Page 23 of Killer Honeymoon

“Fair question,” Sawyer said with an easy smile. “My parents didn’t own this property outright when Vic and I got married. The home had been left to my father and my uncle. My parents bought out my uncle’s interest a while back and remodeled the property to what it is today.”

“So no vacation home for you and Vic?” Royce found it odd since Killian and Grace had received them.

“Vic didn’t travel well,” Sawyer said. “He had terrible motion sickness and couldn’t endure long car trips, and flying was even worse. It was an inner ear thing he battled most of his life.”

“You and Vic never spent time here?”

“Nope.”

It was a true shame because this island brought out something special from the pit of Sawyer’s soul. He decided to let the entire subject drop. Royce knew Barron and Evangeline would’ve given Sawyer and Vic something of equal value as a wedding present, and it wasn’t Royce’s business.

“Mom and Dad gave us the down payment for a house instead of signing over a vacation property to us.” Royce knew he meant the house they now shared. Sawyer held his gaze. “Does that bother you?”

Royce dipped his paddle into the water and rowed alongside Sawyer’s kayak. He cautiously leaned forward to kiss his husband and was relieved when Sawyer met him halfway. “Of course not,” Royce said. “Your heart is my home.”

Royce started to lean in for another kiss, but someone sounded a large boat horn. He jerked in the opposite direction and nearly tipped himself over. He turned his kayak to glare at a massive yacht pulling into the bay. “That horn was loud enough to wake the dead.”

“Yeah, but check out the ostentatious boat it’s attached to.”

Royce read the name on the side of the boat and rolled his eyes hard enough to sprain them. “Les is Moore?” he asked.

Sawyer laughed so hard he nearly toppled over. “Methinks someone is overcompensating,” he said in a singsong voice. “Should’ve just called itSize Matters.”

“I bet we’re getting our first look at Lester Moore. I dislike him even more than I did yesterday.”

“I’d like to say we should give the guy a fair shake, but screw that,” Sawyer said. “Ready to head back? We can stow the kayaks and walk into town for a bite to eat. Remember those chicken tenders we couldn’t get enough of?”

Royce laughed and paddled after Sawyer. “Only you would travel fourteen hours to order chicken tenders.”

“Tell me they weren’t the best you’ve ever had,” Sawyer challenged.

“Yeah, you got me there.”

Between the sex, fresh air, sun, and exercise, Royce felt like a limp noodle after returning their equipment to the shed. He was just about to suggest they stay home and eat when he heard shouting coming from across the street.

“Is that Frank?” Royce asked.

“Sure as hell sounds like it.”

Royce and Sawyer took off running toward the front of the cottage. When they rounded the corner, they saw Frank standing at the edge of his property, aiming a water hose at the two frat boys who were standing near their golf cart. A gas can sat on the concrete next to the ginger guy’s feet. The two ladies were huddled together near the front porch, watching everything unfold. Frank and the frat boys started shouting at once, so Royce couldn’t make out a single thing any of them said.

“Hey,” Royce yelled as he crossed the street. The three men jerked and looked in his direction.

“What the hell is going on here?” Sawyer demanded.

The dark-haired guy pointed at Frank and shouted, “This old bastard is threatening me with a hose.”

“And you’re afraid you’ll melt?” Royce asked. The ladies and the ginger-haired kid laughed, and Frank snorted.

The dark-haired kid narrowed his piercing blue eyes. “Huh? I don’t get it.”

“Christ, Evan,” ginger guy said. “You haven’t seenThe Wizard of Oz?”

“My dad didn’t allow my mom to shove that sissy shit down my throat like your parents did, Clint,” Evan replied.

Clint rolled his green eyes heavenward. “Enjoying culture doesn’t make me a sissy.” Point one for the ginger snap.

“Fellas,” Royce said to get their attention. “We could debate Evan’s homophobia or Clint’s declaration of enlightenment, which I struggle to believe since he’s shouting at an elderly man and behaving like a complete jackass, but I have better things to do. Gay things if you catch my drift.” Evan took a step back like Royce was sizing him up as an option. “Not with you, idiot. With my husband.”