Page 48 of Forbidden Forward

This is a treat for us both. I’m usually out here alone, and it’s not safe to have one of the wheelchair kids take the helm while I juggle everything else. Bonus: I’ve got a job for his dad he can’t half-ass.

“All right,” I laugh. “Let’s have your dad get you situated.”

Robbie yells for his dad, who doesn’t stand far away but is so engrossed in whatever Jackie’s doing that he pays zero attention to his son.

“Yo, Rick! You’re needed at the helm,” I shout.

Rick shoots me a glare, as if he knows exactly what my other ulterior motive is, and agitator me smirks in response. This guy is such an asswipe.

When we close in on the marina, I high-five Robbie. “Nice job steering us in, bud. Now it’s my turn. Gotta get her docked.” Robbie relinquishes the wheel, and his face-splitting grin has me doing a virtual two-step. He jabbers nonstop at his dad while Rick transfers him to the wheelchair Jackie’s pulled out. Rick is fully engaged with his kid now and gives me a nod of thanks.

Once the munchkins are loaded into the van, Jackie and I stroll back to the boat.

She grins up at me. “That was fun.”

“You enjoyed it?”

“I did, though I wonder how differently you handle the boat without the kids on board.”

I jump onto the swim platform and extend my hands to Jackie. “Want to find out?”

Those pretty greens go wide. “Now?”

I wiggle my eyebrows. “Why not? It’s barely noon.”

“Are you serious?” Her eyes sparkle with the possibility. She definitely likes the idea.

“When it comes to the Gail, I don’t kid.” And damn, do I want to take her out and really sail! I sense Jackie’s nervousness as she looks around. “What?”

“I should probably go. What if Donny finds out?”

“Thought we agreed he’s not going to find out unless one of us spills. Anyway, it’s only for a few hours. We’ll be back long before it’s dark, and you can call him from wherever you’re staying.” Huh. I never asked her where. I tell myself I don’t need to know.

She considers for a moment or three, then flashes me that smile that makes my heart knock against my rib cage. “All right, show me what you got. I want to meet the real Captain Colby.”

Chapter 23

Gale Force

Jackie

I tidy up after the kids while Colby fiddles with some kind of monitor in the cockpit. Hey, look at me nailing the sailor-speak now. The cockpit part anyway. And speaking of sailors, I can’t wait to go for a real sailboat ride. Skimming through the water with the kids has been fun, but it’s also been tame. Don’t get me wrong. That’s as it should be for them, but when the wind fills that mainsail, I want more. I want to fly. I want to blast the acrid taste of Randy’s phone call from my brain cells. Yes, it was a few nights ago, but the potent memory clings with its rawness and bitterness intact. And the clawing question that circles round and round in my head: How did he find me? How does he know about the recent changes in my life?

Then it hits me. Brandon posted my picture and bio on the New Horizons website, and living with a high-profile NHL player like Donny makes tracking me down almost child’s play.

Panic spreads through my limbs, urging me to change my number then and there. But the panic ices over because what difference would it make? He already knows where I work.

Colby glances at me over his shoulder. “Everything okay?”

I do a shimmy shake to expel the chill from my bones, though it’s not from the cool air. “Never better. How about you? Are you okay?” I deflect. “You’ve been staring a hole through that screen.”

“All good. I was just refreshing the weather forecast.”

“And?” Tension loosens its grip as my mind clutches at a different subject.

“It hasn’t changed much from this morning. Partly sunny, winds out of the southwest at ten to fifteen knots, and increasing clouds later this afternoon. After we’re back in the marina.” He looks up at me and flashes that devilish grin. “Ready to get underway?”

“Aye, aye, Captain. What do you need me to do?”