Hot, Wet, Smooth, and Hard (Craving Cove Book 1)

by Blue,Marina

  But the large man pulled back. “Goodbye. To you too, Pearl.”

  “Good weather and small waves, captain,” Pearl said. “Be careful.”

  Knox turned and walked out. Seconds later the sound of his motorcycle starting up practically shook the windows. And as it receded, Melody fell into the sofa. She covered her face with a pillow, and said through it, “Holy hell… How stupid did I sound?”

  “Welcoming him home?” Pearl said. “Some. But still…”

  Melody dropped the pillow onto her lap. “But still what?”

  “That was intense. I hope it happens some more.”

  “Pearl, he obviously hates me. Plus, I’m still married.”

  “Does he know that?”

  “Maybe. But he did notice my bare ring finger.”

  “That means it was one of the first places he looked.” Pearl had a satisfied smile on her face. “It also means you’re only bound on paper, and that here in the real world you’re not as anchored as you think. And don’t count on his anger lasting long. That man obviously still loves you, despite how you left things. Oh, the wine. I’ll be right back.” Pearl turned, and went into the kitchen.

  Melody called out, “He’ll never forgive me.”

  A few seconds passed, and Pearl emerged with two glasses of red wine. “I don’t know… Men are a different breed. They hold grudges over the smallest things, but they don’t hold them nearly so long or so well as us.”

  “I hope not.”

  Pearl beamed. “You don’t? Why Melody, it sounds like you’re hoping something might happen between you and Sinbad there.”

  Melody ignored the comment, leaned forward, and looked out the picture window. “You know, he’s exactly like I remember. Maybe a few more lines around his eyes. But otherwise, identical.”

  “Of course. That man just gets better with age.” Pearl held a glass out for Melody.

  “Meanwhile, I’m as dumpy as they get.” She reached out for the wine.

  But Pearl pulled it back. “I won’t have that in my house. You understand?”

  “Have what?”

  “Melody Garland Song, you never have faced up to your worth. Do you remember what you did for this town before you left? How much the people loved you? Heck, most of them still do.”

  “No they don’t.”

  Pearl sighed. “You’re the most exceptional woman to ever walk out of this cove, and frankly, the most oblivious to that fact. Which makes perfect sense, because you’re as gorgeous as ever.”

  “A little softer around most parts.”

  “Darling, a man like Knox doesn’t want a woman who’s all hard angles. He wants one that’s got some curves. Some softness. And able to be accommodating.”

  “What’s that mean?”

  “It means you’re the only one for him. Now drink this.” And she handed the glass over.

  Melody took the wine, and sipped as ordered. Then looked around. “Where are your other guests?”

  Pearl was mid-sip, but swallowed hard. She coughed some, then said, “Oh, interestingly enough I’m planning on doing some renovations, so I don’t have any right now.”

  “Really? My friend Kat was just here and she said she was alone, too.”

  “Who? Oh yes, the British woman. You know her? Yes, she was the last one. Unfortunately the carpenters had another job go long so they haven’t started, but they will soon.”

  “Well, if there’s anything I can do to help, you let me know.” Melody leaned back. “And by the way, I’m sorry I didn’t call.”

  “You mean more than once a year?”

  Blood flushed Melody’s cheeks. “That. And today. I just thought…”

  “You just thought what?”

  “I thought you wouldn’t let me come.” Melody stared at her lap.

  Pearl walked over, and sat down next to her. “Darling, that’s silly. This is your home. And even though it’s been fifteen years since you’ve been here, I can’t think of ever not wanting you here. You’ve always been a good omen.”

  “Then let me be again, I’m actually a pretty good hand at design.”

  “You’re a good hand at a lot of things…” Pearl thought it over. “But too sane. You won’t be good to anyone until you get some crazy in your life. By chance, do you still sing?”

  Melody took a healthy swig of wine. “No. I haven’t had anything to sing about in a long time, I guess.” Melody looked out the window again. “Pearl, do you ever get the feeling you made a mistake, and ruined your life?”

  “You know, I did…” Pearl said. “But then I moved here.”

