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“Fritz?”
“The weather guy.”
“Is that very common?”
“He’s the only Fritz I’ve heard of.”
She laughed and pulled her hand back to cover her mouth. “I meant the rain in August.”
He knew what she meant, and if she drew any more attention to those pretty lips of hers, he was going to kiss her into next summer.
“Mr. Hollander?”
Zane turned, both happy and bummed at the interruption. He was too easily lost in Sophie and needed to remember their friendship didn’t give him any right to act on the impulses she stirred. Especially in public, where someone always seemed to have an eye on him.
“Hey, bud.”
“Would you mind autographing my board?” the teenage boy asked.
“Not at all.” He leaned his board toward Sophie so she could hold it and grinned like a fool when she wrapped both arms around it like it was something fragile. “What’s your name?”
“Joseph.” The kid handed Zane a pen and tipped his board.
“How long you been surfing?”
“Four years. Since I was ten,” Joseph said.
“You always surf with someone, right?” Zane signed and gave the Sharpie back.
“Yeah. My mom and dad won’t let me go out otherwise.”
Zane had gone out all the time by himself at Joseph’s age. A stupid move, given accidents happened in the water. But then most days, he hadn’t asked for permission.
“That’s chill. No man left alone out there is a good rule to stick by.”
Joseph grinned and nodded. “Thanks a lot.”
“Find me later in the week and I’ll join you.”
The boy’s eyes widened. “Really?That would be so unbelievably cool.”
“Just do me a favor and keep out of the water today.”
“Okay. Thanks, Mr. Hollander.” Joseph tripped over his feet as he backed away.
“Call me Zane.” He watched Joseph join a couple of other teenagers.
“You, Zane Hollander,” Sophie said, peeking from behind his board with green eyes sparkling, “are really good with kids.”
He tried hardest with young people. “I like them.”
“I could tell.”
“I’m starting to think I can’t keep anything from you, Sophie Birch.”
She dropped her chin at that, long, dark eyelashes reaching toward her eyebrows as she pinned him with a bashful gaze. “I could stop.”
“Stop?”
