One Bossy Dare

I look back at the server. “Two mahi-mahi specials, a bourbon, and a smoothie.”

“I’ll have the same,” Troy says.

The waitress grins at him. “With the banana smoothie?”

“Surprise me,” Troy says with a laugh, falling back in his chair. His permanent tan makes him look like part of the scenery, blending him with the lacquered wood and high leatherback chairs under the low lamplight.

“How much trouble have you guys been getting into today? I saw Dessy a couple times around the house, but I heard you hopped on a boat earlier?”

“Yeah! We had to see the dolphins, Uncle Troy...”

I sit back while she talks his ear off, as if he hasn’t been living the island life for the past decade.

“Dang, girl. I thought you were building up to tell me about mermaids,” he jokes with her before he looks back at me. “So you’re both having a good time?”

“We’re good,” I say bluntly, taking a purple-tinted taro roll from the basket.

“Happy as hell to hear it.” His eyes dart to Destiny. “I know it’s a little heavy coming back here—say no more.”

My eyes flick to her nervously, but she just smiles and nods.

I know I should just behave.

He’s a nice guy who genuinely misses us, not some damn creeper. Why did I overreact so harshly when he started asking about Destiny?

Maybe because it’s becoming more obvious that she’s not the one who needs to put a lid on her emotions on this trip.

“We’re good, Troy,” I repeat, considering my next words. “We had to come back sooner or later, didn’t we? I never sold the house.”

“You would’ve gotten an earful if you had. Your future grandkids would never forgive you. Right, Dessy?”

She laughs awkwardly in the way a kid only can who’s being teased by a stand-in uncle.

A surprisingly normal scene.

Yeah, I think I was only so short with Troy because he was the only one here when fate tore a hole through our lives.

It’s subconscious, this stupid unease. I read a hundred articles about trauma back when it happened.

That’s why his presence around the people I care about puts my shields up.

The drinks show up and I instantly go for my bourbon, taking a long, gut-scorching sip.

Katelyn’s right. I haven’t let go of Aster’s death, and it’s turned me into a fucking snapping turtle.

Destiny doesn’t deserve that.

Neither does Troy.

Neither does Eliza—even if I can’t decide whether she deserves my other moods.

I just know I need to back off for everyone’s sake.

“...I understand. Yeah, no, it couldn’t have been easy...” Troy is nodding when I look up, so much empathy in his eyes for my daughter.

What the hell were they saying?

Destiny saves me from having to ask. “I was honestly okay. I had a great time on the ship and Eliza said she’d take me surfing anytime.”

“Eliza surfs?” I cut in. I vaguely remember her mentioning something about it before we stepped off the boat.

“Dad, you were there.” Destiny laughs. “Her cousin taught her, remember? He was a lifeguard and big surfer and all in San Diego. So obviously.”

I smile, imagining Eliza hanging ten on a surfboard in that skimpy dotted bikini of hers.

My cock seethes. I may need a leash if I don’t fuck this girl.

“I never knew residency was a requirement, Dess,” I say absently.

Troy’s lips curl up, regaining my attention. “Eliza from R & D, right?”

“Yeah.” I don’t look at him.

If I say anything more, he’ll be like a dog with a bone. I’m also not sure he’s smart enough to keep his yap shut about it in front of my daughter like he should.

It’s only natural, I suppose, considering old times.

We were in the Navy together for four years before he came to work for me. We may have drifted apart over the years, but he still knows me better than almost anyone.

That happens when you share a bunk on a cramped spy ship and have to breathe another man’s body odor every night.

And the fact that he knows me so well—old me—is scary as fuck.

I look at Destiny. “You and Eliza have gotten chummy, haven’t you?”

“Chummy?” She stares at me like I’ve grown another head.

“Friendly.”

“Oh, yeah. She’s a badass. I like her and she seems good with you,” Dess says with a wink.

“See, Big Daddy?” Troy throws a shit-eating grin across the table at me. “She’s even in good with the kid.”

I glare at him.

Then my eyes trace to Dess again. I remember I’m here to make peace, not snap his head off in front of my daughter.

“Right, right.” Troy holds his hands up, lowering his voice. “Don’t think you’re off the hook, my man.”

Destiny’s gaze slowly sweeps from Troy back to me. “What are you guys talking about?”

“Nothing important, baby girl. Did you email that turtle sanctuary to see if they’d let you drop by one day?” I change the subject swiftly.