  Chapter 5

  Back in the center of the city, just thirty minutes from Melody’s house, sat the offices of Coldwater Inc. They were located on the highest floor of the tallest building in the downtown area, and were decorated with black leather and steel furniture. The CEO’s receptionist sat dutifully in front of his office. She was young, dressed in black, and as she filed her red nails the phone rang. With a forefinger that almost looked like a bloody claw, she pressed the speaker button. “Good morning, Coldwater. Yes. Yes he is. Oh, very good, sir. I’ll let him know.”

  Twenty feet above her head, Sinton Waters was swimming laps in his rooftop pool. A few feet away was a table with a phone on it. Its ringer cried out.

  Mr. Waters finished up his final lap, stepped out of the pool, and grabbed a towel. First he dried his wiry frame, and then the jet black hair on his head. Finally, he tossed the damp towel on a nearby chair, and pressed the button on the phone. “Yes, Ms. Edgington? What is it?”

  “I’m so sorry to disturb your laps, sir. But you told me to inform you when the counselor called.”

  “Very good.” Waters clicked the line open, and said, “If it isn’t the good counselor Goat, how are you doing?”

  “I’m fine, Mr. Waters.” The counselor’s voice was boyish. “Thanks for asking. And if you wouldn’t mind, my name’s not Goat.”

  “I do mind, Goat. All my employees have nickname’s I’ve given them, and that’s yours.”

  The counselor sighed. “Very well, sir. Goat it is. How is your day progressing?”

  “I just finished a few laps in the pool, so I suppose the best answer is swimmingly,” Waters said. “But I’d rather discuss the project.”

  There was a heavy sigh. “We’re proceeding apace.”

  Waters picked up the phone, and walked over to the edge of the skyscraper. He gazed out, to the west. Far beyond the horizon was his goal: Craving Cove. Or more importantly, what was beneath it. And his two-year plan to seize it was almost complete. “You know how vital this is to me, don’t you?”

  There was a pause on the other line. Then the counselor said, “Of course, sir. It’s vital to me, too. Why do you ask?”

  “Because I sense trepidation in your voice. What’s wrong?”

  “Nothing. Not a thing.”

  Waters shook his head for nobody’s benefit but his own. “Don’t lie to me. There’s a problem, I can hear it. And what do I always say about problems?”

  “You like to know about them immediately.”

  “That’s right, Goat. I do. So tell me, what’s the problem?”

  “There’s a new woman in Craving Cove.”

  “So? One tourist won’t help them now. The town’s too deep in debt.”

  “She’s not a tourist. Not really. She’s from there, and has roots, though she hasn’t been back in almost a decade and a half.” There was a long pause. “She’s been married, and away. But she’s going through a divorce.”

  “Go on.”

  “Well, she’s someone who could bring the entire town together. A lot of people there love her. Remember her time as sort of a golden age for the cove. If she finds out what we’re planning, she’ll no doubt try and stop it.”

  “How do you know all this?”

  “Her name is Melody Brooding, though she’s going by her maiden name, Song.”

  “Brooding? Is that a coincidence?”

>   “No, sir. She’s exactly who you think she is. And I can tell you, she’s a very smart and talented woman, though she definitely doesn’t see it. I know she’ll be a problem.”

  “Very well. What do you suggest?”

  “Get out in front of this. Maybe send some men to scare her off, and convince her that Craving isn’t such a nice place after all.”

  Sinton Waters thought about it. And a smile, like a moray eel, slithered across his face. “Violence. On this Mrs. Brooding. I approve, of course, but I must say, you’re a cold one, Goat.”

  “It’s necessary. Like I said, she’s tenacious.”

  Sinton Waters gazed towards the coast. “So am I… So am I.”

  Chapter 6

  After Pearl and Melody caught up, Melody headed upstairs and got comfortable in her old room. Despite the fact that the home was a functioning B and B, it hadn’t changed much. The trophies and boy band posters were gone, as were some of the odds and ends, but the light blue and green colors were still there, as was her old bed. Melody fell onto it, and took a small nap, surrounded by the trappings of her youth.

