by Tamara Lush
“Well, if you hadn’t busted the door down and then barged in here, I would have told you,” I say crossly, wanting to inform her that she’s the only thing standing in the way of my mind-blowing orgasm. “Sadie, this is Matthew. He’s new on the island. Opening a helicopter tour business. Matthew, this is my next-door neighbor, Sadie. She runs Salty Sadie’s Pirate Ship and she’s known my sister-in-law, Kate, for years.”
Sadie leans over the coffee table and shakes Matthew’s hand. “Sorry to interrupt. I was just so pissed when I saw his proposal to the city council. Justin, of all people. Doing this to me.”
“I’m sure it wasn’t personal.” I put my hands on my waist, waiting for Sadie to take the hint. I tap my foot.
“Personal? How could it not be personal? It makes me hate him. And you know I don’t want to hate him. You know how I feel about Justin.” Sadie balls up her little hands, her black-tipped fingernails disappearing into her palms. Today, she’s wearing khaki shorts and a T-shirt with her business logo — a redheaded pirate woman with a knife in her mouth. It looks kind of like the old Tampa Bay Buccaneers logo from the eighties, but more badass.
Matthew blinks. “How do you feel about Justin? Who is Justin, anyway?”
Oh hell. “Don’t get her started,” I mutter.
Sadie flops into a red, overstuffed chair and kicks off her flip-flops, putting her feet on the matching, fabric ottoman. “Well. That’s an excellent question.”
“And one for another day, over drinks? We can bring Matthew up to speed on the inner workings of Paradise Beach politics later.” I say pointedly.
Sadie turns to Matthew and waves her hands excitedly in the air. “Justin’s the mayor of Paradise Beach. He also runs a hot dog cart on North Beach.”
“The mayor runs a hot dog cart?” Matthew is obviously baffled by this. I’m a little surprised he didn’t already know this detail, since it was all over the national news when Justin was elected last year. Handsome Millennial Sells Hot Dogs, Wins Mayor’s Seat in Florida. That kind of thing.
“Yes,” Sadie and I say in unison.
“Well, it’s actually his father’s cart. But he helps run it. He has some other businesses too. And Sadie’s had a massive crush on him ever since she saw him campaigning at the farmer’s market,” I add helpfully, hoping I will annoy her into leaving.
“Had. I had a crush on him. Now I think he’s a jerk. Why does he want Paradise Beach businesses to not have kiosks there? I just opened my sunset cruise business. This is going to kill it. I spent so much money. Business loans. Crap.”
“Kiosks?” Matthew asks. “Where?”
Sadie huffs impatiently. “At the Marina, there’s a spot on the sidewalk where the businesses have booths so we can grab tourists’ attention as they walk past. Usually, the tourists are going from Main Street to the beach. I staff the kiosk myself in the mornings, so people can make plans for later in the day.”
“Oh, I know where you’re talking about. Shit. I guess I’d hoped to eventually have a booth there too for the helicopter tours, once I hire someone.” Matthew leans forward, interested.
Dammit. I do not want this evening to dissolve into a discussion of best practices for hospitality and tourism. I sit next to Matthew and he slides a couple inches closer to me, then wraps his arm around my shoulders. My chest wells with emotion, because it’s obvious he wants to show Sadie that we’re together.
“It affects so many of us. The booze cruise guys. The paddleboard people. And that woman who takes people out on canoes to meditate with dolphins, she’s beside herself,” Sadie cries.
“It does suck,” I admit. “Why don’t you make an appointment to meet with him, to find out why he’s doing this?”
She blows out a breath. “You know.”
Matthew pipes up, ignoring the hard squeeze I’m giving his thigh. “I don’t. Why can’t you just talk to him?”
“Because I can’t muster up the courage. That’s the problem. I’m so tongue-tied around him. Because he’s gorgeous. He’s a gorgeous jerk. He’s older than me and is the mayor and I’m a pirate ship captain. And now I also don’t know if I can talk with him because I’m so pissed and I’m worried I won’t be able to control myself.”
