nice,” Jamie said as he joined them by the railing.
The captain cut the engine and the boat slowed.
Amy ran to the railing. “Oh good. Now we get to fish. I’m so excited.”
“Fish barbeque in the quad tonight?” Tony whipped off his shirt. Caden, Kurt, and Jamie followed his lead, and the bare-chested men began readying the fishing lines.
“Who needs Pete with this much eye candy around?” Jenna slapped Jamie’s butt.
Bella caught Caden’s eye and blew him a kiss. “You’re telling me?”
Tony was helping Amy with a fishing rod. “Hey, Ames,” Jenna called. “Hands off Tony’s rod.”
Amy blushed.
Bella laughed, glad Jenna was back to her old self.
Bella couldn’t tear her eyes from Caden. She could still feel his hips against hers, his muscular thighs, heavy and tense as they joined together last night.
“Hey, girlie. If you keep looking at him like that, his son is going to learn a lot more than fishing on this trip.” Leanna bumped her shoulder against Bella’s.
“Sorry.” Bella turned away from Caden. “Now I know how you felt with Kurt. I’ve never felt like this before.”
“Neither had I. Remember how it freaked me out?” Leanna shifted her eyes to Kurt and sighed. “He’s everything to me, Bell.”
“I know, and I get it. I feel the same way about Caden, and of course Evan.” She glanced at Evan, who was still texting. “As a matter of fact, I think I’ll go talk with him a little and see if I can get him away from his cell phone for a few minutes.”
“Hi, Ev.” Bella sat beside him.
He pressed the lock button on his phone. “Hey.”
“Don’t you want to fish?”
“In a minute.” Evan shifted his eyes away, and when he brought his attention back to Bella, a chill ran up her spine at the frightened look in his eyes.
“You okay?”
He looked away again and fidgeted with his phone. “How long are we going to be out here?”
“A couple hours, I guess. Is something wrong?”
He looked at Caden, then dropped his eyes to his phone again. “I can’t get any service. I had it back at the dock, but I’ve lost it.”
“That happens a lot out here. Is something going on that you need service right now?” She didn’t like the way his demeanor had changed since he arrived.
He shrugged again.
“Ev, if something’s wrong, I’m sure Joe can get in touch with someone for you.”
“I’m cool.”
“Ev, come take this line.” Caden waved him over to the railing.
Evan shoved his phone in his pocket and joined Caden. Caden handed him a fishing rod, but Evan’s expression didn’t change.
“Remember when you caught that big one two summers ago?” Caden asked Evan.
Evan handed him the pole. “I don’t want to fish.” He stalked to the other end of the boat, leaving Caden to stare after him.
Bella reached for the pole. “I’ll take it. You should go to him. I think something’s wrong.”
“He’s just moody.” Caden draped an arm over her shoulder, holding the rod in the other hand, and nuzzled against her neck.
“I don’t think so.” She watched Evan standing farther down the deck with his shoulders hunched forward as he scrolled through his phone. He fisted his hand around it and punched the air.
“Babe, he’s just going through something right now. You even said he’d get through this hard time just fine.” Caden turned back toward the water.
An uneasy feeling drew Bella’s eyes back to Evan.
Amy squealed. “I’ve got one!”
Distracted by Amy, Bella glanced back at her, despite her mind still being on Evan.
Tony came up behind her, dwarfing her small frame with his large body, as he reached around her and helped her bring in the line.
“Hang on tight,” he guided her. “Good. Now reel it in slowly. That’s it.”
“Okay. Okay.” Amy smiled brightly. “I got a fish!”
“Way to go, Amy,” Jenna cheered from the other side of the rail, where her own line hung in the water. “I knew you’d snag one before me.” She threw her head back and laughed. “Get it?” She elbowed Leanna.
“You’re so silly.” Leanna bumped her with her hip.
In the excitement, Bella slipped away and went to Evan. He turned away as she neared, a move that screamed trouble in Bella’s experienced mind.
“Evan, you sure you don’t want to fish?”
He nodded.
“Well, you’re missing out on a good time.” She leaned on the railing and looked out over the water. It was a warm, sunny day, and she only wished Evan could enjoy it.
His eyes were hidden by his hair, but she had a clear view of his clenching jaw. He was throwing off the same troublesome vibe she’d felt when they left the beach.
“Evan, if there’s something—”
“Nothing’s going on, okay?” He breathed heavily through flaring nostrils.
Holy crap, what are you dealing with?
“Okay. Okay. Sorry.” She took a step away.
“Wait.” The tremor in his voice stopped her cold. He crossed and uncrossed his arms. “I don’t know if something’s wrong. Everything’s messed up.”
“Evan, what’s messed up?”
He clammed up again, and she wanted to shake him into talking.
“Hey, guys.” Caden’s voice cut through the silence. He ran his eyes between the two of them. His smile faded, replaced with a piercing, worried stare. “What’s going on?”
Evan shot a look at Bella. She tilted her head and softened her gaze, as if to say, This is all you, buddy.
Evan shifted his eyes to his father again. He crossed his arms over his chest, but he couldn’t hide the fearful vibe that radiated from him.
“It’s Vera.”
Two words that hit like a bullet to Bella’s chest.
Caden closed in on him. “What’s Vera?”
“I don’t know.” Evan drew in a jagged breath. His voice was shaky and angry, and his eyes welled with tears. “I don’t know, okay? Those guys sent me a text, and I think it might mean that they’re doing something to her cottage. I don’t know, Dad, and I swear I have nothing to do with it.”
Without a word, Caden stalked inside and grabbed his duffel bag. He pulled out some sort of radio and called in a report to the station for someone to get over to Vera’s cottage.
“Evan?” Bella placed her hands on his shaking shoulders and stared into his damp eyes. “Tell me what you know.”
“They sent a text telling me off and that she could kiss her violin goodbye. I think they thought she was with us.” Evan pulled out of her grasp. “If they hurt her, I swear I’ll kill them.”
Adrenaline and worry surged through Bella’s veins. She heard Caden talking to Joe; then he went to the front of the boat and pulled Jamie aside. A minute later Jamie was hulking over Evan and there was a flurry of pulling in fishing lines and worried voices.
“What on earth is going on?” Jamie demanded. His face was red, the veins in his neck plumped, snaking over tight muscles.
“I…I don’t know. I swear I didn’t know anything, Jamie. I swear it. I would never hurt Vera.” Tears streamed down Evan’s cheeks.
Bella had never seen Jamie as angry as he was now, pacing the deck with fisted hands. The boat roared to life and sped toward shore. The others gathered together, trying to figure out what was going on. Words of worry and confusion darted from their conversations. Caden dragged Evan to the opposite end of the boat with his back to Bella and the others. He paced a few steps, stopped and said something to Evan, then paced again. Evan shriveled beneath Caden’s anger. Bella couldn’t think past hoping that whatever was going on, Vera was okay.