Chapter 9

Jack stood at the edge of the new recreational area pier. It was done.

“It looks great.” His cousin Gabe clapped a hand on Jack’s back. “Fast. Well built. I wasn’t sure about Dewy’s kid working with you, but he did a good job under your guidance.”

Jack nodded. He had to admit that he was surprised at how well Tristan had done, too.

Gabe gestured at the new pier. “This is really fantastic work, man. Tristan crashing into my kayak launch was a stroke of luck for me. Maybe this is what you’re meant to do now.”

Jack glanced over. Working with his hands, finishing something he started, felt good. He felt good, better than he had in a long time. “I’m building a boat, too.”

“Yeah? Well, if you start carving out kayaks and canoes, let me know.”

Jack laughed.

After saying goodbye to his cousin, Jack hopped back into his truck to go see Grace. He couldn’t wait to lay his eyes, and hands, on her. When he got to her apartment, he knocked once before she pulled him inside and shut the door behind them.

“I’ve been thinking about you all day.”

He grinned against the kiss she landed on his lips. “Your boss might not appreciate me dominating your attention.”

“What your father doesn’t know won’t hurt him.” She curled her hand around his and dragged him farther inside her apartment. “I was just making iced tea. Want some?”

“I’d love some.” He followed her to the kitchen and sat down as she retrieved two glasses from her cabinet. Jack glanced over at her laptop on the bar. She had several tabs open with what looked like articles. “What are you doing?”

“Yet another thing that’s dividing my attention.” Grace slid a glass of tea in front of him. “I’ve been researching local doctors. Mom’s current doctor is great, but he’s not an expert. Did you know one of the leading doctors who specializes in Parkinson’s disease lives right outside of Blushing Bay? I made an appointment to take Mom to see him next Friday.”

Jack curled his fingers around the cool glass. “That’s good news.”

“You really think so?”

“Of course.”

“Well, I know you’re not one of my mother’s biggest fans. She’s changed, though. I think you would like the new and improved Tammy.”

Jack leaned over the counter to kiss her. “I like your mom’s daughter, I know that.” Her lips were warm, moist, inviting. Every bit as sweet as her tea and more.

“I have a confession. I thought about you all day, too. Still managed to finish that pier at the rec area, though,” he said.

“That’s awesome.” Grace trailed her mouth over the side of his jaw. “Sounds like a celebration is in order.”

“I like the way you think.”

“Too bad we can’t go out and celebrate. Wouldn’t it be nice to go on an actual date?”

“You’re the one who wants to keep this thing between us quiet,” Jack reminded her.

“I know. I’m just saying. I’d love to kiss you outside of these four walls one day. It’s a fantasy of mine.”

Jack kissed her again. “I have a fantasy, too. Want to hear it?”

“Mmm.” She nodded.

“Or how about I just show you?” he half growled, half whispered. Then he stood and coaxed her to the bedroom—his favorite place these days.

Early the next morning, Jack closed Grace’s front door quietly behind him and headed down the steps toward the parking lot. Somehow sneaking around made his thirty-one-year-old body feel like he was a young twenty-something again. He drove to the Blushing Bay Café and grabbed a coffee and bagel, then sat down alone at one of the back tables.

Grace should be here with him. She was probably starving after last night’s sexual Olympics, too. Hiding this thing between them, whatever it was, was silly.

“Hey, bro.” Noah pulled out a chair at his table and plopped down with his own coffee and bagel. “You look lost in space. What are you thinking about?”

Ripping Grace’s clothing off. “Nothing,” Jack answered. Because he respected Grace. If she wanted to keep their involvement under wraps for the time being, he understood. “Why aren’t you out on the boat this morning?”

“A man’s gotta eat.” Noah took a large bite of his breakfast. “Besides, when you’re acting captain, you get to decide the schedule.”

The muscles in Jack’s jaw tightened. He was about to start lecturing his brother on responsibility and captaining skills when Noah broke into a wide grin.

“Relax. I’m just pulling your chain. My acting first mate had something to do this morning. Can’t very well go out with just those other temporaries you hired as my crew. They’d actually hurt more than they’d help, especially with the water as choppy as it is this morning. We’re setting out at nine.”

Jack nodded, relaxing back into his chair. Not that this was any of his business anymore. He’d given up captaining the Summerly. And maybe, as Gabe had suggested, he was branching off into a new life passion. “I’m talking to a guy after lunch who might be interested in joining your crew.”

“Give him hell,” Noah said. “I’m serious. I don’t want any lightweights on my boat. Next time I get Mitsy on the line, she’s not getting away…So where were you last night?” Noah asked then.

Jack paused drinking his coffee midsip. “What do you mean?”

“I stopped by your place. You weren’t home.” Noah lifted his brows teasingly. “So where were you?”

Jack resisted memories of where he’d been. Grace’s apartment. In her bed. In her.

“Got yourself a girl, huh? Who is she?”

“None of your business,” Jack ground out, his words as tart as the coffee he was drinking.

“Why the big secret? You can tell me.”

Jack wished he could. “No one.”

