Paradise Point

by Dana Volney

  “Alive,” she stated. No one called her that though, not even her parents. She should’ve just told him no, but something in her wanted to share that information. That part was super annoying.

  “Like I’m alive today?” he clarified, totally at ease on her couch.

  What would it be like to throw down her toast, walk over, straddle him, and see how his kisses would feel? Soft? Rough? She licked her bottom lip as her gawking found his questioning face. What were they talking about? Oh, right, her name.

  “That’s the one.” She motioned her toast toward him and touched her free index finger to her nose.

  “Cool,” he said matter-of-factly.

  “My turn. What’s”—she studied the dinner he’d brought and fidgeted with the corner of the plastic—“it like being here?”

  “Is that what you really wanted to ask?”

  “Sort of.”

  “Then what?”

  Are we about to have a real conversation? Her heartbeat quickened, and she swallowed in an attempt to keep her excitement at bay. Surely he wouldn’t give her straight answers to the things she really wanted to know, but she could try. She needed to know where he stood, his intentions, and, ultimately, her future.

  Was she crazy for not giving up her fifty percent ownership to Adam? Did Adam know about the money?

  The other half of her brain, the logical left side, told her Vam, willing and able, left her half of the marina for a reason. She shouldn’t second guess it. She highly doubted Adam would agree with her left brain, though.

  “You missed the funeral.” Her statement hung in the air as she searched his face from across the room.

  “I have my reasons.”

  “Which are?”

  It’s not my place, or anyone else’s, to demand these answers. Part of her felt like Vam floated in their presence and needed to know. But more immediately, Liv needed to make sense of the world she’d been placed in, for better or worse. Should she settle in to this life she wanted to embrace with open arms? And, in the far back of her mind, a question loomed: Could he find a way to take it from her?

  “Business,” he said. “It’s always business.”

  “It was that important?”

  “It always is.”

  Liv had to push back on that attitude, if only because she was feeling mushy. She didn’t need to be having some heartfelt talk with him late at night, in her pajamas, and in her home. He didn’t seem inclined to start putting the moves on her, but if he did, well, she was strong—but no woman was that strong.

  “Obviously you think so. Most people wouldn’t.”

  “Since we’re talking about inappropriate actions, let’s talk about you swindling an old lady.”

  “I didn’t swindle anybody. I had no idea,” Liv said.

  “I find that hard to believe.”

  “Why? Is it so hard to believe she had friends she cared about?”

  “I knew her friends.” His face hardened.

  “Not all of them.”

  “I’m talking about her real friends.”

  “Excuse me?” Liv stood. “I don’t care for your insinuations. I had a great time with Vam and would give everything back—the marina, the money, everything—to have her back living next door.”

  “What? What money?” Adam rose and in two steps halted within inches of her.

  She tried to make herself as tall as she could, but he had too much height on her.

  She remembered what the lawyer said and squeezed her lower lip between her teeth. No one did mean no one, including her grandson. “No money. None of your business.”

  “Ridiculous. All of this is my business. Is this the nest egg you wanted to use to fix up the marina?”

  “Maybe.”

  “Why am I just finding out about this?”

  “Because, it’s none of your business.” She grabbed the box and trashed it under her sink. “I’m tired. I’m going back to bed. Thanks for the meal.”

  “Oh no, you’re not, Barnette.” Adam followed her down the short hallway.

  She could nearly hear the steam shooting from his ears. It’d been a long time since a man had followed her into her bedroom. Liv’s pulse quickened and her body flushed. Did he plan on getting into bed with her, too? It could’ve been the meds, but the image of their two entangled bodies took longer than it should’ve to erase.

  All of their arguing acted like a weird foreplay dance. The ability to tell someone what you thought without bothering to sugarcoat held high appeal. She’d never been this real with a man in her life. She’d always said what she knew they wanted to hear and became the person she knew they’d like. Maybe they should fool around a little and put the past behind them. Start off on the other, much happier, foot. I’d look pretty stupid in the end. Women probably threw themselves at him all the time.