Matthew scratches his jaw. “But he’s just a…”
I clear my throat. “Hot dog vendor. That’s correct, with his father. It’s a family business. Sadie, this is ridiculous. It’s going to affect your ship. Who cares what he looks like?”
“I know,” she cries. “But I’ve been working up the courage to ask him for a drink and now I hate him. It makes me even more anxious. But I’ve got to stand up to this fascist tyranny.”
“I’m not sure fascism really applies here,” I offer. “Maybe he has a good reason.”
She chews on her cheek, her pink lips plumping in an alluring way. Sadie’s so pretty, I’m shocked Justin hasn’t noticed her yet. We’ve all assumed that it’s because he’s secretly taken and doesn’t want to tell his constituents for some strange reason.
He’s also rumored to be into kinky sex, so maybe Sadie’s not his type. Who knows?
“Maybe I’ll send him an email,” she says, drumming her fingers on the chair’s arm. “Have you guys eaten dinner?”
Oh, for God’s sake.
“An email! That’s it!” I leap up and clap my hands. “Perfect idea. Why not do that right now while it’s fresh in your mind?”
I make my way to the door and shoot Sadie a pointed look, then motion with my eyes at the exit. She glances at me, then Matthew, finally grasping what’s going on.
“Yeah. Yeah! I’ll do that.” She climbs to her feet. “You two look busy with stuff anyway. Well, nice meeting you, Matthew. See you around.”
She scurries to the door. “Sorry. Didn’t mean to interrupt. He’s really handsome,” she hisses at me as she saunters out.
“Don’t forget to come to Mermosa for Sunday brunch. There’s a big party,” I call out as I shut the door.
Then I turn to Matthew, whose grin has taken over his face.
“What?” I ask.
“You. Your friends. Your life. I’m enjoying every second of being with you.”
“I feel the same about you,” I purr, sliding onto his lap. “Now, where were we?”
Chapter Fourteen
MATTHEW
Natalia walks around my Grumman G44 Widgeon, which is sitting in the driveway — well, the runway — of my house. This small plane is my pride and joy. A piece of history, a beautiful flying machine, and my favorite way of spending a few hours.
Outside of the things Natalia and I just did inside my house.
“This. Is. Incredible. So, you keep it in your hangar and then just fly away. Right from your house. Amazing.” She touches her fingertips to the body of the white and yellow plane. “This is a strange-looking plane.”
“Yep. There aren’t many of these in operation. Fewer than three hundred in the world. I was lucky to find one. And see these?” I slap a float underneath the wing.
“Yeah. I was going to ask you about those. I’ve never seen them on any other plane.”
“They’re floats. This is an amphibious plane.”
She stops and her jaw drops in astonishment. Natalia is gorgeous when she’s surprised. “You mean, this plane goes in the water?”
“Yep. I can land it right in the water. And take off, too. Someday, we’ll fly around the island and I’ll show you. We can land right near Dockside Dan’s and then tie up, like a boat.” I guide my hand in a flying then landing motion.
“No way,” she squeals. “That’s the coolest thing I’ve ever heard. I can’t wait to experience it.”
She walks over and wraps her arms around me, and I draw her in for a hug. It’s Friday night, and I’m about to fly across the state to pick up my daughter.
“Have a good flight,” she murmurs into my neck.
“Thank you for coming over.”
“Glad we could have these couple of hours before,
um, your weekend starts. Before your daughter gets here.”
My balls are still tingling from what Natalia and I did for those couple of hours. She’d come over under the pretense of seeing my house and the plane, but in reality, we’d gotten naked and fooled around on the sofa. And on the bed. And in the shower. I can’t get enough of her, and these past several days of seeing her nightly have been incredible. As much as I’m excited about having my daughter here, I’m a bit worried about how things will change between Nat and me.
“I’m going to get Chloe settled in school and with her nanny, so don’t start thinking this is the end of us, okay?” I tilt Natalia’s face up. “And my sister’s coming at some point, which means she and Chloe will be spending some quality girl time together. Which means you and I will get to spend some quality us time together.”
