Page 49 of Resist

“Coulton. I told you before. We come from two very different worlds. That up there?” she said, pointing upward. “That dumpster fire is just another Monday night.” She closed her eyes wearily.

He cupped her cheek, waiting until her gaze met his. “They’re assholes, but that’s on them. Not us. So we’re just going to say fuck ’em and have an awesome time.”

She gave him a hint of a smile. “Fuck ’em?”

“Fuck ’em.” He reclaimed her hand, leading her to his truck. Opening the passenger door, he waited until she was buckled in before closing the door, circling the front, and climbing into the driver’s seat.

“Where are we going?” she asked, once he’d pulled out onto the street.

“It’s a surprise.” Given what he’d just witnessed in her apartment, he was glad he’d gone the extra mile for tonight’s date. When he’d set it up, he’d been hoping to knock a few more items off her list of “never” experiences. Now, he was grateful for the chance to spoil her, to show her what she was worth. Because he hated the way Mick and Eli continually tore her down, treating her with complete disrespect.

She narrowed her eyes. “I hate surprises.”

He chuckled. “This is a good one. Promise.”

Coulton turned on the radio and hit an upbeat playlist on Spotify, hoping that happy music would help erase the shit show they’d just left from her mind.

When Ainsley started humming along to “Brown Eyed Girl,” he grinned, then glanced in her direction as he pulled into the parking lot of the marina.

“What are we doing here?”

“I noticed you like looking at the water when you’re at my place. Thought maybe you’d enjoy a closer view.”

“Cool. It’s a nice night for a walk,” she said as they got out of the truck.

Coulton shook his head, wrapping his arm around her shoulders. “We’re not walking.” He pointed to the yacht in the third slip. “I borrowed my friend’s boat. We’re going on a cruise down the Patapsco River.”

The look on Ainsley’s face was worth every second he’d just endured with her family.

“What?”

Coulton guided her toward the slip, but when he started to help her aboard, she dug her heels in.

“Wait. Are you serious?”

He nodded, but she still didn’t move. Coulton was amused by the suspicious look on her face. “This isn’t a boat, Coulton. It’s a yacht.”

“Pah-tay-to, pah-tah-to.”

“You can’t be serious. People don’t just loan out their yachts,” she said.

“Of course, they do.” He remained on the deck with his hand outstretched.

Her suspicion took some time to fade. “We can really get on?” she asked, as she stepped onto the deck, glancing around guiltily like they were breaking some law.

“Yes, wildcat. We can get on. They’re expecting us.”

As if on cue, the captain appeared, approaching them with a wide smile. “Coulton Moore?”

He nodded. “That’s me. And this is Ainsley Hall.”

The captain shook both of their hands. “Captain Rogers. It’s a pleasure to have you on board tonight. How about I give you a quick tour and then we can shove off.”

Captain Rogers was a friendly man with a good sense of humor and an obvious love for the water. Ainsley hung on every word he said as he shared a few anecdotes about his time in the Navy, and her eyes nearly popped out of her head as he showed them the entire yacht, from the indoor saloon to the spa deck to the outdoor dining area.

Once the tour was complete, the captain left them below deck in the saloon, both of them with a glass of wine in hand, before he excused himself to start the cruise.

“I can’t believe someone let you borrow their yacht.” Ainsley remained in the middle of the room, looking around like she was afraid to touch anything. “Must be a really good friend.”

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