Page 29 of Shades of You (Calypso Key #4)

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Brenna

The black Range Rover’s tires crunched against sun-bleached sand as we pulled into the Calypso Key parking lot. After exiting the SUV, Hunter’s fingers laced through mine. His thumb traced soothing circles on my skin as if he sensed my nervousness about facing a boat full of Markhams. I squeezed his hand, trying to absorb his steadiness as we stepped onto a cement path that wound through manicured foliage.

Glancing around the quiet, serene resort, I tried to deny the sensation of being in enemy territory. I was thirty-one years old, and this was the first time I had set foot on the fabled resort grounds. In school, Hunter and I had always met on neutral ground. But no booby traps snapped on my Coleridge ankles or bound my Coleridge wrists. Calypso Key Resort was decidedly upscale and beautifully modern, and I could hardly keep from staring at the line of beautiful white cottages lining the white-sand beach, swaying palm trees watching over them. The setting was magnificent .

As we approached the canal where several boats were tied up, a tall figure Hunter had already told me about waved to us from the dock. Aiden was Stella’s boyfriend and our captain for the afternoon. The sun glinted off his golden hair and his easy smile helped me relax a notch.

“Welcome aboard Catch of the Day ,” Aiden called out as he ushered us toward a beautiful sailboat, well over thirty feet long, with a grand sweep of his arm. Teak decking contrasted a white hull, all of it polished and shipshape.

“Thank you,” I said with a smile. Then I shaded my eyes with my hand to scan the vessel. “She’s absolutely stunning.”

“Thanks!” Aiden grinned like a proud father. “I lived on her before moving into the cottage with Stella. Still love taking her out any chance I get. So thanks for giving me the excuse. We’ve got perfect weather for a sunset cruise.”

He helped me step aboard while Hunter hopped lithely aboard behind me. Hunter’s hand found my elbow, guiding me toward a loose circle of canvas camp chairs that had been arranged on the deck. The chairs were painted in bright hues, standing out vividly against the varnished teak flooring. They were positioned to provide an unobstructed view of what I knew would be a breathtaking sunset. And people whose faces I knew well occupied nearly all of them, though I’d hardly exchanged a friendly word with many of them. The butterflies in my stomach doubled their activity.

Stella was already settled into one of these vibrant seats, her toned physique relaxing with her long legs crossed. I hadn’t seen her since that embarrassing meeting when she’d found me staying with Hunter, and her dark brown eyes were calculating as I approached. But she greeted me with a smile that eased the tight knot in my stomach slightly. Evan stood alone near the stern, his face slightly guarded and neutral.

As I sat next to Stella, with Hunter on my other side, she leaned forward. “Dad and Nona are staying ashore today. But on behalf of the younger generation, welcome aboard.”

“Thanks for having me,” I said and was glad my voice was steady.

“I apologize if Aiden talked your ear off about the boat already. I never thought I’d be competing with a sailboat.” Stella’s words were dry, but her fond glance at Aiden, who was untying us, let me know she was joking.

A wave of relief washed over me as my gaze landed on two familiar faces among this sea of Markhams. April and Liv, though April was a Markham now, and Liv was close to becoming one. April sat next to Gabe, who gave me a nod but kept his face completely unreadable. His expression quickly softened when he turned to his wife and brushed her hair back from her face. Liv perched next to April, and her bright smile was like coming home after a long journey. Seeing her and April here reminded me that I wasn’t alone amidst this crowd. I had allies here too.

As the shore retreated, I let out a breath, savoring the salty tang in the air and the soft lap of waves against the hull. Aiden and Stella made quick work of unfurling the sails. So far so good, and no blood had been spilled yet. Rising from his chair, Hunter lifted the lid of a large cooler and extracted two bottles, then popped the caps off with practiced ease.

“Beer o’clock,” he said with a wink, passing me one.

I took a long pull, the crisp, cold liquid sliding down my throat. It tasted like summer and fresh starts. Hunter clinked his bottle to mine before settling beside me once again, our knees brushing. Tension unwound from between my shoulder blades as I leaned back, unable to resist the wind in my hair and the man at my side as we chased the sinking sun.

Stella returned to her seat and leaned closer to me, her long, dark ponytail whipping in the breeze. Her brown eyes held a tentative warmth as she scooted to the edge of the chair. “I wanted to apologize for being such a bitch when I saw you at Hunter’s place. It caught me off guard, and I lashed out.”