  She stopped abruptly and spun on her heels. Adam clunked into her, steadied her shoulders, and backed up quickly, hands to himself.

  A knot of embarrassment grew in her stomach. Whatever. Leave, Adam. She officially hated this day. If he stayed any longer she’d need copious amounts of tequila.

  “Please. Leave.” She crossed her arms just under her chest.

  His gaze momentarily fell then rose back to her eyes. “I want to know about the money she left you.” He tousled his hair on the back of his head. “You know, it’s bad enough she cut you in on Paradise Point. But now I find out she left you money. Unbelievable.”

  “Bad enough?” Liv’s temper boiled. “What exactly has been so bad about working with me? I’m always there, always helping and working, and”—she circled her face with her index finger—“I do things even when I know I shouldn’t. You make me so frumagitated!”

  “What?”

  She shook her head curtly. “Never mind.” She, Sadie, and Hannah had made up the word to combine frustrated, mad, agitated, and irritated. Adam took a breath to speak, but Liv moved her index finger up to his face to shush him.

  “I want the marina to succeed. I want to be a working owner.” She didn’t raise her voice; she was calm. She needed to say these things out loud. “This is what I have now. Did you notice that? I rehabbed this boat. I bought this boat. I work out here. My world is this five-mile radius. Now you tell me, how am I so bad? I know I’m sticking around. What I don’t know is if you are.”

  She waited a bit and studied the rugged lines of his face. His tanned skin seemed to accentuate his deep brown eyes that, she noticed for the first time, held golden flecks. She took a deep breath. This was good. Now she’d know where she stood.

  Liv filled the silence. “I don’t know why Vam did what she did. I wish she were here and we could ask her. I know, for me, I’ve gotten a fresh start in life … at life. And I’m doing my best not to squander it.” She felt her eyes burn and blinked back her tears. Time to face her problems head on. “You and I clearly didn’t start off right. Can we clear the slate and try to work together? Figure this out together? You hate me, I get it. But Vam didn’t.”

  She tried a smile, but it didn’t land. The allergy medication still flowed heavy in her system, and with Adam infringing on her bubble, she didn’t know what to do. His spicy scent whipped through her nose, around her head, and down to her pretty, pink polished toes. She steadied her mind to not let her body fidget. If she moved an inch she’d bump him. Stay still. Look at him. No, not his cheek, his eyes. You’re winning this.

  “Clear slate it is.” His voice hinted at no discomfort, irritation, or twitterpation.

  I’m in my robe, standing close to a man in my bedroom having a heartfelt moment and nothing? What in the hell am I doing wrong? Liv would have to deal with her insecurities concerning men another time. Right now she didn’t need Adam to sweep her up in his big sturdy arms. She needed him to tell her she could stay right where she was happy—and he’d done just that. A calmness filled her and she almost smiled. A clean slate meant he’d accepted she was in it to win it.

  Liv watched him tu
rn and walk back into the living room and out the door before she crawled into bed—more defeated from Adam than mowing the grass. She stared up at her ceiling and replayed their entire conversation. What the hell ever, Adam Lark. I don’t even like you anyway. Her night had worked out for the best.

  CHAPTER SIX

  “Delicious.” Ben pushed his empty plate further onto the bar.

  “Glad you liked it.” Liv refilled his water glass.

  “How’s the boat? Like living on the water?”

  “So far, so good. The swaying is oddly soothing.”

  Adam rounded the corner into the bar and Liv felt her breath catch. He was in his cargo shorts and a burnt orange T-shirt and still as irritating as the day they’d met. They’d both agreed on a clean slate last night, but Adam had yet to talk to her. Put those big girl panties on, Adam, and act like an adult, for cripe’s sake. She turned her attention back to Ben.

  “Poker is this Thursday. Wanna join us?” Ben asked.

  “We’ll see. I’m still figuring this place out.”

  Adam rustled, serving a drink to a guy whose best look wasn’t the tank top he wore, and she decided to break the ice.

  “Adam, this is Ben Goodvaughan. He helped me fix up the houseboat and was a good friend of Vam’s.”

