“I was thinking I’d bring you by that little place I found, get your gear dropped off, and we could go grab something to eat if you’re up to it.
“I could do something to eat.”
“If you don’t like what I got for you, just stay put for a couple of days, see if it wears on you. I managed to get it for free, so you won’t have to pay me or anybody else back, okay?”
“Geez, thank you. How’d you arrange that?”
Noonan grinned. “I don’t have a lot of money, but I do have friends. At my age, kid, friends are everything.”
“I haven’t been to this side of Florida before. It’s nice,” Ned muttered.
“I’ve spent most of my time on the other coast, to be honest. But I love the gulf side much better. Warmer, I think, more temperate. And it’s slower. I mean, we got lots of tourism here, no question about it. But it’s happier. You know what I mean?”
Ned stared straight ahead as the bridge dead-ended into a small two-lane boulevard, heading north and south along the beach.
“This here is Gulf Boulevard, for obvious reasons. You have your beachside properties, and then you have your inland properties, which sometimes are on a waterway. In any direction, you’re no more than five or six blocks from some body of water. I think that’s why I like it”
Noonan turned right and headed north. Ned saw glimpses of turquoise water and white beaches in between two-story rental units and occasionally a large condo complex. Along the way, it was dotted with beach shops and rental agencies, renting everything from vacation cabins to surfboards, golf carts, and beach bicycles. He passed a lot of ice cream stores. There were shops on both sides of the road selling fishing and beach gear, flip-flops, bathing suits, tanning lotion, and a couple of taquerias with open air palapas just like Ned had seen in Mexico. There were lots of fish and chips places and a smattering of outdoor bars with brightly-colored umbrellas. Occasionally, they had to stop between lights to allow couples or families to cross the road, usually towing a canvas wagon filled with towels and equipment.
They also passed several groups of walkers and occasionally a tandem bicycle. Ned felt himself starting to relax, even though Noonan was quick to hit on the gas and slow to hit the brakes.
“See? Nothing fancy, but not too shabby, either.”
They turned left down a paved road that ended at the edge of a wooden bridge over the sand dunes. It was the Treasure Island beach access trail. Off to the side was an alleyway, unpaved, just wide enough to accommodate two cars passing. On both sides of the path were smaller shacks, some of them well-painted and others left to the sea’s devices. Vacation rental signs hung in most of the yards or attached to the upper eaves of the houses, colorfully lettered in bright Caribbean paint, with names like Pete’s Paradise and Laura’s Lair. Pictures of fish, starfish, and mermaids adorned fences and sides of buildings. Noonan pulled into the driveway of a tiny pink house that sat right on the beach.
“It isn’t much, I warn you. This place is going to get torn down, and the owner has plans to build a McMansion sort of triplex building. He wants to live upstairs and rent out down below. But for now, this place is vacant, and it has a little bit of furniture. I hope you like it. And the price is right,” he reminded as he exited the truck.
Ned ran right behind the pirate, his canvas slip-ons crunching on the white mixture of crushed shells and stones. Noonan produced a set of keys and unlocked the front door, which was slightly warped, causing Noonan to have to lean into it hard with his shoulder. At the second try, it gave way and let them enter, but part of the door trim had cracked.
Inside, the house smelled of mildew, but Ned thought it was nothing that a few open windows wouldn’t take care of. It hadn’t been updated in many years. That surprised him, because Ned thought all these beach properties saw themselves underwater every few years due to the storms. But this one looked like it had survived many seasons of Winters and lots of Fall hurricanes.
“Home sweet home, kid.”
“It’s funky. I like it.” Ned walked through the doorway into a small bedroom, which barely had room for the king-sized bed. He’d been dreading to discover a lumpy full-sized mattress so was thrilled with the king.
He threw his duffel bag on the bed, unzipped it, and hung up a jacket and two shirts he brought. Noonan was watching him, leaning into the doorway.
“Don’t know if you smoke, but they’ll allow it, too.”
