Just long enough to remember that I am only in Mercury Ridge for the summer and absolutely, under no circumstances, can I fall for this sexy-as-hell fisherman.
Chapter Three
Joel
Raynaonlystaysfora few minutes, and I’m aware of every second she’s sitting at our table, pretending she isn’t nervous while my friends make an effort to behave like human beings.
Mostly.
Ace offers her a slice. Trent asks if she plans to make pizza delivery a contact sport from now on. Liam tells her the dock really is slick when the lunch rush gets crazy, which is the closest any of them get to being helpful.
Forrest, who has been quiet the whole time, says, “You’ll get used to it.”
Rayna looks at him. “To the slick dock?”
He nods toward all of us. “To us.”
Her smile flashes bright and quick.
I feel it like sunlight on the back of my neck.
By the time she stands, I already know I’m not done with her. Not even close. But I keep my mouth shut while she thanks everyone for being “mostly understanding” and heads back toward the pickup window with more confidence than she had before.
She looks back once, our eyes locking. I smile at her softly, and a moment passes before she turns away.
Ace waits until she’s inside before he leans back in his chair and grins at me. “Well, that was subtle.”
“What are you talking about?” I ask, picking up my slice of pizza.
My friends all chuckle.
“I’m pretty sure he’s talking about you eye-fucking the hot waitress,” Trent says.
I glare at him. “Y’all shut the hell up and eat your pizza.”
“We’re eating,” says Liam. “We’re just also witnessing history in the making.”
Forrest nods. “Haven’t seen you this into someone since Macie Kendall sophomore year of high school.”
Trent whistles. “Macie Kendall… what ever happened to her?”
I throw a grateful look at Forrest for changing the subject so smoothly. I owe him one.
The guys fall into easy banter, and I try to keep up with the conversation. Unfortunately, Rayna doesn’t return to our table again.
But every time the door opens, I look anyway.
Chapter Four
Joel
Bymidafternoon,I’melbow-deepin the guts of a pontoon boat two docks down from Mercury Slice when I hear her voice.
“Is it true that you know how to fix literally everything?”
I glance up.
Rayna stands at the top of the dock ramp with her hands on her hips and her Mercury Slice visor pushed back on her head. Her cheeks are flushed from the heat.