“No worries,” I replied, giving her a small smile. “I get it. It’s a lot to process for all of us.” Stella’s apology meant more to me than she probably realized. It signified yet another small bridge being built between our families. And a friendlier start to the cruise than I’d dared hope for.

Stella tucked a flyaway strand of hair behind her ear. “So you’ve had no word from your ex? You’re confident he’s out of the picture?”

I blinked, the concern in her voice surprising me, but warming to her. “Oh, yeah. I haven’t heard from him in a long time now.”

Stella’s gaze turned sympathetic. “Breakups are tough.”

“Yeah. I’m lucky to have Hunter to lean on. He made sure I stayed safe until he was convinced Knox had left town. I’m just focusing on myself and the bookshop now.”

“You two will have to come to Orchid sometime. I’ll make sure your meals are on the house.”

I laughed and said I’d love to. As she moved off to stand beside Aiden at the console, I released a shaky breath. Stella fitted herself against Aiden’s side as he guided the boat through the calm water, one hand on the wheel. He planted a kiss against her head, which brought my smile back.

As the boat glided over the gentle waves, Hunter’s warmth seeped into my side. His protective presence grounded me in this sea of Markhams. The tension I had carried like an anchor began to loosen its grip, and a sense of acceptance and maybe even a hint of hope replaced it.

“Doing all right?” The low rumble of Hunter’s voice cut through the chatter and whirr of my thoughts. His hand found mine, his calloused fingers interlacing with my own.

I gave his hand a quick squeeze. “Yeah. I am.”

But even as the words left my lips, a niggle of worry wormed its way back in. How would my family fit into this equation? The Coleridges were far more accustomed to brandishing harpoons than olive branches where the Markhams were concerned. And though Ben had surprised me, I had a feeling my three other brothers would treat Hunter with more than a little skepticism. But that was a problem for future Brenna. Now I was determined to enjoy the warm breeze against my face.

Half an hour later, April emerged from the steps leading up from the cabin. She moved slowly over the deck toward us, rubbing a hand over her wide belly. She dropped into the canvas chair with a sigh. “I never thought I could pee so much.”

Gabe hovered protectively from the seat next to her, his brows drawn together in a frown. “Come here. Put your feet up.”

“I’m pregnant, not an invalid.” April huffed, but a smile played at the corners of her mouth. Gabe leaned over to remove her sandals, then set her swollen feet in his lap to massage them. April sighed contentedly, her eyes fluttering closed.

Hunter laughed softly beside me, then leaned close. “I can’t believe that’s my big brother. You might be right about this whole people changing thing. ”

“It’s sweet. They’re such a cute couple together.” The wind whipped strands of my hair across my face. I brushed them away, my attention drawn to movement at the rear of the boat. Evan leaned against the rail near the stern, his posture stiff as he observed our little group. Liv came up beside him, slipped an arm around his waist, and stretched up to press a kiss to his clean-shaven cheek. Some of the tension bled from Evan’s shoulders as he sent a smile her way. After a murmured exchange, Liv floated toward me, her gauzy sundress billowing around her knees, and Hunter took the opportunity to talk to Maia.

“I’m so glad you could make it,” Liv said, engulfing me in a lavender-scented hug. Wisps of her curly hair tickled my cheek.

“Me too. Thanks for having me.” I returned her embrace a bit uncertainly, conscious of Evan’s appraising gaze. She might be a friend, but he was all Markham.

Liv pulled back, her green eyes sparkling. “You’ll have to stop by Sweet Dreams soon! I’m working on some new cupcake flavors I need a guinea pig for.”

“I’m always happy to lend my taste buds to the cause.”

“It’s set, then. I’ll hold you to that.” With a last friendly squeeze of my arm, Liv sauntered off to where Maia and her family stood at the bow.

In her wake, Evan approached, hands shoved in the pockets of his shorts. “Brenna.” He inclined his head, the greeting polite.

“Hi, Evan. It’s been a while.”

Discomfort rolled off him in waves, but I caught a flicker of curiosity in his eyes as they flicked between Hunter and me. “I have to admit, I admire that you’re taking on the mammoth task of burying the hatchet between our families. ”

“It’s about time someone did, don’t you think?” Smiling softly, I tilted my head and studied him for a moment. Despite his reserved demeanor, there was sincerity in his gaze.

