Saving Simon (Tarnished Saints Series Book 5) (19 page)

“I guess the boat looks big and safe enough.”

“So does that mean you’ll go?”

“You’re not going to be driving too fast out there are you?”

“We’re fishing, sweetheart. The racing doesn’t start until tomorrow. Come on.”

She wasn’t sure what he meant about the racing, but let him guide her onto the pontoon boat. She took a seat in the back of the boat next to the captain’s chair, and Simon cast off then came over and took the wheel from Thad.

“Okay, boys, the secret fishing hole is dead ahead. Get your poles ready and don’t forget the winner who catches the biggest fish gets to wear the whistle for a whole twenty-four hours.”

They stopped at the spot Simon told them about and the older boys stood outside the railing at the front of the boat to fish while Simon and Thad helped the younger ones bait their hooks and cast their lines without taking out one another’s eyes.

“Want to try fishing?” Simon asked her.

“No,” she said with a shake of her head.

“You can use one of my worms,” said Eli, walking over half-dragging a bucket behind him. He dropped it at her feet and she gasped when she saw it was squirming with worms. “Here,” said Eli, grabbing one and holding it out toward her.

“No, get that thing away from me,” she said, backing away from the boy and holding her hands out to try to ward him off.

“Come on, Slugger, leave Pippa alone,” Simon said with a chuckle. “I’ll get you set up with a pole too if you want to fish.”

She had hoped to have time to just talk with Simon, but once the boys started catching fish and getting excited and comparing the size of them, Simon had no choice but to get involved. She watched him with the boys, showing them how to bait the hook as well as take the fish off and put it in the cooler. He explained just what type of fish each was, and even measured each one and wrote down the length next to each boy’s name on a big chart he’d made out of the side of an old cardboard box.

He’d be a good father some day she realized. He would not only protect his wife and children but teach them things as well. Things about the lake, or sailing or fishing. She thought she would have been bored sitting there so long, but actually she enjoyed watching how close this Taylor family really was.

She started thinking about what Mrs. Durnsby had said and how closing the marina and putting in a hotel would change so many people’s lives, and not in a good way. She still missed the city and her comforts of home, but now she was starting to understand just how much this town and the people meant to Simon and his family.

“Pippa, can you grab me a beer?” asked Simon, standing at the side of the boat with his arms around little Eli who was holding onto a fishing pole and smiling from ear to ear. He looked so cute and happy to be included in the competition.

Simon looked so sexy, having taken off his shirt. He stood there in front of her, and from his position, she could see perfectly his naked chest as well as his anchor tattoo with the heart on his arm. She didn’t see any girl’s name written in the heart and was secretly glad.

“Sure,” she said, scooting over and opening up the cooler that she’d seen the other boys getting drinks out of earlier. Her eyes were on Simon as she reached inside. He looked at her with those bedroom eyes and winked. That made her heart skip a beat. She grabbed for a beer, but when her fingers touched something squishy and wet, she looked down to realize she was actually touching a fish, and screamed. The fish flopped around and landed outside of the cooler next to her feet. She screamed again, and Simon came running over, picked up the fish and threw it into the fish cooler, grabbed a beer from the drink cooler and slammed the lids on both.

“Who the hell put a fish in the drink cooler?” he ground out.

“That’s mine,” said Jake. “I didn’t want to get it mixed up with Josh’s since his was the same size, and tell her not to scream cuz she’s scaring the fish.”

“It doesn’t make a difference if you put all the fish together, because they’re all going to be part of a chowder in a few hours anyway, and she’s not scaring the fish, so just pipe down.”

He put his arm around Piper’s shoulder trying to calm her.

“Thank you,” she said, feeling foolish.

“Are you all right?”

“I guess so. That just took me by surprise.”

“Want something to drink?” he asked, opening the same cooler of drinks the fish had just been in. “I’ve got beer, soda, and bottled water as well as some juice boxes for the kids.”

“No thanks,” she said, eyeing up the drinks that she knew all had fish slime on them now.

“Uncle Simon, your fishing pole is falling over the side of the boat,” called out Sam, and Simon took off at a run and grabbed it just before it disappeared over the side.

“Eli, if you’re going to fish, you need to hold onto the pole,” he told the little boy.

“I don’t want to fish anymore,” said Eli, sitting down and playing with the bucket of worms.

“Fine, then Pippa will use your pole. Come here, sweetheart,” he said with a nod of his head.

“I don’t want to fish, Simon,” she said, making her way over to him, being sure to hold on to everything along the way.

“Sure you do. I’ll help.” He pulled her into his arms and put her hands around the pole. She didn’t object because it felt good to be in his embrace and she liked the feel of his chest against her back. He still held the can of beer in one hand, taking a swig and then offering her some.

“No thanks,” she said, concentrating on the pole in her hands and hoping to hell nothing started nibbling at the bait or she wouldn’t know what to do.

“You look like a natural,” he whispered into her ear so only she could hear him. She could feel the warmth of his strong arms around her as well as smell the slight scent of beer on his breath.

“Uncle Simon, I can’t get this fish off the hook,” called out one of the boys.

“Ask Thad to help you,” he called back.

“Thad’s already helping Jake.”

“Okay, I’m coming,” he said, setting down his beer on the console by the wheel and leaving her in order to help his nephew.

“Simon? Don’t leave me here with this alone,” she called out, looking over her shoulder.

Simon almost laughed when he saw the look of sheer panic in Piper’s eyes. She held onto the pole with both hands, gripping it so tightly he swore her knuckles were getting white. He was sure she’d never fished in her entire life.

