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PROLOGUE
TALON
Three Weeks Earlier
Kelsey Rae Taylor, she knows what she’s doing, all too fucking well. The subtle sway in her hips, the look in her eyes every time we’re both out on the marina dock. She’s the girl next door, soft to my hard, petite to my tall, younger to my older, yet still that doesn’t stop me from looking at her every chance I get. Today for instance, Kelsey is prancing her ass around in a barely-there white bikini. Parading her tits that are more than a handful and an ass that jiggles when she walks. Skin that’s sun kissed from her time outside, sweat glistening her skin, and damn her, she’s walking my way.
“Talon.” The way she says my name…sensual with a slight rasp. My fucking cock is trying to perk up; controlling the piece of flesh is damn hard.
“Kelsey.” I watch as her eyes change colors and the usual soft blue darkens. The way our community is set up, everyone has a house with a small front and backyard and a path that leads to individual docks. I’ve got my own place next door to Kelsey and her parents. The marina at the end of the bay holds the bigger boats, where my family owns and operates the Captain T’s, we provide fuel for boats and a convenience store full of food, drinks, and other stuff locals sell.
“Kind of late in the day for you to start, isn’t it?” I’m out here getting ready to charter a group of men for the day, a bachelor party no fucking less. Most deep-sea fishing charters start as day breaks, but this group had already sent an alert about running behind. Waking up to that message had pissed me off. My body is up before the sun comes up and ready to get my day started. Now, we’ll be starting later, further delaying my day. Good thing it’s their money and not mine. And while the money may be nice, it’s not helping the current situation. I’m stuck with whether to keep the conversation with Kelsey going or push her away in case these guys show up and get a glimpse of the woman I want but can’t have. She’s damn beautiful, and while this is her normal getup on a daily basis, the thought of five men looking at her the way I do doesn’t sit well with me.
“Yeah, you could say that.” I keep loading up my boat. I make multiple trips on and off the dock, adding the rods, spare reels, bait bucket, coolers, ice, drinks, and more shit than I’d use if it were just me. The forty-eight-foot Yamaha Campeon was steep in price, and if it weren’t for the tourists keeping me busy, I’d have never taken the hit to our books. It pays to have the amenities, seeing as how chartering offshore fishing with groups is our bread and butter. Plus, when you can charge the cake Captain T’s does, you best believe we go above and beyond.
Like anything that’s good, there’s always bad. Rules, bylaws, and a homeowner’s association we have to adhere to. Some of it makes my fucking head spin. That’s what my mom is for. She runs a tight ship while I do what I love the most.
Captain T’s has been in the family for a couple of generations. My mom’s dad handed it down to her, and whenever she’s ready to retire, I’ll take it over. All I ask is that she doesn’t hand it down any time too soon. We need the brains in this operation and I’m man enough to admit Mom has it in spades. When Captain T’s first started out, the chartered fishing side didn’t exist. Grandpa Scott kept it to the store, the gas station, and selling locally caught seafood. He’s one hell of a fishermen still to this day. He’d set up traps for crabs, oysters, and spiny lobster. Now he only provides food for himself or if Mom requests something particular.
Every summer, every break, and any chance I could I was out there with him. Grandpa Scott picked up where my dad didn’t. I’m sure he never imagined his daughter would be a single mom. He didn’t blame her, never spoke a word about how my dad was a deadbeat or how Mom had to do it on her own without so much of a dime being sent in way of support. Times may have been tough, but I never felt it and while Captain T’s has diversified, we’re still making a decent living.
“How long this time?” This is how our conversations always go. She asks questions, I answer them without reciprocating questions of my own though I’ve got fucking plenty. The ones I keep to myself are likely to get my head knocked back on my shoulders. Kelsey’s dad, a guy I’ve done business with on more than one occasion as well as my next-door neighbor, would be the first in line. The things I’d like to do to her body are probably illegal in all fifty states.
“Six hours.” While I’ve kept my distance, that didn’t stop me from keeping my eyes locked on the pretty, blue-eyed, caramel-haired beauty. I go to grab another bag, this one filled with cold cuts, fruits, and chips, when she steps closer to me, our bodies almost touching.