Evan’s jaw tensed briefly before he nodded. “Yeah, there’s been a lot of ill will between us.”

A surge of gratitude warmed my chest for the people surrounding me. “Right. It’s time to break the cycle and choose a different path.”

I could sense Evan’s internal struggle, the weight of his family history pressing down on him. But he was here, making an effort to support Hunter and me. “We learned firsthand recently that people can change. Ben did a standout job while he worked here.”

“And that’s how change begins. Maybe I’m just picking up the torch my big brother set down.”

I shot a quick glance at Hunter, who was now talking to Gabe and April. As if sensing my attention, he looked at me, stiffening when he saw who I was talking to. For a moment, heat blazed in his eyes until I gave him a nod to let him know I was fine. And as quick as it appeared, the angry expression fled and he turned back to Gabe. His reaction was curious, but I accepted his unpredictability—another facet of this complicated man.

I turned back to Evan. “Your brother means a lot to me.”

Evan gave me a long, evaluating stare. It was intimidating, but I stood tall and met his gaze. He must have approved because the skin around his eyes softened to give him a more relaxed look. “Having Hunter around again has taken some getting used to. But I have a feeling you’ve helped with the transition. So for that, you’ve got my thanks.” After a nod, he turned and strode back to Liv’s side .

I blinked in his wake. Evan wasn’t exactly friendly, but of all of them, he had the most complicated relationship with Hunter. I decided to call our exchange a win. In fact, the whole experience made me wonder why no one had tried to end the family hostilities before now.

Maybe because Hunter and I are something special together?

As the boat gently rocked on the waves, Hunter appeared next to me. He took my hand and drew me away from the others to the railing. The sun was just kissing the horizon, painting the undulating waves in strokes of brilliant gold and deep pink. Leaning into his solid strength, a profound sense of rightness stole through me.

Hunter pressed a kiss to my temple, his beard tickling my skin. “Penny for your thoughts?”

“Just… savoring the moment.”

“You seem more relaxed now.” His fingers idly stroked between my shoulder blades in a comforting rhythm.

“I am,” I said quietly. “This cruise… it’s been unexpected. And welcome.”

I nestled closer, breathing in his mix of clean linen and the underlying musk that was pure Hunter. The slanting rays of the setting sun burnished his angular features, bringing out the rich brown tones in his neat beard. He’d never looked more handsome. Though quiet and watchful during our sail, he hadn’t wandered far from me as he balanced being supportive with letting me find my own way.

I tilted my head. “What about you? This little sunset sail had to give you a few nerves too. You feeling okay?”

He nodded. “I’ve enjoyed myself. Evan’s been a bit standoffish—we’re still finding our footing around each other. By the way, Gabe told me a few minutes ago that introducing you like this was a good idea. I think he’s convinced you don’t have invisible horns and a tail.” Amusement glinted in his eyes.

I laughed softly, a tentative warmth filling me. Relief. After giving him a slow wink, I turned back to the spectacle on the western sky. Hunter pulled me tight, and we watched another day end.

Eventually, Catch of the Day returned to the tranquil waters of the Calypso Key canal. Aiden expertly maneuvered the sailboat into its spot, the gentle bump against the dock signaling the end of our evening. One by one, we disembarked.

April padded over and clasped my hands. “Don’t be a stranger, okay? You’re practically part of us now. We’ll catch up soon.”

I squeezed her fingers back, my heart full. “Book club coming up, right?”

She grinned. “Yep, I’m almost done with the book. And don’t worry—so’s Liv.”

Maia and Wyatt waved from the dock, Skye drowsing against her father’s shoulder. Even Gabe, known to be the grouchiest of Markhams, smiled and waved before helping his wife off the boat.

As Evan disembarked, he gave me a measured, polite nod. “See you around.”

I smiled, but it was tight. He was the only one who hadn’t appeared to warm up to me, but maybe I should count my blessings. As he turned away, his eyes lingered on Hunter for a long moment.

I blinked in surprise as a thought struck me. Evan’s aloofness might not be entirely about the feud or even my presence. Perhaps it had more to do with the reemerging bond between him and his younger brother. Evan’s guarded politeness, the tension that seemed to coil around him… maybe it was a protective instinct, a desire to shield Hunter from harm. I liked that idea.

