Page 15 of Sail Away
Jag took another swig of his beer. “How was it to see him again?”
“Weird. Awkward. Normal. Nothing out of the ordinary. It’s hard to explain.” She leaned against the counter and folded her arms around her middle. “He looks good. Too good.”
“Did you expect him to have gained fifty pounds, stop shaving, and quit using deodorant?”
“Considering the last time I saw him, that wouldn’t be such a stretch.”
“You went on with your life too, so you can’t begrudge him for moving on with his.”
She hated it when her brother made sense, and her mind had the audacity to agree with the levelheaded thinking as if she had no right to throw a temper tantrum and act all indignant. “You could break out the baby violin and have a pity party with me. I mean, I ran into him right before I got here and had to listen to everyone talk about my career and ask when I was going to get a real one. Not to mention, they like my ex-boyfriend more than they like me.”
Jag laughed. “Reid did fit right in unlike that James asshole. How is Captain Jim?”
“He’s getting engaged and laid tonight.”
Jag choked on his beer. “Engaged? That’s quick.”
“Well, I didn’t call him quick-draw Jim for nothing.”
“Jesus, Darcie. I never needed to hear that come out of my baby sister’s mouth.”
She waggled her finger. “I could start talking about the first time I had sex.”
“Please don’t. I still can’t look at Tim and not want to punch him in the face.”
Darcie smiled. Life didn’t get much better than hanging with her family. “Will you please help me get permission for Reid and his team to jump from Deception Pass or find me a bridge of similar height and danger level that I can get them to by water?”
“Sure thing,” Jag said. “You should ask Albert, too. He knows more people in higher positions than I do. But Justin might be the best bet.”
“But he’s in New Orleans now.”
“He was well liked in the department and is connected as hell. If anyone can make it happen, he can.”
“You take care of Albert, but don’t do it tonight. I don’t want to bug him at our parents’ party or around family. I especially don’t want Dad to know Reid is in town. I’ll get ahold of Justin.” Darcie used to babysit for Justin’s daughter. She’d seen Justin through some dark days, and Justin always told her that if she needed anything at all, just to give him a call.
Day or night.
She glanced at the digital clock displaying the time in red. Eight thirty. It was even earlier in New Orleans. She’d be reaching out to Justin tonight.
“Actually, wait on pushing Albert until I’ve heard back from Justin.”
“Why?” Jag asked.
“Let’s see what Justin says first. I know Reid won’t want this to be a spectacle, and Preston made it pretty clear that he didn’t want any hype. They just want a team jump. The more people we get involved, the more the masses might find out. Do you really want a ton of people out by Deception Pass, at night, hoping someone dies?”
“You’ve got a good point there, baby sister. Let me know what Justin says and who he talked to so we’re not doing double duty.”
“Thanks.” Now all Darcie had to do was get through the charter without throwing herself at Reid and begging him to sleep with her for old times’ sake.
4
Reid stood at the edge of the dock and stared at the lights flickering on the back of the sailboat. Little fish darted back and forth in the water. Darcie had taken him out on a catamaran once, and at first, he’d thought,what on earth does this feisty little chick know about handling a vessel at sea.
Boy, had she put him in his place.
While he was by no means an expert sailor—actually, he knew almost nothing—because of the nature of his need for all things extreme, he’d been on the high seas a time or two.
However, spending a day with Darcie on the open water had opened his eyes, his mind, his soul, and his heart.
