Page 24 of Buck (Diver Downeast #2)

Buck thought he’d done a pretty good job tamping down his anger regarding his money not making it into Bobbie’s hands all those years ago.

He’d repeatedly told himself that the brothers might just be holding it for her, or since Bobbie had clammed up, maybe they’d eventually given it to her when she’d started her business.

But by eavesdropping, which he wasn’t sorry in the least that he’d done, he now knew the truth, or at least most of it.

The assholes had not only blatantly stolen the money that had been intended for Bobbie, they’d then made her sign loans to get her current vessel, and to start her catering venture.

To up the gall level, they were currently, practically extorting her into handing them a portion of her hard-earned proceeds for which she worked her ass off.

He was going to fucking kill them.

“Slow down, Buck,” Mason stood with his dog in his arms, moving toward his brother with determination. “We need to approach this logically and methodically.”

The conversation, wherever it had been headed, was interrupted by the vet who emerged from the back. “Who wants to go next?”

Spencer stood up with a wriggling Duck. “I will.”

Clearly, Spence saw that Buck and Mason needed to continue their conversation…and that Bobbie was unwilling to miss it.

“Okay. Come with me,” Dr. Katze indicated.

Once the pair disappeared, Bobbie asked Buck about his little white dog. “Uh, not to change the subject, but how’s your puppy doing?”

Buck’s countenance lightened a bit as he dropped a kiss on the dog’s head. “You mean Cooper? He’s been given a clean bill of health.”

“Cooper?” Bobbie questioned, tilting her head in a very dog-like fashion.

“Yup.” Buck actually managed a chuckle. “Doctor Katze said the little guy reminded her of her favorite pup growing up, and that dog’s name was Cooper.

I liked the sound of it, so I asked if she minded me adopting it for him, and she said she loved the idea.

Hence, Cooper. Say hello, Cooper.” Buck lifted one paw for a wave, and got an “aww” from Bobbie.

It also served to calm him enough to continue the original conversation.

Buck refocused on the problem at hand. “Don’t think you’re distracting me from what you guys were talking about. Give me the details, Bobbie. I promise you I won’t go off the deep end.”

Much.

Bobbie sighed, and indicated that they should all sit down. Once a modicum of comfort was reached, she launched into her tale once again.

This time Buck’s glower on her behalf joined his brother’s as he listened closely to details. When Bobbie was finished, he tried to make good on his assertion and reign in the anger that felt like it was tearing him up inside.

“So,” He questioned his brother Mason between clenched teeth, “what do you suggest we do, other than go beat the crap out of them and get Bobbie’s money back?”

Yeah. He’d like nothing better than that.

“We need to watch them carefully,” his big brother confirmed, and all thoughts of feeling flesh give under his fists, fizzled. At least for the time being.

Mason kept talking. “There’s something extra fishy about this whole thing.

What does it behoove them to keep Bobbie controlled and under their thumb, which clearly they’re still doing by compromising the amount of money she can retain from her business?

And what kind of investigation can we do on them presently, since the original theft, unfortunately, has passed its statute of limitations? ”

Buck lamented that these things hadn’t come out sooner. Then the pair would already have been out of Bobbie’s life.

Mason continued to speculate. “I’ve been by their place a number of times over the years, and it’s clear to me they haven’t used any of Bobbie’s money, past or present, to do any upgrades on the house, even though it badly needs it.”

Bobbie snorted. “You guys don’t know the half of it. The outside is pretty bad, but the inside…” She didn’t finish her sentence, but shook her head disgustedly.

“So what did they do with the 60K they initially stole from her?” Buck asked.

“And what are they doing to make money now? Because as far as I know, they don’t work.

And as generous as I figure Bobbie is with her profits, even though you haven’t shared any numbers,” Mason added, glancing her way, “I doubt they’re living on that, alone. ”

“I can help you there,” Bobbie interjected.

Mason’s brows went up, urging her to continue.

“They probably used all the money, past and present, to set up a brewery in the old barn out back.”

