“That’s a Marlin,” my father shouted. “Tip up. Keep it up. It’s a game of give and take, Son. Don’t let that one get away. You’ve got a trophy, for sure. That’s a hundred and fifty pounds if it’s an ounce.”
The fish submerged, nearly pulling Tito to the edge of the boat in the process. A few seconds later, it shot through the water’s surface again. The taught fishing line hooked in its mouth glistened in the sunlight.
“Ted!” Goose shouted. “I need some fucking help, here!”
The six of us shifted our attention to the other side of the boat. Reeling his line the entire while, Goose ran the length of the deck, toward the front of the boat. “This son-of-a-bitch about took my arm off.”
My father rushed to his side, counseled him, and then faced us. The smile on his face was one I rarely saw. Reserved for Christmas mornings, my college graduation, and the night he retired, it was his most natural expression of pleasure.
With the creases on the sides of his eyes slightly more pronounced and a slight dimple on each cheek, he made eye contact with me.
I mouthed to the words I love you.
His smile morphed to a toothy grin at the same time Baker hooked something.
“Ted!” Baker wailed. “Ted!”
Still facing me, my father mouthed the phrase in return. Then, he winked. He pressed his hands against his hips. “Alright, fellas,” he shouted. “I’m going to say this one time and one time only, listen up. Stop screaming Ted. If you need me, the name’s Tank!”
My heart rose into my throat.
“Tank” was the name reserved for my father’s closest friends and the few people at work he truly trusted. Requesting the men address him by that name etched their presence in his life in stone. They may have considered him part of their family, but without a doubt, each of them was now a part of his.
Witnessing his complete acceptance of them was a sight to behold. Filled with joy at what my life had become, I closed my eyes and listened to the waves lap against the hull of the boat.
A simple search for a hat started a sequence of events that changed my life for the better. Although there were no assurances, I felt that Tito and I could spend our lives together, quite happily.
I’d never met anyone who I could be my natural self around and feel completely comfortable. With Tito, I couldn’t imagine being any other way.
My father’s acceptance of him and his friends was the icing on our relationship’s cake.
Each of the men caught their fish—and many more—on the day that would become the first of many. As fate would have it, Cash’s was the largest, weighing in at 193 pounds. Tito’s Marlin was second, at 174 pounds, but he claimed he had Cash beat because his had a cool spear for a nose, and Cash’s didn’t.
Two miles off the shoreline, my father cut the engines. Exhausted from a twelve-hour day of educating the men on how to properly fish the deep sea, he lifted the bill of his cap with his thumb and let out a long sigh.
“Quite a day,” he said, taking off his sunglasses. “Just as well end it here while we watch the sunset.”
Everyone seemed to agree.
While the men wandering about the deck sharing stories of their days’ catch, the women sat on a large bench in the center of the boat talking about their perfect tans.
My father turned the radio on some soft music.
As it had many times in the past few months, my life, once again, felt like it simply couldn’t get any better.
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw my father and Baker pouring glasses full of champagne. I turned in that direction. “What are you doing?”
“We’re going to celebrate the maiden voyage,” he replied, wearing a prideful smile. “Quite a success, if you ask me.”
I couldn’t agree more. I smiled in return. After a loving stare, I turned to face the horizon. Tito was standing between me and the edge of the boat.
“If you don’t move,” I said. “I won’t be able to see the sunset.”
“If I do move,” he replied, kneeling in front of me. “I won’t be able to do this.”
It couldn’t be.
My heart rose into my throat.
“This adventure began on June 6th.” He reached into the pocket of his shorts and produced a ring. “I’d love to have your assurance it’ll continue for no less than forever. Regina Anne Gottschalk, will you agree to marry me?”
My eyes welled with tears. I glanced at my father.
He, too, had eyes swollen with tears. Flanked by the remaining four men, he gave a nod.
“I’ve already asked his permission,” Tito said. “All I need is yours.”
I faced Tito. “Yes,” I said. “I certainly will.”
He slipped the ring onto my finger. Congratulations followed, with each person admitting that they knew in advance what was happening. Personally, I had no earthly idea. I’d merely dreamed that one day it might happen.
After passing out glasses of champagne, my father started the boat.
“What are you doing?” I asked. “I thought we were going to watch the sunset?”
“Hap and Braxton are on shore, waiting,” he said, checking his watch. “We’ve got dinner reservations at Porter’s Port, to celebrate.”
“Never heard of it,” I said.
“It’s a new place along the shore that faces the bay,” he replied. “They specialize in grilled octopus, the most tender steaks, and fresh seafood.”
“If it’s any kind of a place to celebrate our engagement, they’re not going to let us in,” I complained. “We’re not dressed for it.”
“Don’t worry about how you’re dressed.” He looked at Goose, winked, and then met my gaze. “I’m friends with the owner.”
