Page 7 of Buck (Diver Downeast #2)

To Buck, the day had already seemed endless with all its meet-and-greets, minor clothing malfunctions, and other trivial crises. Add to that a bit of small-town drama when Spencer’s childhood sweetheart Stacy had shown up to wish him well and had ended up bawling all over Tabitha?

Yeah.

Soap opera time, and the actual wedding hadn’t even started yet.

Which sucked. Buck needed distraction. Walking down the aisle as best man would provide that because…

Every time he turned around, either Bobbie, or a reminder of Bobbie slapped him right in his face. That would have been okay, sort of, but she refused to even look at him. It had soured his mood.

Still, not the entirety of the day had been bad.

One by one that morning, his brothers—who weren’t local—had started trickling in, and Buck loved his siblings.

Seifer had arrived first, looking all tanned and fit from his skiing expeditions all across the globe.

He was having a very good time for himself; making a name in skiing circles, much to their mother’s frustration.

But Seifer was such a schmoozer, that he hadn’t even batted an eye when confronted by their matriarch with questions about his future plans.

The youngest of the clan, having watched the rest of his siblings for years, knew just how to get around his mother’s ongoing displeasure over him not yet graduating college.

Which is what she was aiming for, sooner, rather than later if she had her druthers.

Buck knew it was in Siefer’s plans to continue skiing on his parents’ dime as long as he could, not only studying whatever fit his schedule, but taking to the slopes for his school, as well.

His advisors at the college seemed more than okay with that arrangement since Seif kept winning awards and acclaim for them.

Ellen Sothard had tried to corner Siefer more than once for a serious word when he’d first arrived, but other than getting a few comments in edgewise, his mother had been picked up, swung around, then kissed repeatedly on her cheeks; Seifer’s learned way of dodging any serious palavers.

Their mother, much to her irritation, had yet to find “alone” time with her son to vent the full extent of her displeasure.

Seifer was, even now, skirting around the opposite edges of the barn from their mom.

Julian had been the next to show up, and he, of course, was a known quantity at the Sothard’s dinner table. Being stationed at the Air Force base in Bangor, he was most times just a few miles away from a home-cooked meal. When he was…away, nobody knew exactly where the Air Force sent him.

Julian was an enigma. Everyone in the family knew he was some kind of stealth expert—as he’d proven when Tabitha’s had been stalked—but none of them knew his exact job, and he was always, purposefully vague.

All Buck knew was that Jules was nearing reenlistment time, and he wondered if his brother would re-up, or…

It would be really nice if Jules joined him, Spencer, and Tabitha in their new dive business. Julian had been showing more and more interest as they’d progressed with their plans, so Buck was hopeful.

Vincent and Trask were the last in the door that morning, having arrived on the red-eye from California. Although Vincent was Navy, and Trask was a Marine, the two—being the oldest—lived on the same coast, were tight, and had flown in together.

It had been more than two years since Buck had seen Trask, and the oldest of his siblings was looking a little…gray.

Not to misunderstand. Big brother had still aged well for a guy about to turn forty-seven. It was just a little tough for Buck to see the streaks of tell-tale aging in Trask’s hair and his neatly trimmed beard.

Trask was definitely the loner of the bunch, and Buck figured he might remain single for the rest of his life.

He’d never even hinted at bringing a woman home for anyone to meet.

He’d never even mentioned any names. Still, he was a typical Sothard flirt.

He’d always been able to charm the ladies like the rest of the brothers did, and probably still hit up the fairer sex if he needed a “gentle touch”.

But getting serious about a single female didn’t seem to be in his blood.

Vincent, on the other hand, at forty, was simply a man-whore.

That wasn’t a negative portrayal. Not at all.

He was a kind, gregarious human being. But…

There was just no other way to describe him.

A Navy man through and through, Vin used his good looks, his uniform, and his gift of gab to keep a woman in every port.

As far as Buck knew, despite all odds, he’d never made a female enemy.

Which was pretty amazing. Despite Vin’s loose and noncommittal ways, every woman he bedded, seemed to love him forever.

Go figure.

It was kind of hilarious that once-upon-a-time Vincent had attempted to add Tabitha to that female entourage when they’d both been young, enlisted bubblegummers, but thankfully she’d had enough fortitude to cheerfully shut him down. The pair had actually become good friends thereafter.

