Total pages in book: 85
Estimated words: 79190 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 396(@200wpm)___ 317(@250wpm)___ 264(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79190 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 396(@200wpm)___ 317(@250wpm)___ 264(@300wpm)
Captain Blue Balls smiled, a deep enticing grin that sent a shiver down her spine. It was cocky and beautiful. Caroline stood face to face with him, determined to change the way her mind and body reacted to him. She was on vacation. There wasn’t time for a holiday romance, no midnight rendezvous, and definitely no meaningless hook-ups with the locals. She didn’t care that he had seen her at her lowest point last night. Caroline Taylor was raised to rise above embarrassment.
“Miss me?” he asked. His eyebrow rose as if a test to prove him wrong.
“N-no,” she stammered.
“But you’ve been looking for me?”
How does he know this? “You’re full of yourself.”
He chuckled. “Yeah, I hear that a lot. I’m sure you do as well.” Captain Blue Balls gave her a once over. Caroline slowly looked at her top of the line, tailored for her, designer clothes and understood what he meant. She stuck out like a sore thumb, even with her floppy hat which she bought at the touristy store.
“What are you going to do all summer?” he eventually asked, after he finished his perusal.
“What do you mean?” she countered.
He looked around and lingered his gaze on the shops across the way. “Well, the way I see it, you’ve been in almost every store, and by the end of next week, you’ll have eaten at every restaurant. Then what?”
Her mouth fell open. She put her hands on her hips and couldn’t believe what she’d heard. “Are you following me?”
“I don’t have to,” he told her. “Most tourist do the same thing, over and over. They come to town, eager to do everything as soon as they get here, and then end up leaving early because they’re bored, especially if they’re on land most of the time. The ones with a boat.” He turned and pointed to the water. “They dock, roam town for a bit, eat dinner and then sometimes cause a ruckus because they’re usually drunk. They spend too much time on the water, drinking, and not paying attention to the sun. When you grow up here, you learn to pay notice to how people are,” he said, shrugging. “It’s not a bad thing, per se.”
“Well, I’m not bored.” Caroline crossed her arms over her chest.
“Yet,” he said with a smirk.
“Excuse me?” She huffed. “And I’m not like other tourists. I want to be in Seaport, immerse myself in the town. Go to the festivals, the parades, and the regatta. I’m excited for the boat show. I have no intention of leaving.”
“You forgot to add ‘yet’ to the end of your sentence.” Dune chuckled.
She wanted to tell him he was wrong. Instead, she rolled her eyes, thankful he couldn’t see her do so behind her sunglasses.
“You should come work for me.”
Her mouth dropped open again but before she could form a rebuttal, he held his hand up. “For the summer. Blue Lobster Adventures. We’re the main tourist attraction in Seaport. We run boats six days a week, sometimes seven. We have tours all over, snorkel trips, whale watching excursions, mimosa tours to see the lighthouses. We have dinner cruises on occasion, and sometimes we do private parties. We can always use the help. Unless I’m right and you’re not planning to stay until the end of the season.”
Was he challenging her?
Oh no, she was staying no matter what now? She had to prove him wrong.
“What would I have to do?”
He shrugged. “Greet customers. Go out on a couple tours. Make sure the pamphlets are stocked. Wear the lobster suit and stand on the street corner.”
“I am not doing that.” Caroline recrossed her arms under her chest. Curse him and his stupid aquamarine eyes, which hid a glint of steel. Even if he was teasing her—which, judging by the playful look in those eyes, he was—she had to draw a line somewhere and that line started with never wearing a lobster suit for as long as she lived.
Captain chuckled. “That’s good because we don’t have one. We’re a laid-back crew and the job is easy. It’ll give you something to do. Think about it and let me know.”
“How will I find you?”
“Ask around, people know where to find me.”
“That’s just it.” She sighed, before admitting. “Okay, I was looking for you today because I wanted to thank you for helping me home last night, but I don’t remember your name other than Captain Blue Balls and—”
His laughter cut her off, which irritated her slightly. After he calmed down, he held his hand out for her to shake. “I’m Dune Carter, aka Captain Blue Balls.”
“I think I asked you why people call you that, right? I’m not normally like . . . the way you found me.” She bit her lower lip to hide her embarrassment.
“You did. If you remember the answer, you can enlighten me some time.” He winked. “And everyone is allowed to let go and have fun, even if it was at the Sea Shanty with their potent pina coladas.”