Noah frowned and reached for his bagel. “I see how it is, bro. You’re afraid I might swoop in and sweep her off her feet.”

Jack laughed. Then he nearly choked on his food as Grace walked in with Krista, who beelined straight for the youngest Sawyer brother.

Noah looked up with a grin. “Hey, Kris. Hey, sis.”

Jack inwardly cringed.

“What are you two up to?” Noah asked.

Krista turned to Grace. “We’re having breakfast. And Grace here is keeping things from me. I’m going to find out what those things are.”

Grace’s cheeks flushed. Her gaze skittered and met Jack’s.

“Jack is keeping secrets, too. But he’s about as tight-lipped as a damn snapping turtle. Can’t get anything out of him.”

Krista’s eyebrow hooked and she looked at Grace, who averted her gaze to the floor. “Oh my God,” Krista whispered under her breath.

Noah looked over his coffee at them. “What?”

“Nothing.” Krista grabbed Grace’s arm. “See you guys later.” Then she pulled Grace toward the café’s display of delicious breakfast desserts.

Jack guessed Krista knew exactly what Grace was keeping from her. With one look at Noah, he knew that his younger brother was still clueless, probably distracted by his thoughts of fishing and boating. Or his latest female interest.

“Women, man. They’re crazy.” Noah sipped from his coffee and chuckled to himself.

“Best to stay away from ’em,” Jack agreed.

But staying away from Grace wasn’t an option. She was his new ocean, the one thing he couldn’t get enough of. And if he wasn’t careful, she might devour him in the process.

Grace shushed Krista as they moved through the line for their coffee and croissants. Then she ushered her to a table as far away from the Sawyer brothers as possible.

“You are so busted. You and Jack are both keeping a secret lover. Gee, what a coincidence,” Krista said.

“You can’t tell Noah,” Grace pleaded.

Krista’s blue eyes lit up. “So it’s true.” She squealed in delight. “I knew it! This has been years in the making.”

Grace rolled her eyes. “Jack and I haven’t even spoken in years until recently.”

“But this thing between you was there, keeping you two from seriously dating anyone else.”

“You’re a hopeless romantic, you know that.” Grace shook her head and pulled her coffee to her mouth. Setting it back down, she looked at her friend. “I mean it, you can’t tell Noah.”

“You act like Noah and I tell each other everything.” Krista pinched a piece off her croissant and popped it into her mouth.

“He is your best friend. And speaking of something that has been years in the making…”

Krista frowned. “It’s not like that between Noah and me. And you’re not changing the subject.” She pointed a bossy finger. “I want details. And time is ticking before I need to be on the pediatric floor. Spill! Now!”

Grace stole a glance at Jack across the room and smiled. “All right. We’ve gotten together a couple times.”

“Gotten together?” Krista leaned forward to hear Grace’s hushed speech. “What exactly does that mean?”

“You know.” Grace’s cheeks were burning. Krista was so good at filling in the blanks, but she wasn’t offering any help in their conversation right now.

“Like for dates?” Krista asked.

“Kind of.” Except Grace and Jack hadn’t actually left her apartment. Or her bedroom.

“Have you two kissed yet?” Krista asked, excitement building in her tone of voice.

“Yep.”

“More?”

Heat scorched Grace’s face and neck. “Yep.”

Krista’s eyes rounded. “Oh my God. Did you two close the deal?”

Grace covered her face with both hands. “That’s one way to put it.”

“This is so exciting. You and Jack are sleeping together.” Krista’s whisper had evolved to what felt like shouting in Grace’s mind.

“Shhhh!” Grace shushed her and looked around to make sure no one had overheard. “I’m serious. Noah can’t know.”

“Why?” Krista’s dark brows furrowed.

“Because he’s calling me sis now and treating me like family again.” Grace’s mother was great, but it’d been just the two of them for so long. She liked having an extended family of sorts.

Krista tilted her head. “Noah doesn’t like being lied to, you know.”

“We’re not exactly lying.”

Krista’s mouth settled into a thin line.

“And it’s just until after the tournament. And until Jack and I can figure out if there’s anything worth exploring between us. I mean it might be”—Grace dropped her voice even lower—“just sex.” Crazy-good, fly-her-to-the-moon-and-back sex. “Promise me you won’t tell.”

“It’s not my secret to tell.” Krista pretended to zip her lips. “But my advice stands. Tell Noah sooner rather than later.”

“I will,” Grace promised, already feeling the dread bubble up at the thought of doing so. She didn’t have to do it today, though. Today, she and Jack could continue as if the rest of the world didn’t exist.

And it didn’t when they were together.

Jack walked into Castaways later that night and scanned the room. There wasn’t much that scared him these days. Not when he’d reeled in a seven-foot shark and nearly had his ankle bitten off. That had been something he and Chris had laughed about later.

Jack’s father still scared him, though. Not because he was a mean or angry man. It was more that Jack feared disappointing him. He didn’t like to do it. Telling his dad once and for all that he didn’t want to work on the boats anymore would more than disappoint the old man. It promised to break his father’s heart.

