He informed we had a small window to take off. I packed my shit and made it to the small airport by five. In California time, that was two. My body was screwed up. I hoped to go back to sleep but it was impossible.
I cracked a few eggs into a pan before popping some bread into the toaster. I wasn’t a chef. I didn’t cook a lot, but I could cook a few things. My eyes felt gritty from the lack of sleep. I made another cup of coffee, thankful it took less than a minute to be ready to drink and sipped it while my breakfast cooked.
I sat down at the kitchen bar with my iPad propped up on a holder. I took a bite of the eggs while scanning through the headlines for the day. The world was going to hell in a handbasket, as my father would say. It was depressing to read the news.
My phone rang, interrupting my quiet morning. It was still early for a Saturday morning. I hoped it wasn’t a ship emergency. I didn’t have the brain power to deal with any engineering problems. Not until I had at least two more cups of coffee.
“Hello,” I answered without paying attention to the number.
“Hi,” Evie’s perky voice came through.
I almost choked on the eggs. “Hey,” I said, checking the time. “You are up early.”
“It’s eight. That’s not early. Did I wake you?”
“No, I’ve been up since two, or five, I suppose.”
“Really?”
“I didn’t get to come home last night like I planned. We got in early this morning.”
“Oh, I’m sorry. I should let you get back to sleep.”
I took a drink of coffee. “No, I’m up. I was just eating some breakfast.”
“Are you up for company?”
I looked down at the wrinkled jeans and even more wrinkled T-shirt I was wearing. I hadn’t showered yet. I lifted one armpit and sniffed. It didn’t smell bad. “Sure.”
“I can wait if you want to try and get a nap.”
“Nope. Come over. I’ll text you my address.”
“I’ll see you soon.”
I quickly sent the address and then went out to push the button to open the front gate. I scarfed down my breakfast and then rushed upstairs to brush my teeth. I put on a fresh slide of deodorant and then spritzed on some cologne before dashing back downstairs.
I did a quick run through the house, picking up the shit I had tossed around when I walked through the door earlier. A few minutes later, Evie was ringing the doorbell.
“Hi,” I said as I opened the door. My eyes drank in the sight of her. She was wearing a pair of beige capri pants and a plain black T-shirt with a pair of black sandals. Her hair was pulled back in a ponytail once again. I liked it like that. I liked her shapely neck.
“Oh,” she pouted. “You look tired.”
I ran a hand through my hair. “I’m fine. Come in.”
I gestured for her to enter the foyer. She stepped inside, her eyes scanning the area. “Can I get you a drink? Coffee?”
“I’m good. Your house is beautiful. Now I understand why you don’t like to go out.”
“You have to see the view,” I told her and led her toward the sitting area that stretched along the length of the house that faced the ocean. There was no privacy, and if any boat out on the water aimed a telescope or binoculars my way, they’d get an eyeful.
“Wow!” she said, coming to a stop in front of the massive sliding doors that were blended in between the windows. “This view is amazing. I think this is what they are talking about when they say a million-dollar view.”
“Step outside. Smell the ocean.”
She followed me onto the patio. I watched her chest expand as she inhaled. “This is stunning. Just absolutely beautiful.”
“The pool is over here,” I gestured. “It’s protected from the breeze that can come off the ocean and be a little too chilly. And it provides some privacy.”
“Do you do a lot of skinny dipping?” she asked with a grin.
I winked. “Define a lot.”
I showed her around the rest of the house before we ended up back in the living room. “I have to say, I thought your house would be much bigger,” she said. “You are this rich guy that lives in—I hate to say it—but kind of a normal house. I was thinking you would live in one of those mansions that you need a map to navigate.”