Reid stared at the man. “Is that so?”
“Son, I don’t research a potential business opportunity if it’s not something worth my time. From what I hear, this is as unique as it comes in the boat business. Handcrafted, luxury, wooden fishing boats in this day and age? I tell you, I’ve been in fiberglass so long I could really use a way to diversify.”
The top row of Reid’s teeth grinded along his bottom molars. Who did this asshole think he was?
“If you wouldn’t mind showing me some of your boats, I’ll be able to report back to the investors. I have quite the line-up of people interested, but I never go on recommendation alone, even if it’s a most dear and trusted source. I like to see things for myself. It is business after all.”
“With all due respect, Mr. Zeal,” Reid uttered through clenched teeth in a manufactured polite tone. “What gives you the right to talk to investors about my boats? I haven’t reached out to Z Power Boats.”
“Well, my—” Denny started.
“I know. You already said ‘your supposed sources,’” Reid cut him off. “Who exactly has been talking to you about my boats, and why in the hell do you think that means you can sneak around here? You know what? Before I say something I might regret, I think this conversation needs to end right here.”
“Calm down, son,” the older man said. “I think there’s some kind of confusion. My daughter has said nothing but great things about you and your work here on Harkers Island. When she approached me with the proposal, I was under the impression she had spoken to you about my interest.”
Reid looked confused. “Your daughter? How would I have met your daughter? I don’t have free time to spend party-hopping with some spoiled sorority girl on Lake Norman.” It was bad enough Zeal’s boats were in his waters, but he couldn’t imagine what a day on the lake would be like when there was nothing but Z Power Boats zipping around.
“Again, I’m sorry, son.”
Reid didn’t like the way Denny called him son; everything about this man irked him.
Denny folded the note card and placed it in his back pocket. “I was under the impression you and your cousin are friends with Margaret. Perhaps I got the wrong name.”
“Margaret?” Reid spat through the still clenched teeth. His jaw was beginning to ache. “Like I said, I don’t know any—” Fuck. It hit him like a punch to the stomach. Denny Zeal was talking about Maggie—his Maggie. Double fuck.
Didn’t they have this conversation last night in bed? Reid felt his face grow hot, and his blood begin to boil as the realization set in. He had been sleeping with and possibly falling for Denny Zeal’s daughter.
“You do know Margaret, don’t you? She said that you two—”
Reid couldn’t listen to the rest of Zeal’s words. He ran to his Jeep, started the ignition in a fury, and peeled out of the driveway, thundering down Island Road toward the Buttons house.
Five
Maggie
“Coming, coming!” Blair’s voice drifted down the hall.
Maggie heard her running down the stairs in flip-flops. It sounded like someone was about to kic
k the door in. Though everyone else on the island left their doors unlocked, Maggie was glad Blair insisted they buck the trend. This definitely sounded like an unwanted visitor.
“Maggie!” Reid yelled. She ran to the doorway of her room when she heard her name.
“Where is she?” Reid’s voice filled the entire house.
“Hold up, sailor. What in the hell do you think you are doing?” It sounded like Blair was chasing him up the stairs.
She couldn’t believe the hostility in Reid’s voice. “You were probably in on the whole thing too—unbelievable. Where is she?”
“I don’t care how many times you’ve slept over here; you can’t just barge in past me. Reid! Come back here now.”
Maggie moved toward the landing as their voices grew louder.
The minute she saw Reid’s cool brown eyes and harshly set jaw, she knew something was wrong. Her heart dropped to her stomach.
“Zeal? Denny fuckin’ Zeal is your father? And you never thought to mention this? What the fuck, Maggie?” He looked at her with contempt.
Her hands started to shake. “I-I can explain. I wasn’t trying to keep it from you.” The words were out of her mouth in a hurry. She started toward him, trying to put a hand on his forearm and settle him.