Page 39 of Sail Away
“You’re drunk.” Reid took a step forward. “If Erin were alive and listening to you, she’d—”
“Don’t you dare lecture me on what my sister would do if she were here.” Preston stood two inches away. He puffed out his chest and narrowed his stare. “Now, do what you promised Erin before and after she died.”
“Good evening, gentlemen.” Captain Jim strolled through the doors to the outer deck. “Is everything okay out here?”
“I was just heading inside to get myself another drink.” Preston took his glass and downed the last gulp. “You have an amazing chef. Dinner was fantastic. See you in the morning.”
Reid turned and gripped the railing. A water taxi cut through the channel as it went from yacht to port. Reid took in a few deep, cleansing breaths. Preston hadn’t been wrong, and he had every right to be pissed as hell. But to use Erin’s death… that was a new low, even for Preston.
Something else was going on, and it made Reid wonder if there were other problems in the company.
All the more reason to get a better look without Preston knowing what he was doing. Maybe he should do that tonight. The boys were all drunk enough. No way would they be logging into anything.
Except for the alerts.
He needed to deal with those, and that would be complicated.
“My chief stew said things were getting a little heated,” Jim said. He leaned against the railing about two feet away. “Do I need to have someone cut him off?”
“He’ll pass out soon enough.”
“Half of your team has turned in.”
“The two who are still up are just waiting for Preston to say he’s had enough. He knows how to party, but he’s not usually this bad. I apologize for his angst.”
“We’ve had worse, trust me,” Jim said.
“I’ve heard stories from Darcie.” Reid turned and folded his arms across his chest, but he made sure he kept Preston in his peripheral vision. No way would he let that man out of his sight until he went to bed. “She told me what you did, and for the record, I think you’re an asshole for it.”
Jim ran a hand across his face. “You’re the jerk who let her get away.”
“I guess I am.”
“She and I never would have worked. We both had one foot out the door,” Jim said.
“She’s good at that.”
“I know,” Jim said. “She’s not very good at commitment. Nor was I. But you and she, you two belong together. It’s obvious.”
“That’s funny, coming from you.” Reid wasn’t about to argue the point because in part, he agreed. He just wasn’t sure how to make it happen.
“If you need anything at all, just let me know.” Jim strolled back into the main cabin.
Reid pulled out his cell phone. Time to take a big risk.
8
Darcie finished hosing down the lower aft deck. She glanced at her watch and yawned. Preston and his young team knew how to party, and someone had to stay up until the last of the guests was asleep. Tonight it was her, Kirk, and Milia.
“Everything is cleaned up by the hot tub,” Kirk said. “Milia is just finishing up in the galley.”
“You can go to bed,” she said.
“Thanks. What time do you want me on in the morning?”
“Take the last shift.”
Kirk nodded, taking the hose from her hands. “Only if you let me finish up here.”
