Falafel Jones - Max Fried 02 - Payback's a Beach by Falafel Jones Read Free Book Online Page B

highlighted her workout routine, it coordinated nicely with her deep tan. Then I noticed her hand.
    “Where are your wedding and engagement rings?”
    “I thought I’d be more approachable without them.”
    “You’re right.” I took my wedding band off and placed it in my dresser drawer.
     
    We drove west over the South Causeway, made a left onto Riverside drive and turned into the parking lot for the Coronado Yacht Club. It looked somewhat pedestrian for such an ipsy pipsy place. I parked and Mariel exited the car.
    She said, “How do we do this? I mean do we go in together?”
    “Yeah, if you’re from out of town, there’s no reason why a friend wouldn’t accompany you. Besides, I don’t want you out of my sight.”
    “Why? Are you worried something might happen to me?”
    “Partially, but mainly because I like to look at you.”
    She smiled and said, “Do you want me to wander around, meet people and get them to talk to me?”
    “Of course, that’s the plan.”
    “Then have a seat at the bar and wait for me.”
    I didn’t want to do that and while I tried to think of a reason to refuse, she said, “Do this for Brenda.”
    I nodded and followed her into the club.
    I took a seat at the club bar while Mariel wandered down one of the docks where they kept the larger ships. A bartender approached and placed a round coaster on the bar. “What’ll it be?”
    “Amberbock, please.”
    The man nodded and busied himself behind the bar. I looked around and saw only one other person. A good-looking woman about my age sat alone at the far end of the bar, looking out at the water. A handsome young man with abs of steel apparent beneath his golf shirt came in from another room and took the seat next to her.
    I didn’t hear what he said but I could see the woman shake her head. Then the young man shrugged and left. The bartender brought my beer and walked down to the woman. He pointed to her empty glass. She nodded and said, “I’m sick of these young boys.” She must have noticed me watching and asked me, “Why is it they think every woman wants them?”
    Not knowing what to say, I said, “I don’t know.” Apparently, this was the response she wanted or was at least close enough because she picked up her empty glass and sat down next to me.
    She held out her hand and in a whiskey voice said, “Hi, I’m Madison. Call me Maddie.”
    Still not knowing what to say, I shook her hand and said, “Max.”
    Maddie continued, “Actually my ex just calls me ‘Mad’, but that’s a long story.”
    The bartender took a bottle of Macallan Scotch down from the top shelf and refilled her glass.
    She smiled at him and then said, “Daddy named me for the street where he made his first million.”
    “He worked in advertising.”
    She gave me an appraising look. “Hmm, astute as well as handsome.”
    Embarrassed by her attention, I could only say, “Thank you.”
    “I did better than my brother though.”
    “How’s that?”
    “Daddy went into real estate and made his second million on Pearl Street.”
    I laughed and she said, “My brother’s in denial. Claims the writing on his birth certificate is illegible and calls himself Paul.”
    She took a long pull from her glass. “You a member here?”
    “No, just looking around.”
    “This is a nice club.”
    “Despite what happened to that boater from New York?”
    “You mean Drew Fisher? That bastard deserved it.”
    “You knew him?”
    “Yeah, we’re both from Long Island, the East End Yacht Club. A group of us visits here near the end of summer. Our club has reciprocity with the CYC.” She flipped her hair over her shoulder with one hand. “Would you like to see my boat?”
    “Um, what did Fisher do to piss you off?”
    “We… he ruined a couple of marriages with promises he had no plans to keep. He also defrauded a close friend.”
    When I said, “Like Bucky Vanderbilt?” Maddie looked surprised.
    “Yes, poor Bucky. Fisher took him for close to a