Handing her a Kleenex, Blake then kissed the tip of her nose after Brooke had cleaned up her face. “Believe me, we know. Even though I knew you were going to be devastated when I told you, which sent me right over the edge, the management team—including Kelly and Piper—reminded me that you are one of the strongest women we know. Although I have to admit…at first, Kelly and Piper were ready to grab Sabine and go on the rampage with you.”
“I love my girls.” Brooke sighed. She snuggled closer to Blake. “However, it sounds as though there is no danger to Sandy, now that there’s no opportunity for those clowns to pull anything that fucked-up with her. Ick, just thinking about the contamination that rolls off them makes my skin crawl.”
Kissed Brooke again more thoroughly, Blake whispered, “I think I need to order something from the Pier House Grill, we can both take a shower while we’re waiting for our food, then we can eat and forget about this shitshow of a day for a while. Andthen, my tigress, I can indulge in my dessert while I’m listening to you scream for me.”
“Only if I get to have my wicked way withyou, too,” Brooke whispered back, running her fingers under the waistband of Blake’s cargo pants. “Have Wade send some of that yummy chocolate mousse he makes. I have this burning urge all of a sudden to see how it tastes when I lick it off your body.”
With her own growl, Blake cupped Brooke’s breasts, a gleam in her eyes. “It’s a deal, tigress. Beware, however, because there might not be much of you left by the time I’m done with you. I amveryserious about my dessert, you know, especially when it’s as delectable as you are. Right now, though,” Brooke quaked at the wicked smile that curled Blake’s mouth, “I think I need to order dinner, before I’m eating something else.”
Chapter 14
“Blake’s granddad was a ship captain.” At dinner with both her parents and Blake’s mom and dad, Brooke listened intently to Bob Seibert as he talked about his seafaring career. “I still to this day do not understand why my father never became a master mariner. He was talented enough, for sure. But he was content and loved what he did, so who was I to question his choices?”
“Do you mind explaining what the difference is, Bob?” asked Alonso Marino, interested.
“Not at all. A person who possesses the qualification of a master mariner can be the captain of any ship of any size in any part of the globe. Ship captains, on the other hand, are restricted by vessel size and therefore can be captains in only limited and specified areas. When Dad got out of the Navy, he knew right away he wanted to learn how to captain those luxury cruise liners, so that’s what he ended up doing.”
Dolly Seibert burst out laughing. “When my father-in-law retired, he and my mother-in-law decided they were going to take a cruise where they could be regular old passengers for once, instead of Dad having to work. By day two, though, Mom had threatened him with death if he didn’t stop critiquing every little darn thing. She said she would wait for the dead of night and throw him overboard if he didn’t stop getting testy and start behaving.”
Amidst the laughter, Brooke whispered drolly to Blake, “I see where you get it,” then laughed even harder as Blake’s eyebrows flew up into her hairline.
“Don’t let my daughter pick on you, Blake,” advised Pia Marino, her eyes twinkling. “She andmyfather-in-law were like two peas in a pod. Brooke and Giancarlo Marino were usually up to their earlobes in mischief, trust me.”
Brooke’s mouth fell open. “Mom! That’s not true!” She elbowed Blake in the ribs as Blake chuckled along with everyone else.
“You know it issotrue,tesorino,” said Alonso, using the Italian diminutive forsweetheart. His eyes grew soft. “This is not a time for sadness, but when Papa passed away in Brooke’s senior year of high school, it brought all of us to our knees. My daughter was the pride of his heart until the day he died.”
Dolly’s eyes were just as soft as Brooke fought her tears back. “Then, perhaps when itisa more appropriate time, you can tell us all about him. I have a distinct feeling there are more than a few shenanigans to share that we’d love to hear.”
It had been Blake’s idea to get together with their parents and go out to dinner. Wisely choosing to keep everything informal, she had suggested a popular local seafood restaurant that kept its own fleet of fishing boats, a place Brooke had previously told Blake her family adored. “They have this lightly-charred grilled octopus with a Greek herb vinaigrette my granddad got me hooked on years ago,” Blake had informed her. “I absolutely love it. Not only is it incredibly delicious, it’s healthy, so I can eat it anytime.