“I’m not a smoker.”
“Good to see you’re prepared,” Noonan nodded at the shirts Ned was hanging up.
“I thought I should bring something for at least one night out. Do you have any plans for that?”
“Let’s see what kind of luck we have first. Good idea though. You never know what the sea is going to bring you. It could be cause for celebration.”
“I don’t care about what the sea brings me, as long as the restaurant doesn’t refuse to serve me.”
“You’re a very astute traveler. I’m not gonna take you anywhere a pair of khakis and a T-shirt wouldn’t do. But it’s good to be prepared.”
Noonan returned to the living room. “This is always how I judge the bones of a house. I like to be just outside the sand bar like this one is. I like to be able to see the water, have my coffee out on my private beach, or sit out at night under the stars. This one has a fire pit too. Nobody will bother you here. Everybody who lives on the street is from somewhere else. Some people live here, some people are running away, and some people just don’t know what the fuck they’re doing.”
Ned found himself chuckling. The pirate was easy to like. Maybe it was the smell of the ocean or just the fact that the damned view was stunningly beautiful, but Ned knew he was going to be okay. And Noonan understood Ned needed some alone time. There would be no father-son play acting here, and the old captain would be a good resource so Ned could explore this area more.
“If you want to get a car, you’d have to go into Largo or someplace. I should’ve asked you at the airport. The cars are a little expensive. You can get along just fine here in a golf cart. And where we’re going to be is just down the road a bit. I got the Bones all fueled up and ready to go.”
Ned shook his head. “I don’t think I want to rent a vehicle but will play it by ear. Only thing I want is to get some groceries. Do you have time to run me down to someplace I can fill up my fridge?”
“Of course. Let’s go do that now, and then we can head over for a late lunch/early dinner. I’ve got some people I want to introduce you to.”
Ned purchased staples he was going to need, going off the list he made before he left. They stowed everything away, chilled the beers, and were ready to go.
He discovered his stomach had been doing flip-flops. The small breakfast he’d been served on the plane wasn’t quite enough to keep him going. He was itching to have some fresh seafood.
Noonan hit Gulf Boulevard one more time, and was pointing out various bars, restaurants, and places of interest. He showed him where the best place to buy wine was, and where not to buy a rubbery pizza. He recommended a little Mexican place within walking distance of Ned’s new cottage and told him to avoid the tandoori restaurant next-door.
They pulled up to another bar restaurant combination with an outdoor patio sprinkled under colorful beach umbrellas. Even at three o’clock in the afternoon, there were a good number of cars in the parking lot.
Ned waited for his eyes to adjust to the darkness. The food smelled great. Noonan was dragging him over to sit on a stool at a huge U-shaped bar. The shapely female bartender was leaning over to stock beer bottles in a refrigerator, and it was hard to miss how perfect her ass was. Not that he was looking.
But when she stood, her shoulders and back were covered in bright white-blonde ringlets of spun gold, reaching down all the way past her waist. She was tall, her arms well-tanned, but when she turned to face him, her blue eyes flashed, and then she looked away. He couldn’t take his eyes off of her. She was some kind of a
ngel, her face beautiful without the aid of any makeup that he could detect.
She chanced another look at him, and he felt a warm ripple wash all over him again. Whoever she was, he was sure he’d never met anyone like her before.
“Madison!” Noonan was calling to her.
She approached almost timidly, except he sensed she was far from timid. Her gentle scent wafted towards him, and he felt completely enthralled, enchanted. He was laid out bare and could not stop staring.
“This here’s my buddy’s son, Ned Silver.” He leaned over the counter. “He’s a Navy SEAL, but shhh! We don’t tell anyone.”
Ned was irritated. “Come on, Noonan. You know that’s not cool.”
The girl’s eyes were all over him. He felt he might blush. “Your secret’s safe with me,” she whispered, holding out her hand. “I’m Madison.”
She gave a firm handshake. Her palm was warm and as sweaty as his was. “Nice to meet you, Madison. I’m Ned.”
