by L. P. Dover
This time I laugh. “I can see that. They’re not exactly the kind of friends I’d like to have around.”
He nods. “Sometimes I wonder why I do.” There’s a hint of sadness in his tone, but then it quickly disappears. “Ready to eat?”
My stomach growls. “More than ready.”
When we get down below, the table is covered with food. We each have a steak with a lump of crab meat on top, a baked potato, and steamed broccoli. Then, for dessert, there are two pieces of chocolate cake.
Max leads me over to the table and pours me a glass of wine. “I can cook, but I had this catered in since I didn’t have much time.”
I breathe in the food. “You cook? I thought maybe you had personal chefs for that.”
He sits across from me and chuckles, but I sense the hint of resentment in his tone. “My father and my step-mother do.”
“Do you not get along with them?” I ask.
He shrugs. “My dad’s an asshole and my step-mother’s a pretentious bitch. She’s only with him for his money. That’s been apparent from day one.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be. He made his choice and he’ll pay for it in the end. Literally.” He cuts into his steak and I do the same. It tastes like heaven. I’m half-tempted to dig into the chocolate cake, but I show restraint. “What about you?” Max asks. “I don’t see how a woman like you can be single.”
“That’s because you don’t know anything about my life.”
He leans back in his chair. “Then tell me.”
I eat another bite of steak and wash it down with the wine. “Okay, here it goes. I got married right out of high school and the bastard took all of my money. That’s why I live with two other women and work as a waitress at the yacht club.”
Max stares curiously at me and nods. “I see. I may not have you beat, but my life isn’t perfect either.”
“Oh yeah,” I laugh, staring at him incredulously. “I doubt that.”
He sets his fork down and leans on his elbows. There’s a sadness in his eyes I’ve never seen before. It makes me regret laughing at him. “Yes, my family has money, but it’s not always a good thing. My parents divorced because my dad wanted something younger and better. My ex-fiancé wanted to control my life, and did for a long time until I got tired of it. Then, on top of that, I don’t have any true friends. They always want something from me.”
“Why are you telling me all of this?”
He averts his gaze for a moment, but then turns those green eyes of his back to mine. “I don’t know. I just feel like I can.”
It’s crazy but I feel the same way too. We eat the rest of our dinner, but Max grabs our pieces of cake and carries them up on deck. We sit on the cushions and I lean against the pillows. The stars are out in full force, making the night a magical one. There’s no one around, only the ocean and the moonlight.
“What are your dreams, London? Surely you don’t want to stay at the yacht club for the rest of your life.”
“Actually, I do.”
He stares at me as if I’ve lost my mind. “Seriously?”
I hold up a hand. “Not as a waitress, but as management. There’s a position opening up soon and I want to apply for it.”
“Think you’ll get it?”
I shrug. “Don’t know, but I hope so. The pay is close to three times what I’m making now. I could really use the promotion.”
His lips pull back in that devilish grin of his. “Maybe you’ll get it.”
“What about you? What are your dreams?”
He blows out a breath and lays down, his attention on the stars. “All I’ve known is sailing. I want to compete for as long as I can.”
“And when you get old?” I ask, lying down next to him. “You won’t be able to sail professionally anymore. You’ll be too slow.”
“Yeah, I know,” he replies sadly. A few seconds pass and then he turns his head my way. “My dad wants me to work at his company when I retire from sailing. He owns Richmond Holdings. They’re one of the largest architectural firms in the world.”
Yes, I know, but I don’t tell him that. I think everyone knows who his father is. “Why do I get the feeling you don’t want to do that?”
“Because I don’t,” he answers, his voice low.
“And why not?”
He exhales and rolls on top of me, his hand gentle as he brushes the hair away from my face. “My whole life I’ve had people tell me what to do. For once, I want to choose my own future.”
“Then tell me what your future looks like?”
Slowly, he leans down and kisses me. “It’s a lot simpler than my life now. When I’m done sailing, I want to teach kids how to do it. Being on the ocean has been my escape. It’s the best feeling in the world.”
“Then do it,” I murmur. “Choose your own path.”
His smile makes everything inside of me tighten. “I think I will. But what about you? It’s your time to choose what you want tonight.”
“What are my choices?”
He presses his cock into me. “You can either stay tonight and I give you as many orgasms as you can handle, or I take you back to the marina.”
“As many orgasms as I can handle? Think you can do that?” I ask, grinning mischievously.
“Don’t know, but I’m more than happy to try.”
4
Max
Before most of Rhode Island woke for the day, I had London back to Dawson’s Marina completely sated and unable to walk normally from all the orgasms I gave her. I have never broken a promise and I wasn’t about to start with this one. It was as I walked back to my boat that I noticed the for-sale sign, hiding somewhat behind the scrubs. There was no way the marina was for sale.
I don’t know how long I stand and look at the sign. I have the number to call memorized and I’ve found the listing on some local realtor app. Honestly, I’ve never looked at the price of a marina before but am surprised I could afford this place. I finally decide to look around. There’s a booth that people pass by, where they pay for parking and whatnot. The parking lot has to be resurfaced, and if I’m not mistaken, there’s a defunct restaurant with patio seating that looks over the water.
