Page 62 of Coming Home to You
“Nice,” Ryan says, slapping me on the back.
I shake my head.“Fuck off.”
Chapter Twenty-Three
Kelsey
Thankful that the wedding is over, I look out the window of my office and see the rain is falling hard and the grounds of the inn are now a wet, soppy mess.The gray cloud covered sky lights up as a crack of thunder echoes through the inn.It makes me jump, causing Bella to be on high alert, growling at nothing but the noise.The rain is endlessly pelting the windows and making the air thick with humidity.This is the worst kind of weather, especially during the tourist season.Despite the awful weather, I can’t stop smiling.
Just a few minutes ago I got a text from Beck saying the trial is over and he’ll be on his way back to me soon.
I press my hands against the cool glass of the windowpane, looking out onto the water as the last of my charter captains brings a whale watching tour boat back into dock.The group is all huddled under a few umbrellas, scampering along the worn decking and back to the inn.
A few minutes later, Tom, my charter captain, pokes his head in my office.“I’m heading home for the night, Kelsey.Boats are all tied up and the guests are back here in their rooms.”
When I turn around, Tom is soaked, absolutely dripping wet, and I feel terrible that he was out on the boat in this weather.And then after that, spent the last ten minutes making sure all the boats were tied up.I toss him a beach towel I have stacked on a chair in my office and he smiles at me gratefully, rubbing it over his face and his head.
“Thanks, Tom.Have a good night.Go have yourself a nice warm shower.”
“Will do,” he says, stepping out of my office and closing the door behind him.
With the wedding consuming most of my time over the last few days, I take a seat at my desk and finish up approving payroll before I decide to head home for the night.
Without a car still, I send Finn a quick text asking if he wouldn’t mind picking me up.I walked to work this morning, given the weather was quite nice, but clearly things have taken a turn for the worse and unless I want to get soaked and possibly freeze my ass off, I need someone to give me a lift home.
My phone chimes with Finn telling me to give him twenty minutes and he’ll be here.
I hook up Bella’s leash and pack a few things to take home to work on until Beck gets back.I know the rest of the night at the inn will be a quiet one and more than likely, should this weather decide to continue, a lot of the weekend guests will undoubtedly check out early.I can’t blame them; there’s very little to do in this town without the draw of the water and the usually beautiful weather.
Looking out the window, hoping the weather breaks, I notice one of the charter boats floating farther from the dock than normal.I step out onto the deck just outside my office for a closer look and realize it has come untethered from the dock.
“Shit,” I mutter, knowing this is exactly how one of the boats ended up with a hole in its hull a few weeks ago.
The wind has picked up and the sky has grown darker as the storm increases in intensity.Thunder is crashing wildly, making me long for Beck to hurry his ass up, as I try to figure out how I’m going to get that boat back where it belongs.
I quickly go through a list in my head of the staff that is left, but I realize I’m down to the bare minimum.The desk clerk, a few kitchen and waitstaff along with Sam, the rookie cop Finn has stationed here; there isn’t really anyone to send out to do my dirty work.
As much as I’m terrified of storms, I’m seriously contemplating waiting for Finn to come so I can give him some puppy dog eyes and beg him to do it for me, but I know he’ll be dressed in full uniform.There’s nothing wrong with me and there’s no reason I can’t go tie that boat up myself.Well, other than the fact that every time the thunder breaks through the silence I nearly wet my pants, but that’s no excuse.And I know the longer I leave that boat drifting, the more likely it is that it will become damaged.
“Put on your big girl panties and suck it up,” I tell myself as Bella cocks her head to the side and gives me a look that asks why the hell I’m talking to myself.
Reaching down and patting her head, Bella nuzzles against my legs like she can sense my fear.I smile before telling her, “Okay, Bella, I’m gonna do this.”
Before heading out, I send Beck a text.
Me: You’d be so proud of me.I’m about to go out to the dock and tie up a loose boat…in a storm.?
Beck: Good job, baby.
Me: Love you
I’m giggling as I pull on my raincoat and a pair of Wellies; I can’t wait for him to come home.
I push open the screen door to a wall of thick humidity just as a crack of thunder rings out and makes me jump back into my office, my heart racing in my chest.I shake my head at my ridiculous fear.There’s nothing to be afraid of and as I watch the boat drift further from the dock, I know I need to get my ass out there.
Giving it a second attempt, this time my feet actually obey and I’m running down the dock toward the wayward boat, but not without my anxiety on full alert and adrenaline coursing through my veins.
Luckily, when I reach the boat, the rope is still hooked loosely around the cleat and all it takes is a couple of good tugs before the boat is back in position.
