The Summer Getaway: A Novel(9)

“Better?” Harlow asked.

“A little.” Thea offered a tight smile. “I swear, I’m never getting on a boat again in my life.”

Harlow patted her arm, then went up the steep stairs to the flying bridge. Iliana was in her seat, watching Austin worshipfully as he guided the fifty-foot boat through the marina.

When he saw Harlow, he stepped back, giving her the wheel. He winked at Iliana before making his way to the main deck, where he would be responsible for securing the lines.

Harlow watched for other boats and the kayakers who ignored the signs that said they weren’t allowed in this part of the marina. She went past their slip before easing the engines into reverse, then backed into the space. She cut the engines and used the thrusters to snug up against the finger pier. Austin stepped onto the dock and tied off the aft line, then jogged to the bow and secured that line as well.

Harlow checked the upper deck for any items belonging to their guests before going down the stairs ahead of Iliana.

“Both hands,” she told the ten-year-old.

Harlow thanked everyone for the day, accepted a very generous tip and handed out business cards, along with a reminder to review them online. After giving her brother his half of the tip, she tidied up the galley and saloon. Austin, crew rather than captain, got stuck cleaning the head and restocking supplies. Forty minutes later, they were done.

“What are you doing tomorrow?” she asked Austin as they walked to the main office of Caldwell Charter Boats.

“Getting ready to move into my new place.”

Harlow laughed. “You rented a furnished apartment. What do you have to get ready?”

“I want a bigger TV. I’m going to ask Mom if I can take the eighty-inch one from the media room.”

“You are such a guy. Why do you need an eighty-inch television?”

Austin slung his arm around her shoulders. “Needing it isn’t the point. Having it is.”

“You’re weird.”

“Maybe, but also your brother so you gotta love me regardless.” He dropped his arm and waved. “Enid! You’re here. That must mean you’ve finally decided to admit you’re desperately in love with me. Let’s sail to Tahiti, where we’ll live on the beach and I’ll worship you forever.”

Harlow slugged her baby brother in the arm. “Stop it. You’re embarrassing her.”

Austin’s blue eyes were bright with laughter. “She loves the attention. I mean, come on. It’s me.”

Harlow hugged her friend. She and Enid had been BFFs since kindergarten. They’d both recently graduated from college, with Harlow going to work for her dad and Enid preparing to enter medical school. Austin, younger by four years, had tagged along when he could—until high school.

Enid, a pretty brunette with more brains than anyone Harlow knew, smiled at Austin. “One day I’m going to call your bluff.”

He winked. “Just say the word, Enid mine.”

“He’s all talk,” Harlow said with a laugh. “Let me go see my dad for a sec, then I’m ready to head out.”

“Where are you going?” Austin asked Enid. “Want a handsome guy to escort you?”

“Do you know one?” Enid asked teasingly as Harlow went into the building. The door closed, cutting off Austin’s response.

She found her dad on the phone in his office. The tone of his voice and the way he was rotating his chair back and forth told her he was on with one of his women.

Since her parents’ divorce four years ago, Cord Caldwell had been enjoying the single life. He was a serial dater who always had a girlfriend. The longest she’d known him to be without someone in his life was maybe three days. Her mother, on the other hand, had waited a year to start dating. She told Harlow that she hadn’t met anyone interesting enough to see more than a couple of times. That had changed about a year ago, when her mom had gotten involved with Jase, a local cardiologist. They’d become a thing, dating exclusively. Her mother rarely shared details, unlike her dad, who sometimes told her too much.

She waited a couple of minutes, but her father showed no signs of ending the call. Finally she caught his eye and tapped on her watch.

“Hey, let me call you back,” he said, his tone low and sexy. “Uh-huh. Me, too.”

Harlow did her best not to gag. Yes, she and her father were both adults, but she didn’t like seeing this side of him. He was her parent, not a friend. But Cord had never been big on boundaries.

“What’s up?” he asked when he’d ended the call.

“We’re back from the charter.” She tossed him the keys. “She’s clean and ready for tomorrow. Austin’s off, and I’m taking out the fishermen. I’ll be back at five thirty.” In the morning. Not her favorite, but part of the job. “You’ll look over the paperwork from the lawyer?”

Her father hesitated just long enough for her to guess the truth. “Dad, why won’t you read through the offer? You have to agree to the terms before we can move forward on buying the business.”

“I’ll get to it.”

“It’s been nearly a week. Can you read it tonight?”

“Sure. Tonight.”

She ignored her surge of frustration. “We talked about this all last summer. You said it was a great idea for us to expand into the easy money of kayak and paddleboard rentals. I did everything you said. I found a good business to buy, I came up with a business plan, I talked to a lawyer, and now we’re ready to present an offer as soon as you say go. Have you changed your mind?”