Instead of heading back to my boat to make a phone call, I see a path leading through the trees and decide to see where it will take me. After getting smacked in the face by a few errant branches, I finally land on a nice sandy beach.
“What the fuck?” I mutter. I look around and notice that overgrown trees are preventing people from using this space. Maybe that was intentional, but it seems like a nice marketing tool, especially to entice families to come visit.
I give this place one last look before I pull my cell phone out and dial the number on the for-sale sign. The line rings three times before voicemail picks up. “Hello, my name is Max and I’m calling about the for-sale sign at Dawson’s marina. If you could call me back,” I finish by leaving my number and making sure I’ve saved this contact.
As soon as I’m on the dock, I drop down to my knees to look at the structure. It looks sound and would be one less expense for me to tackle right off. There’s more pep in my step when I get back to my boat. I want to tell London about my idea, and I go to call her, only to realize I don’t have her number, which is how I ended up in her dressing room yesterday. I wasn’t exactly honest with her about happening to see her in the window, and I had been following her, but it was only after I saw her and her friend pulling into the parking spot that I decided I needed to see London again. It took, what felt like forever, for her to finally find something to try on. As soon as I was in that small room with her, I wanted her. Hell, just thinking about her now gives me a stiffy.
It took me three years to ask London out and when I finally had the courage, and she said yes, I never thought we’d end up between the sheets. Although, it was exactly where I wanted to be with her. She’s sex on a stick, wrapped in a nice little package, and gives me hard-on like no other. The pr
oblem I’m facing is that my parents are coming to town, both sets. One will accept London for who she is and the fact that she’s putting a smile on my face. The other set will put her down, call her things no one should ever be called, tell me to get her out of my system, and take my boat to Newport where Alyssa is waiting.
Every part of me wants to tell my dad and his trophy wife to stuff it. He was never this type of person when he was married to my mom. I’m not sure my mom would even allow that kind of behavior. Worse, if I hadn’t lived with my mom growing up, I probably would be like Yates and Vance. That thought makes me shudder.
I sail back to the Wesleyan Yacht Club, thinking about the things London said to me the night before. She had been married, right out of high school and her ex took her money. For some reason, I have the urge to find out who he is and demand he give it back. It’s an unreasonable thought as I’m sure the guy has spent it all by now. I’m also surprised by the idea that she loves what she does, well at least at the yacht club. I’m sure when she gets idiots like Vance, Yates, and myself, she wants to strangle us. We are known to be complete shitheads. I blame it on our parents. They raised us to be entitled assholes. Hell, just look at me. I don’t have to work if I don’t want to and daddy gives me whatever I want. I’m a complete ass.
Pulling into the marina, I’m stunned to see the slip between Yates and Vance is still open. I thought for sure someone would nab it last night. I make sure my buoys are down and pull slowly into the spot before cutting the engine and jumping off the side to tie my boat down.
“Where the fuck have you been?” Yates is standing on deck, with nothing but a pair of boxers on. He’s holding a cup of coffee and his already unruly hair is standing on end.
“Rough night?” I nod toward him, hoping to divert our conversation to him.
“Eh, picked some chick up at the bar.”
“Classy,” I say this under my breath. “She still on the boat?”
Yates shakes his head. “No, she left about one or two.”
“Hopefully, you at least walked her to the car.”
Yates chooses to take a sip of his coffee or whatever he has in his mug instead of answering me. It’s fine, because I know the answer. Anytime I’m in the city with him, I’m always the one making sure his conquests are making it home safely. Truthfully, I need new friends. As I stand there and apprise him, I realize he’ll never accept London either. And if he somehow did, he’d never let it go that he considers her beneath him.
“Fuck,” I say a bit too loudly. As much as I want to hang out with London this week, with Yates and Vance around, and my parents coming to town, if I want to see her, we’ll have to sneak around.
Fuck that. I like her. Everyone can fuck the fuck off.
“What’s wrong?” By his tone, he thinks I’ve hurt myself.
Now, normally when I see my friends pull into a slip, I offer to help. Yates, he stays on his boat. Maybe it’s because he’s only wearing underwear and doesn’t want things falling out, or maybe it’s because he’s a lazy piece of crap. I’m going with the latter.
“Nothing, just trying to get tied down.”
“So, where were ya last night? My date had a friend.”
“Not having a threesome that’s for sure.” I’m not even sorry I missed his party.
“Her friend bailed.”
“Bummer for you.” I’m going to go shower.
“Not gonna tell me, huh?”
“Nope.”
My mother and stepdad show up at my boat around two in the afternoon. Her sing-song voice rings out as she says, “Hello, Maxwell.”
Ah, the full first name. Gotta love it.
I climb the steps that lead to my dock just as my parents’ step onto my boat. Kitty Bradley is dressed head to toe in white, not giving a rat’s ass about not wearing white after Labor Day. I take my mom in my arms instantly. Behind her, carrying his own six-pack of beer, is my stepdad, Mark Bradley, former tight end in the NFL. He holds up his beer and points. I wink and start to laugh.
