Permission to Come Aboard (The Great Outdoors Book 2) Read online

He talked while he uncovered platters and distributed plates and utensils. “Most fishing charters are booked for six or twelve hours. The calendar fills up fast.”

  Tyler grinned. “I can see why. Best time I’ve ever had.”

  “Thanks. Dakota will be glad to hear it.”

  A few minutes later, the woman herself entered the room. “You eat, too. I haven’t seen you snack today, Bubba.”

  “You either. You want your salad?”

  “I’ll wait.” She turned her attention to her customers. “How do you feel, gentlemen?”

  “Outstanding,” Gunner replied instantly.

  “I came down to use the facilities. I need to get back. Eat as much as you want and ask Bubba for more if you need it. We have plenty.” She turned to go and added, “Keep drinking.”

  The boy perched on a stool at a small wet bar. When Lance finished his water, he started to get up to get another.

  “I got it, kid. You haven’t stopped moving all day. Eat.” The youngest member of their team grabbed a few waters and some sports drinks from the cooler. “Do your charters run all year? When you’re in school and everything?”

  Swallowing his food, the boy said, “We’re booked heavy in the summer. Half the year, we don’t go out at all. When I’m in school, Kota books fishing charters Saturdays only. I’m on Spring Break right now. She and Chaz run the dive bookings during the week.”

  Alan asked, “You like doing this stuff? Seems like a lot of work for a kid your age.”

  “I’ll be ten in a couple months and I’ve already skipped a grade. I have more money saved than most adults. I love the water and working with my family. Hard work is something most people don’t learn until they’re way older. I’ll already know.”

  “A great way to look at it,” Shawn said sincerely. “What’s your favorite part about being on the water?”

  “Diving. During the school year, the three of us dive a lot on the weekends. There’s nothing like it.”

  “You certified?”

  The boy nodded. “Of course. Chaz and Dakota put me through all the training when I was six and then made another master diver do my certification. The guy was shocked.”

  “Me, too!” Joey said laughing. “I didn’t learn to dive until I was twenty.”

  “With our family business, it’s important to know everything about the water so I can be part of my own rescue. I wouldn’t want them hurt trying to keep me safe.”

  Gunner cleared his throat. “When you say family…”

  Bubba met his eyes with a slow smile. “Are you doing a different kind of fishing now, sir?”

  All the men laughed. “Guilty.”

  “I could tell you but I’ll let you ask the right people those questions. If you have the guts.”

  “Ouch.” Shawn elbowed him in the side.

  “You’re right. I’m gonna man up.” Gunner winked at him and Bubba chuckled.

  “I’m headed up. We’ll be docking within the hour. Do you guys need anything before I go?” All of them shook their heads. “Just leave everything and I’ll clean it up later.”

  He threw away his trash, wiped the bar where he sat, and grabbed a bottle of water.

  When he left, Joey said, “That’s the hardest working kid I’ve ever met.”

  All of them agreed. They chatted while they ate and worked together to clean up their mess before returning to the deck. There were two locked rooms that were probably sleeping quarters with a galley kitchen and living area in the middle.

  The boat was similar to a high-end luxury apartment in New York. Compact but gorgeous.

  Gunner idly wondered how two people so young could afford a million-dollar sport fishing yacht. They obviously weren’t afraid of hard work.

  Chaz was wrapping lines and wiping down the rods when they stepped into the Florida sun. He glanced up with a smile. “You guys get enough to eat?”

  “We ate like pigs. Thanks.” Shawn gestured to the equipment. “Can I help?”

  Surprised, Chaz listed what had to be done and got back to work. All of them got busy.

  It was late-afternoon when they pulled into Harding Charter’s home marina. A covered fish market was set up on the dock to process their catch and distribute what they didn’t want to the local restaurants.

  Their group made their selections and the market staff cleaned, packed, and labeled them. They’d store them in deep freeze until the men were ready to leave the Keys.

  They’d caught thousands of dollars in fish and would each take home substantial amounts. The rest was sold by the charter team, netting them a nice bonus on top of their fee.

  It was the best four thousand dollars Gunner ever spent. It allowed six men to spend three twelve-hour days fishing, boating, and being pampered.

  A very nice deal for everyone concerned.

  Chaz and Bubba sprayed down the deck while Dakota supervised the off-loading of their gear and the rest of the fish.

  Gunner approached her with a smile. “Excellent boating and a great time, Captain. You have a highly skilled crew.” Her tanned feet had pink-polished toes.

  Dakota laughed. The sound of it was lovely. “Dakota will do, Mr. Cain. Thank you for the compliments. I’m glad you enjoyed yourself.”

  “Call me Gunner.” Her brow arched. “Yes, it’s my real name. I’d like to book another trip.” He didn’t know he planned to say the words until they were out. He didn’t regret them.

  She called instructions to the marina staff before pushing her sunglasses up on top of her head, confining her brown and blonde curls.

  He felt a kick to his chest as he found himself looking into the prettiest aqua-blue eyes he’d ever seen framed by long lashes.

  “As of next week, we’re down to single-day bookings until summer. When Bubba is off, I schedule multi-day fishing charters Wednesday through Friday every week. For now, it will be Saturdays only. We take Sundays and Mondays off.”

