8. Talon

The day got away from me. My boat throwing a loophole while I worked on it wasn't in the cards. That's life, especially when you own a boat surrounded by salt water. Shit corrodes, and there are some things that can't be repaired and have to be replaced. My downfall today came in the form of the parts store not having what I needed in stock. I knew better. I should have taken the time to work on my personal boat during the winter months before the rush. Too bad charters don't take a break and can sometimes be busier than our summer months. It seems the Scott family has all the unfortunate luck this week when it comes to needing supplies.

"Damn," I mutter under my breath as I make the short trek from my house to Ed's. My back is currently protesting from being in all kinds of weird positions while working on my boat. Any other time, you would find me sitting on my couch, feet up on the coffee table, a beer in my hand while mindless TV entertains me. Except Kelsey called me on her way home from working at the marina to let me know a friend invited her to hang out for a little while. I could hear the tiredness in her tone as well as the reluctance. Clearly, she didn't want to go or was too exhausted. I'm not sure who was more annoyed that our schedules we're a shit show, me or her. The only good thing coming from today's hectic pace is while Kels is out and about, I'm going to do what Grandad suggested—talk to her parents.

"Hey, Talon, this is a surprise," Ed answers the door shortly after I made my way to his front porch and hit the doorbell.

"Hey, Ed, do you and Lisa have a few minutes to talk?"

"Of course. Is everything alright?" Fuck, the last thing I want is for him to worry.

"Oh yeah, this shouldn't take too long. Sorry to cause any trouble." I take a step back as he opens the storm door, holding it for me as I pass through. All damn night, I've been going back and forth on how to start this conversation.

"No trouble at all. Lisa is asleep. She can't hang out two nights in a row with little to no sleep like she used to." Ed lets out a chuckle. Maybe luck will finally be on my side tonight.

"Kelsey mentioned you two have been busier than usual lately." I tip my hand to let him know that we talk more than he's probably aware. I've stayed away from Kelsey since the Taylor family moved in a couple of years ago. The temptation was too damn strong for me to be around her and not want to do more than look. That all changed a few weeks ago when she touched me, and I knew it was going to be impossible to hold back much longer.

"Yeah, she's got a taste of the empty nest syndrome, and no matter how much I try to keep Kelsey from saving up money to move out, it's hard. She's hell bent on spreading her wings to fly, which is a damn hard pill to swallow." Kelsey didn't relay all that, except it makes sense. Two jobs, one full-time, one part-time. I'm pretty sure her atrial fibrillation will kick in if she doesn't take it easy. After the bomb she dropped, I did my own research. Alcohol, caffeine, high blood pressure. They"re all contributing factors. Which means I'm going to do whatever I can to simplify her life.

"I bet." I stand in the foyer waiting to see where this goes next.

"So, what did you want to talk about, Talon?" Fuck, this is a lot harder than I thought it was going to be. He has every right to tell me to back the hell off. Kelsey is twenty-two to my thirty-six. She's just starting her career, whereas I'm firmly settled at where I'll stay until I'm as old as Grandad and can't stand to captain a boat any longer. Considering Grandpa Scott hasn't stopped yet, I'd say neither will I. He goes out every morning to set a couple of traps for whatever he's feeling froggy for. Sometimes he'll share his bounty of whatever he fishes. Other times he'll tell me to shit or get off the pot and catch my own.

Ed crosses his arms over his chest, waiting me out. "I'm not sure where to begin." I keep my arms lose and at my sides. I'll take whatever he dishes out when I finally grow a pair and admit to Ed that I'm pursuing his daughter.

"At the beginning would probably be a good idea." Boy, he isn't wrong.

"I'd like to date your daughter." Jesus, I feel like I'm in high school picking up Talia for senior prom. Except this is ten times worse. What I feel for Kelsey is stronger than I ever thought possible. She's fucking it for me.

"Not surprised. I've admired the way you've stayed away, let her do her college deal, get on her feet. I've seen the way my daughter looks at you." Ed takes a deep breath. Yeah, hiding my feelings from not only Kelsey but her parents has been damn hard. I'd so much as catch a glimpse, scent, or hear her voice, and I had to excuse myself or start reciting tide charts to keep my cock in check. And when she touched me a few weeks ago, causing me to send her away, I walked my ass inside, pulled my shorts down, and wrapped my hand around my dick until I came. Not my proudest moment, but it kept me from going after her. "Kelsey is a lot like her mom. When they want something, they go after it. Hell, Lisa chased after me until I finally gave in," Ed says.

"I can see that." I no sooner state my reply than Kelsey's dad"s fist comes out of nowhere. I've barely got time to brace for impact before my jaw is clipped. It's by sheer will and Grandad's advice that I keep my feet planted.

"Jesus Christ, Edward Lewis Taylor. What have you done?" Lisa comes around the corner, wearing a house robe and hair sticking up every which way.

"We're fine." Ed holds his hand out for me to shake.

"Men are so weird. I swear I will never understand the lot of you. Where's Kels?" Lisa doesn't question why I'm here late at night.

"She's not home yet. I was about to head to bed when Talon rang the doorbell." He holds his hand out for Lisa, who immediately takes it.

"Kelsey said she'd be home by now," she says worriedly.

"I'm sure she's fine, honey. She'd call us or Talon if something were wrong." Has he not met his daughter? She's got an independent streak a mile long.

"Who is Kelsey with anyways?" I ask.

"Mariah and the girls picked her up a couple of hours ago," Lisa replies.

"Where were they heading?" Lisa and Ed look from one another back to me.

"The island," both respond at once.

"Fuck, I should have asked. I didn't think to. I've gotta go. Those idiots get drunker than a skunk. I've seen a few of them almost hit pylon markers before." In the dead of day and more than on one occasion have I seen a few of them fly through no wake zones, bottles in their hands, laughing without a care in the world. I'm not opposed to anyone having a few drinks, but when they endanger the woman I know without a single fucking doubt will be mine for-fucking-ever, that's when I have an issue.

"Goddamn it. I should have offered her to take my boat. Kelsey didn't even ask and I didn't think anything of it. Let me go change, grab my keys, and I'll head out with you." Ed is beating himself up, but not nearly as much as I am.

"You can't, Ed. Your boat has no gas," Lisa states. Ed's face is etched with concern as is Lisa's.

"I'll go. My boat is already in the water and has a full tank of gas. You all try to call her and then relay the message to me when you can." It'd take Ed minutes to get dressed, nearly twenty to fuel up, and I'm not fucking around.

"Go. Go get our girl, Talon. Ed will call you if he finds anything out. Please do the same," Lisa replies. Meanwhile, her husband is walking off. I have no doubt he'll be behind me as soon as possible.

"I will." I'm walking out the door the second those two words leave my lips. I've got a woman to go after.