  It was just a brief one, though. And after an hour she was back on her feet, ready for dinner. So she ran downstairs into the kitchen.

  But, as Pearl mentioned, “I’m afraid I didn’t expect anyone, so all I have is canned soup. Nothing for a proper welcome home dinner. But I’m sure that some spots are still open on the beach.”

  “Still open?” Melody said. “Isn’t right now the busy season?”

  “Yeah, but it’s an off night.”

  “Saturday’s an off night?” Melody said.

  Pearl shrugged. “It’s been slow. But why don’t you go help speed it up?”

  “You want to come along?”

  “Actually, I’m getting a little sleepy. It’s been a big day and I’m not as young as you. Besides, I don’t want to get trampled by your admirers. Word’s probably already gotten around that you’re home.”

  “I doubt it.” Melody looked out the window. “But I wouldn’t mind getting reacquainted with the cove one-on-one. See the beach and take a look at my life un-lived.”

  “Oh dear, stop being so melancholy. You’re living it now.”

  Melody shrugged. “Ok, don’t wait up.” Then she ran upstairs, and slipped on her favorite dress. It accentuated her favorite parts, and made her feel attractive. Then she put on some sensible heels, and ran out the front door. But stopped the minute she hit the lawn, and took them off to feel the grass between her toes. And she walked to the beach, barefooted.

  When she arrived, the sun was still a few inches above the horizon, and the wind was coming in off the ocean, warm and sweet. Keeping close to the water, Melody strolled down the beach. Its sand was soft, and smooth. Every step felt like a massage. When she got to the end of the stretch, she turned to the boardwalk and surveyed it, looking for a restaurant.

  Only one was still open. Craving Cafe.

  Melody walked in, sat down, and ordered a salad and some fresh seafood, along with a glass of white wine. The meal was good. The presentation was beautiful, and the flavors were delicate, but pronounced. And as she ordered a pie for dessert she said, “Excuse me, waiter. Why’s it so slow tonight?”

  The man sort of sighed. “It’s slow every night. And I’m the owner, not the waiter.”

  “Sorry, the bow tie and apron sort of threw me.”

  “Oh, no bother. I’m doing a lot of the jobs here, because to answer your question, business has dried up.”

  “That’s not good,” Melody said.

  “Not good? It’s poison for a town like this. We make eighty percent of our revenue in summer, which gives us less than a month to turn it all around.”

  “Why is that?” Melody asked. “I noticed it seemed empty, yet Craving’s as beautiful as ever.”

  “Nobody’s certain. But if you check on all the reviews for the businesses around here… well, there’s been some strange complaints.”

  Melody leaned forward, and crinkled her nose. “Strange? Like how?”

  “Like tourists are saying bad things about the town on travel sites.”

  “What kind of bad things?” Melody asked.

  “There have been a lot of reported muggings and thefts.”

  “Muggings?” Melody didn’t think that anything remotely violent was possible in Craving Cove. “Is it true?”

  “Nobody I know has seen a thing, and the sheriff says no, but if not, then why are so many people lying about it?”

  “When did all this start?”

  “Last year. It nearly crippled us then, and if it doesn’t get better soon, most of us will have to shutter up and sell.”

  “I’m so sorry to hear that,” Melody said. “I haven’t been back here in years, but it’s still so beautiful.”

  “A vacationer’s dream. A fisherman’s paradise. Do you know that everything you ate tonight came from our patch of ocean?”

  “It was delicious.”

  “Thanks.” He looked out the window, over the darkening water. “That water is full of fish right now. Nobody’s been pulling them out for a while. It’s so full all you’d need is a net and an hour and you could pull in enough fish to feed an army.” He looked at Melody. His eyes narrowed. Then they popped open. “Oh my God, you’re Melody Song, aren’t you?”

  Melody was taken aback. “What? Yes I am. How did you know?”

  “My name’s Rudolph. Rudy for short. We went to high school together. I was a freshman when you graduated, so you wouldn’t know me. But still, you’re kind of a legend.”

