Bellamy grins. "See, this is why I love you, Marley Grove," she says, wagging her hand. "You are a freaking bad ass babe."
"Thank you for worrying about me," I say to them. "I mean it."
"Sorry if we got a little mother-hen," Wavy says. "I'm just looking out for you is all."
"Thank you," I say. "I'm lucky to have so many people in my corner."
"Just don't go falling in love with the first man you sleep with," Jemma says.
I lift my eyebrows. "Why not?" I ask.
"Love can be more complicated than that is all," she says back. "I don't want you to get your hopes crushed by falling for a man who doesn't have the ability to pick up the pieces of your broken heart."
I feel a surge of protection for Maker. Defensiveness. These women don't think he's good enough for me or that he is able to take care of me. They’ve only seen him at his worst, but that's not the kind of person Maker needs in his life right now. He needs a woman who can see him at his best.
I say goodbye to them, leaving the tree house, walking toward the dock.
I'm the girl Maker needs, and maybe when I get on that boat, I'll tell him that.
Maker
The engine's on and I'm waiting for her. Idle. Anxious. Ready. I'm never like this. I'm always in control. Ready, confident. But Marley puts all those old habits to rest because she's nothing like anyone I've ever met before. She’s sweet, honest, open-hearted, willing to give a man like me a chance. She's way too good for me and we both know it. Yet there she is walking down the dock, eyes bright, smile big.
"Are you going to come help me with my suitcase?" she calls out. "I don't think I can lift it up on my own."
I jump off the boat and run the few yards down the dock toward her, taking the suitcase from her hand. She has a straw bag over her shoulder and a straw hat on her head. Flip-flops, a sun dress, long wavy hair, and not a stitch of makeup. Those freckles shine right through. Damn, she's adorable.
I try not to growl when I think of her virginity, her tight pussy, never been touched, licked, caressed.
Fuck, I want this girl.
And I have a feeling, as I take her hand and help her aboard my boat, she wants me too.
"This is a pretty nice boat you have," she says, taking it in.
"Yeah," I say. "I got lucky when it comes to money."
She nods slowly. "I heard about that," she says. "Some deals gone right over the years. Some money socked away?”
I lift an eyebrow. “You've been talking to Beam and Bellamy."
"Maybe," she says. She sets down her bag and I stow her suitcase below deck, then I come back up.
"And they didn't scare you away?" I ask.
She shakes her head. "No. I grew up in Alaska. I told you that. I'm pretty tough."
"You look like a wildflower."
"My roots are deep," she says stoically.
"I can see that," I tell her. "You don't ever plan on leaving Alaska?" I ask as I take my place at the captain's chair, moving the boat away from the dock.
"I can't imagine living anywhere else. I've traveled a bit. I even considered going to college in the lower 48. But it didn't feel right so I stayed here, stayed home."
"I bet your parents like that," I say as we make our way from the shore, Beam and Bellamy's little oasis in the distance.
"Oh, my parents passed away about five years ago."
"I see, and that's why your brothers take control of your love life," I tease. "They think they're your parents."
"Something like that," she says with a smile. "I don't begrudge them. My brothers love me. And I appreciate that. Just like I appreciate Wavy and Bellamy and Jemma loving me. But I feel like I've been spending my whole life with people who are nervous for me, like they're afraid I'm going to make a bad decision. Nobody trusts me to make decisions all on my own, and good ones at that."
"Not every decision we make has to be a good one," I tell her. "Right? I mean, how else are you supposed to learn unless you're able to make a few mistakes?"
She nods slowly, standing next to me. My hands are on the wheel but I want to wrap them around her body. "I guess I'd like the opportunity to make a few mistakes," she says.
"Being here with me on this boat?" I ask, looking over at her. "Do you think that might be a mistake?"
She shakes her head surely. "No way. This is a good decision. No regrets. One hundred percent."
"Wow. I like your confidence," I tell her with a chuckle.
"Yeah?" she asks. She nuzzles her head against my arm. "Thank you for saying that. I like being around someone who trusts me implicitly."
"Hey, let's not get crazy. I just said I trust you to make a good decision with this."
"Oh, I see. So there are limits to your trust in me," she says playfully.
"No," I say, turning the laughter down. "No. I trust you, Marley."
"Why?" she asks. "Why are you so opposite everyone else in my life?"
"I don't know," I tell her honestly, "but when I look at you, when I talk to you, I feel like you get me and I feel like I get you."
"I feel that way too, Maker," she says.
We're quiet for a moment, watching the water as we slice through it. The sky is bright blue and the sun hangs high. The water is cool and the breeze offsets the heat of the summer sun. I pat her bottom, wanting to squeeze it.
"Why don't you go below deck and find us something to drink?" I say, my cock hard as she smiles and walks away. I wish we weren't so close to Beam's place. I'd drop anchor and go below
