Page 118 of Lowering His Guard

I drive to the first address. It’s near the harbor. I glance around. Is this a good location for a gym? Will clients travel here to work out?

A woman is already waiting for me at the entrance to the industrial building. This must be Jade, my real estate agent. I understand why Coach Knox fell in love with her. She’s curvy with bright blue eyes and curly hair. And she’s the mother of his child. Turns out Coach has a son after all.

“Brock,” I introduce myself as I offer her my hand.

She beams at me. “The team members from the Seals falling in love is a boon to my business this year.”

I don’t deny falling in love. I don’t want to deny my connection with May. The amazing woman who spreads sunshine wherever she goes is mine. I’m fucking proud to be hers. Or, at least, I will be when she accepts me back.

Jade motions to the building. “This is an old fish cannery.”

I glance up at the building. It’s a large brick building. It appears big enough to house a gym. But it’s hard to tell from the outside.

“It was supposedly abandoned when commercial fishing declined, and processing moved to the mainland.” She rolls her eyes. “Everyone knows the real reason was that the owner was using cans of sardines to smuggle moonshine to the mainland.”

“Again with the moonshine and smuggling.”

“It’s true. Smugglers used the island to store moonshine during Prohibition. You should go on the tour of the secret underground tunnels at City Hall. You’ll see for yourself.”

She opens the door and motions me inside. “It hasn’t been used in decades, but it has good bones. What did you say you want to build?”

“Didn’t say.”

“And you’re not going to? You realize I can’t find you an appropriate location without knowing the purpose.” She narrows her eyes at me. “Unless you’re into something fishy. Ha. Ha. Pun intended.”

“Gonna build a gym.”

Her eyes widen. “A gym?”

I grunt.

“Awesome! The only gym on the island is at the resort. Hudson doesn’t allow Smugglers to have memberships. You get caught one time rearranging the dumbbells to play ‘what’s the weight’ and he loses his mind.”

Her nose wrinkles. “We can use the facilities at the high school but it smells of wet socks and teenage boys.”

“Was thinking of adding basketball courts and pickleball.”

“Finally. Do you know how hot it is playing pickleball outdoors in the summer? My hair poofs out until it appears as if I’m as tall as Knox.”

I snort.

“This place is a blank canvas. It’d be a lot of work, but it’d be worth it.”

“Do you know a contractor?”

“Do I know a contractor? Am I not a smuggler? Of course, I know a contractor. Flynn Ryland is the man you need. He’s pretty busy since he’s basically the only contractor on the island.”

“I want to open next spring.”

She taps her foot as she considers. She’s wearing high heels. May never wears high heels. I bet she doesn’t even have a pair. She’d probably run around barefoot all the time if she could.

I miss her. It’s been mere days, but I don’t want to spend any more time without my pint-sized surfer.

“Next spring should work.” She pulls out her phone and starts tapping a message. She barely presses send before there’s a response. “Wonderful. Flynn will be here in thirty minutes.”

“I didn’t say I was buying this place.”

“Whatever place you buy will have to be converted in order to make a gym.” She pauses. “Unless you’re only thinking about moving. Unless you’re not serious about our island and a certain surfer.”