  Adam glanced at Ben with a smile plastered on his face, like usual. Liv knew it wasn’t real, but she appreciated the effort. At least he wasn’t a d-bag to the customers. Adam stuck out his hand for Ben, but then his eyes turned cloudy and hardened. Neither man spoke, but both seemed to be communicating with each other. About what, Liv wasn’t sure. Their odd handshake ended and Ben spoke first.

  “Nice to meet you … formally. Vam spoke well of you. A group of us have poker games on Thursday nights. You’re welcome to join us, too. But be careful. Vam said Liv’s one hell of a player.”

  Adam nodded. “I bet she is.” He glanced toward her and she microscopically smirked. His meaning had not been kind. He thought she was a world-class swindler. He could have his opinion. Someday he’d realize he’d gotten her all wrong—if he stayed around long enough to know her better. She recognized the fleeing spirit his eyes—a never-stay-put look she’d seen a lot growing up. Maybe that’s what bugged her so much when it came to Adam.

  “I should get back to it.” Ben stood.

  “Right. Thanks for stopping by.” Liv grinned the best she could.

  Adam remained near her and his scent drifted into her bubble.

  “If you get change for the register, I’ll help these customers.” The harsh glare he had for Ben vanished and softer eyes found hers.

  “Okay,” she answered and headed toward the front door.

  The marina office took up a small nook to the left of the front lobby. The plain wood door had a simple square window and a plaque underneath that read manager.

  One stout wooden desk sat in the middle of the office surrounded by filing cabinets of all shapes and sizes, and three old office chairs scattered about. The paper mound on the desk would’ve been impressive if she wasn’t the one who would end up sorting it, again. She wasn’t the most organized person in the world, but next to Adam she looked like freakin’ Jane from Happy Endings –OCD to the max. Can’t he stack paper? All I ask is that he respect the piles. Liv sat down and started to organize the mess. She hadn’t had much time to spend in the office, but the need was evident.

  A small thumb drive buried under papers caught her eye and Liv deposited it in her pocket, making a mental note to give it back to Adam. But she needed to stop tackling this project and move on. She’d carve out time tomorrow when they were slower and she had steady help. Maybe she could even enlist Eddie to help her figure out the marina bookkeeping.

  Her staff wasn’t large in numbers, but they were effective. Since Adam was already familiar with the business, that really left only Liv to learn the systems. Her confidence was growing and Paradise Point felt like home. The connection here was what had been missing from her life.

  Liv grabbed the change she needed, locked the office door, and nearly bumped into Ken when she turned.

  “Whoa. Geez.” She backed up a step. Where in the hell had he come from? “You scared the crap outta me. You can’t be in here.”

  Ken stood about eye to eye with her so it was easy to observe him. His clean-shaven face held tight lines and no amusement in his eyes.

  “Can I help you with something?” she asked, praying her sinking feeling had to do with being startled and not intuition.

  “Where have you been?” he asked.

  “I’ve been working here.”

  “You haven’t come into the office in quite some time. I call and you don’t answer. So I’ll ask again. Where have you been?” Ken spoke low and deliberately.

  “Oh, right.” She let her nerves out in a brief chuckle. “I need to call Neil and officially quit. Totally slipped my mind.”

  The non-glimmer in his glare shouted at her brain to proceed with caution, to pick her words wisely. She regulated her breathing as an influx of adrenaline swooshed. We’re in a crowded place. Surely this won’t get too out of hand. She really had nothing to fear. Ken knew where she lived though, dammit.

  “Why on earth would you quit?” His snide voice exemplified his disgust. “For this place?”

  “Yeah, for this place. I like it here.” Ugh, she really needed to work on her brain-to-mouth filter. First with Adam, and now Ken.

  “What about the sorry excuse for a boat? You like that, too?”

  “I do.” She didn’t bother adding adjectives like magical, peaceful, and glorious to describe her newfound abode. He wouldn’t understand.

  Ken took a step closer, but she had no room to move as the knob to the door was already pushing on her back. She tried to squeeze past him, but he quickly stepped in front of her.

