The First Step by Shira Anthony

Author:Shira Anthony [Anthony, Shira]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: gay romance
ISBN: 978-1-64405-527-4
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Published: 2019-05-18T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty-Three

“WHAT DID you just say?” Justin looked like someone had slapped him in the face.

“I’m riding along with you today for your first transfer,” Reed repeated. “I hope you don’t mind.”

“Hell no.” Justin glared at Reed, his face only inches away.

Reed couldn’t blame Justin for being angry, although his reaction was even more over-the-top than he’d expected. Cal had called two hours before to let him know he’d gotten Greg to approve the ride-along, and Reed hadn’t had the stomach to spring this on Justin by phone.

Greg poked his head out of his office. “Is there a problem?”

Justin paled and stepped back from Reed. “I…. No. ’Course not.”

“Good.” Greg looked at Reed and said, “I only okayed this because you know your way around a boat and the seas are calm, but we still do everything by the book. Safety first.” He eyed Reed’s deck shoes and nodded approvingly. “Justin’ll get you a PFD once you’re aboard.”

Personal flotation device. Sailor speak for a lifejacket. Reed knew the term from his sailing school days.

“Thanks again.” Reed waved at Greg as he and Justin walked out of the room.

“A moment of your time, Mr. Barfield?” Justin pointed to one of the staff rooms.

“Of course. And it’s Reed.” He smiled again, but Justin was already halfway down the hallway.

Justin closed the door behind them and stood there a moment, hands in tight fists at his sides, clearly trying to maintain his self-control.

“You’re pissed.” Stating the obvious.

“Pissed? No… I mean, yes.” Justin drew a long breath. “Why the hell didn’t you tell me you’d arranged a ride-along? It wasn’t like you and I weren’t… ah… in the same room last night.” He shoved his hands into his pockets and looked momentarily away.

“I didn’t know last night.” Reed ran a hand through his hair and tried not to let his own irritation take up where Justin’s left off. “I got a call from my editor this morning saying he’d arranged it with Greg.”

“You should have called me.”

“Right. Do you think calling you instead of telling you in person would have gone better?” Reed shook his head. “Justin, I understand you’re uncomfortable about having me on your turf, but I’m just doing my job.”

“This isn’t about your being here.”

“So what’s it about?” Reed countered. “Do you think I’m stupid enough to get up on the bow again and take photos?”

“You are going to take photos, though,” Justin snapped.

“I’ll take them from inside the boat. I’ll open a window.” Reed frowned and rubbed the bridge of his nose.

“It isn’t about taking photos.” Justin seemed to have just realized this.

“Okay. If it’s not about that, what is it about?”

“It’s just…. It’s a mistake. It’s… well…. You shouldn’t….”

“I’m not going on the transfer with you, Justin. For shit’s sake, I’m just sitting on the pilot boat watching. I’ve seen the marine forecast. Seas are one to two feet, and there’s not even five knots of wind,” Reed pointed out. “It’s a beautiful day. There’s nothing at all to

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