“You’re fine,” he called out, taking the fish from Josh. “I’ll be right there, so just relax.” Then he looked down at the fish and nodded his head. “The problem is, this fish swallowed the hook,” he told Josh, pulling out his knife and cutting the line. “It’ll be easier to just put a new hook on and we’ll get this one back when we gut the fish later,” he told him.

“Help! Something’s happening. Simon, help me!”

He thought Piper was just overreacting again until he looked up and saw the tightness of her line and the bobber heading away from the boat. The tip of her pole was bent down toward the water so far that it looked like she was about to be pulled into the lake.

“Piper’s got a fish and it looks like a big one,” called out Dan.

“Well, I’ll be,” said Simon, jumping up and rushing over to help her.

“What do I do, what do I do?” she cried out and he put his arms around her again and helped grab the pole, feeling the rapid beating of her heart right through her back and against his chest.

“Okay, just take a deep breath and relax and I’ll show you how to reel it in.”

“No, you just do it,” she said, trying to let go of the pole but Simon wasn’t going to let her get away. Just like the fish she snagged, he felt letting go of her would be like letting his catch get away as well.

“Put your hand on the reel and crank it,” he said, guiding her until they’d landed the biggest catfish he’d seen in a while. He reached out and grabbed the line and she moved away from him as he took the fish off the hook and held it up in two hands, showing the rest of the boys. “Look at this, boys. The rookie caught the biggest fish of the day.”

They all rushed over to see it, and Thad took it out of his hands while Dan handed him a towel. He wiped off his hands and turned around to see Piper sitting down, holding on to the side of the boat with one hand and chugging the rest of his beer with the other.

It was the best thing he’d seen all day.

“You win for catching the biggest fish,” he said, sitting down next to her and leaning over, giving her such a long kiss that all the boys started complaining and Thad started giving catcalls in the background.

“I did,” she said, trying to catch her breath. “I caught a fish, didn’t I?”

“You not only caught a fish but won the contest.” He pulled the chain with the Bosun’s Whistle over his head and placed it around her neck. He treasured this whistle and was glad that if someone besides himself was going to wear it, it was going to be her.

“Shall we head back now?” asked Thad, coming up behind them. “It’s starting to get dark and the kids are starved.”

“Yep, take us back to shore, Thad. We’ve got fish to clean, and I’ve got a mean chowder to cook up for everyone just like I promised.”

Chapter 16

Piper waited on the front porch the next day for Simon to pick her up to take her to the sailboat race between him and his brother. The kids couldn’t stop talking about it last night when they’d all had dinner at Thomas and Angel’s.

Simon had made his catfish chowder just like he promised, and though she hadn’t planned on eating any, he’d told her she had to taste it since she caught the fish. So she did, and she loved it! Simon was a wonderful cook.

She swung herself on the swing and fingered the Bosun’s Whistle she wore around her neck. She liked the fact she was wearing something that belonged to Simon. She’d tried to give it back to him when he’d dropped her off, but he insisted she won the contest and had to wear it for the next twenty-four hours.

He’d even come into the cabin for a few minutes last night. They’d made out on the couch, but he was being a real gentleman and didn’t even try to grab her breast again, though she had secretly been hoping he would. Still, things were going better between them and she felt much happier than she did yesterday.

Her cell phone rang and she grabbed her purse and dug it out, realizing it was her father. She had to answer it or he’d be angry.

“Hi, Daddy,” she said sheepishly into the phone, knowing he was only calling to see how much progress she’d made with the evaluation of the marina.

“Piper, you haven’t called me. Is everything all right?”

“Everything is fine,” she said, her hand going to the whistle, holding onto it while she talked.

“So, what do the books look like at the marina?” he asked. “How much trouble are they in?”

“I don’t know. I haven’t even seen them yet.”

“What? You’ve got to be kidding. You’ve been there this long and still don’t have any information for me?”

“I can’t do anything until I find out from Mrs. Glover where she’s put the papers.”

“Well, someone’s got to know how to contact the woman. Maybe I should just handle this and you should come home. I have other jobs waiting for you and need your help.”

“No!” It came out a little more forceful than she’d intended.

“What did you say, young lady?”

“I can handle this, Daddy, just give me a little more time.”

“You never did tell me what hotel you’re staying at, Piper. I feel like you’re keeping something from me.”

She looked up to see Simon pulling up in her car and quickly stepping out to come get her. “I’ve got to go. I’ll call you as soon as I get some information. Bye.” She clicked off the phone. She noticed her hand shaking slightly from being upset by her father, and quickly shoved the phone back into her purse and got up to greet Simon.

“Pippa, you’re shaking,” he said, gathering her in his arms and kissing her atop the head. “What’s the matter?”

“Nothing,” she lied and tried to smile.

“I saw you on the phone again. You were talking to your father weren’t you?”

“It doesn’t matter, Simon. Let’s get going before we’re late for the race.”

“I don’t like the way he treats you.”

She looked up to see the anger in his eyes and it scared her.

“He just wanted to know if I contacted Mrs. Glover yet so she could tell me where she left the information I need to do my job.”

“He upsets you, Pippa. I see it in your eyes and by the way your body reacts. Why do you put up with this?”

“He’s my father and my boss.”

“That’s why he should be treating you even better than anyone else.”

His jaw was clenched and ticking now and he let go of her and she saw his hands ball up into fists.

“Why are you getting so angry?” she asked.

“I’m not angry.” His words were forced and clipped.

“You’re acting like you’re going to hit someone. You’re scaring me, Simon.”