  “That’s a lot of hustle. I’ll book a single in advance.”

  She grinned. “Let me grab my planner.”

  Turning, she went below deck and returned quickly with a thick spiral in her hand. He watched her flip through several pages.

  “I’m booked the rest of this month. I have an opening next month and another the following.”

  “I’ll take the opening for next month.”

  She jotted it down. “Done.”

  “Being busy is a good problem to have.”

  Dakota nodded absently. “We do dive trips as well so our schedule is full. Dives are two or four hours so I can fit more in.” Turning back to the current month, she added, “I still have openings there.”

  “Do you dive?”

  Cocking her head, she smiled. “I’m sure Bubba told you all of us do.” He crossed his eyes and she laughed. “I’m rescue dive master certified. I spent four years with the Coast Guard. We do photography and reef dives. Chaz trains and certifies. He has more patience with students.”

  The man appeared at her shoulder. “If you’d just stop insulting them, Kota.”

  “If they’d stop doing things that annoyed me, I would,” she shot back. The two of them talked for a moment about gear. “Did you notice fraying on the third rig? We might need to replace it.”

  “I’ll grab it.”

  He went back to work and she took a card from the back of her book, holding out to Gunner.

  Harding Charters

  Islamorada, Florida

  Fishing/Diving/Weddings

  Reasonable Rates – Reliable Staff

  There was a phone number at the bottom.

  “Do all three of you have the last name Harding?” Gunner thought he was smooth about the way he asked what he really wanted to know.

  The woman wasn’t fooled. “Is that your way of asking if Chaz is my brother or if Bubba is my kid?”

  “Um…” Her laugh made his groin tighten painfully.

  “Chaz is my twin. Bubba is our much younger brother. It’s a long story but t
he happy ending is all that matters.”

  It was the best news he’d gotten in a long time.

  Dakota glanced across the boat and said, “He’s not even ten but he’s a natural on the water. Smooth as silk in any situation. We had a freak storm come up on us last year and he was as steady as we were.”

  “He lives with you?” Gunner wondered where their parents were but something in her expression stopped him from asking.

  “Yup. We’re his guardians.”

  “Smart and capable. A real credit to your business.”

  “Thanks.” She gave him a slow smile and nodded at her card. “Give me a ring if anything changes. I don’t charge your card until the day before so no harm, no foul. You cancel the day of and I credit it to another trip.”

  “We might take you up on diving the next time we’re down. All of us love it.” He held out his hand. “Thanks for an incredible experience, captain.”

  She shook firmly. “You’re welcome. I’m glad you and your guys had fun. It was a pleasure having you aboard. I don’t say that often, I can promise you.” She winked. “I’m not really a people person.”

  He laughed. “Nah. You’re not a stupid people person.”

  She watched them disembark and thanked them politely as her brothers stood beside her. Gunner was glad his men were effusive with their appreciation.

  When they stood on the dock, she turned to ruffle Bubba’s hair. He sprayed her with the hose and she wrestled him to the deck, pinning him until he tapped out.

  She was in excellent shape and fast.

  Chaz pulled her off their little brother by her waist and she cackled. They circled while their little brother took a seat and called encouragement.

  It looked like her twin had the upper hand when Dakota walked up the cabin wall, flipped over him, and took him gently to the deck.

  As skilled as they were, Gunner could tell both of them took it easy on the other.

  Their group clapped and the twins glanced up in surprise. Shawn told them, “That was excellent.”

  Gunner had her number, knew where to find her, and would definitely be back. “Let’s get out of their hair, guys.”

  Waving at the Hardings, he guided his team up the dock to the marina and their hotel a block away.

  When they were out of sight, Gunner clapped Shawn on the shoulder. “Let’s hit the nearest bar for beer and wings. I’m starving again.”

  His best friend made a face. “Dude, that’s gonna have to wait. Catch a whiff of what we smell like.”

  “Good point. Showers first.”

  * * *

  Dakota watched the group of men walk away and kept her gaze on the tallest of them.

  Gunner Cain.

  She was shocked he hadn’t asked her out. It wasn’t vanity speaking. Most of their male clientele asked her out the first chance they had a moment with her alone.

  That was why she captained and let her brothers mingle.

  Most of their clients were men and many liked, even demanded, drinking on the water. To say some turned into assholes after a few beers was an understatement.

  Back when they opened their business, they used a picture of the three Harding siblings on their website. Too many callers asked personal questions about Dakota specifically and it prompted them to take it down within a few days.

  Their three-day charters usually featured at least one drunk fisherman showing his ass in one way or another.

  To have six alpha males she suspected were military or law enforcement conduct themselves so well was pretty amazing.

  Gunner caught her eye the moment she caught a glimpse of him as he walked down the dock at four in the morning.

  Dakota figured he was about six-five with heavy muscles and thick bones. He had close-cut dark blonde hair and green eyes set in a lean face.

  Those pretty eyes glanced her way with predatory intent several times over their charter but he’d never even attempted to talk to her. He recognized her boundary and respected it.

  As a result, he stood out.