  Melody waved him away. “What? That’s not true…”

  “Oh come on, you remember the Ocean Frolic you put on? It was epic!” Rudy said.

  Melody thought back to her last year in Craving Cove, and the annual festival they used to hold every summer. She smiled. “I guess it was alright.”

  “Alright? That was the year of the hurricane! Craving was practically destroyed, and the proceeds you raised actually saved the town. It was magical. Heck, ten people got engaged that night! Five were conceived! We haven’t had one as good since. Actually, last year we cancelled it due to a feared low turnout.”

  “Now that’s a tragedy. Craving without the Frolic seems almost… sacrilegious.”

  “My kids were devastated. You know, you should think about putting one on this year. It would probably help. There are a lot of people thinking about selling and moving on.”

  “But the businesses here have been family owned for generations,” Melody said.

  “I know. That’s why a Frolic might be good.”

  “It might be more important to fix the town’s image first, don’t you think?”

  “Yeah. I guess you’re right.” Rudy looked at his feet. “If you could do that, it would be great, too. Oh, I totally forgot, let me get your dessert.”

  As Melody waited for her dessert, she took out her cell phone and sent a message to Kat, asking her to check into the authenticity of Craving Cove’s bad press. She was a PR wiz, after all, and if anyone could ferret out the secret behind the negative press, it was her.

  A few minutes later, Rudy arrived with a beautiful slice of pie, which Melody ate slowly. When she got the check, she offered her credit card.

  But a few seconds later Rudy came back. “Sorry Melody, but this was declined.”

  Melody grabbed her plastic. “Really?” She shook her head. William’s behind this. Trying to punish me by cancelling our credit cards. At least I have that twenty grand squirreled away. So she reached into her purse, and pulled out the second card, the one that was tied to the secret account. “Use this one. And put thirty percent on it for a tip.”

  “That’s not necessary,” he said.

  “Don’t tell anyone, but I’m getting divorced, and this account was going to be used to buy surprise gifts for my husband. So I’m happy to use it for some actual good.”

  Rudy smiled. “Thirty percent it is.” Then he walked off. A few second
s later, he returned with the receipt. Melody signed it, thanked him, and left.

  By then, the sun had almost set, its orange tip barely peeking over the horizon just enough to set off the purple and red streaks through the clouds in the night sky. It was the perfect night for a walk. Melody headed down the beach, towards the pier and back to the Coeur de Mer. When she got halfway, she looked towards the dock.

  Empty.

  The only signs of life were in the parking lot, where four vehicles sat idle. One of them was Knox’s motorcycle.

  Melody sighed. So he was gone.

  Melody looked out over the ocean, and saw a lone ship about a half a mile out. Was that Knox? Maybe. But she couldn’t tell. It was too far out, and getting farther.

  The lone ship bobbed on the waves. It was stoic. Like him.

  And it was alone. Like her.

  And in her heart she felt a bitter sweetness for the life they could’ve had together. If only she hadn’t run away.

  So for the first time in forever, she started to sing. It was hers and Knox’s song.

  It had been years since she’d properly sung anything. And on the beach of Craving Cove seemed like an ideal place to start again. The song was just for her. It lasted a few minutes, and flowed out of her smooth, and beautiful, like tears of longing.

  And when she finished, she looked out on the ocean.

  It was beautiful. And powerful. Melody knew that she was like that once, but couldn’t remember when. She’d left as a young woman, looking for the big life in the city. Why, she couldn’t say. And she couldn’t remember when she settled for the one she had with William. But standing there, she could almost connect with the person she wanted to be. That woman she was, back when-

  “Hey sweetheart,” a masculine voice full of menace said behind her. “Nice night for a stroll.”

  Melody spun around.

  Three men were standing there. They had on jeans, hoodies, and black boots. They were dirty. Grungy.

  “No one was here to listen to your song. Shame. No one will be here to listen to your screams.” The one speaking was obviously the leader. He was thin, and had dark hair, but the most notable thing about him was the pair of birds tattooed on the back of his hands. And in the right one, he held a knife. He said, “Your purse. Your car keys. And be quick with both or I’ll gut you like a fish.”