“He told me that already,” she said as they continued shaking hands. She smirked and withdrew her paw because he wasn’t going to let it go.
“She’s part of the crew, Ned. She’s done lots of underwater film work.” Ned glanced up at her. “Tell him about that James Bond film you were in.”
“Thunder Dive,” she said. The dimple at the side of her mouth formed and then disappeared. “I did the body double for the bad girl.” She watched his reaction like it was important to her.
“I saw that movie. I liked it. I thought they filmed that in the Caribbean.”
“Nope, right out here.” She angled her head back to point to the beach.
“How’d you get that job?”
Noonan inserted himself. “Are you crazy, Ned? Look at her!”
I am, dammit. I’m just trying to talk for Chrissakes!
“I did some water skiing shows at SeaWorld a few years ago, and some underwater film photography, and, well, I don’t know if they even auditioned anyone else. I just got the job.”
She had a nice shrug too. He was going to have to stop staring or he’d be drooling soon.
“So you like to dive then?” He didn’t like how it sounded.
“I do. I even go deep. Mostly for pleasure. There’s not a lot of work out here now, unless you want to help raise an oil platform.” Her big blue eyes rolled, and she twisted her upper lip.
The air was thick between them. Noonan was chuckling under his breath. Ned licked his lips. His mouth was parched.
Someone called Madison’s name, and she excused herself.
In her wake, Ned’s insides were all jumbled up, yet he didn’t have the desire to get everything straight. His heart raced. Expectation zoomed and made fun of his ordered life with everything put in its proper place. Logic was disappearing. Teetering out of control, he felt like he’d been hit by a tsunami.
And he loved it.
Chapter 10
Madison could feel his eyes on her behind. Although she didn’t mind the attention, she’d already written Ned off as a lost cause. He was too young, too clean-cut, didn’t display enough flawed behavior or personality. And he certainly didn’t need her brand of healing.
As she waited on tables, she scratched her head several times and asked for customers to repeat the order. She was distracted by her thoughts, not really thinking about him as a potential partner—she just couldn’t stop thinking about him period.
Besides, soon Garrison was going to be sauntering in, no doubt needing an evening of commiseration. She had visions of being extremely careful as she kissed him, avoiding his poor nose. That’s what she had in mind. She had no appetite for picking up a youngster.
But every time she turned, every time she looked over her shoulder to make sure someone was tending the bar, every time she heard old Noonan laughing or hit the wooden countertop with his fist, attention always drifted off toward the newcomer. The most irritating thing about it was that he didn’t seem to mind the attention, either.
When Garrison Cramer finally darkened the doorway, swinging his guitar case over his shoulder, he gave her a wink and a puppy dog smile. One of his eyes had a deep purple ring beneath it. His nose was red, and there was a surgical strip covering a tiny cut above the bridge of his nose. He was a tall, dark, and dangerous piece of maleness in need of all the things Madison loved to dish out.
“Am I forgiven?” He stepped so close she could feel the heat of his thigh against her without them touching.
“That depends on how bad you were.” She stared back up to him, unafraid, enjoying the scent of his being. He was a land lover, no question about it, and she was queen of the ocean. There were lots of interesting contrasts and other things they could explore together.
“Now as for being bad, that’s where you come in, Madison.”
Her spine tingled in such a good way. She looked down at her feet, inhaled, and smiled to herself. If they were alone, he would’ve brought those big arms around her waist and plastered her with a kiss so deep she knew she would be hooked. But in public, all she could do was feel the tension in his chest. His breathing sounded like the roar of the ocean.
And all the better, college kid, clean-cut Navy seal Ned fucking Silver was watching the whole thing. She hoped he took it as a warning that she would not be easy to charm.
“So is that a yes?”
“Right now,”—she looked deep into his eyes—“I’m having the time of my life just having you wonder about that. But I would say, the odds are definitely in your favor.”
“Then I better get set up, right? And would you do me the honor of accepting a dance with me sometime tonight?”
