Smooth Sailing

“I’m coming home a changed man, Jackie,” he murmured and instantly fell into a deep sleep.

4

Crab—To compensate for current or leeway by correcting the heading to one side of the actual course

THE SOUND OF HIS CELL PHONE announcing a text message woke Jeb at dawn. Bleary-eyed, he pulled a palm down his face, blinked at the pink rays of sun pushing up over the crystal-blue water.

Ding.

The cell phone in his back pocket reminded him about the text.

He blew out his breath, dropped his feet over one side of the hammock and fished in his back pocket for his phone. The text was from Jackie. His pulse leaped and he grinned widely.

Until he read the message.

To our closest friends and family. You are invited to the Fourth of July wedding of Coast Guard Lieutenant Commander Scott Marcus Everly and Jacqueline Michele Birchard at 4:00 p.m. aboard the Sea Anemone docked at Wharf 16, Key West, Florida.

We know our union is quick and unexpected, but when you’ve found your soul mate, there’s nothing to do but take the plunge. We would love to have the pleasure of your company. RSVP to Jackie @ JackieBirchard@seaanemone.com.

Jeb’s smile vanished. A muscle at his right eye jerked repeatedly. He had to read the text four times before the words finally sank in. Jackie was getting married on the Fourth of July. Six days from now. The precise number of days it would take Second Chance to sail from St. Michael’s to Key West in calm waters.

And she’d invited him to the wedding via text message!

“A bit cowardly, Jackie,” he murmured. “You could have had the decency to pick up the phone and call me.”

He got to his feet, shoved his hands through his hair, paced and cussed a blue streak. How could she do this to him? She’d promised she would give him a year to prove he could change, and now she’d gone and gotten herself engaged to some guy in the Coast Guard? What the hell?

Jeb had to admit his feelings were hurt.

To top it off, she’d used the words soul mate. Jackie did not talk like that. She didn’t believe in stuff like that. What had happened to her? She could not be thinking clearly. She must be caught up in some kind of lustfueled haze, like the one he’d gotten ensnared in when he almost had sex with Haley on the beach. It happened. He understood. He could forgive her. What he couldn’t do was let her make the biggest mistake of her life.

Distressed, he punched Jackie’s number into the keypad.

She answered on the second ring with a cheery, “Hey, Jeb, long time no hear.”

How could she sound so casual?

“I just got your text message,” he said tersely.

“Will you be coming to the wedding? I know it’s short notice, but it would mean a lot to me to have you there.”

“Jackie, you can’t marry this guy.”

“Why does everyone keep saying that to me?”

“Who else said it to you?”

“Boone, for one.” Boone was Jackie’s half brother. “He was a bit of a jerk about it, too,” Jackie continued. “At least I know you’re not going to be a jerk. You’re never a jerk about anything.”

“Well, I’m with Boone on this one. You can’t marry this guy.”

“I can and I will. I’m in love, Jeb. For the first time in my life. Truly, madly, deeply, forever and ever in love.”

“Okay, who are you and what have you done with Jackie Birchard?”

“I’ve changed, Jeb.”

“I’ve changed, too, Jackie. I’ve changed so much and I miss you. You can’t marry this Scott guy because I’m the man for you and I can show you if you just give me a chance.”

“Jeb.” She laughed. “You don’t love me.”

Laughed! She was laughing at him.

“But I do, Jackie, I really do.”

“You think you love me because I’m the only woman who has ever turned you down. The only woman who’s ever challenged you and called you on your crazy lifestyle.”

Not the only woman. Immediately, Jeb thought of Haley.

“How long have you known this guy?” he demanded.

“Only a month, but the time doesn’t matter. Not when it’s the real deal.”

“Listen to yourself. Do you really hear what you’re saying? You’re marrying a guy you’ve only know for four short weeks.”

“It’s all the time I need.”

“Jackie, you’ve got to believe me—”

“Are you coming to the wedding?”