“Not bad,” Hannah says, handing me a towel.
I wipe the water from my face. “Thanks. It felt good… better than I expected.”
Scott appears beside me, his expression thoughtful. “You did good out there. You’re a natural.” I catch my breath at his words. You’re a natural, Maddie. That’s what Nathan told me—when we dived the first time—when I fell in love with the ocean.
“Thanks.” For a moment, the noise of the boat fades. He moves closer like he’s about to say more.
Then the sound of wakes crash beside us. A sleek black and silver boat approaches, cutting through the water. Wes stands at the helm, his face visible from the distance. He waves.
“There’s your new best friend,” Hannah teases.
I lift a hand to wave back. Wes salutes before turning to his crew. Beside me, Scott’s jaw tightens. Not saying a word, he starts securing the gear.
AsAdelineheads back to Maverick Key, the team’s focus shifts to preparations for the evening.
“Bonfire tonight, anyone?” Jamie calls out.
Hannah claps her hands. “I live for those.”
Scott glances at me, his tone lighter than usual. “Are you up for an island tradition?”
After today, I’m ready to leave my comfort zone.
“Why not?”
Scott pulls me into his arms and gives me a squeeze, his nose brushing against my neck. I want to stay there, wrapped up in the strong warmth of him, and never let go.
“Today was amazing,” he murmurs, his fingers raking through my hair. “Let’s do this again.”
“I’d like that.”
He smiles and walks off to the helm.
As the boat nears the island, I lean against the railing, the wind teasing my hair. It’s soft, but not the same as Scott’s fingers. He stands at the helm, steering us home. Our gazes meet a few times, charged but still hesitant. What are we afraid of?
When we pull into the docks, his eyes are closed, and when he opens them again, he doesn’t notice me. His gaze is fixed on the horizon.
Hannah and I weave through the crowded aisles of the Maverick Key General Store, gathering provisions for the bonfire. The store is packed with tourists, their sunburned shoulders peeking out from their flowered tanks. The smell of coconut and banana sunscreen mingles with the recycled, air-conditioned air. Outside, the golden light of the late afternoon sun spills across the island.
I steer the cart down the baking aisle, scanning the shelves for marshmallows and graham crackers. The cart’s rubber wheels squeak, blending into the surrounding chatter.
“Were you able to get in touch with Mark?” Hannah asks as we stroll down the candy aisle.
“Not yet. I tried to reach him at the Coast Guard office. But it seems he’s going to be hard to pin down. One of his officers said he’d get back to me soon when he has time.” I frown. “If they were as close as we thought, I would’ve expected to hear something back by now.”
“They were college buddies. I promise you they were close,” she says with a huff, shrugging. “Well, maybe you can meet his wife. She’s a sweet woman. She’ll get you the meeting.” She grabs some matches. “Anyway… This bonfire is going to be fun,” Hannah says, grabbing a large box of chocolate bars and tossing them into the cart. “This will be a perfect opportunity for you to hook up with Scott.”
I choke. “Umm, I don’t think that’s going to happen.”
Hannah adjusts the goods in the cart. “Oh, come on. You know I’m not blind. I felt the sexual healing on the boat today.” She pinches my chin playfully. “Look, Maddie, you’re choosing well with Scott. He’s a gentleman, and he’s hot. I’m sure he’ll be great in the sack, too.” Her eyes get large. “But don’t dare tell him I said that. It’d get weird.”
I roll my eyes. “Scott’s attractive. But I’m not in the headspace for a relationship, and I’m not looking for a one-night stand.” I pause before adding. “Though I’d be lying if I said I hadn’t imagined it.” I don’t tell her about all the dreams I’ve had over the last week. It’s been so long since I’ve had sex, or even thought of it. I may have forgotten how it’s done. But I doubt I’d forget Scott, though.
She cackles. “Suit yourself, but it’s inevitable. I can read tea leaves, you know.” She pauses for effect. “And they say that you and Scott are definitely going to do it. Sooner or later. Let’s hope for sooner.”
I’m as red as a tomato as we pass a group of tourists gathered around a display of metal detectors. Their excited voices carry across the store, and their eagerness tells me they’ve just arrived on the island.
“Tonight’s the night,” a man in a tropical shirt announces to his friends. He gestures grandly toward the stack of detectors. “The treasure of Maverick Key. It’s out there somewhere, and this is a small island.”
