Ball & Chain(114)

“He thinks he does,” Park said, beginning to grin. “That’s the problem.”

“Wait up!” Nick called to the two men, jogging to catch up to them on the beach path.



The sun was rising when the boat neared the shoreline. The dock was the only place even remotely capable of taking a vessel the size of the craft they’d retrieved, but there was too much damage and debris to get close. They had to ferry people two and three at a time, using the canoe and the lifeboat they’d found on board. Ty wasn’t even able to help do that because of his throbbing shoulder. He sat aside and watched despondently.

They left the house as it was, the bodies where they’d been lying, save for Burns, who they’d wrapped in canvas and taken with them. Earl had been adamant he wouldn’t leave Burns behind. Luggage was left in the rooms, only the necessities taken with them back to the mainland. Hamish, Fraser, and Frost were all tied down, tied up, and gagged so none of them could speak for the entirety of the two-hour boat ride back to the mainland. Mackie had been left to his cottage and his destroyed dock.

Nick worked on the radio, trying to raise assistance. He finally picked someone up, but they couldn’t understand his accent and he couldn’t understand theirs. He wound up cursing into the radio and giving up on trying to raise anyone else.

Ty stood beside him at the helm, feeling as if they still had so much left to say but not sure where to even start. He was still having trouble pushing past the shock of Richard Burns’s death. He couldn’t imagine going through that loss without Nick to help him.

Nick finally looked him up and down. “You look like hell, Ty, go sit down.”

Ty remained for several more seconds. When Nick glanced at him again, Ty said, “I love you like my own brother. You know that, right?”

Nick stared at him.

“I know you’ve got to be mad at me for a while. But remember that, okay?”

Nick gave him a curt nod, swallowing hard. Ty turned away from him, heading out of the pilothouse. Deuce met him in the doorway, Livi on his arm.

“You two okay?” Ty asked them.

“Today was our wedding day,” Livi said, her voice choked. She covered her mouth, fighting back tears. Then she took a deep breath. “We wanted to thank you for what you did. We were coming to thank Nick.”

Nick still had his back to them, but his head was turned, listening and watching out of his peripheral vision.

Livi moved past Ty and went up to Nick, not saying a word, merely hugging him. He was forced to take one arm off the wheel to return the hug, his big hand gentle on her slim frame.

Livi was crying quietly when she released him. She moved back to Ty and Deuce, tears streaming down her face.

“Are you okay?” Ty asked again, unsure of what to do for them.

She laughed shakily and nodded, wiping at her face. “After everything that happened, I feel so stupid. I just . . . I thought we’d be married when we got back to the mainland. It wasn’t even official, it was just a . . . stupid ceremony on a stupid island!”

Deuce pulled her into a hug, resting his chin on her head. He met Ty’s eyes, smiling weakly.

Ty nodded in understanding. Then an idea hit him. He turned to Nick again, narrowing his eyes.

Nick stiffened when he saw the look. “What?”

“You’re the captain of this ship.”

Nick’s eyes darted from Ty to Deuce and Livi, who were both frowning at Ty in confusion.

“You can marry them.”

Nick stared, his mouth hanging open. “That’s a horrible idea.”

“He can marry us?” Livi asked.

Ty shrugged. “It’s just as official as a ceremony on a stupid island.”

Livi’s blue eyes grew wide and hopeful.

Nick pointed a finger at her. “I’m immune to those looks.”

“Five minutes, Irish, you can marry them.”

“I don’t know how to perform a marriage ceremony, Ty!”

“Please,” Deuce said quietly. “Everyone we love is on this boat. That’s all that matters. Just say man and wife for us in front of our families.”

It seemed like Nick was going to protest, but he finally cursed under his breath and turned to slow the boat.

As soon as he turned back, Livi darted toward him and hugged him around the neck. “Thank you,” she whispered. Then she left the pilothouse to get everyone together.

Deuce gave Nick a smile and a nod before going off after her. Ty couldn’t keep from grinning as Nick glared at him.

“I’ll make you regret this,” Nick warned, walking past.

Fifteen minutes later, they’d gathered everyone, and Nick was at the bow of the ship, Livi and Deuce standing before him. No one was with them, no best man or maid of honor, no father of the bride giving her away. Livi had put her wedding dress on, sans all the accessories, to leave her in a beautiful white sheath gown that spread out in a train behind her. Amelia sat on the train, gnawing on the expensive silk.