Page 39 of Bargain With the Boss

I fell back, frustration replacing the contentment. “I want to see you tonight.”

“Enjoy wanting,” she called. “I won’t be available.” She reached up to Claire who helped her back on the boat.

Claire shielded her eyes then lifted a middle finger.

Annoyed, I took off back toward the crowd and the boardwalk. The idea of eating churned my stomach. I passed each eatery and gave halfhearted smiles to people who greeted me.

All I wanted was my bike.

I gunned the engine and instead of turning back toward the Cove, I opened it up and roared my way up Lake Road and passed signs for Maitland’s Spa and Resort. Anger built until I pushed the engine well past the speed limit. I leaned over my handlebars as the heat of the day warred with the wind of my speed.

Hadn’t I made it clear to her how important it was that our town was protected from Maitland? All this untouched land was good for the ecosystem of our town. I understood and even welcomed progress, but Maitland’s plans would put in his glitzy, sprawling buildings instead of working with the land.

He’d cut down hundreds of acres of trees that helped with erosion. And a spa wouldn’t be enough for Arthur. He’d want more houses and larger ships anchored here. Our quiet town would be lost to the party set.

As the anger built, I slowed the bike before I did something stupid.

Fuck. I parked and tossed my helmet before I stalked up to the rocky view that overlooked the lake and let out a primal scream that blew out most of the rage until I could breathe around it again.

It wasn’t even about Claire and Sydney—it was that I couldn’t see around the problem. I was good at working around problems. It made me a good businessman. I was the ideas guy where Gavin was the muscle and the refinement. Jude was the temperament we needed between us. He wasn’t so close to the rivalry between the families.

Gavin had his own issues with Maitland even beyond the land grabbing. More personal ones he wouldn’t speak about unless we got him good and drunk and even then they were more angry rambles.

But we had a firm goal between us.

We wanted to protect Crescent Cove.

And it felt like that goalpost was getting further and further every fucking day.

All of this land would be razed and mar the view from the lake.

Hell, it would roll into the boardwalk, taking away the family charm.

All the memories of my childhood would be erased.

I wouldn’t let that happen, no matter what I had to do.

Chapter 11

Sydney

“I can’t believe him.”

Claire was steering the ship back toward her house. “So you’ve said.”

“Sorry.” I slumped in my seat. “I just can’t get over how narrow-minded he is being.”

Claire was quiet for a few beats. “I agree with him. About my father.”

I sat up. “You do?”

“My father has had this outlandish plan since my grandfather died. All of the Maitland men have had life-changing successes, each grander than the last, until my father.” At my frown, she turned the wheel, then locked it in place before dropping the sail. Our momentum slowed as she sat beside me. “The founding families are pretty hard core in Crescent Cove. The Wainwrights, the Hastings, Maitlands of course, and the Hamiltons are the ones who have stuck around the longest.”

The mention of the Hamiltons twisted my stomach. I’d met them during the holidays, but I’d made excuses to make myself scarce during the houseful of people. I wasn’t used to that level of noise to start, but to see how incredibly close Jude had gotten to them in such a short time seemed all the worse.

The instant joy and belonging making me feel even more out of place.

“Hey.”