Page 69 of At First Catch

The marina afternoon crowd has grown thicker by the time we return. Tourists wander between slips while locals lean against railings watching repair work with collective small-town interest.

Nolan’s fingers brush lightly against mine as we walk in a way that’s not accidental. Not fully intentional either.

My breath catches. And this time? Neither of us pulls away.

Chapter Nine

NOLAN

By Friday morning, the entire town has apparently decided Hadley belongs at the marina. I realize this approximately six minutes after arriving at the docks when Walter Greene waves vaguely toward the office and says, “Your girl already dropped off coffee.”

I stop walking.

“Excuse me?”

Walter squints toward me over the top of his newspaper.

“She’s not my girl.”

“Mm.”

The marina office smells faintly like fresh paint and coffee when I step inside. Sure enough, two iced coffees sit on the desk beside a folder of revised event permits.

I stand there longer than necessary. Condensation is already gathering beneath the cup. I don’t pick it up. I just keep looking at the handwriting wrapped around the cup.

Black.

No sugar.

A smile pulls at my mouth. Of course she remembered. Then I read the note.

Try not to scare tourists today.

—H

I chuckle and tuck the sticky note into my wallet without thinking. I don’t even question why.

Thankfully, my phone buzzes in my pocket before I can spiral further.

Hadley

Before you ask, yes, I bribed Walter with cinnamon rolls for marina gossip access.

I stare at the message.

Me

You weaponized baked goods against me?

Three dots appear.

Hadley

Obviously.

Me

I’m beginning to think you’re the real threat in this town.