Jack took a seat at an empty table in the back. A waitress stopped by immediately and Jack ordered his and his father’s favorite beers. His dad usually ran right on time. Glancing at his watch, Jack saw the short hand tick on the hour. Simultaneously, Castaways’ front door opened and his dad entered the building. His shoulder-length hair had gone white prematurely in his forties. He used to tell Jack and his brothers it was because he’d been struck by lightning. Jack still wasn’t sure if that was true or not. His father had a long, scraggly beard and piercing blue eyes like Jack’s. Taking large steps across the room, he dropped his weight into the seat across from him.

“Just you and me tonight?” his father asked, settling uncomfortably into the too-small chair. He was a large man. Not fat, but he was tall, big-boned, and muscled from years of reeling in beast-sized fish.

“ ’Fraid so.”

“Not a bad thing. You and I have things we need to talk about,” his father said.

Jack met his gaze, wondering if his father already knew. “We do?”

“Yep. But not until I have my drink in front of me.”

“It’s already on its way.”

His father nodded. “Good boy.” A minute later, the waitress laid his favorite specialty beer in front of him. “Thanks, darlin’ ” his father said. He took a drink, sighed deeply, then nodded. “Okay, now we can talk.”

“Do you want to start the conversation?” Jack asked.

His father sat back. “Yeah. I do.” He stared at Jack for a long second. “You’re fired.”

Jack straightened. “What?”

His father chuckled, the sound turning into a dry cough. “I’ve always wanted to fire someone. You boys are so good at hiring on folks, though, that I’ve never needed to…You’re fired,” he said again.

A frown tightened Jack’s lips. “I heard you the first time, Dad. But I’m not sure I understand.”

“You were planning on breaking the news to me tonight that you’re officially done with the company. You don’t want to fish on the boats anymore, right?”

Jack blew out a breath. “How did you know?”

“I’m your father. I know.”

Jack shook his head and pulled his own beer toward him. “You gonna tell me you have eyes in the back of your head, too?”

His dad laughed dryly. “I’ve been hoping you’d come around, change your mind. I know you’ve struggled with what happened to Chris.”

Jack stared down into his amber-colored beer. “Yeah.”

“It’s okay. But we do need a good cocaptain for Noah. Those temporaries won’t do.”

“I agree, and I’m already looking.” Jack picked at the label on his bottle. “Aren’t you going to ask me what I’ll do with my life now?”

“I suspect you’ll do what you’ve always done. Give whatever it is your all, be a success. That’s the Sawyer way. Nothing less.”

“And you’re not mad?” Jack asked, breathing a little easier now.

“Oh, I’m angry all right.” Another deep chuckle rose from his father. “The company could’ve had a record year with the catch if we’d replaced you with a proper fisherman already instead of a couple high schoolers on their summer break.”

Jack pointed a finger. “That’s your fault. I told you I was done months ago. You didn’t believe me.”

“You needed time to figure things out. Now you have.” His father nodded.

Jack leaned forward on the table. “Building this kayak launch and pier with Dewy’s kid has got me thinking. Chris and I dreamed about starting our own building company. Coastal based. Docks, piers, small boats.”

The waitress reappeared at their table. “You guys eating tonight?” she asked.

“Two of the specials, darlin’,” his father said. He waited for the waitress to walk away before responding to Jack’s confession. “My grandfather started the Sawyer Seafood Company. It started with a fishing boat and grew from there. He was the one who added the restaurants. My brother, your Uncle Gene, added the recreational section that Gabe runs. Could be good to add on to that. Maybe this next venture of yours wouldn’t be leaving the family business as much as adding to it.”

Jack hadn’t considered that. When he and Chris had made their plans, they’d intended for it to be equal ownership. “It won’t be just Sawyer. I want to call it Watson and Sawyer Coastal Builders.”

His father didn’t blink. “As it should be. Chris was family.”

Jack swallowed. He’d expected an argument, not full acceptance. His father had never given him anything else, though.

“So, you taking on clients yet?” his father asked.

“Well, I—”

“Your answer is always yes. A new business demands yes to every opportunity, even the small ones. You don’t turn down work until you have more business than you can handle. And not even then, if you’re smart.”

Jack nodded. “All right. I guess my answer is yes.”

“Good.”

The waitress laid their plates of barbecued chicken in front of them. “Enjoy!”

Always a flirt, his father winked at the young woman. “Thanks, sweetheart. We will.”

They both dug in. After a few minutes of devouring the wings on their plates, Jack stopped and looked up at his father. “Thanks for understanding, Dad.”

“No need to get mushy on me.” His father frowned.

“Right.” Jack laughed under his breath and continued eating. A weight had been lifted off his chest in the last hour. Chris would’ve been lining up drinks at the bar to celebrate. Doing this without his best friend wasn’t ideal. Chris should be here. They should be going out on this next adventure together. But wherever Chris was, Jack was sure his friend was smiling right now.

“So about that next client. I know a guy who might need his pier expanded. I’ll have him call you,” his father said.

“Great.” Jack smiled to himself and took another bite from a wing, excited and eager to tell Grace all about his news. She was becoming his new confidant. And a lot more than that if he was honest with himself.