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“Nice boat.”

I’d been watching the guy since he pulled into the marina parking lot with a surfboard on the roof of his SUV. After all, this wasn’t the area for surfing, so he seemed out of place. “Nice surfboard,” I commented with a nod as he began to board the yacht in the slip beside mine.

The guy smiled and paused. “Thanks.” I had the sense he was trying to get a feel for me, for whether or not I was being a dick.

Sometimes I was. I couldn’t help it. The Marines made me that way. Being in the toughest branch of the military means that we walk with an earned swagger.

“Bodhi, get up here!” A man in a suit leaned over the railing of the yacht and snapped at the guy I’d been talking to.

“You got it, Max.” Bodhi rolled his eyes with a grin. “Hey, do you have a brother?”

I paused momentarily before shaking my head. Everyone in the Corps was my brother, but I knew he was referring to the more common meaning of the word. “Nope.”

“Want mine?” He grinned as he boarded the vessel.

“Pass,” I mumbled as I stretched and decided to get back to work. Pulling my shirt over my head, I started cleaning the boat. This was my house and the place I stored all of my worldly possessions, which at the moment didn’t amount to much. I’d saved every penny while I was enlisted. When I left, I thought I was going to use it to buy my girl a ring, but she’d moved on while I was in Afghanistan, so I bought this boat instead. At least I was living debt-free, even if my nest egg was non-existent.

The wind was too light today for me to justify going sailing. If I ran out of excuses, I might actually have to go get a job. Apparently, man could not live on bread alone and PB&Js had become a staple on my budget. I’d almost kill for a steak. Not a stretch. I’d been trained to do it. Hell, I’d been forced to do it more times than I cared to admit.

I started spraying the fiberglass cleaner and grabbed my sponge. Above me, I could hear Bodhi and Max talking. They were mildly amusing. I’d been here for a couple of days and had decided to give it a month before I decided whether or not to move on. I’d already paid my slip fees, and as marinas went, this one was pretty nice.

“We’re getting closer to opening Brewery on the Bay,” Max announced. “We need to get serious about hiring staff. We should start having people come by. Bartenders need to prove their abilities. Waitstaff needs to pass muster, that kind of thing. Oh, and I have no idea where we’re going to find bouncers.” He sighed. “I don’t suppose you know anyone?”

“I have some friends…” Bodhi began quietly.

“I’ve seen your scrawny-ass friends. Nope. Nothing scary about those surfer dude types.” Max chuckled. “Get serious.”

“So, you’re saying we need someone big and completely badass, huh?” There was a note in Bodhi’s voice that made me pause. I could tell he was leaning over the railing, probably watching me.

I’d been trained to always be aware of my environment and everyone in it. In the Corps, there was always someone to watch my six. Now, I had to watch my own.

“Yeah, badass is a general prerequisite,” Max agreed.

“Then how about that guy?”

I froze and turned to glance up at the yacht. Sure enough, Bodhi was pointing at me and waving. “You talking about me?” I crossed my arms over my chest, aware that my muscles rippled threateningly as I stood with my feet a good eighteen inches apart.

“Yeah. Come here. My brother wants to talk to you,” Bodhi urged. Then he looked at his brother. “Seriously, if I ran into this guy in the dark, I’d need new boxers.”

I snorted. “Let me get a shirt on. I doubt you’re packing extra undies at the moment,” I joked. After I set my crap down on the built-in bench seat and pulled on my black tank, I climbed over the side of the boat, walked the dock separating the slips and almost reluctantly boarded the yacht. The brothers were sitting at a table waiting for me. “I’m Hawk,” I announced as I held out my hand to shake.

Max shook first. “Hawk? Did you have one of those earthy moms?”

I chuckled. “No, my name is Logan Hawkins, but everyone calls me Hawk.”

“He’s hired! He already has a cool, threatening name.” Bodhi clapped his hands together. “Now let’s go to the bar and try out one of our new beers.” He started to push his chair back, but Max held out a hand to stop him.

“Seriously?” He shook his head. “I can’t believe I’m entrusting this business to you.” Max turned to me. “Have a seat. Let’s talk about your qualifications.”

I licked my lips and grinned. “My experience? Why I should be your bouncer?”

“Yes, precisely.” He reclined in his seat and watched me.

“Okay, I’ll play.” I chuckled. “I spent eight years in the military.”

Max nodded. “Which branch?”

Bodhi jerked his thumb toward my boat. “I’m guessing Navy.”

I smirked. “Actually…Marines.”

“Oorah!” Bodhi shouted.

I grinned. “Right. Oorah.”

“Okay, so what did you do in the Corps?” Max asked, obviously not even remotely impressed.

“I started out guarding overseas embassies. Then I was deployed to Afghanistan. There, I was infantry. My sharpshooting abilities really bit me in the ass.” I blew out a breath and looked away. “Then, because I’d survived that, I re-enlisted for another four years. Less action; I was in Japan and finally back here, guarding bases.”

Max nodded. “I’m impressed. So, you’ve experienced hand-to-hand combat. I’m sure you know how to take care of yourself. Maybe you’ll want to see the place and tell me if my plan for staffing is adequate from a security standpoint.”

I nodded. “Yes, sir.”

He grinned. “Max will suffice. Sir is for my father, may you never have to meet him. Oh, and since he’s the one you’ll work with day-to-day, call him Bodhi, even when asshole is more tempting.”

“He struck me as more of a dick turnip,” I joked.

Bodhi laughed. “We’re going to get along just fine.”