“Your dad named The Mary Time. That much I remember. Also, The Challenger, which he named in honor of the shuttle explosion. And Independence, which he bought on the Fourth of July weekend our junior year.”
“You remember all that?”
I pick up on the surprise in his voice but pretend I don’t notice.
“Of course I do.” I trace the lines of his back, muscles straining against his dark gray T-shirt.
I’m briefly distracted by just how good-looking adult Penn is. Don’t get me wrong, he’s always been attractive, but now... Let’s just say it’s hard not to look at him sometimes lest my thoughts get away from me.
“Where didthisboat get its name?” I ask when he doesn’t say anything.
“I can’t remember,” he says after a long beat, his voice taking on a slight edge.
“Did your father name it? Or was it you? Because no way it was Alec or Walker.”
“What makes you say that?” He looks over his shoulder, his hazel eyes pinning me in place.
“From what I remember, your father never let the two younger boys name any of the boats because they couldn’t keep their minds out of the gutter and come up with something that didn’t sound like a sexual inuendo. So either he named it, or you did.”
He observes me for a moment before turning his attention back to the panel he’s been fidgeting with for the last ten minutes.
“I named it.”
“Any particular reason you chose Northern Star?” I press, not because I really care that much. In truth, I just like that he’s talking to me.
“Not really. Just liked the sound of it.”
“Makes sense. It’s a good name for a ship.”
“I thought so too.” He flips a switch on the panel. “Damn.”
“What is it?”
“There must be a short somewhere,” he says, gesturing to the radio. “Make a note that we’ll need to have your father come back out and look at it.”
“Will do.” I open the notebook I’ve been toting around with me the last couple of days. It’s full of odd and end jobs that need to be done, parts that need to be replaced, etc.
Penn has had me helping him get everything in order and I have to admit, it beats sitting in that office with knots in my stomach all day every day, not sure if I’ll see him and if I do, what kind of mood he’ll be in.
“I wondered where you two went off to.” I look up from my notebook just in time to see Alec enter the cabin. “Hey, LV.” He gives me a lopsided grin.
“Alec.” I return his smile.
“What’s up?” Penn straightens, turning toward his brother.
“Not much. Went to the office and when I saw neither of you was there, I thought I should track you down and make sure you were both still breathing.”
“Don’t worry, Alec. I have no intention of throwing your big brother overboard,” I tease.
“It’s not him I was worried about.” He winks.
“We’re trying to get actual work done here.” Penn doesn’t seem amused. Then again, I’m not sure he finds amusement in anything these days; he’s just so serious.
“Relax, I just came by to remind you that you’re paying the deposit for Walker’s party. It’s due today.”
“Why can’t you pay it?” Penn seems nothing if not annoyed.
“Because I have a crap ton of other things to get done. Besides, you said you’d take care of it.”