“They’re brewing beer?” Buck asked incredulously.

“Uh, huh. They’ve been doing it for a number of years, tweaking things and upgrading equipment for what they initially said was their own consumption, But two years ago, they decided their product was such a success, they applied and actually received a license from the Maine Bureau of Alcoholic Beverages, so they could offer their beer, publicly. ”

Buck would like to see that license, and apparently Mason had the same thought, because their eyes met in mutual skepticism as Bobbie continued.

“I’ve added their brew to my menu, and it’s…accepted. Personally, I don’t like the stuff, but I guess it’s a special, premium beer. It has to be. They were contracted to send two large crates of it with me every week when I head up to Canada for a rich client they procured for me.”

“Wait. They found that rich client for you?” Buck asked, his bullshit detector pinging hard, now.

“Yeah. They met the guy at a brewing symposium or something, and they hit it off. When the guy told him he hosts a weekly open house and had just lost his caterer, Drew suggested me for the job. They made a deal that the guy would not only compensate me well for my services, he’d pay top dollar for Drew and Jeff’s product if I brought it with me. ”

She looked from one to the other of them as they remained silent.

“What?” she asked.

Mason cleared his throat. “It sounds a little…contrived,” he told her gently. “But first things first before we launch a full investigation. I’m going to check with the ABC and ascertain whether your brothers do or do not have a license to brew.”

Bobbie frowned. “And if they don’t?”

Mason looked pained, and Bobbie groaned.

“Shit. That means I’ve been transporting illegal alcohol across international borders for the last year, and I’ve inadvertently lied to NEXUS about it.

I’ve been paying duties and taxes on what I’ve declared as a legal commodity, when it could be bootleg.

” She bent her head to little Reyghan, buried her face in her the pup’s fur, and shuddered.

Buck wanted to comfort Bobbie with words, but he didn’t know if that was possible, so he laid a soothing hand on her back while she worked everything through.

Having been in the Coast Guard, Buck was intimately familiar with NEXUS, a program that expedited border crossings for pre-approved travelers. What he didn’t know, was what kind of trouble Bobbie could get in for unknowingly breaking the law.

“Let’s not get ahead of ourselves,” Mason warned gently, and Buck was never happier for the calmness of his sibling.

“First, when you two see the chief tomorrow, I’ll be in the meeting as well.

We’ll get your detailed statement down as evidence that you were used for the transportation of possible unlicensed alcohol without your knowledge or consent.

I’m sure that by you coming forward with this information, the documentation of your unwitting role regarding the matter will be enough to exonerate you should it come to that. We might even…” Mason actually smiled.

“What?” Buck asked.

He looked suddenly pleased with himself. “With a few phone calls to the right people at the Border Patrol, we might even be able to set up a sting that will implicate Bobbie’s brothers, but leave her in the clear since she’s cooperating.”

“I’ll do whatever it takes,” Bobbie agreed.

Mason’s satisfaction grew. “We obviously can’t get them for stealing your money fifteen years ago, Bobbie, but if we work this correctly, they could be on the hook for smuggling goods across borders using international waters.”

Bobbie didn’t look so certain. “A few crates of beer once a week?” she scoffed.

“What could possibly be the penalty for that?” Her face scrunched up.

“A slap on the wrist? A fine?” she asked.

“Not enough. If I’m going to be on the receiving end of their ire when they find out I’m the one who squealed on them and set them up, jail time needs to be mandatory. ”

“Don’t you worry about that,” Buck snarled. “If they so much as lay a finger on you, they’ll answer to me.”

“They’ll answer to the law ,” Mason corrected him sternly. “And regarding jail time, how long did you say they’ve had you going to Canada?”

“Just over a year,” Bobbie supplied.

Mason smiled again. “I’m pretty sure that will not only prove malicious intent on their part, but the amount of alcohol smuggled could add up to a sizeable amount.

If we tally the total volume of alcohol that’s crossed the border…

Well, I’ll say it’s probably enough to warrant jail time.

But we’re getting ahead of ourselves,” he cautioned, tamping down his enthusiasm.