Hunter steered me toward where his Range Rover waited in the twilight. He opened the passenger door, but before I could climb in, he tugged me back against his chest and captured my lips in a kiss that stole the breath from my lungs. The heat of it zinged through my veins.

“I’ve been waiting to do that all afternoon,” he rumbled against my mouth, his voice low and throaty.

Dazed, my lips tingled as he sauntered around the front of the car and slid behind the wheel with a satisfied smirk playing about his lips. I folded myself into the passenger seat and buckled in. As the engine growled to life, Hunter reached over and laced his fingers with mine, the calluses rough against my palm. “That went well, don’t you think?” Pride colored his tone, and I couldn’t help but smile.

“It did. Your family welcomed me more than I expected. I actually had a good time, and I wasn’t anticipating that. I just hope…” I trailed off, the unspoken fear curdling in my gut. The palms whizzed past the window, their silhouettes stark against the deepening dusk.

Hunter’s hand tightened on mine. “Just hope what?”

Swallowing hard, I forced myself to voice the words threatening to choke me. “I just hope my family can be as accepting of you. Of us.”

The winding coastal road soared over the narrow cut between Calypso and Dove Keys, and the water below had turned to rippling onyx under the night sky. A heavy beat of silence stretched between us as we both thought about the afternoon and the next step.

When we arrived at my apartment, the cozy space felt different somehow. Charged by the fact that we’d surmounted one hurdle, but another one lay just ahead.

Hunter followed me inside, his presence filling up the room. “So when should I meet your family?”

Anxiety clawed at my throat as visions of Hunter facing off against Ben and Eli played out in my mind like a movie I couldn’t pause. And a couple of quick calls over the past few days to Braden and my brother Austin had confirmed my fears. They were concerned about me being involved with Hunter too. The Markham bad boy and my Coleridge siblings, mortal enemies standing on opposite sides of a battle line drawn in the sand long before any of us were born.

“Hunter, I…” My mouth went dry, and I swallowed hard. “Today went so well with your family. Better than I could have imagined. Can’t we just… focus on that? Figure out my family later?”

He drew his brows together, a flicker of unease darkening his chiseled features. “Brenna, if we’re going to make this work, I’ll have to meet them sometime.”

I knew that. Logically. But my heart kept searching for an escape hatch. Because even though I wanted this to work out more than anything I’d ever known, the tentative acceptance his family had shown me made me afraid. It was chickenshit, but I wanted a way to hold onto this happiness without putting it to the test.

Because I had a sinking feeling I knew how that test would end.

“I know,” I continued. “And we will. But I still think one potentially explosive family meeting is enough for one day.”

Seeing the turmoil etched on Hunter’s striking features, distress shot through me. He was an irresistible force pulling me into his orbit, and all I wanted to do was make him feel good. Closing the gap between us, I placed my hands against his broad chest, the thrum of his heartbeat steady beneath my fingertips. I rose onto my tiptoes, leaning in closer until our breaths mingled in the air. All that mattered was this moment and the man standing before me.

“I don’t want to think about our families anymore,” I said in a low, throaty voice. “I want to think about you. Only you.”

I pressed my lips against his in a kiss that was meant to reassure as much as ignite passion. It was a plea for him to let go of his worries and focus on us—on what we could be together.

Hunter’s arms snaked around my waist, pulling me hard against his body. Softening his lips against mine, he deepened the kiss. I gasped as his hand found its way into my hair, his fingers tangling in the locks as he held me close. His tongue teased the seam of my lips, seeking entrance. A low growl rumbled from him as I opened my mouth to let him in. The deeply male sound vibrated through me and sent a jolt of desire straight to my core. My hands slid up his muscled back, tracing the contours of his broad shoulders before coming to rest on the nape of his neck.

“Come upstairs,” I murmured against his lips.

He groaned, hauling me tight against the hard plane of his chest. “That’s the best idea you’ve had all day.”

Then he was leading me by the hand up the stairs to my apartment. And as the night wrapped around us like a cloak, I lost myself in his touch, his taste, the heady slide of his body against mine.

Tomorrow and all its thorny complications would come.

But tonight… Tonight was for us.