Forbidden Kisses

by Annie Rains

  Krista frowned. “Of course he does. This is the only decent coffee shop in Blushing Bay.” Her gaze lifted over Grace’s and Abby’s heads and bounced back to them. “Spotted,” she shrieked in a low whisper. “They’re coming toward us.”

  “I think I’m going to puke,” Grace said, quietly.

  Joey grinned. “Good. That’ll help your story.”

  Two seconds later, the men were standing at their table.

  “Morning, ladies,” Pete said, his pale blue eyes resting on Grace. “And Joey.”

  They must’ve looked like an odd bunch sitting together.

  “Good morning,” Sam said.

  Abby turned her head away, effectively ignoring him.

  “Shouldn’t you be out fishing?” Krista asked the two.

  Pete smiled. “On our way now. Had to make sure the office was handled, seeing that Grace is sick today. Jack’s working the desk this morning,” he said.

  Grace should’ve felt guilty about that fact, but instead it gave her a little thrill. He hated desk work. Good. Served him right for dumping her this close to the tournament.

  “Hope you’ll be feeling better soon,” Pete told Grace.

  “Thank you,” she said, shrinking in her chair. She offered up a little cough, which felt fake. Oh, God, she hoped this didn’t get her fired.

  “Well, those fish won’t catch themselves.” Pete waved at the group. “See ya’ll later.”

  Grace blew out a breath when they’d gone. She scooted back from the table. “I don’t want to get busted here by Jack or Noah. Let’s get started on that trial run.”

  They all grabbed their coffees and stood. They’d shine up the boat, check that everything was in order, and take a ride to Joey’s secret spot. Then they’d test the rigs and account for any needed supplies or quick fixes once they returned to shore. It’d be a busy day, which Grace was thankful for. Too busy to think about whether Jack had implied anything else when he’d told her, “I’m done,” yesterday afternoon. Then he’d stormed out of the office and she hadn’t seen or spoken to him since.

  Was he done with just the tournament? Or with her, too?

  Chapter 19

  The Lone Wolf wasn’t at all an appropriate name for the Nelson family commercial fishing boat that Grace found herself on after breakfast. She’d been a lone wolf herself until a month ago. But now she had her own pack of friends and…family—maybe.

  After a thirty-minute boat ride on the water, Joey anchored the Lone Wolf at his secret spot. The boat had run as smooth as the water was for them today.

  “Fingers crossed the weather is like this tomorrow,” Abby said, lying back along one of the long seats at the front of the boat. She smiled up at the sun with her large brown sunglasses covering her eyes.

  “I hate to break it to you, friend, but you won’t be sunbathing tomorrow,” Krista pointed out.

  “And I won’t be drinking beer.” Joey popped the top of a Bud Light and tipped it back.

  “Can we catch a fish today?” Grace asked hopefully.

  Joey shrugged. “Sure. My philosophy is that there’s more than enough fish out there. If we catch the ‘big one’ today, there’ll be an even bigger one tomorrow.” He winked and motioned for Grace to follow him to the stern of the Lone Wolf, while Krista and Abby stayed at the bow.

  “So, this is an outrigger,” Grace said, walking up to a pair of long poles fitted to the side of the boat. “The outriggers allow multiple lines to be dropped into the water and thus simulate a school of fish. That helps us trick our big catch.” She grinned, proud of herself, then proceeded to label other parts of the fishing gear that Jack and Noah had taught her about, eager to show off her knowledge.

  “I thought I was here to help. You seem to already know what you’re doing.”

  Grace cocked her head. “Well, I’ve been out a few times in the last month preparing for this tournament. I never would’ve guessed a couple months ago that I’d be involved in a major fishing tournament.”

  “Sometimes life surprises us.” Joey kept his gaze on the water. Grace guessed he was watching for something to jump. She’d seen Jack and Noah do the same thing. Or maybe there was some meditative quality about staring out onto the water. Maybe your deepest thoughts were out there waiting to reveal themselves if you were patient enough.

