Chapter 16
“Liam and I will start boarding up the coffee shop, just to be on the safe side,” a semi-frantic Samantha told Dylan over the phone. “I mean, I know it’s just tropical right now, but the wind gusts are expected to reach 70 miles per hour.”
Dylan slipped into a pair of jeans. “All right, I’m on my way. I just need to check on Chloe first.”
“That woman is sweet on you. Anyone could tell by the way she was sizing you up last night at Wilde Pirate. You, my dear brother, are sweet on her, too.” It was just like Samantha to make time for meddling, even if a storm was on the way.
“Sam, stop it. I’ll be there soon.” Dylan wasn’t able to ignore the warm feeling brewing in his chest. The thought of Chloe showing interest had him hoping news about the storm wouldn’t cause her to flee Fortune’s Bay.
Galloping down the stairs, he pulled on a T-shirt, then grabbed a jacket, stepped into his motorcycle boots, before he swung the door open.
“Oh,” said a baffle-eyed Chloe. “I-uh…was just about to knock.”
Hands shoved in his pockets, Dylan leaned on the doorframe and quirked a brow. “Really?” He didn’t bother to mention he was on his way out to knock on her door, too.
Chloe jerked the hair out of her eyes as wind swooshed by. “There’s a storm coming. I’m not sure if I should leave.”
Leaving was the last thing he wanted her to do.
Not now.
No. He wanted the woman who made his heart dance, the one who gave him all the freaking feels, to stay. Storm or no storm.
Dylan swallowed, easing the lump in his throat. “Don’t go. I’ll make sure you’re safe.”
Her gaze slid down to his boots. “Are you headed out? On your motorcycle? In this mad wind?”
“Yes, yes, and yes,” he said, closing the door behind him. “I need to go help Samantha board up Destiny’s Brew, then stock up on a few supplies, some food, you know—enough to ride out the storm.”
“Surely you can’t take Tamale. It’s too windy.”
Dylan dished a dismissive shrug as he brushed past her, headed for the steps leading to the sidewalk. “I gotta do what I gotta do. I’ll be back soon. You should stay put—”
“We can take my rental car.” Chloe gripped his shoulder.
Dylan slowly pivoted to face her. “We?” As in the two of them? The one-syllable word had a nice ring to it, after all.
“I want to help. Board up the coffee shop. Get some supplies.” She blinked up at him, long lashes fluttering, hair all in her face from the wind. “Please?”
He thought for about half a beat. “Fine. Go grab a jacket and put on some shoes, other than those flip-flops you’re wearing.”
Dylan beamed when her eyes brightened and he couldn’t hold back a chuckle when she darted into her place, then returned almost seconds later, purse in hand, wearing a jacket and tennis shoes.
“You ready?”
“Yes, sir.” Chloe tossed him the keys to the two-door Prius. “You drive.”
Thirty minutes later,there they all were, Chloe, Dylan, Samantha, Liam, along with the Early Brew Crew, all coordinating, in a team-like manner, to get every window and door of the coffee shop boarded up. This wasn’t their first storm. They’d been through worse, and had a systematic routine each time.
“Do your customers always help board up the shop?” Chloe held up a thick piece of wood against a window while Dylan hammered away.
“Oh, you mean The Crew? Marge, Mitch, Hillary, and Dan are almost like family. Lifelong friends of my aunt and uncle.
“The ones who used to own this shop?”
“Yep.” He stepped back, surveyed the window. “Looks like we’re all done here. Let’s go check on the rest of the gang. Brew us all some coffee, have some muffins.”
“Apple pie muffins?”