“First, as soon as my little guy here gets checked out, I’ll make some calls and find out if your brothers really do have a license to brew. ”

The conversation was interrupted as the vet and Spencer emerged.

“Next,” Dr. Katze said with a smile, not knowing the seriousness of what was being discussed in her waiting room.

Bobbie, probably having heard enough, got up with a nod and followed the vet in.

Spencer immediately sat and asked for an update.

Buck and Mason took the time to share all the scuttlebutt with their brother, who declared himself onboard with the operation; stating he’d be available in any way if he could possibly help.

“Appreciate it, Spence,” Buck said. “It could get ugly.”

“No. It won’t.” Mason pointed a finger at Buck. “I know this is personal for you, and I get it. But going after Bobbie’s brothers, rogue, is not going to help her situation. Let us work through all the red tape, will you please?”

Spencer added his two cents worth. “I can see by the way you look at Bobbie that you’re thinking there might be something between you to rekindle. So do as Mason suggests. Don’t blow things by pitting yourself against her brothers without using legal channels.”

Buck glowered. “I get it. I don’t like it, but I get it,” he reiterated.

“Fine.” He addressed Mason. “I’ll let you turn all the legal wheels, but understand this, Mase.

If, once things start unraveling for them, either one of those shitheads does anything to retaliate against Bobbie? All bets are off.”

Twenty minutes later, Buck, after dropping Mason off at the police station to get his car, drove Spencer back to the bridge where he’d left his vehicle. Bobbie was riding shotgun, and Buck couldn’t wait to say goodbye to his brother and have her to himself.

Ever since they’d traded their “I lust after you” revelations a few days back, Buck had been working up his courage to resume that discussion and see if he could do some of that lust stuff, along with working it into relationship territory.

A million times since that day, Buck had regretted not taking Bobbie up on her offer of a kiss.

What an ass he’d been. Instead of saying “hell, yes”, he’d asked for a hug instead.

What kind of an idiot did that?

Him, apparently.

But he cut himself some slack. He hadn’t wanted a one-and-done physical encounter. He’d wanted Bobbie to understand that he was innocent in the whole sailboat debacle before seeing where their attraction could go.

But now that they’d cleared the air between them in that regard, he wanted to revisit the heart-stopping assertion she’d made about wanting her hands all over him.

Did it still hold? Would she relent to that whole lot of touching if she understood that Buck wanted more than just physical closeness?

There was only one way to find out.

After Spencer got lost.

“See you tomorrow morning, Spence,” Buck finally and eagerly called as Spencer jauntily left the van with a squiggling Duck held up against his chest. Buck didn’t want to dismiss him too quickly.

His brother would see right through that.

“We, uh, can do an inventory of all the stuff I picked up in New Hampshire, first thing tomorrow, and probably disinfect it before we put it to use.”

“Yeah,” Spencer snorted. “I’ll have to hear all about that onion odor.”

“You didn’t miss that, huh?” Buck chuckled.

“Nope. And I know there’s a story. But…” Spencer looked back and forth between Buck and Bobbie.

He winked, the bastard .

“…I won’t hold you up. See you in the morning.”

His brother gave him a huge, toothy grin, closed the door behind him, and jogged over to his truck.

Yes. Alone with Bobbie .

She sat patiently, clearly not knowing where his mind was at. The two remaining puppies, his and hers, were sound asleep on her lap.

“You, uh, okay to spend a few more minutes with me before I bring you back to your shop?” Buck asked as casually as he could manage.

“Yeah. Sure,” she answered, giving him a cheeky smile. “Any particular reason?”

Right. He wasn’t pulling anything over on her. She’d always had his number.

“Well…” He coughed at the roughness that suddenly crept up his throat. “We’ve accomplished the conversation we needed to have. So now…”

He trailed off. Maybe she’d put him out of his misery.

“So now I get to touch you,” she purred. “It’s about fucking time. That first kiss I laid on you earlier…”

She reached into her pocket.

“Here. Have a piece of gum.”