  Fear over took her body. She’d never seen that particular dark shadow in Ken’s eyes before, and her arms and legs started to numb. Should I scream for help?

  “Ken, I need to get back to the bar. They’re expecting me.” She glanced toward the bar and saw no one around—no one with whom to make eye contact to silently plead for help.

  “Who? These lowlifes can wait for their beer.” Ken’s jaw tightened with his terse words. “You haven’t answered my calls.”

  Her eyebrows hunkered in so hard they might have touched. “Excuse me?”

  “I will not stand for this. Actions have consequences, Liv.”

  She inhaled sharply. Consequences? The power in the conversation had shifted and she didn’t hold any of it. She was being threatened by mild-mannered, perfect Ken, of all people. His stance relayed his seriousness and she talked her body out of hyperventilation. Don’t show fear. She set her face back to neutral in an attempt to regain control over the growing dread filling her body. Wait. Why am I scared? I should be pissed. How dare he?

  • • •

  What on God’s green earth is taking her so long? Adam grinned tightly at his customer, whipped the white bar towel over his shoulder, and set off to wrangle the blonde.

  He rounded the corner and stopped short. A man was boxing Liv in by their office. Something was wrong. He stood about her height, neatly pressed, and his body language told Adam he was pissed—no, aggressive. Adam moved an inch to the left to see Liv’s face. She stared wide-eyed, face frozen, and breathing so slowly he squinted to make sure. She’s scared.

  It was bad enough he’d had to meet her boyfriend earlier, and Ben, of all people? He’d seen the way Ben had looked at Liv, they weren’t just friends. Adam scoffed, then realized he’d actually done so out loud. Why did knowing Liv dated good men like Ben annoy Adam so much? She didn’t go for idiots. She went for the men like—Adam. What was it about that woman that brought trouble? Adam set his jaw.

  He rapidly walked over and slapped his hand on the man’s shoulder with force, pulling him back. “Is there something I can help you with?” Adam spun the man to face him, giving Liv the breathing room she hadn
’t previously been afforded.

  The man’s angry stare turned to Adam. “Don’t touch me,” he spat.

  Adam glanced at Liv to make sure she was okay. Her eyes held a darkness he hadn’t seen from far away and she didn’t move a muscle. Am I saving Liv or this guy?

  Adam squeezed his hand on the bony shoulder, then let go. “Sorry, just giving you the respect you were showing my friend. Since you’re done here, I need Liv. We have customers waiting.” Adam signaled with his chin for Liv to move toward the bar. He slowly shifted between the guy and Liv, forcing the man to step back.

  The man winked at Liv and headed toward the front door.

  Adam kept his eyes firmly on the smug idiot as he said to Liv, “Hawaiian shirt and Corona shirt guys need change.” He swiveled his head to the side. Her lips were pursed. What. The hell. Is going on? “What’s his name?”

  “Ken Novak.”

  “I’ll be right back.”

  Liv nodded in silence and disappeared toward the bar. He grabbed his cell phone and typed while he moved to the sunlight.

  “My man, you dropped something.” Adam did a quick jog, catching up to Ken as he opened his BMW door.

  “What?” Ken felt his pockets for his wallet and phone.

  “I lied. You didn’t forget anything.”

  Ken let out a disapproving scoff and sat in his driver’s side leather seat and reached for the door. Adam caught it with his hand and leaned down.

  “Yeah. Hi. Me again. I’m about to do the whole threatening thing so hold on to your loafers.” Adam’s smile turned grave. “This is the only chance you will ever have to be the bigger man. You don’t know me, but if I ever see you around this bay, the houseboats, marina, or Liv again, we’re going to get up close and personal. I don’t mean violence, although, let’s face it, I’d kill you in about three seconds.” Adam paused, watching Ken’s jaw jump. “Yeah, I said kill. Anyway, I mean I’ll trash your credit, your job, your reputation, and your life. I won’t stop until all you have is a dumpster behind McDonald’s. Even then, I’ll make sure the rats eat better.”