“I’m compassionate when elderly fishermen look frightened.”
“You’re reckless when elderly fishermen flatter you.”
“Also true.”
He scrolled. “After that, Bellweather Marina. Cabin cruiser with a hot smell near the distribution panel.”
“Nothing says a pleasant morning like possible electrical fire.”
“Kill the battery banks before you open the panel.”
I lowered the toast. “Did you just explain isolation procedure to a certified marine electrician?”
“I reminded the man I love not to electrocute himself in a flooded marina.”
He delivered it calmly, almost absently.
That was Reid’s way.
He rarely announced affection. He embedded it in instructions, wrapped it in practical concern, hid it insidepacked lunches and weather warnings. Another man might have said I need you.
Reid said Check the voltage twice.
The tenderness of it still caught me off guard.
I took another bite.
His gaze dropped briefly to my mouth. “Thank you.”
“You enjoy managing me.”
A spark appeared in his eyes. “You enjoy being managed.”
The toast went down wrong.
I coughed into my fist while he watched me with infuriating innocence.
“At six twenty in the morning?” I asked.
“I wasn’t aware your preferences followed business hours.”
Heat unfurled low in my stomach.
“Well,” I said. “That was dangerously close to flirting.”
“Don’t tell Caleb.”
“He’d never believe me.”
Reid came around the island.
I had chosen the stool in front of the utensil drawer on purpose. Usually, he would stand between my knees and pretend he needed something behind me.
This time, he didn’t bother pretending.
His palm settled against my waist.
The warmth of him seeped through my thin shirt.
