Page 55 of Between the Lines

“Don’t worry, you’re coming, too,” she told him, and that was apparently all he needed to hear.

She went to the bedroom and stood for a moment, considering. Then she pulled on a navy tankini, the one that stayed put and didn’t need constant adjusting. She added lightweight, elastic-waist shorts and a soft T-shirt, which she knotted at the waist. Easy, comfortable, practical and still reasonably cute.

She picked out a good hat and a pair of sunglasses she wouldn’t miss if they went overboard before grabbing the tote and leaving her room. She caught her reflection in the mirror and smiled. A distraction was just what she needed today.

She put Beau in his harness, which felt more secure to her than just relying on his collar. Then she slung the tote over her shoulder and hoisted the cooler by its handle. It was heavy, but she could manage it. Beau danced in a tight circle as she opened the door, nearly tangling them both in the leash.

“All right,” she said, laughing as she stepped through a loop of the leash. “Let’s go see this mysterious boat.”

They headed to the backyard together, through the gate, and into Brick’s yard.

He came out as she was closing the gate behind them. He immediately took the cooler, testing its weight. He nodded his approval. “That feels sufficient.”

“Sandwiches, fruit, and chips you won’t like.”

He snorted. “Drinks?”

“Bottled water and a few diet sodas.” She shrugged. “That’s all I had.”

“Good enough.”

They walked around the house to his truck. He put the cooler into the bed of the truck, then helped Beau up into the seat like that was their standard routine. Beau seemed beside himself with excitement and got into Blaise’s lap as soon as she was seated.

She rolled the window down for him, his ears flapping happily once they started moving. The breeze felt good. It would be even better on the water.

The drive to the marina was quiet in a good way. They had the windows down and the warm, salt-tinged air moved through the cab. Blaise watched the scenery slip by and felt the stress about tomorrow’s call slip away.

At the marina, Brick parked, collected the cooler and a tackle box, and led them down the dock with the confidence of someone who knew exactly where he was going. His boat waited a few slips away. It wasn’t new, but it was clean and obviously well-maintained. It had a small cabin and a nice amount of seating. The name painted on the side, At Ease, had clearly been there a long time.

“This is her,” he said.

Blaise smiled. “She’s perfect.”

Brick shot her a look. “You don’t have to say that.”

“I’m not humoring you,” she said. “I mean it.”

Brick climbed aboard, deposited the cooler and tackle box, then gave her a hand. She carried Beau across, setting him down as soon as her feet were planted.

He immediately started sniffing around with cautious curiosity before deciding everything passed inspection. He claimed a spot in the sun and seemed happy.

Brick stowed the cooler and tackle box, untied some lines, and eased them out of the slip with practiced movements.

Once they cleared the marina, he opened the throttle just enough to get them moving smoothly. The boat skimmed across the water, the sound of the engine a dull purr.

The sky stretched wide and blue above them. The water matched it, broken only by ripples and the glints of sunlight. Blaise rested a hand on the rail and let herself take in the openness of the vista before her.

Brick looked peaceful. Like being at the helm was where he was meant to be. She loved that.

“This,” Blaise said, raising her voice slightly over the engine, “was an excellent idea.”

Brick glanced at her, a small smile tugging at his mouth. “Good. I’m glad you think that.”

They headed farther out, the marina shrinking behind them, the horizon opening up ahead.

It was something special to have nothing on the schedule except water, sky, and the simple pleasure of going wherever they decided to go.

She went to stand by Brick and linked her arm through his. “Thanks.”