Page 21 of Hearts on the Line (The Maverick Key #1)
“If they think it’s a safety risk, yes, they can.” I grit my teeth. “And thanks to Wes, they’ve got all the justification they need. One call to NOAA, and we’re done.”
Without another word, I turn and head for the stairs. My boots thud against the wood as I march toward Wes’s room, anger building with every step. I pound on his door, my fists rattling the frame. I don’t care if it wakes the whole inn.
The door creaks open, and there stands Wes, shirtless, bleary-eyed, like he just got out of a fight.
His hair is a mess, and the faint scent of spicy perfume clings to the air.
Inside, ripped condom packages are strewn across the floor, and a blond woman lounges on the bed, scrolling through her phone, completely unbothered.
“Rickter,” Wes groans, rubbing his face. “What the hell, man? It’s the middle of the night.”
I shove the door open, stepping inside without waiting for an invitation. The girl looks up at me and smiles, then turns her attention back to her phone.
“Your video is a problem.”
He blinks at me, still half-asleep. “What video?”
“The one that’s gone viral,” I snap, my patience thin as paper. “The one turning Carter’s Drop into a fucking joke and putting the Coast Guard on our backs.”
Recognition dawns on his face, followed by a flicker of irritation. He raises his hands in surrender. “All right, all right. Let me get dressed, and we’ll talk.”
“There’s no time.”
I’m pissed. “Put on a shirt. You’re coming with me to the Coast Guard station. Now.”
Inside the Coast Guard station’s back office, a small group of tired and cranky officers is gathered—none too thrilled to be called into work so early.
Lieutenant Mark Glassier stands by a computer monitor with his arms crossed.
On the screen, Wes’s video loops, frozen on his stupid face as he gestures toward Carter’s Drop like he’s selling tickets to a theme park.
I lean against the wall, my glare locked on Wes. He slouches in a chair, rubbing his temples, more tired than defiant. His swagger has evaporated, leaving behind a man who’s scrambling to cover his ass. If I didn’t have restraint in this moment, I’d happily wring his neck.
Glassier’s voice slices through the room like a whip. “Harrington, do you know what chaos you’ve stirred up?”
Wes opens his mouth, but Glassier’s hand shoots up, silencing him.
“Don’t. Don’t say a damn word until I’m finished.
” He jabs a finger at the screen. “That video has half the country believing there’s treasure just sitting in those caves, waiting to be scooped out.
We’ve had nonstop calls. Professional divers and amateur thrill-seekers are planning to show up here and dive without authorization.
Your little stunt has every idiot with a GoPro gunning for Maverick Key. ”
“Publicity never hurt anyone,” Wes quips.
Mark’s eyes flare and for a moment it looks like he’s going to ring Wes’s neck for me.
“This isn’t just about bad publicity. It’s a safety nightmare. Someone’s going to get killed.”
I push off the wall. “Lieutenant, what needs to happen to keep the dives open?”
Glassier’s stern gaze shifts to me. “First, that video comes down. Immediately. Second, Harrington posts a public retraction, making it crystal clear that Carter’s Drop isn’t a playground for treasure hunters—with a statement from Mr. Skipes confirming he hasn’t put anything in the waters.”
Wes shifts in his chair, raising a hand in protest. “Look, I—”
“Shut up,” I snap, my words like ice. I clench my fists. “You’ll do it. Now.”
Wes raises his palms.
Glassier steps beside us, shouldering in. “And let me be clear—if there’s anything else, another video, post, or whatever the hell else might stir up more attention, I’ll shut down Carter’s Drop indefinitely.”
His words press down on the room. “Understood.” I turn to Wes. “Harrington?”
Wes sighs and pulls out his phone. His muttering doesn’t conceal his irritation as he works on taking the video down. “Fine. Retraction. Whatever you want.”
Across the room, a young officer waves his arm and calls out, trying to get Harrington’s attention. “Hey, Wes, man, didn’t know you had a thing for the Carter girl… Sweet ass. I really hope you’re tapping that…”
The words hit like a gut punch.
I turn, my fists clenched. “What the fuck is that supposed to mean?”
The boy’s eyes widen and he gestures quickly toward another monitor, where a paused thumbnail shows Wes and Maddie standing by the pool at the Inn.
Her face is lit with that effortless smile that draws me in.
The sight of them together sparks something volatile in my chest—a combination of protectiveness and anger that’s hard to contain.
Wes glances at the screen, his expression unchanged. But he swallows. “That? It’s nothing. Just a casual chat.”
I step closer, my voice a low growl. “Casual? You’re dragging her into your shit now?”
“Relax, Rickter. It wasn’t like that. We were talking about Nathan. That’s all.”
Instinct tells me there’s more, and the knot in my stomach twists. Is there something going on between Maddie and Harrington? “If this spotlight brings trouble her way, you’ll answer to me. Do you understand?”
Glassier clears his throat, his commanding tone cutting through the tension. “Enough. Harrington, get the video down. Rickter, keep your team in line. We’ve got enough fires to put out without adding more.” He looks at me.
“A woman like her has got no interest in the likes of him.”
Wes bristles but says nothing, focused on deleting the video and drafting his retraction.
His antics are the immediate problem, but dragging Maddie into the mix has lit a fire in me. She doesn’t deserve this. Not the attention or the danger.