I wondered which one he was referring to. We were all on a massive detour as far as I was concerned. I was carrying one inside me.
“Are you interested in boats, Aiden?” I leaned against the railing.
“The business side of it. There are a lot of directions you can go with a boat business. This guy I have a meeting with is interested in diversifying. Right now he’s in high-powered fiberglass vessels.”
Mary Ellen piped in. “Kaitlyn was a business major. She’s eventually going to get her MBA. Maybe you two could bounce some ideas around.”
Cole’s poker face tonight was excellent. I was proud of him, but doubtful it would last.
“Is that so?” Aiden strolled next to me. “You’re into business and Cole’s into fixing things?” He hid his smile behind his glass. I didn’t like what he was implying.
“Actually, Cole was in an advanced engineering program when his grandfather became sick.” My stomach knotted. Introduce awkward. I tried to skip over the fact I had added Pops to the conversation. “We have a long-term plan with the Dune Scape and one for Cole to finish his master’s degree.”
Aiden didn’t seem bothered by the fact I had mentioned his father. “Since you brought it up, what is that long-term plan? It obviously doesn’t involve raking in millions of dollars.”
I hesitated long enough for Cole to take over. “Not everything’s about money. The Dunes can be a self-sustaining business. With Kaitlyn’s help, it’s getting there.”
Aiden chuckled. “Considering your only guests right now are her best friend and your long-lost uncle, I’d say your prospects are dim.”
“That’s not true.” I tightened my hold on the mojito. “I have a plan in place with a senior advertising company that’s going to appeal to the snowbirds. We’ll be booked all winter, and then of course there’s spring break and graduation. By summer, we’ll have families. It’s going to work.” I was defensive about the Dunes. I noticed Cole was smiling. “It’s a landmark on the island, and there is more value in that than a development contract.”
“Sweetheart, that might be true. Let’s say you and the nephew here can make a business out of the place. You would still take that over two million dollars? Do you know what you can do in life with two million dollars?”
I shook my head. “It doesn’t matter. Aiden, I feel bad for you that you can’t see past all those dollar signs.” I placed my drink on the table. “I’m going to put the shrimp on. Dinner should be ready in ten minutes.”
“Let me help you.” Cole struggled to stand from the lounge chair, not his most athletic moment.
He followed me to the kit
chen, sliding the door behind us. We left Aiden and Mary Ellen to enjoy the beginning of the sunset. I needed a minute away from them. And a tall glass of water. My mouth was dry. I didn’t want another dizzy spell to hit during the dinner.
“Kaitlyn, hold on.”
I had one hand on a four-pound bag of shrimp in the refrigerator. “What?”
He caught my chin with his hand and crashed his mouth into mine. My lips moved against his, and I lost the grip on the shrimp. I didn’t care that our dinner was all over the floor. Cole’s hands coasted over my hips and along my sides. His tongue sent fire through my nerves. I breathed in the taste of him, only fueling the need I had to consume every part of him. God, I needed this.
“I have never wanted you like I do right now.” His voice was pained. “What you said out there.”
I quieted him with another kiss. I wanted to forget my ankles were bathed in seafood and that we had company on the deck. Some things don’t matter. I tugged on Cole’s neck, ready to take the kiss to the next level, when he groaned and seized at his leg.
“I’m sorry. I’m sorry.” I looked at him full of regret for getting carried away.
He shook his head. “Don’t ever apologize for kissing me like that. Ever.” He kissed my forehead. “We have to figure out a way around this leg. You are driving me crazy.”
I laughed. “That we do. But first, I better get these suckers in the pot.” I bent to scoop the shrimp in a colander and rinse them in the sink before dumping them in the pot on the stove. I added a few slices of lemon, a beer, and an extra shake of bay seasoning. I set the timer for six minutes.
“Dinner will be ready in a few.” I pulled down the only serving platter we had from the top of the cabinet.
“Think that’s enough time for me to take a cold shower?” Cole tilted his head.
“Only if you think we can both fit, dry off, and get dressed before these shrimp are finished.”
He shook his head. “Probably not.” He gripped the handles on the crutches and started for the door. “We’re really going to finish this dinner?”
“Yes. We really are. And you’re doing great.”
“You made it through my family’s awkward dinner when Ryan came home. You can do this.”