“I’d like that, Garrison. I’d like that a lot.”
She watched him walk away, enter the patio area, greet several people casually, remove his guitar and set up his stool and equipment.
Madison made the mistake of noticing the perch next to Noonan was vacant. Half a beer was left on the counter, as well as an unfinished crab salad. She approached the pirate.
“You get stood up already?”
“No, he saw some people he knew from San Diego or Norfolk.” Noonan pointed to an area across the patio where Ned was seated with his back to her, talking to two other clean-cut, muscled, and overly tattooed guys. He rubbed the bridge of his nose. “You and the crooner an item? Isn’t he a little old, worn off parts around the edges a bit?” Noonan quizzed.
Madison slapped him with the end of her bar rag. “I like his voice, and I like it that the only strings that come with him are the ones on his guitar.”
“You are so much like your mother. Does she know you do this, pick up guys at work?”
She gawked back at Noonan. “This is work?”
Iris was making drinks behind the bar. Madison asked her to go wait on Ned and his friends.
“I can’t. I got my hands full here. I’ve got an order of ten.”
Madison took her tray, pulled her order chits from the back pocket of her jeans, and crossed the patio to serve them.
Ned gave her a warm smile. “Madison, these are some of my friends.” To the group, he explained, “Madison’s gonna work on the dive I’ve been hired for.”
“Nice to meet you,” said one of the SEALs. “I’m Andy.” He extended his hand.
Madison jammed the tray into her chest, put the notebook in her left, and shook his hand as well as the young sailor’s across the table from him, who said his name was Reed.
“So I’m going to guess you guys also fish together?”
They all chuckled. “Yes, ma’am,” came the answer in unison.
“Madison here’s some movie star. Got to be a Bond Girl, isn’t that right?” Ned informed them.
She was thinking about all the fun things she had done on that shoot, which made her blush but kept her lips sealed.
“Really?” asked one of the gentlemen.
“I’ve done a few things. Most of them I’m proud of.” She gave them a winning smile. It was her job to keep the customers ha
ppy, after all. Besides, Boy Scouts like these were good for business. “Now, what can I get you?”
Before they began ordering, Madison heard the syrupy sweet voice of Garrison Cramer. “Ladies and gentlemen, I just wanted to dedicate my first song to the most beautiful woman in this whole place. Miss Madison? Would you take a bow please?”
Her cheeks flamed instantly as all eyes quickly turned in her direction. She gave a delicate bow then blew Cramer a kiss and got a standing ovation.
She focused her attention back on her three SEAL customers. Brushing the hair from her forehead, she used her little notebook to fan herself. “Well, that was unexpected.” In the background, she heard Garrison Cramer singing a beautiful love song.
That raised Ned’s eyebrows. “Well, I was going to ask you for a ride home later on, but I can see you’re otherwise occupied.”
“Really? You think?”
“Yes, I think he has plans for you tonight, and God knows I wouldn’t want to impose. I am looking to make friends since we’re gonna be working together. I don’t know this area at all, and I don’t have a car. I’m sure I’ll work it out, somehow.”
One of the SEALs offered, and Madison couldn’t miss Ned’s stern response, shutting the man down.
“You always have Noonan,” Madison pointed out. She observed the pirate sitting alone, waiting. She felt a little sorry for him.
“Yup. And speaking of the man, I should get back over to him. I’ll catch you guys tomorrow night?”
“Sure thing. We don’t go back till next weekend. Shoot, I like the scenery here so much I might never go back to Little Creek,” said Andy.
Ned stood, brushing past her, emanating a little grumble as he did so. Removing a twenty from his wallet, he placed it on Madison’s tray. “I’ve got their first round, okay?”
“Got it.” She stared up at him and caught a wink.
“I hope you don’t mind, I was messin’ with you a little bit. Just a little good, clean fun.”
Treasure Island SEAL: Pirate SEAL Rescues his Mermaid (Sunset SEALs Book 3) Page 7