Read Online Maxine by SUE FINEMAN - Free Book Online

out. Come on, guys, help us out.” It wasn’t a big luxury yacht like her grandfather had once owned, but it looked like a comfortable boat.
    Nick and Tony checked out the engine while Cara and Angelo looked inside at the salon, galley, and V-berth. “This is big enough to live on, isn’t it, Angelo?”
    “Sure. Nick used to have one about this size. Lisa didn’t like boats, so he sold it, bought the property here on the beach. We built the house after his divorce.”
    “He seems bitter about his divorce.”
    “Of course he is,” said Angelo. “Nick wanted kids. Lisa got pregnant, but he didn’t know until he got the bill for her abortion. And then she took nearly everything in the divorce. He got screwed.”
    Cara was so shocked, she didn’t know what to say. No wonder he hated his wife, and no wonder he didn’t want a woman hanging around his house.
    Nick walked up behind Angelo. “You talk too much, Angelo.”
    Tony cleared his throat. “Nice boat.”
    The salesman said, “The former owner’s kids had the boat hauled out and surveyed two months ago, after their father died. I have that report right here. The sellers feel it’s priced competitively.”
    “But they’re anxious to get rid of it,” said Nick.
    The salesman shrugged and Cara watched with delight as Nick negotiated several thousand dollars off the asking price.
    The salesman’s eyes widened when he saw the name on her credit card. Nick’s eyes narrowed, and he gave the salesman a stern warning about keeping Cara’s whereabouts a secret.
    After the salesman left on another boat, Cara put the boat keys in Nick’s hand. “You’re in charge of the boat, Nick. I don’t know anything about boats.”
    He gazed into her eyes for so long, she wondered what he was thinking. Would he take the boat?
    “I’ll take good care of it. For Max and Company.”
    “I know you will, Nick.”
    Nick and his cousins seemed like little boys with a new toy, running their hands over the polished teak rails, playing with the radar, laughing and enjoying themselves. Nick made a list of the things they’d need to fit the boat out in style, and Tony was already negotiating to use it to impress women.
    Nick shook his head. “No way, Tony. It’s Cara’s boat.”
    “No, the boat belongs to the company,” she said. “Tony, you have as much right to use it as anyone else in the company.”
    Tony kissed Cara, a loud smack on the lips. Angelo kissed her, too. Smiling, her eyebrows raised expectantly, Cara teased, “Your turn, Nick.”
    He leaned in close to whisper, “Baby, if I start kissing you, I won’t stop this week.”
    Warmth bubbled up inside her and she longed for him to kiss her, but he didn’t.
    The men made arrangements to go grocery shopping and Tony left to get his car. He’d meet Nick and Angelo in town and drive them to the store.
    Cara thought about giving Nick money for groceries, but she didn’t want to step on his pride. He was touchy about money, especially after she bought the boat. She gave Angelo some money and a list with her sizes. “If there’s another shop nearby that sells clothes, would you mind getting a few things for me? I’m not picky, Angelo. I want something loose and soft and comfortable. Sweats are fine.”
    Nick hated to leave Cara alone, but Riley wouldn’t let anyone near the house and her deadbeat husband was on his way to Spokane, on the other side of the state. He knew one of his cousins would stay with her, but she didn’t seem afraid to stay alone this time. She’d be all right by herself for a couple hours.
    The boat handled like a dream, and it felt great to be out on the water again. It was only three years old, fully equipped, in excellent condition. Cara got a good deal on it, too, thanks to him. It must be nice to buy anything you wanted and not have to worry about how to pay for it.
    Minutes later, they were docked in Gig Harbor bay, a tiny finger of Puget Sound. A green horseshoe-shaped hill