“What’s so funny?” Mom asks.
“Nothing.” I squeeze her tightly around her waist and set her down. Instantly, her hand cups my cheek.
“You look tired.”
I am, but not because I don’t sleep.
“Yates and Vance are on either side of me,” I tell her. She gives me a knowing look and steps aside so I can say hi to her husband. We hug and pat each other on the back in a strong, manly way. I like him, always have. He’s been a great husband to my mom and has never once treated me like I don’t belong. I motion for my parents follow me below deck where I have a wine and cheese platter set up.
“Maxwell, you didn’t have to go to the trouble.”
“No trouble, Mom.” I hold the chair out for her and help her scoot in.
“So, tell me what’s new.”
Now’s my chance.
“Well, I met someone that I like a lot.” Kitty claps her hands together and I swear I hear her tapping her feet against the floor.
“Forgive your mother,” Mark says. “Some of the ladies at the club have recently announced they’re going to be grandmothers and now your mother has babies on the brain.”
Thank God I used condoms.
“Yeah, no babies.” My mom frowns.
“Tell me about her.”
I go ahead to tell them all about London and how she’s different from every girl I’ve ever known. She’s beautiful, has integrity, is determined to make her life better. I tell them where she works and what she does and immediately my mom grabs her bag and says she’s going to go introduce herself. It’s a good thing Mark is strong because it took both of us to stop her from leaving. “Later,” I tell her.
“I want to ask her to come to the regatta.”
“Perfect, she can sit with me,” Kitty offers.
I nod. Everything would be perfect except . . . “Dad and Drizella are coming, and you and I both know he won’t approve of London.”
My mom rests her hand on top of mine. “First off, don’t call your stepmother Drizella. I know you don’t like her, but she has a name. Second, if you like this young woman, then follow your heart. You only have to answer to yourself, Maxwell. Not to your father and not to me.”
Mom is right, but it’s easier for her to say that when my dad’s actions don’t affect her anymore. No matter what, I want London to be at the regatta, but I don’t want my dad or stepbeast saying anything bad to her.
“When can I meet this lovely London?”
I glance down at my watch, knowing London should be at work by now. “We can go now, if you—”
Kitty is up, out of her chair and already to the steps before I can finish. Mark and I finish our drinks and then follow my mom toward the restaurant. I’m not nervous, I’m downright petrified of what London is going to think when I tell her who is with me. The last thing London needs is for her boss to find out we’ve been messing around, although if she got fired, I’d ask my mom to make some calls.
The hostess greets me by name and my mom gives me a bit of a side-eye glance. Mark laughs and pats me on the shoulder. I ask to be seated in London’s section, which upon hearing my own request, think I probably shouldn’t have said anything.
We’re seated and within seconds, London is at our table. This time, I don’t let her get away with ignoring me or acting like we’re not. . .well whatever we are.
“London, I’d like for you to meet my mom and stepdad.”
London eyes me wildly, making me want to kiss the look right off her face. Without much thought, I squeeze her hand, hoping to reassure her.
“Kitty and Mark Bradley,” I continue. “Mom, Mark. I’d like for you to meet London Bauer.” I keep my eyes on her the entire time, hoping to convey that I’m not doing this because we’re sitting in her section, but because she means something to me. She pulls her hand away slowly and looks around, checking to see if anyone is watching.
“Oh, don’t worry about Lester. He and I go
way back. Come sit.” My mom pats the chair next to her, but London doesn’t budge.
“Mom, she can’t.”
Kitty groans. “Drinks, tonight? What time are you off, sweetie? I want to get to know the woman who my son hasn’t stopped gushing about since I arrived in town today.”
London turns sharply toward me. Her eyes are wild, frantic. I’m not sure if she’s trying to be pissed at me or if she’s freaking the hell out.
For the record, I’m freaking the hell out.
I smile sheepishly and shrug.
5
London
I know I look like a fish out of water when I meet Max’s mom and stepdad. His mother is gorgeous with her blonde hair and bright green eyes that are the same color as Max’s. From what I can tell, she seems genuine, very different from the rest of the clientele. It almost feels as if I stepped into an alternate reality. The last thing I ever expected was for Max to tell his mother about me. It changes things. And if I’m being honest with myself, it confuses the hell out of me. I don’t know what it all means.
After all is said and done, I agree to drinks with Kitty and Mark Bradley at their hotel tonight. Once they’re gone, I breathe a sigh of relief. The whole time I waited on their table, I was drenched in sweat. I kept stuttering my words and I know I looked like an idiot. If Max would’ve warned me beforehand, I could’ve prepared myself.
Usually, I want the days to go by quickly, and it never does except for today. The closer it gets to clocking out at five o’clock, the more nervous I get. At seven, I’m supposed to meet Max and his family at The Chandler Hotel, the ritziest place in Rhode Island. What does one even wear to a place like that? My stomach hurts just thinking about it.
Kim walks into the break room just as I’m clocking out. She hurries up to me and bumps me with her hip to move me away from the computer. “I take it you had a good time with Poseidon last night?”