  Grace followed Joey’s gaze and stared into the deep blue as well, waiting, hoping…Nothing. “So, are we going to toss chum overboard? Is that your secret tool?” she asked, clutching the rig’s handle as the wind picked up and the boat swayed on the water.

  “Nah. That’s everyone’s secret tool. Mine is this.” He reached into his pocket and pulled out a quarter with a hole drilled into the top.

  “A quarter?”

  “Nice and shiny. Fish like shiny things.”

  Grace had to laugh. This was something that Jack and Noah hadn’t yet taught her. “Women like shiny things, too.”

  “This is true.” Joey glanced over. “You know, after my brief engagement ended, my ex gave her ring back to me. I used it at this very spot.”

  Grace pushed her neck forward. She’d heard about Joey’s broken engagement in the past. “You used a diamond engagement ring to catch a fish?”

  Joey finished the beer he was drinking and tossed the can into an open cooler off to the side. “Damn fish got away with the ring, too. Better than letting my ex keep it, I guess.”

  Grace curled her fingers tighter around the railing of the boat as it rocked against the current. “She was crazy, if you ask me.”

  “I’m the crazy one for letting things get as far with her as they did. And what kind of fool uses an engagement ring as fish bait?” He shook his head.

  “The kind that’s in love,” Grace said softly, understanding exactly how he’d felt. She’d fallen fast and hard for Jack over the last few weeks, and now it seemed like it was over. She swallowed thickly.

  Joey looked at her. “So, about that fish you want to catch today. I haven’t got a ring, but I swear by quarters.” He pointed a finger at her. “If you tell your boyfriend this secret, no more DD cabbie for you.”

  Grace’s mouth fell open. “What boyfriend?”

  He scoffed. “Come on. I’ve driven you and the girls around enough to hear what’s going on between you and Jack. And if you ask me, he’s the crazy one if he lets you walk away.”

  She wouldn’t really be walking away, though. It was up to Jack if this thing between them was going to go any further. “Thanks for saying so, Joey.”

  He nodded, slipped a fishing hook through a hole drilled into the top of the quarter, and dropped it into the water.

  “I’ll believe this science of yours when I see a fish.”

  “All right, all right. Seeing is believing.”

  An eternity later—which reminded Grace why she didn’t like fishing; she was too impatient—the line jerked.

  “Fish!” Joey called, working fast and doing things that Grace had no clue about. Krista and Abby came running. They worked just as fast. Grace just stood there and watched. Some captain she was. Then, after nearly twenty minutes, a king mackerel was pulled out of the water and plopped onto the deck of the boat.

  “She’s magnificent,” Grace said, crouching near the catch. She looked up at her friends.

  Joey frowned.

  Krista frowned.

  Abby frowned, too.

  Grace looked between them. “What’s wrong?”

  “She’s too small. We’ll have to throw her back,” Joey finally said.

  “Really?” The fish looked great to Grace. It also looked like a fish that belonged in the water and not on the surface.

  “Sorry, Grace. I know you wanted one today, but Joey’s right.” Krista swiped her forearm along her brow.

  Grace shrugged. “I’m not disappointed. That was still exhilarating.”

  “Just wait for tomorrow.” Krista smiled at her. “We’re going to show Jack and Noah how it’s done.” She lifted her hand for a h
igh five, and Grace obliged.

  “Add Sam to that scenario and I’ll gladly high-five it,” Abby said.

  “Sam, too.” Grace raised her hand again for Abby this time.

  “Ou-hooooo­ooooo­oooo!” Krista howled.

  “That’s what you do on the Lone Wolf,” Joey told her. “You catch a fish, you howl.”

  “Seriously?” Grace looked at Krista, hoping she’d start laughing. Instead, she tipped her head back and howled again.

  Joey, Abby, and finally Grace joined in, howling before heaving the mackerel back into the ocean.

  The fish probably thought they were a crazy bunch, and Grace would have to agree. Crazy in the best kind of way.

  —

  After a few more hours of fishing, sun, beer, and good conversation, Joey decided it was time to head back. The girls took to the bow of the boat while Joey steered. Grace moved to the stern to be alone. She’d thought that maybe Jack would’ve called today, but he hadn’t. She’d been busy, but she’d still noticed his silence. And it infuriated her a little bit. She was doing this for him and his family.