“I’m not worried. And I want you to spend time with her. She’s your priority. You’re an incredible dad. I mean, look at that room you set up for her. It’s like a ten-year-old’s dream sleepover room, with the bunk beds and the aqua and white pillows. I’m just some rando you met…” Her voice trails off wistfully, and she shrugs.
I press my lips to hers. “You’re someone I want in my life. We’re doing this. Exploring this. It’s what adults with kids do, have relationships. I’m a dad. I’m not dead.”
She shifts from foot to foot. “Right! I know. It’s just different for me. I’ve never dated anyone with kids and um... never really wanted them. I don’t know.”
My stomach plummets. “So, are you trying to let me down easy and break it off?”
The wild look in Natalia’s eyes tells me that I’ve probably interpreted her words incorrectly. “No! No. Not at all. I just want to make sure everything’s good for Chloe. She needs you. I mean, I need you too. But in a different way. I’m an adult, so I can deal.” She laughs. “None of that came out right. What I’m trying to say is, I don’t want to compete. Your daughter should be your priority. I’m here for you the rest of the time. Or any time you need me. It’s all good, Matthew.”
I grab Natalia and hug her tight to my body. “You’re incredible. Some women get jealous or upset when guys spend time with their kids.”
“Oh, sweets, I’d never do that. And I can’t wait to meet her on Sunday. We’re going to have a blast at the party. Leilani’s organized the craziest morning. And I can’t wait to meet your sister.”
We hug for several minutes, and I’m wondering why this feels like a larger goodbye than it really is.
“Okay, I’d better get going. Chloe’s mom’s driving her to the executive airport in Fort Lauderdale with her stuff, and I’m going to land and pick her up, then fly right back. Thanks for coming over. And seriously, thank you for bringing that unicorn stuffed animal for Chloe.”
“You don’t have to tell her it’s from me if it’s not appropriate. I just wanted her to have it. Text me when you return?” Natalia runs her hand through my hair.
“Definitely. What are you doing tonight? I forgot to ask.”
“I’m headed over to Ma and Dad’s. They’ve been wondering why I haven’t stopped by in a week. Ma’s making a big dinner and I think she wants to talk about their anniversary party. She’s said she wants Damien here, so they postponed it from when it would have happened over the summer. It’ll happen early next year instead, and I hope you can come.” She grins.
“Hope I can too.”
We smooch softly and I groan.
“I want to leave and get Chloe, but I don’t want to leave you. Today was incredible.”
She snickers a little. “It was, wasn’t it? It’s okay, though.”
“Okay. Have fun. Talk later, babe.”
“Matthew?”
“Yeah?”
“Can I stay here and watch you take off?” She looks eager and excited. So freaking endearing. Man, I wish she could come with me. I brush a kiss onto my angel’s forehead and she sighs happily.
“Absolutely.”
“Co-pilot, prepare for landing,” I say into my headset.
“Prepare for landing,” Chloe echoes, adjusting her child-sized headset. She sits up a little straighter in the passenger seat next to me. At ten, she’s still small enough to need a booster seat so she can see through the windshield — but she won’t need that extra boost for long. She’s tall, like her mother.
This conversation is a ritual of ours. Ever since she could speak in complete sentences, I’d hook her into the onboard radio.
I flick a switch so I can radio the control tower — which, according to the fly-in community’s calendar, is really just my next-door neighbor. As part of the community, we all take turns helping with the air traffic, mostly so we don’t crash into each other while taking off and landing. Since there’s only a handful of houses, and half of the residents only live here during the winter, it’s a cinch.
“This is Mancini 1702,” I say. That’s my call sign and my numerical address — Matthew Mancini, 1702 Aviator Blvd., Paradise Beach, Florida.
“Mancini 1702, copy,” says my neighbor as the radio crackles to life.
I point the plane toward the asphalt runway of my subdivision.
“Permission to land?” I request.
“Cleared for landing on runway two-four left,” my neighbor responds.
“Roger that. Have a good night.”
I click off the radio and guide the plane down easily. This is one of the best feelings in the world, flying this World War II-vintage aircraft. It feels solid in the air, stoic in my hands, and like it’s got total command of the sky. It’s built like a tank, with landing gear so rugged that it can be safely deployed at any airspeed. It’s a boat. It’s a plane. It kinda makes me feel like a superhero when I think about it.