Also by Scott Hildreth
Devil's Disciples Series
Baker - Book One
Cash - Book Two
Ghost - Book Three
Goose - Book Four
Reno - Book Five
To learn more about the Filthy Fuckers MC and the men in their club, follow these links:
Hard - Crip’s Book: http://amzn.to/2jNSCpZ
Rough - PeeBee’s Book: http://amzn.to/2iAYjcJ
Dirty - Cholo’s Book: http://amzn.to/2jUWqpd
Rigid - Smokey’s Book: http://amzn.to/2n3js02
Nuts - P-Nut’s Book: http://amzn.to/2rI1IMw
Thick- Meathead’s Book: http://amzn.to/2AZeLxa
His Rules - Detective Watson’s Book: https://amzn.to/2NNcJaW
Can’t get enough of Scott’s biker books?
Check out the Selected Sinner’s series below.
Making the Cut: http://amzn.to/2v2D5fS
Taking the Heat: http://amzn.to/2vVAcwo
Otis: http://amzn.to/2vUJ9G4
Hung: http://amzn.to/2wuUvC9
Ex-Con: http://amzn.to/2wkgVWf
Money Shot: http://amzn.to/2x9nwQK
Hard Corps: http://amzn.to/2wuJpNH
Other Series & Standalones
Baby Girl Series
Baby Girl - Ruined: http://amzn.to/2FAxe6G
Baby Girl - Owned: http://amzn.to/2FCVxku
Baby Girl - Loved: http://amzn.to/2peR1yw
The UN Series - Boxing Romance
Undefeated - Book One: http://amzn.to/2pbBsHW
Unstoppable - Book Two: http://amzn.to/2pjrsv8
Unleashed - Book Three: http://amzn.to/2pfgIPh
Unbroken - Book Four: http://amzn.to/2FCnbOs
Bodies, Ink and Steel Series
Blurred Lines: http://amzn.to/2pexYEo
Pretty in Ink: http://amzn.to/2peziad
Stand Alone Books
Lover Come Back: https://amzn.to/2QHq8iQ
Broken People: http://amzn.to/2FO1189
Threefold: http://amzn.to/2pe7Aub
Karter: http://amzn.to/2HBvxTc
Snatch: http://amzn.to/2FTq2Cb
Fuck Buddy: http://amzn.to/2pffofr
Dick: http://amzn.to/2phAXMn
Brawler: http://amzn.to/2FDaOld
The
Alpha-Bet: http://amzn.to/2FKnUJx
Finding Parker: http://amzn.to/2pbyzXx
Also by Scott Hildreth
Filthy Fuckers MC
Hard - Crip’s Book: http://amzn.to/2jNSCpZ
Rough - PeeBee’s Book: http://amzn.to/2iAYjcJ
Dirty - Cholo’s Book: http://amzn.to/2jUWqpd
Rigid - Smokey’s Book: http://amzn.to/2n3js02
Nuts - P-Nut’s Book: http://amzn.to/2rI1IMw
Thick- Meathead’s Book: http://amzn.to/2AZeLxa
His Rules - Detective Watson’s Book: https://amzn.to/2NNcJaW
Selected Sinners
Making the Cut: http://amzn.to/2v2D5fS
Taking the Heat: http://amzn.to/2vVAcwo
Otis: http://amzn.to/2vUJ9G4
Hung: http://amzn.to/2wuUvC9
Ex-Con: http://amzn.to/2wkgVWf
Money Shot: http://amzn.to/2x9nwQK
Hard Corps: http://amzn.to/2wuJpNH
Baby Girl Series
Baby Girl - Ruined: http://amzn.to/2FAxe6G
Baby Girl - Owned: http://amzn.to/2FCVxku
Baby Girl - Loved: http://amzn.to/2peR1yw
The UN Series - Boxing Romance
Undefeated - Book One: http://amzn.to/2pbBsHW
Unstoppable - Book Two: http://amzn.to/2pjrsv8
Unleashed - Book Three: http://amzn.to/2pfgIPh
Unbroken - Book Four: http://amzn.to/2FCnbOs
Bodies, Ink and Steel Series
Blurred Lines: http://amzn.to/2pexYEo
Pretty in Ink: http://amzn.to/2peziad
Stand Alone Books
Psychological: https://amzn.to/2rV1mRd
The Fed Sex Man: https://amzn.to/2Ue8x3A
Lover Come Back: https://amzn.to/2QHq8iQ
Broken People: http://amzn.to/2FO1189
Threefold: http://amzn.to/2pe7Aub
Karter: http://amzn.to/2HBvxTc
Snatch: http://amzn.to/2FTq2Cb
Fuck Buddy: http://amzn.to/2pffofr
Dick: http://amzn.to/2phAXMn
Brawler: http://amzn.to/2FDaOld
The Alpha-Bet: http://amzn.to/2FKnUJx
Finding Parker: http://amzn.to/2pbyzXx
Devil's Disciples MC Series- The Complete Boxed Set Page 134