Page 2 of Playing It Forward

“You’ll figure it out.”

She bristles. “Of course, I will.”

“Do you have the supplies or do you need to order them?”

She consults her tablet. “I have everything except the blackberry moonshine, honey whiskey, and cotton candy. Buccaneer’s Whiskey & Distillery can supply the booze. And I’ll ask my friend who works at Mermaid Mystical Gardens who their cotton candy supplier is. Although, I could probably make my own.”

I groan. “No.”

“What?” She bats her eyelashes. “I can make candy.”

“You can also forget to switch on the refrigerator and cause a river of chocolate mermaids to flow through the bar and into the ballroom.”

She waves away my comment. “It wasn’t a big deal.”

“Not a big deal? We had to rip up the hardwood floors.”

“They needed replacing anyway.”

I raise an eyebrow. “At a resort that’s less than ten years old?”

She shrugs.

I open my mouth to berate her but a shadow falls over our table. I glance up to find the blond football player grinning down at me.

Smirking smugglers! He’s even better looking up close. He has bright blue eyes, the color of the ocean. Considering I live on an island, I’m a sucker for anything ocean colored. He’s clean shaven allowing me a glimpse of the dimple on his left cheek. A dimple I find myself wanting to lick.

My gaze travels lower to his broad shoulders that appear strong enough to carry me through the highest ocean waves. His t-shirt strains against his chest and biceps. My fingers tingle at the idea of touching those muscles. Are they hard? Is his skin soft?

I’d love to find out, but I can’t. He’s off limits in all caps and flashing blue lights.

“Hi. I’m Nolan.”

“If you want a drink, the bartender will be happy to help you.” I point to the bar and the bartender waves at us.

“I don’t need a drink, but I do have a question.”

“The bartender can help you with any questions.”

Ava kicks me under the table. I glare at her. “Knock it off.”

She smirks before standing up. “I’m leaving. Why don’t you take my seat?”

Before Nolan can sit, I stand. “I’m leaving as well.”

He scratches his chin. “But you haven’t told me your name yet.”

I give him one of my customer service smiles. “It’s Terri. I’m sorry I can’t help you, but I really do need to get back to work.”

“Work? You’re on the beach.”

“I’m aware since I live on an island.”

“You live on Smuggler’s Hideaway?”

I open my arms wide. “I don’t see any other islands around, do you?”

He chuckles. “Funny and cute.”