When the plane touches down to earth, it glides along the runway’s new asphalt, wheels skimming along smoothly.
Chloe raises her fists in triumph. “We’re home!” she shouts over the whirr of the propeller.
“Yes, we are, Cubster.” I’m grinning and using her childhood nickname for the first time in ages.
I navigate the plane over to the house, and Chloe and I pause for a few moments while the propeller slows to a stop.
“Dad?” She slides off her headset.
“Yeah?” I’m flipping switches and shutting down the electrical systems.
“About that nickname.”
I glance over at her, and my daughter’s face is serious. Uh-oh. Yvette warned me about this recently. Chloe’s been unusually sensitive lately, possibly because of the bullying, but also due to the move. There’s been a knot in my stomach for days. Will she like it here? Will school be better for her? What if she hates her new room?
“What about it?”
“I don’t mind if you call me that in private, but around other kids, can you just use my name?” She presses her lips together.
“Sure. I sure can.” It breaks my heart to think that she’s so worried about her image at the age of ten, so I change the subject as I unbuckle her safety harness. “I think you’re really going to have fun on Sunday. My friend, er, friends, have organized a pretty awesome party. I’m told there will be more than a few kids your age there from the local school. Kids you’ll probably be in class with.”
“Friend? As in girlfriend?” For a ten-year-old, Chloe is razor sharp.
I undo my own harness and clear my throat. Tonight wasn’t the planned evening for a conversation about Natalia, mostly because I’m not sure what Natalia is to me yet. I’m hoping she’s girlfriend material, but dammit, it’s so soon. Too soon to introduce her to my daughter as someone important in my life.
In our lives.
“Friend as in friend. Her name’s Natalia. She’s someone I met here. I’ve been meeting a lot of people in the last couple of weeks. Business friends, neighbor friends, island friends. C’mon, I’ll help you climb out.”
I’d hoped that introducing Chloe to Natalia at the party, around lots of other people, would ease everyone
into the situation. Less pressure for all.
I wriggle my way through the one hatch on the left side — that’s the only problem with this plane, it’s a bitch for tall people — then help Chloe out. She loves climbing aboard and exiting the plane. The hatch is almost like something out of a kid’s playground; that’s probably why.
We stand on the asphalt, the dark night sky overhead. “Just gonna grab your bags,” I say. Most of her stuff is already here because I sent movers over last week. “Bet it’s gonna feel good to be back with all your things.”
“Yeah. Dad? Don’t change the subject. Mom says you have a girlfriend.”
I hoist one duffel out of the plane with a grunt, then her laptop bag. Dammit Yvette.
“That’s not entirely true, Chloe. I met Natalia and she’s a friend. But that’s all.”
“Hmm. Has Uncle Chad or Grandma met her?”
“No.” I haul the suitcases to the front of the house and set them on the doorstep, fumbling for the keys. The thought of my half-brother — recovering alcoholic, sometimes jerk, arrogant hedge fund manager in New York — meeting Natalia almost makes me laugh. Something tells me they’d be like oil and water.
“Has Aunt Hailey met her?”
“No.” Crap, that reminds me, I still need to call my sister to see if she’ll be here by Sunday for the party. She was supposed to be here tomorrow, but her work as a reporter meant that she had to cover a breaking news story in New York about some blackout in the city. Unlike my suspicions about my half-brother, I’d bet money that Natalia and Hailey will be fast friends.
“I got a text from Aunt Hailey. She says she’s coming Sunday night. She got a few extra vacation days, so she’s staying a full ten days. Wanna see the text? She also sent the funniest gif of BTS.”
I twist the key in the lock, mildly annoyed that my sister decided to text my ten-year-old with her itinerary rather than me. But Hailey and Chloe have always had a special bond, so I let it go. “Okay, cool. I’ll call her later. Is BTS Justin Bieber’s new band?”
Chloe dissolves into giggles. I am a cool dad. I know BTS from Justin Bieber from Harry Styles, but I love teasing her about the K-pop group.