With a thrilling rush of excitement, I dashed downstairs to join everyone else. I found them on the bow of the boat admiring the untouched landscape.
“This part of the Cape is actually called the Shackleford Banks,” Liam pointed out to us. “It’s still mainly uninhabited and looks exactly like it did in the time of Blackbeard.”
“Who was Blackbeard?” Phoebe inquired, still gazing at the beach.
“He was a pirate who frequented the waters around North and South Carolina. Eventually his ship, The Queen Anne’s Revenge, ran aground sailing into Beaufort Inlet which is just north of here.
He was killed in a bloody battle at Ocracoke Island,” he explained further as his eyes turned wistful.
“Wow,” Phoebe marveled, eyes wide. Willow was eyeing Liam with glowing admiration and I could tell she was impressed by not only his good looks, but his mind as well. I smiled to myself and searched again for our elusive destination.
The yacht slowed and came to a complete stop in a seemingly random spot. The sound of the anchor dropping had us all looking at the other Sons standing on the deck with one question on our faces.
“How are we going to get to the beach?” Carmen was the first to ask, skeptically measuring the distance between the yacht and the beach.
“We’ll just have to make a swim for it,” Ricker said as he shrugged his shoulders with a twinkle in his eye.
“Swim?” Phoebe peered over the side of the yacht apprehensively. “But won’t our stuff get wet?”
“Then, I’ll be staying on this perfectly dry yacht,” Carmen clipped; regarding Ricker with a chilly expression. The massive yacht still wasn’t large enough for both of them. They were too much alike.
“Be my guest,” Ricker stepped towards Carmen with hostility apparent in his tone.
“You’d like that wouldn’t you?” Not to be outdone, Carmen stepped towards him as well.
“As a matter of fact I would,” he challenged her.
“Good. ‘Cause I’m not staying anywhere near you!”
“Oh, my feelings are so hurt!” He pretended to clutch his stomach, then narrowed his eyes at her, “You think I want to stay anywhere near you?”
“Well, good! I don’t want to hear your annoying voice and smell that god awful cologne that’s been making me gag for the last six hours!”
“You think that’s bad?! How about hearing you complain and whine for the last three ye-”
“Nobody’s making a swim for it,” Finn interrupted him; appearing behind us, “so stop fighting about it.” He shot a look at Ricker who immediately looked down at the deck and stepped away from Carmen. It still surprised me how much the other Sons revered Finn. Liam threw his strong arm around Finn’s shoulders and smiled wickedly at everyone.
“Who’s ready for a little James Bond action?” he wiggled his blonde eyebrows at us. The guys took off towards a miniature elevator, while the girls trailed behind uncertainly. After three trips (it was a really small elevator) we all stood in a snug, darkened room. Someone hit the lights and a nice sized dinghy materialized before us. It was completely black and matched the stealth appearance of the yacht it was housed in.
We piled in along with our luggage and Finn hit a few buttons on his phone. Suddenly, we were drenched in sunlight as a ramp slowly lowered from the back of the yacht, providing immediate access to the ocean. Sharing a tentative look with Phoebe, I held on tight as a conveyer belt below the dinghy moved us to the top of the ramp. I heard myself shriek as the boat flew downward, landing hard in the water. With another command via Finn’s smart phone, the ramp lifted; disappearing into the bottom of the yacht. He started the dinghy’s small motor and we were on our way. As we neared the breakers, Finn leaned over and dragged the tips of his fingers through the water. The waves ahead of us immediately stilled, providing a smooth channel of passage leading to the beach.
Finn’s gaze flickered up; meeting mine. His deep blue eyes danced right across that small raft directly into the depths of my heart. Our friends, the raft, and the ocean disappeared when he smiled, and an explosion of tingles shot through my body.
“Is that the house?” Phoebe exclaimed. Her voice broke through my thoughts and I followed her awestruck eyes. Past the wide beach and expansive sand dunes, a sprawling estate blended in perfectly with the landscape.
“That’s it!” Ian smiled with pride. We all lurched forward as the raft ran up onto the beach.
We gathered our things and trudged up the sand toward the house’s boardwalk. We walked above the dunes and small brush that skimmed the bottom of the wooden slats. The full estate came into view and my first thought was that it belonged in the Hamptons, not on the Outer Banks of North Carolina.
The white cedar shake exterior complemented the mass of trees that skirted the grounds, and we followed the winding stone path around a sparkling pool and up to an inviting patio. Ian stepped forward, produced a set of keys, and we entered an elaborate sunroom furnished with lush plants and wicker patio furniture. A glass door led us to the main living area.
“Wow,” Willow gasped, and I agreed with her astonishment whole-heartedly. Crisp shades of white, cream, and brown greeted us as we took in the overflowing couches, chairs, and pillows. I was immediately drawn to the substantial wooden coffee table sitting amidst the furniture. I ran my fingers along its length, mesmerized by its beauty. Surprisingly, it sent that familiar tingle up through my arm that typically only sea animals could evoke. The wood itself was dark, very weathered and smooth to the touch. I could tell the wood of the table was extremely old - this was only one of the many identities it had taken during its long life. I looked around the rest of the room and noticed several other pieces made from the same wood.
“This place looks like a Pottery Barn showroom!” Phoebe chirped; coming to stand beside me. “Did you see the kitchen?”
We explored the rest of the residence and were blown away again and again by each new room we entered. We eventually found the bedrooms which were quickly claimed. Willow and I would be sharing a room, while Carmen and Phoebe commandeered the one across the hall. Finn and Liam grabbed the next one, while Ricker, Ian, and Cage immediately headed for a loft overlooking the main room that contained several beds and one massive flat screen on the wall.
“Oh my god you guys, come look at this deck.”
I followed Carmen’s voice out to what I thought was just a patio, but after stepping outside, it was anything but. An outdoor gathering area constructed of stone was spread out before us. The biggest grill I had ever laid eyes on was encased in gray stone, and faced an elaborate fireplace that reached at least ten feet tall. A litany of beautiful couches and chairs had been set up for conversation and relaxing. Past the deck was an extensive back yard full of colorful gardens that were divided by winding walking trails. They overflowed with everything from hydrangeas to impatiens; the array of colors was magnificent. A small gray stone bridge crossed a sparkling creek that ran along the outside of the property and disappeared into the yaupon trees beyond.
As my gaze drifted to the elaborate fountain that adorned the center of the gardens, my heart stopped as my blood ran cold with fear. She was wearing a blue dress that skimmed the top of her bare feet. Long blonde hair fell below her shoulders, untouched by the summer breeze, and her thin arms hung limp at her sides. The pale skin of her face offset the bright green eyes that were staring straight at me. Not completely opaque, I could actually see through her body and onto the stone path behind her. Expressionless and unblinking, she stood completely still while a cold sweat broke out on my forehead.