They drove for seven or eight minutes, as best as Cece could tell, taking a few turns, stopping a couple of times, and she pretty quickly realized that if she actually had been kidnapped, she’d have no idea where she’d been taken. As a reporter, she’d prided herself on being observant.
This was making her wonder if her abilities had dulled.
Then she picked up a few new scents and sounds. Gulls, with a different sort of cry than they made on the beach. It was more urgent, more insistent. Under the tires, gravel crunched as the car slowed. And the saltiness in the air deepened, mixed with two other faint aromas that lingered like afterthoughts. Fish and fuel.
She smiled. “We’re at the marina.”
“What?” Joe let out a gruff sigh and turned off the engine. “How did you guess that?”
She laughed. “What can I tell you? It’s hard to pull one over on a woman who made her career on figuring things out.”
“I suppose so. You can take the blindfold off. Nicely done, by the way.”
He was smiling when she pulled the bandana off her eyes. They were indeed at the Colony’s marina. “Is this the surprise?”
“Almost. We have to do a little walking.”
“Lead the way.” She could pretty much guess they were going to one of the boats. It made sense with the dress code he’d given her. And the warning that accidental submersion might occur. A boat ride would be fun, and she was touched that he’d done this for her.
They got out of the car, he took a canvas tote from the trunk, and then they walked toward the boats together.
The attendant on duty waved at Joe. He waved back and they kept going, nearly to the end of the marina, then they took a right and went down one of the docks.
“That’s mine.” Joe pointed. “Right there.”
The boat was bigger than she’d expected. A sleek white vessel with navy trim that looked like it could easily hold ten or twelve people. “Yours? As in you own it?”
“Own it and lived on it while my house was being built. I still go out for a night now and then.”
As they got closer, she could see the name on the side. She smiled. “Second Verse. I like that.”
“I thought it was fitting.” He hopped on board and held out his hand.
She took it and let him help her across. Now that she was on the boat, it seemed even bigger. “This is really nice.”
“Thanks. I thought we’d go for a little sunset cruise.”
“I love that.”
His smile took on a curious bent, but he didn’t elaborate on why that might be. “Give me a minute to get her untied and we’ll head out.” He started the engine, then jumped back to the dock.
“Can I help?”
“Sure,” he said, voice steady and clear. He pointed. “Loosen that stern line first—just lift it off the cleat and let it slide. Not too fast.”
She leaned down carefully, the sun warm on her neck, the dock a few feet below her. The rope was heavier than she’d expected. “Like this?” she asked.
“Perfect,” Joe called back, nodding in approval. “Now toss it to me.”
Cece hesitated, judging the gap. “You sure? I’m not exactly known for my throwing arm.”
“Then we’ll find out if I’m still any good at catching.”
She lobbed the line toward him; it fell short, but he caught it with one smooth motion anyway, the rope slapping lightly against the dock.
“See?” he said, looping it deftly around a cleat in front of him. “You’ve got potential.”
“Beginner’s luck,” she said, but she was smiling.