  And yeah, for hers, too.

  She watched the water’s spray arch up and fall to the side as the boat cut through the ocean. Like angels’ wings, she thought. There was indeed a meditative quality to the constant pattern the water made—the same every time. Unless the boat’s motor changed, the water’s effect would always be the same. That was kind of the way life was, maybe. If you wanted things to be different, you needed to behave differently.

  Wow, this water really does go to your head.

  Grace turned back to look at the others just as the boat cut left. Grace stumbled and clawed at the railing on the other side of her. It was wet, though, and her hand slipped, making her fly backward. Something hard hit the back of her head—ka-plunk!—and she felt her body flip in the air. She was suspended, weightless and flying, unable to determine if she was upright or upside down until she hit the water, as hard and abrasive as cement.

  And then it swallowed her up.

  —

  Jack despised a desk job. He’d rather be doing anything but this. He stared out the window that overlooked the ocean. The water wasn’t so hard to look at anymore. He owed that to Grace. There was one good thing that had come out of this need of hers to win the fishing tournament. He’d recaptured a little piece of the happiness he’d once had out there.

  But Grace hadn’t been doing any of it for him. She’d been motivated by a need to help her mother, and that just didn’t sit right with him. He reached for his phone and eyed the screen. No missed calls. He’d thought maybe she would’ve felt remorseful today for keeping her motives from him like she had. Maybe she would’ve called and apologized.

  She hadn’t. Instead, she’d called in sick and left him at this desk, fielding calls and staring at the walls, which could use a fresh coat of paint, he decided.

  Jack spun in his chair as the door opened. Despite his foul mood, he grinned at his brother Noah. “Tag. You’re it, bro. I’ve got to go finish up the latest project with Tristan. Then I have to call a guy back about another job.”

  “Your business is really rolling,” Noah said, reluctantly heading toward the desk.

  “Yep. Thinking about having a grand opening just to introduce the biz to the community. What do you think?”

  “I think that sounds good. Call the newspaper. Maybe they’ll hook you up with a front-page story. Wait until after the tournament news is done with this weekend, though.”

  They stared at each other.

  “Yeah. Good idea,” Jack finally said. “You still mad at Grace?” he asked.

  Noah shrugged. “I spoke to Krista about it. She says Grace didn’t mean to upset me.”

  Jack nodded. “You still mad at me?”

  Noah gave a little nod. “I’d feel better if I could punch you for screwing my sister.”

  Jack grimaced. “She’s not your sister, bro.”

  “Maybe not yours, but I’ll keep thinking of her as one if that’s all right with you.”

  Jack smiled. “She’ll be glad to hear you say that.” And if he wasn’t fighting with her right now, he’d be glad to go tell her so himself.

  “I’m still not doing the tournament. I forgive you both, but I need a little time before I can handle enclosed space with you two making out.”

  Jack massaged a hand over his face. “I quit the tournament, too. The whole thing has been called off.”

  “Yeah? Why?”

  Jack shrugged. “It’s complicated.”

  “Don’t tell me you were screwing her and now you’ve gone and broken her heart. Because then I’ll really want to kick your ass. And you know I can.”

  Jack laughed. “Maybe she’s the one who broke my heart. Have you considered that?”

  “Is she?” Noah asked.

  “I’m not sure who did what.” He wasn’t even sure if he was the one who was supposed to be calling Grace and apologizing right now. He’d waited all day for her to do that and she hadn’t. “Anyway, I’m heading over to work.”

  “Since I’m managing the desk and there’s apparently not much going on, I can call the paper and schedule a grand opening for your business if you want.”

  Jack pointed a finger at his brother. “That’d be great. You know, I need a secretary for my business. You’re hired.”

  Noah flipped him the bird. “You always were a jerk.”

  Jack closed the door behind him and bounced down the steps, feeling slightly lighter after his conversation with Noah. He checked his phone again. If Grace didn’t call by the time he finished working with Tristan, he’d bite the bullet and call her. Or better yet, he’d go see her. Kissing her was a lot more fun after they’d argued and made up.

