Page 24 of Rum Sips and Salty Lips

“Christian!” she says. “This is the new neighbor I told you about, Orion Edwards. Orion this is my friend, Christian Bailey. He owns Wendell Beach Rum Works.”

“It’s good to meet you,” I say, shaking his hand and refusing to let jealousy take over. They didn’t hug. Now that I’m thinking about it, I don’t remember her hugging anyone on the boat. The other women were constantly getting close for selfies. She stayed apart.

“Where’s Autumn?” she asks him.

I make a mental note to check in with her later about the beauty standards. I’m not done getting into her head. She might think she can distract me but I have more focus than she gives me credit for.

“Teacher drinks,” he says, pushing the menu in front of him to the side.

“But this is your launch party.” Her face is full of concern.

“It’s fine, Carina. I opened a bottle with her last night.” He folds his paper napkin.

“Sorry, Autumn is his wife,” she tells me.

“I didn’t realize it was a special event,” I say.

Christian drapes his arm over the back of the chair next to him. “It’s not really. I have a new rum on the market. I told Carina it isn’t a big deal, but she insisted on going all out.”

“This isn’t all out,” she says. “It’s happy hour with a few friends.”

“Who else is coming?” Christian asks.

“Haley and Beckett. As soon as they finish a wedding planning session.”

“Oh, Haley’s engaged?” I ask. I’m not attracted to her, but it would’ve been nice to know.

Carina glares at me. “She’s not getting married. She also doesn’t do hookups. Beckett is marrying our friend, Sienna, who lives in Boston. Haley is the maid of honor so she’s helping.” Her voice is protective and seething. Message received. I won’t have any romantic interest in Haley, like I always planned.

“Right,” I say.

“You okay?” Christian shifts toward Carina. “You said he was cool, but you snapped.”

She freezes in horror. Christian looks like he would hurt anyone who hurts her. I don’t know why she glared at me. I need to smooth this out in a way that preserves both our reputations.

“We had a disagreement earlier,” I say with a smile. “Don’t think she’s gotten over my—what was it? Self-centered arrogance?” Thank god this makes her smile. I’ll be as self-deprecating as she needs and let Christian know the two of us are fine. I’m a friendly asshole.

“Something like that,” she says.

“Okay,” Christian says. His eyes soften as he focuses on her. I think he believes us.

Haley arrives wearing a blue sundress, with a man in a polo shirt and khakis. I note the logo on his shirt and it’s an expensive brand. He checks his watch, either purposefully showing it off orhe needs us to be aware his time is more valuable than ours. I assume this is Beckett.

I own two businesses and bought a house close to the beach, but I’ve never cared about material things. If it took up space on the boat, it had to earn its keep. I can tell he’s concerned about his appearance.

I also note Christian is wearing one of Carina’s T-shirts. Haley gives me a hug and thanks me for helping with her cooking shoot earlier. I compliment her food. Beckett’s gaze goes from Carina’s chest to me as he sizes me up. When the formal introductions are made, I catch his last name, Foley, and some pieces fall into place. His family owns the luxury resort at the south end of the island, Coastline Beach House. The exact resort I would love to have designate Lost Craft Charters as their preferred sailing company.

Alex walks over with a server who he introduces to me as Bristol. She places a bottle of rum on the table and lines up glasses for us. Christian takes a few minutes to describe the process of how this rum came to be. Bristol also mentions how proud she is of her big brother taking what he inherited from their grandparents and building on it. How the community has come to rely on him for jobs and to bring tourists into the area.

I want to reach for Carina’s hand under the table and squeeze it. She doesn’t realize what it means to me to be included in this. These people have ties to Wendell Beach and to each other. I’ve been drifting on my own for so long. But this is why I came here—to get away from the cold and find a place where I can build something.

I want to pull Carina in for a kiss and break in my new bed with her. The reasons she had for not hooking up again don’t hold up in this moment.

Christian pours the rum, we toast, and I take a sip. It is good. I need a few bottles of this. I look at Carina for her reaction and find her watching me.

“Do you like it?” she asks.

She’s so transparent. “I do. Christian, I’d love a tour at some point.”

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