She hands them over. “Want to blindfold me too?”
I wink. “That’s for later.”
She laughs, and I swear it’s the best sound in the world.
We drive twenty-five minutes to the place in Winterberry Falls. It’s by their marina and the only place I could use a fake name and hope no one would recognize me.
I take her hand when we’re both out of the car. I love the feel of her soft palm against mine. We’re not a couple yet, I know that, but as long as I take things slow with her, I see us getting there.
“Winterberry Falls, huh?”
“I couldn’t do this in Sunrise Bay. My dad and… too many people who know who I am.” I open the side door of the warehouse and lead us inside. “Hold on, I’ll get the lights.” I walk over to the switch and turn on the lights.
She stares ahead at the half-finished boat in the center of the large space. This one hasn’t been painted yet and the company name isn’t on it either. But it’s a wooden boat that’s being restored, so I’m sure she’ll link the two things together. She slowly walks toward the boat, and I watch carefully for her reaction.
“What is this place?” she asks, and I try not to be crushed that she doesn’t assume it’s mine right away.
In Sunrise Bay, I’m a white-collar guy. The one who doesn’t work with his hands. Born rich and will stay rich because of his father’s success. For a long time, I was okay with that, hiding behind my ability to make anyone laugh and get any girl I wanted. But a couple years ago, I knew I didn’t want to live up to the expectation everyone had for me.
“It’s Five Seas’ headquarters,” I answer.
She looks at me. “This is the mystery boat place? Is this one of the boats?”
I nod. “Will be. It’s not finished.”
She studies me for a minute, glances back at the boat, and back at me. “Is this yours, Cam? Are you the owner of Five Seas?”
“Not just the owner. I restore them.”
Her eyes widen and she walks over to the pictures and drawings pinned to a wall. “Seriously?”
“I know, not what you would expect from me.”
She shakes her head. “That’s not it. I just… why did you keep it a secret? The boats are beautiful.”
I sit on a stool and lean forward, resting my forearms on my thighs. “Insecurity. Judgment. I’m not sure I could’ve heard someone say anything bad about my idea. I even have a guy who sells them for me, so my name isn’t on anything.”
Her fingers trace over the purple paint sample on the wall.
“What were you worried about?” She turns and faces me but stays across the room, the boat between us.
“It’s the first time I put myself out there. Tried something I wanted to do. The first boat was just for me. I wasn’t even gonna sell it until I had it on a test drive and everyone who saw it was asking about it when I came back to the dock. Then I thought that maybe this could be more than a hobby.”
“People talk about them all the time. Every time I see one, I can’t take my eyes off it.”
I smile. “Thanks.”
“But everyone should know this is you.” She walks toward me, rounding the boat. “You’re so talented.”
“Don’t act like you don’t know what people think of me in Sunrise Bay. I’m just a rich kid who people think can’t do anything. They probably think I hire someone to replace my light bulbs.”
She laughs. “I don’t think people think that at all. Everyone loves you.”
I shake my head. “You’re being nice. I started this on a whim, but I think I want to make a business out of it.”
“That’s great.” She walks closer.
I hold my hand out for her, unsure if she’ll take it. She places her hand in mine, and I pull her closer, situating her between my legs. “There’s something you need to know.”
“What?”
I swallow hard. “The name…”
“Five Seas?”
“Yeah.”
She tilts her head.
“You’re the fifth child, Chevelle. And Chevelle starts with a C.”
“What?” Her mouth hangs slightly agape, her eyes wide.
“The purple stripe is the same color of the dress you wore when you were five, at your mother’s wake.”
She lets out a long breath and steps back, turning her back to me. “Cameron?”
She rarely calls me by my full name, and I covet the sound of it on her lips. Her head shakes as though she can’t believe what I’m telling her.
“It’s not just since we moved in together, Chevelle. I’ve had feelings for you for a long time. And I processed them by being overprotective and overbearing and, more recently, telling people I was your boyfriend. I didn’t know how Fisher would feel, and he and I have been friends for so long. The minute I saw that bruise on your cheek, I couldn’t continue to take a back seat. I’m not even sure what I was waiting for.” I stand from the stool and come up behind her. “I was stupid for waiting as long as I did, and maybe if I didn’t, you wouldn’t have had to endure a guy like Derek who hit you.”
I don’t touch her because I don’t want to startle her. She needs to process this information.
“Don’t blame yourself,” she softly says. “It’s no one’s fault but his.”
“Do you think I’m a creep?” I whisper.
She slowly turns to face me. “Not at all. It’s sweet… it’s… it’s the most amazing thing anyone has ever done for me.”
I cradle her face in my palms. “I don’t even know when my feelings progressed, but…”
She covers my hand with hers. “Me either. I guess we can’t deny them anymore.”
I lower my head and kiss her. Before it gets heated, I pull back because that’s not what this moment is supposed to be about. I want her to know it’s not her body I want, it’s her—her heart and her soul.
Don’t get me wrong, I love her body, but it’s the way she keeps her brothers in check when they mess up. The way she makes sure to keep her mom’s memory alive. The fact she came in here and didn’t judge me, only encouraged me.
“So, is that a yes?” I murmur against her lips.
“A yes to what?”
“To dating me, of course.” I smirk at her.
She smiles and stares me in the eye. “Do you ever not get what you want, Cameron Baker?”
I shrug. “Rarely.”
“Well.” She steps back from me and turns to look at the boat. My hands fall to my sides. “It all depends. What are your plans for this endeavor you’ve started?”
“Why?”
“Because I deserve a man who chases after his dreams.” She smiles at me over her shoulder.
“What are you implying?”
She runs a hand over the boat. “You can’t do this and run a fishing charter business.”
“Clearly. This last month, I’ve gotten nowhere on this boat. Of course, I have been busy chasing a hot blonde.”
She points at me. “I like that answer.”
“That was my intention.” I watch her walk around and soak in the details.