“The first time I brought the APS management team there when we were still in high school, I thought their heads were going to explode when they tasted it. Those fuckers are going to whine like a bunch of pussies when I tell them we met our parents here for dinner. Remind me to take a video and send it to them while we’re eating. The bitching will be audible as far south as Naples.” Brooke had burst out laughing, shaking her head at the shit-eating grin on her butch’s face.
Now, Brooke groaned as she tasted a bite of Blake’s octopus. “As much as I love all types of seafood for the most part, octopus has never been one of my favorites. I think this dish just might change my mind, though. Holycrap, Blake. This issoyummy!”
“Right? I’ll have to tell Granddad we have another convert.”
Chatting and laughing, the six of them enjoyed their delectable meals, Pia teasing her daughter as she told Blake that Brooke was a disaster in the kitchen. “Don’teverlet her cook for you, honey. Brooke has many fantastic talents, but culinary isnotone of them.” She blew a kiss to her mock-glowering child. “She, however, is an amazing artist, which I know you’ve seen. Giancarlo bragged on her constantly.”
“I can use a microwave,” said Brooke loftily, causing another explosion of laughter. “It was far more fun when I was growing up to hang out in the kitchen and draw while I watchedNonnomake his world-famous sauce. I’ll have you know, Blake is almost as bad as me…she can barely manage the very basics. Our superpowers lie in other directions.”
The evening wore on, both the Seiberts and the Marinos enjoying the opportunity to get to know each other better. As they were settling the check at the end of the evening—Blake adamant that she and Brooke were paying for dinner—Pia and Alonso insisted on having everyone over to their house for dinner soon, with Dolly and Bob promising to bring the wine and dessert. After everyone left, with hugs and cheek kisses all around, Brooke sighed contentedly as she walked hand-in-hand with Blake to their vehicle, moonlight sparkling off the Intracoastal Waterway.
“I assume all those text messages going off were the APS management team threatening to kill you for sending them pictures of that out-of-this-world grilled octopus, right?” she asked wryly as they reached Blake’s truck. “You aresomean, dude.”
Blake laughed as she unlocked the doors, then pushed Brooke lightly against the vehicle, looping her arms around her femme’s neck as she pinned her gently. “Even Casey was having a shit fit. And Drew said the next time we’re in Utopia, she’s going to make me pay for being an utter dick.” Brooke giggled.
After they had kissed for a long moment, Brooke slid her hand up to where she felt the outline of the concealed carry shoulder holster under Blake’s arm. “You’re always armed,” she sighed, her voice a breath on the wind.
“Always,” agreed Blake, her demeanor turning serious as she tightened her arms a slight bit. “I’m armed no matter where we go. All of us stay armed in public. My vehicle is consistently parked in such a way that I have clear sight lines in every direction so no one can sneak up on me.” Brooke’s eyes widened. “APS comms are on 24/7 when we are not at home.” She lightly touched the shell of her ear. “My core team—in addition to the management team—can find me at all times.
“We’re in a dangerous business, baby. Although we’ve never talked about it, you and I, what we do in the realm of protection and security at APS goes far deeper than run-of-the-mill companies. But I don’t ever want you to worry about your safety when you’re with me, okay? I will burn the world down before I ever let it hurt you.”
“I know.” Brooke kissed Blake briefly before she said, “I guess this means taking a walk along the beach is out of the question, then, huh?”
“Absolutely not. We can do that. I would, however, prefer to go back to Whimsy Beach, if it’s all the same to you. Not that we don’t get our share of drunk assholes staggering out of Seashells, but Whimsy folks are a lot less tolerant of dickish behavior. Plus, APS backup is everywhere if shit starts to go sideways for any reason.”
“Sold.” Kissing her butch one more time, Brooke jumped into the truck after Blake had opened her door. “Come on, my knight in shining armor. Let’s get this chariot rolling.”
