Page 4 of The Sailor

He looked shocked.

She laughed. “Kidding! Yes! Of course I like lobster. I’ve made my career out of the creature.”

“Right. Sorry. My plan is to make lobster and asparagus risotto as the special tomorrow at The Lobster Buoy. You want to try it and let me know what you think? I could bring you a sample. I know we’re going out to eat, but . . .” His voice trailed off.

“Sure. I mean, I’ve loved everything I’ve tried from your shack, so I’m sure that’ll be just as delicious. And for the record, I think it’s cool that you’ve gone high-end, but you’ve also kept your prices reasonable. I, for one, appreciate that. Lobster rolls get old.”

“I agree. When I decided to move home, I swore up and down that there was no way I was opening a lobster shack. They’re a dime a dozen around here, and the last thing I wanted was to serve lobster rolls . . . and here I am, with a lobster shack.”

“But not serving lobster rolls?” Marit asked with a smile.

“Well, I am. But I’m doing it my way. Fancy-pants lobster rolls.”

“I haven’t tried one yet, but now I think I need to.”

She realized what she was doing . . . prolonging their conversation. She really did need to get back to the dock to do her fair share of the cleanup and to get ready for tomorrow morning. But this was the first time in ages that she was really enjoying talking to a man.

“Well . . . I’ll bring you some risotto tonight, and you can give me your honest opinion. If it sucks, I expect you to tell me.”

“Oh, I have no problem telling it like it is. I don’t beat around the bush.” Marit felt obligated to warn him about that.

“Good. I don’t like when people say one thing but mean another. It’s exhausting.”

Relief spread throughout her. “Right. And now I need to get going. I’ll see you later.”

“Yes, you will,” Zach said firmly.

Marit began to back away.

“Thanks for the help with the lobsters.”

“You’re welcome. See ya.”

“See ya,” Zach echoed.

Marit forced herself to turn and walk back toward the boats at the docks. She couldn’t resist glancing over her shoulder toward Zach and his car, fully expecting to see him pulling out of the parking spot—but to her surprise, he was standing exactly where she’d left him. At the back of his SUV, staring at her.

Her cheeks turned pink, and she lifted a hand to wave at him . . . like a complete dork.

He smiled back at her and lifted his chin.

She sighed. Jeez, that was such a manly move. When she read about men doing that in the romances she sometimes read, she always thought it was super cheesy. That no one actually did that in real life. Boy, was she wrong. And it was hot.

As she stomped in her rubber boots back toward the dock, she couldn’t keep the grin off her face. Moving to Rockville had been a necessary thing for her health and safety . . . and not only had she found a boat to work on where she felt comfortable and welcomed, she had a date.

Marit wished she had someone to share her giddiness with. To ask about the Young family, make sure they were good people. Eliot seemed to like Zach, but she didn’t feel comfortable asking him, especially around Jonah. She’d gotten the feeling her coworker had a crush on her. She didn’t encourage it, simply stayed friendly and kept things work oriented.

She hadn’t made any good friends back in Portland either, and she was too new to Rockville to have met anyone outside the small lobstering community. She’d have to work on that.

It was too soon to say how tonight would go. But Marit was cautiously optimistic. She’d enjoyed the small bit of time she’d spent with Zach, and he did have Eliot’s respect. And there was that reaction she’d had when they’d touched. Hopefully they were all good signs. Time would tell.