  She wouldn’t mind having him on board again. He made the view even better.

  Chapter Three

  June 2004

  Over the next three months, Gunner booked two additional charters with the Hardings when they were between jobs.

  It offered a well-deserved break for his guys and was more than reasonable considering the amount of fish they took home.

  The getaways also gave him the opportunity to flirt with the lovely captain at the end of their time on the water.

  He was pleased that their previous trip made it possible for her to relax from the start. She greeted them, chatted throughout the day, and called each by name.

  At the end of the second charter, he asked her to dinner. She politely declined with a smile. He couldn’t help but return it.

  “Will you be offended if I ask again in the future?”

  “No,” she responded bluntly.

  “Good to know. Maybe my consistency will pay off.”

  Her rejection didn’t even feel like rejection because something told him she preferred a man with patience and a strong code of ethics. It was a test of his character.

  Gunner excelled at tests.

  There was something about her that called to him. While she was gorgeous and obviously capable, it was more than that.

  He was glad when her brothers agreed to hang out. They enjoyed several hours of laughter as they worked to put Chaz at ease and make Bubba feel welcome.

  Gunner and Shawn dropped them off near midnight and Dakota waved at them from the porch of their house.

  It became their habit to take her siblings with them after a day of fishing.

  He made every effort not to grill them about their sister.

  He’d never looked forward to summer so much. As soon as he confirmed schools were out in the Keys, he called Dakota to book another three-day charter.

  She laughingly asked, “Aren’t you all sick of fishing?”

  Gasping, he replied with mock affront, “We are men! How could we ever tire of fishing?” Her laughter made him feel good in ways he couldn’t explain. “Besides, I’m hoping to wear you down. Maybe one day you’ll let me take you to dinner.”

  “I…don’t date clients,” she stammered softly.

  “Hmm. There’s no pressure. I want to get to know you but don’t make me cancel the trip. The guys would kill me. I’m also out of fish. I like it fresh.”

  There was a long pause. “Wait. Are you telling me you’ve already gone through more than a hundred pounds of fish?”

  “I feed the guys at least once a week. Their families and friends, too. As you might imagine, we eat a lot.”

  This time the silence stretched out longer and Gunner began to wonder if he’d said something wrong. He almost dropped his phone when she finally spoke.

  “Let’s see how it goes after the charter. No promises.”

  Pumping his fist once in the air, Gunner calmly managed, “None needed. See you in three weeks.”

  When he hung up, he called Shawn and the other guys to tell them they were going fishing.

  Again.

  * * *

  Every day, a few hours out on the water almost universally caused men to strip off their shirts.

  Gunner’s group was no different.

  Their bodies bore many scars. The six men were in excellent shape but their apparent leader was bigger, harder somehow.

  Dakota appreciated the view behind her shades and kept her expression blank. As she sat behind the wheel, casual observers would assume her eyes were on the horizon.

  Most of the time, she watched the deck, her brothers, and their clients. She liked it calm and smooth on the open water.

  A little healthy paranoia kept her on her toes and prevented problems. She’d learned caution young.

  Such a group would normally inspire distrust and make her keep her distance. It wasn’t necessary.

  Once again, to her complete surprise, the m
en didn’t get wasted or become aggressive. They spent all three days laughing and talking.

  In regards to Gunner, the last thing she wanted was distance. He was funny and persistent without being overbearing. His acceptance and humor in the face of her repeated rejections made her want him more.

  He hadn’t given up or changed his approach. She respected him for it.

  Not once had he called her uptight or hard to get. Those were things she’d heard often from other men over the years. Some of the insults she’d heard almost made her react with violence.

  As she guided the boat into the marina the last night of their charter, she smiled at the easy camaraderie among them. They must have been friends for years.

  Her brothers bustled around the deck of the sports fishing yacht and she felt a moment of smug satisfaction that it belonged to them.

  The Harding twins hadn’t spoken to their father since they were teenagers. He’d done nothing but screw up their lives but there were a couple of things he got right.

  When his personal fortune was strong, he bought The Sweetest Thing and a hefty maintenance plan outright.

  In his attempt to hide it from the government, he put it in the names of his two oldest children who were sixteen at the time. When he died and the IRS seized the majority of his estate for unpaid taxes, the twins discovered the boat was theirs.

  They were happy to take it.

  It was after the bastard’s death when they found out about their little brother. Erick Harding was a huge surprise but one they never regretted. They gave him a nickname and it stuck because it was a constant reminder they were family.

  Bubba’s mother was one of several mistresses their father kept over the years. When her sugar daddy died, Bubba’s mother realized there would be no more money forthcoming.

  She felt no allegiance to the child she brought into the world.

  The morning after their father’s funeral, the gold digger called Alfred Harding’s estate attorney demanding a meeting about child support. He told her in no uncertain terms that the estate was bankrupt.

  Without an ounce of guilt, she replied, “Then I’m either dropping this kid off to Alfie’s family or placing him for adoption. I don’t have time for this shit.”

  The twins met her at the office and fell in love with the little brother who looked so much like them. Their father was an animal but his genes were strong. That the boy was the product of an extramarital affair made no difference.