  As he drove, Jack’s stomach started to roll uneasily. Not so much his stomach, though. He recognized the feeling. It was more his gut, the same way it’d felt when Chris had gone missing. Jack pulled out his phone and dialed his father.

  “Hey,” his dad said after three rings.

  “You okay, Dad?”

  His father coughed into the receiver. “Yeah. Why you asking?”

  “Is Sam all right?” Jack asked next.

  “Last I saw him. What’s going on with you, son?”

  Jack shook his head, pulling into the work site. Tristan was already waiting for him beside a pile of new lumber. “Nothing. I’ll see you later.” Jack ended the call and left his phone in the center console. “Hey, bud,” he said to Tristan as he walked up. He gave the kid a once-over. “You all right?” he asked, seeing no evidence that he wasn’t.

  Tristan gave him an odd look and nodded. “You’re late.”

  This made Jack laugh. “Right. Well, let’s get to it.” Because the sooner they did, the sooner he could set things straight with Grace.

  —

  Grace tried to open her eyes, but they wouldn’t budge. It was like an anchor was weighing them down. Her lungs felt heavy, too.

  Where am I? What’s going on?

  She could hear the sound of water crashing over her, loud and heavy, punctuated by a sharp mechanical beep. Beep. Beep. Beep.

  She recognized the sound as her heartbeat.

  Her mouth was so dry. She tried to swallow, but couldn’t.

  Beep. Beep.

  “Is she going to be okay?” Krista asked in the distance.

  Grace tried to answer, wondered why Krista’s whispered voice sounded like it was miles away.

  Someone else’s voice answered instead. Followed by Abby’s voice.

  “We need to tell Jack.”

  Jack.

  Grace willed her eyes to open. Needed to tell Jack what? She’d already told him her secrets. Or, really, he’d discovered what she was doing on his own and was mad at her now.

  Beep.

  The flippin’ beep was getting on her every last nerve. But it meant she was alive, right? Of course she was alive. Grace’s head throbbed as she remembered bashing it against the
side of the boat. And going under.

  Beep.

  Beep.

  “We’ll need to wait and see. She’s comfortable right now. Has the family been notified?”

  “I’ll call her mom,” Krista said.

  “I’ll call Jack,” Abby said.

  Grace raged inside her very still body. They were wrong. She wasn’t resting comfortably right now. This was a living nightmare.

  Beep.

  —

  Jack hammered the last board into place. He was twenty feet out in the water, soggy wet, and ready to get back to shore. Dry clothes and a hot coffee sounded good right about now. And he’d like to check his phone to see if Grace had called.

  “Done,” Jack told Tristan.

  The kid rewarded him with a smile.

  “Let’s grab our stuff and go home.” Tristan had only been living with him for a day, so home was a figure of speech.

  They got in the truck and Jack reached for his phone in the center console. Five missed calls. He tapped his code to unlock it, hoping at least one of those calls was from Grace.

  The missed calls were all from Krista. Confusion slipped into worry. Jack tapped his voicemail and listened to the messages, slipping from worry to fear.

  “First unplayed message,” the robotic voice of his voicemail said, talking annoyingly slow.

  “Jack, this is Krista. You need to come to the hospital. It’s Grace.”

  Jack started the engine and laid on the gas as he listened to the next message and the ones after that.

  “Jack, where are you? Grace is in room 211. Just, uh, come when you can.”

  There was no report as to why Grace was in room 211.

  “What’s wrong?” Tristan asked.

  Jack had forgotten for a moment that the kid was even there beside him. “I have to go to the hospital.”

  “Everything all right?”

  Jack shook his head. “I’m not sure. It’s my, uh…the girl I’ve been seeing.” He didn’t have time to swing by his house to drop Tristan off. “I’ll take you to the hospital and call you a cab when we get there.”

  Tristan nodded. “Sure, man. Sorry your girlfriend is sick.”

  Jack laid on the gas a little harder, needing to get to Grace. When had the calls come in? Why was she in room 211? What had happened?