Page 48 of The Sailor

In the back of her head, she heard Zach’s voice on that beautiful bench at the lobster swing. You’re funny, sexy, smart, strong, sensual, kind, willing to try new things . . . and I’m falling hard for you.

She remembered his words exactly. Something had melted inside her at hearing such praise. She’d drunk in the words she’d never heard anyone else say about or to her. And that was honestly sad. She was almost thirty, and she felt as if she’d missed out on so much. She went to work, came home, sat on her couch, and repeated that routine over and over. She was afraid to go outside her comfort zone. To risk being rejected.

Case in point, Marit was avoiding spending time with a man who liked her exactly as she was.

And Zach wasn’t the only one who’d accepted her.

Britt had been texting nonstop. Sending memes, saying hello, giving her updates on what was going on at Lobster Cove, even asking for her opinions on baby names. Marit was thrilled to be included, to have a female friend, and she’d stayed up way too late the other night, looking for memes to send back that she thought Britt might find amusing.

She’d also stopped into Ruckus Donuts so many times this week, the owners, Todd and his wife Lee, were now on a first-name basis with her. And, shockingly, she’d even gotten a couple of polite nods from lobstermen on neighboring boats when arriving at the Wave Rider the last few mornings.

She was making friends and acquaintances, opening herself up to the people she saw every day around her, and they were responding positively.

Of course, things weren’t all sunshine and roses. Lucas was still around. It was as if he was purposely trying to cross paths with her. He hadn’t said anything, not since Zach had threatened him, but if looks could kill, she would’ve been six feet under by now. He hadn’t given up his grudge against her, that much was obvious. Not in the least. It was disconcerting, wondering when and where he might make a move against her.

She liked the Lobsterites, all the people who lived and worked on Lobster Cove. Liked the locals, who were getting friendlier by the day. Enjoyed the thought of being part of a community for once in her life. And she wanted to go all in with Zach . . . but she was still afraid. Scared of losing everything she felt she’d gained in such a short period of time.

“You okay, Marit?” Jonah asked.

She glanced at her coworker. The guy had had a crush on her when they’d first met, but ever since she’d started seeing Zach, Jonah seemed to have come to his senses, no longer making moon eyes at her throughout every shift. Now she felt much more of a camaraderie with the man. She liked that a lot.

“Yeah, just thinking. And tired.”

“I get it. I had a date last night and didn’t get home until midnight.”

Marit whistled. “Seriously? Only three hours of sleep?”

“Try two. Called to make sure she got home all right, then had to get up in time to be at the dock by three.”

“Jeez, Jonah. I hope you’re going home after we get back to the dock to get some sleep.”

The man grinned. “Nope. Have a date with a different woman tonight.”

Marit rolled her eyes.

Jonah simply laughed. “After you broke my heart, I figured I’d better get out there and find the next best thing.”

“Whatever. You and I were never going to work out. We’re too much alike. Can you imagine working side by side with your partner day in and day out? No thank you. I prefer some non-together time.”

“She’s got a point,” Eliot said from his spot next to the wheel. Far from simply standing there, watching the work going on, the captain of a lobster boat had an active role in the harvesting. He was responsible for hooking the pots, and Marit would help bring them on board. Then she took out the lobsters, and Jonah would rebait and push them back overboard. It was a smooth operation, and the three of them worked together as if they’d been doing it for years, rather than just a few short weeks.

“Your mom and I were complete opposites, and it worked for us. I think she would’ve murdered me in my sleep if she had to spend every waking hour with me,” Eliot went on.

“I admit I was upset at first that you wouldn’t even give us a shot, but Zach’s good for you. Anyone can see that. You’re different since you two started dating.”

“In what way?” Marit asked, genuinely curious.

“I don’t know. Happier? Not that you weren’t friendly before or anything,” he was quick to say. “You just exude, like . . . an inner happiness you didn’t have before. That sounds corny. Sorry.”

“No, it’s okay,” Marit said. She thought about Jonah’s comment and realized he was right. She felt more content deep down, knowing she had the respect and attention of a man like Zach. And the amazing sex didn’t hurt either. She was probably still glowing from the intense orgasms Zach had given her, and the pleasure of knowing he’d enjoyed the things she’d done to him in bed, as well.

“What is that idiot doing now?” Eliot growled. It was such a change from the easygoing tone he’d had a moment before, Marit whipped her head up in alarm.

The Men At Work, Lucas Pearson’s boat, was placing lobster pots almost on top of the Wave Rider’s. It was an unspoken rule for lobstermen to respect others’ pot placement and not lay theirs too close. It was as if the man was trying to sabotage their catch.

Which was probably exactly what he was doing.

Instead of getting on the radio, Eliot turned the wheel and aimed his boat at Lucas’s.