We both swam to the ladder to get up on the dock. He reached it before me and started to climb up.
“Figures you’d be that kind of guy,” I growled under my breath.
“I heard that, and I wasn’t going up before you. I was checking the ladder to see if it was safe,” the man barked back. “It’s falling apart.”
“Oh, right, of course you were.” I swam past him, climbing the ladder as quickly as possible.
“I wouldn’t leave a woman in the water and get myself out first,” he said from the water at the bottom of the ladder.
“It’s not falling apart, it’s just old,” I said from the dock. “Do you need help up the ladder?”
“I’m pretty sure I can manage the steps as long as you don’t help.” He bounded up and stormed off the dock toward the office.
Well, let’s hope whoever owns that yacht still wants to stay docked here after watching that disaster.
Chapter 2
Sawyer
Istormed off the dock, heading straight for the office. I could hear the guys on the yacht chirping me but wasn’t in the mood to respond.
I don’t care how cute the blonde was, she didn’t have to push me in the water.
“Can I help you with something? Like maybe a towel?” The man behind the counter stared at me dripping all over his office.
“You could start with being careful who you let roam around your docks,” I demanded.
“There’s rarely anyone just roaming my docks, sir. Did someone harm you?” the man asked. “I assume that’s your yacht out there. Are you looking to dock here?”
“Well, I don’t usually wander around docks soaking wet. There’s a woman out there that pushed me in the water when I was trying to tie off my boat.” I lied, then took a deep breath. “Yes, I need to dock here for the night.”
“Alright, just sign in. The slip you’re in is the right spot,” the man said. “My name is Abbott Campbell. Most people call me Admiral.”
“Admiral. Navy? Marines?” I asked, filling out the form.
“Marines. A long time ago, though,” Admiral answered. “If you need anything after we close, just call the number on the door.”
“I’m Sawyer Hawthorne. I own the bigger island off to the south of here,” I put my hand out to shake his, “Cloud Nine is the name.”
“Cloud Nine? I don’t know that island.” Admiral rubbed his chin. “Why are you docked here if you have an island nearby?”
“I’m meeting friends that are flying in tonight. Thought I’d wait for them to give them a ride over to the island,” I said. “The islandwascalled Sandpiper Island.”
“Okay, that makes more sense. That’s a nice island. I wasn’t aware old man Williams sold it.” Admiral shook his head. “The dock needed a bunch of work, if I remember correctly.”
“Yeah, it did. I had a crew here for a month rebuilding it. I’ll have quite a few yachts coming in, so it had to get repaired first,” I said. “I had a new house built as well.”
“Are you planning on living there, or is it just a vacation destination?” Admiral asked. “None of my business, of course, just making conversation.”
“It’s fine. It’ll be a vacation spot, or a getaway, is more like it.” I smiled. “Sometimes you just have to escape. Am I right?”
“Did you say someone bothered you on the dock when you were trying to tie off?” Admiral crinkled his eyebrows. “Were you not on the yacht?”
“No, sir, I had to leave the cruise by helicopter on the way here. I decided to just land here on my way back to wait to meet up with my guests,” I explained. “I better get into town now. Nice meeting you.”
“Mr. Hawthorne, don’t worry about people on the dock. I’ll find out who was out there and get rid of them,” Admiral said. “Did you say the person was by your boat?”
“Yes, the woman was interfering with my tying it off and she pushed me in the water,” I exaggerated.