Watching Vin tease Tabbi before the wedding today, however, and seeing Spencer’s overly-protective posturing, had actually been hilarious. Not that Spence had anything to worry about where Tabitha was concerned. She was head over heels for him.

Sheila, on the other hand…

Vincent had made a real conquest where Tabitha’s younger, autistic sister was concerned.

Not in a romantic scope, but in a “Vin’s never had a little sister” sort of way.

Since the pair met, Vin had been showering her with brotherly attention, filling her in on all kinds of covert stuff having to do with his job which, amazingly, Sheila was savvily extracting from him like she’d been born to interrogate.

Buck also adored Sheila, as was expected. She was quirky and fascinating; keeping the Sothard clan on their toes as she found a niche for herself in Orono; living in a new group home, and working at Camp Venture with their mother.

Sheila had also been integral to Diver Downeast’s planning.

She was a brilliant, on-the-spectrum individual, and was already helping raise internet interest in their venture through various media platforms. Sheila wasn’t exactly known for her social interactions, but she was a whiz, on-line, and once something fomented her curiosity, it was hard to steer her in another direction.

But routing his mind back to Vinnie, Buck’s brother seemed especially tickled that he’d acquired a loyal tag-along.

With Spencer about to marry Tabitha, Mason and Everlee married with a little one, and Kyle and Rowan already having tied the knot, that rounded out the number of “Sothard’s the Next Generation” who were in attendance.

Buck, of course, was no longer in the service, nor did he have a significant other.

Why did his mind immediately jump to Bobbie?

His eyes traveled around the venue until he caught a glimpse of her outside the large, open barn doors, under the extra-large tent that had been erected this morning. She was helping her staff set up the tables that would accommodate the guests and hold the wedding feast.

Buck had no idea what was on the menu today, but if the food was as good and down-to-earth as what she’d served the night before at the rehearsal dinner, he knew it would be a hit.

She was a hit.

Yeah .

Buck would admit it. He’d never gotten over her. She was the proverbial one who’d slipped through his fingers…

Uh, more like she’d been wrenched from his life, but that was something Buck planned to remedy.

Soon.

If not for her involvement in Spencer and Tabitha’s weekend long, eat and love-fest, Buck would have cornered her already.

As it was, he’d have to not only bide his time until the wedding meal was over, but he’d have to bite his tongue during the Sunday brunch that would most likely stretch from mid-day to sundown the following day.

Which meant…

Monday morning, first thing, he’d seek out her place of business and demand they talk. He’d pay her for her time if he had to, on the pretense that he needed catering for…

Yes. His parents fiftieth anniversary was coming up in September. That was a good enough reason for Buck to seek Bobbie out.

Having a plan made Buck feel better.

“Hey, bro, what’s happening?” Julian approached and slapped him on the back. “I see what, or should I say who , has your attention.” He canted his head in the direction of Bobbie. “You going to go talk to her?”

“Not now.” Buck didn’t even try to demur and say he wasn’t fixated on Bobbie, because his canny brother would know that for a lie.

Spencer had a big mouth. “She’s got a lot to do, and I don’t want to bother her today or tomorrow when she’s putting on those all-day spreads.

But I’m already planning on finding her first thing Monday morning. ”

“Good for you,” Julian nodded. “This has gone on far too long, and it leaves a stain on your name that should have been erased years ago.”

Buck snorted. “Right. Stain. I’m not sure that’s how she sees it, but I’m going to try my best to bleach it out. That’s if she’ll listen. I’ve had fifteen years of knowing I was not at fault, but she’s spent the same fifteen years believing I was a total asshole.”

“I have faith in you, Buck,” Julian stated. “And if she doesn’t listen, I can get some of the brothers together to sit her down and set her straight.”

“Thanks, Jules, but this has to come from me. I know that Mason and Kyle have dropped hints every now and then over the years when their paths have crossed with hers, but they say she’s pretty set in her head about what happened and she won’t listen to any of it.”

“That sucks,” Julian replied. “What do you have in mind, then? How are you going to get her to believe you?”

Buck responded grimly. “I have a few things up my sleeve, but she has to actually give me time to present my side of the story.”