“Kels, you’re playing with fire.” She takes a step closer.
“Maybe I want to be burned, Talon.” The tips of her fingers slide down my chest. I curse myself for not grabbing a shirt before coming out here. The hot Florida sun and humidity made me forgo the extra layer. I’ll be in a shirt soon enough once the party arrives. There hadn’t been a need to dirty up something only to wash it again.
“You don’t know what you’re asking for.” My hand has a mind of its own and moves to her hip, feeling her soft skin against my palm. My fingers slide down, meeting the fleshy part of her ass and sinking in.
“Talon.” Her eyes glaze over, heat and arousal coating my name on her lips.
“Get outta here siren, before I take you up on that ride you're looking for. We both know it’ll bring us nothing but trouble.”
The last thing I expect Kels to do is roll to the tips of her toes, mouth meeting the underside of my jaw as she places a soft kiss there with her lush lips. Goddamn, the scent of her, the feel of her, the way my cock perks up with a small twitch of her hips. She’s trouble, pure and simple.
“Later, Talon. Maybe one day, you won’t be such a scaredy cat to go after what we both want.” She settles down to the flats of her feet and steps away, leaving my hands bereft of her soft curves. What I am left with is a view of her walking up the dock, and while she may be going in the opposite direction of where I want her, I’m left with a great view of her backside, and believe me it’s as amazing as the front. All of her hair is tossed up in a messy bun with wavy tendrils falling down here and there along her strong shoulders, and she's got an hourglass figure and an ass I wanna sink my teeth into. Damn, today is going to be a long-as-fuck day.
1
KELSEY
Present Day
“Bye, Mom. Bye, Dad.” I didn’t think I’d be living at home this summer after graduating from college with my marine biology degree. Except here I am. My parents and I looked at apartments, condos, and even checked the option of purchasing a house. None were feasible, even with roommates. Too many variables could potentially screw me over, fuck my credit up, and still land me at home. Those were my dad’s words, which he clearly didn’t mince. Needless to say, he won.
“Where are you going?” Mom asks. She’s sitting on the couch with a cup of coffee in her hand, floral robe covering her body, and cooling eye patches on. This is her usual. She’ll stay up way too late watching a documentary about serial killers. Hence the lazing around when the sun is shining brightly, not a cloud in the sky, and there’s a breeze. A rarity in the hot summer months.
“You know she’s heading to the marina to help Tara.” Dad has already been up, had a cup of coffee, checked at the tide, and is probably planning when he’s heading out on the boat. The downfall of where we live is when the tide is low, there’s no getting out of the canal that leads to the Gulf of Mexico.
“I am. She needs help at the convenience store with summer picking up.” Did I mention I’ve got this amazing degree and a job doing what I love, but the money is dismal and I need a second job if I’m ever going to move out of my parents' house? So, on the weekends, I work extra shifts and get to see even more of Talon than usual.
“You’re forgetting something, young lady,” Mom says, eyebrows lifting to her hairline. It’s so hard to take her serious with what she’s currently wearing. The hair turban seals the deal with her craziness even though it’s to help dry her hair; she’s truly taking self-care seriously today.
“I’m coming, I’m coming.” I’m not sure what she is going to do once I finally move out. Any time I leave, it doesn’t matter if it’s within walking distance or driving distance, Mom is adamant about giving her a hug every single time. I may give her hell in the moment for being needy, but truth be told, I’d be upset should she ever change her ways.
“That’s what I thought.” Today’s attire for working the convenient store is as little as possible. I may work inside with an air conditioner, but the building doesn’t stay very cool; it may as well be off most days. The door opening and closing so often keeps it pretty damn hot and well, sweat happens. Dad lifts an eyebrow of his own as he sees what I’m wearing, or lack of what I’m wearing. Today’s outfit is a pair of black biker shorts, a cropped Captain T’s shirt, and canvas sneakers. Tara doesn’t mind what anyone wears as long as you have clothes on and a shirt with the logo.
