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He held out his hand to pull her close. “I’d better get you back. It’s only ten, but I want to keep this under control, if you get what I mean.”
“I know what you mean, and I appreciate it ’cause it isn’t easy for me, either.”
At the boat wheel, she stood next to him again, but this time he drove, one arm around her waist. When they got to the dock, her phone went off.
“It’s a text from Maggie,” she said, reading it out loud. “‘Invite Alphé to Twelfth Night tomorrow night.’ Would you like to come?”
“Yes.”
“I guess you’ll have to boat in,” Katrina said. “The road in is under water.”
“I’ll boat in. What time?”
“It’s after sundown,” she replied.
“I’ll tie up so I can walk you to the cottage,” he said, pulling in close.
“That’s not necessary,” she said. “No one’s home. Temptation and all.”
“Ha, you’re on the same page as I am, I guess.”
“I hope that doesn’t make me look too eager?” she asked.
“No, it’s just right. It makes me happy.”
He helped her jump out of the boat.
“I’ll text you when I get home,” he said. “I’m not eager for the night to end.”
“Me either,” she said. “I’ll be waiting for your text.”
“Run on up, and I’ll wait till you’re inside,” he said, winking at her.
“Thanks, Alphé,” she said.
And then impulsively, she went back to the side of the boat and grabbed his hand, closing her eyes to move in for a kiss. After he returned the kiss, he wouldn’t let go of her hand.
“You shouldn’t have done that,” he said, snickering.
With a quick pull, she was back in his arms, their mouths together. “You’re going to fall in,” he said, laughing.
“Or you’ll fall overboard,” she said.
“I’ll wait until you’re up there,” he repeated, and this time, still reluctant, she turned from him and ran up to the cottage.
Waving goodbye to Alphé one last time, she went inside the cottage.
***
Monday wasgettin’ ready for the partyday. Watching the preparations being made, Katrina insisted on helping Maggie in the only way she knew how, cooking.
“How about if I make Cajun crab cakes?”
“Perfect. It’s the one thing I didn’t get ready-made.”
“Alphé brought them for dinner last night. I can’t get the night out of my head.”
Maggie stopped what she was doing and turned to her friend. “I want you to have someone who does that for you,” she said. “If I remember correctly, you pretty much had to force yourself to feel anything for the last couple of guys. This seems one hundred percent different.”
