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I took in all of those details in an instant. The image of her burned into my brain. I doubted it would ever fade.
This goddess was speaking to Gunner “Stash” Jones and I wondered if she was gonna give the old man a heart attack. In his day, Gunner had been quite the ladies’ man. Growing up, I’d thought he was Paul from the original Pete’s Dragon. He’d had the thick brown hair and Tom Selleck mustache, which was the inspiration for his nickname. At six foot six he towered over other men in town and he’d been known to wear a turtleneck. Nowadays he resembled the Gorton’s Fisherman and his frame was more Stay Puft Marshmallow Man than Magnum P.I.
Stash turned and pointed to me, and the heavenly creature’s gaze followed. Slowly, casually, she lowered her sunglasses halfway down her nose and looked at me over the top of them.
Our eyes met, and I felt the impact of it hit me in the gut.
Damn, what was going on here?
The old man finished his spiel, and the girl slid her sunglasses up and faced him. She nodded, a quick and decisive motion, and started down the dock toward me with a smooth and determined stride. I’d expected her to have trouble navigating the rough planks in her precarious-looking high-heeled sandals, but she may as well have been a model on a runway.
As she approached, I suddenly felt sloppy in my worn flip-flops, faded cargo shorts, vintage band T-shirt, and baseball cap. Which was stupid, obviously. The only other people on the dock were fishermen. What I had on was practically a tuxedo, comparatively. But something about this woman made me want to bust out the spit and polish.
When she reached me, I gave her my best carefree smile. I’d gotten good feedback on that smile in the past from members of the fairer sex, and if I couldn’t impress her with my dress and grooming, I could do my best to attempt it with my charm.
She took off the sunglasses, revealing a pair of the most brilliant blue eyes I’d ever seen. Good Lord in heaven, the glimpse I’d gotten from the distance had not done them justice. Not one little bit.
Her expression was cool and a little distant as she asked, “Are you Jimmy?”
“At your service.”
“The harbormaster mentioned you hire out your boat.”
The sound of her voice was soothing. Like the sound of the waves or the hum of crickets and mockingbirds on a hot summer night. I wanted to hear more of it.
“He’s not lyin’.”
“I’d like to go out, please. Now, if you’re not otherwise engaged.”
I considered blowing off the family meeting completely, but even this siren of the sea couldn’t entice me to flake on my family. But it was tempting.
“I have a family meeting to get to this afternoon, so all I have time for is a three-hour tour.”
She grinned, a spark beaming in her aqua gaze. “Like Gilligan.”
“Yep, and I guess that would make you the movie star.”
“I’m more of a Mary Ann.”
Bullshit.
Not that there was anything wrong with Mary Ann. I loved me some Mary Ann, but this woman was a Ginger, no doubt about it. She was a showstopper.
I held my hand out to help her aboard, and my throat constricted at the touch. It was electrically charged. A zap of awareness zipped through me the second we made contact. She was one hell of a woman, that was for sure. I didn’t even know her name yet, but I was already sure I’d never forget her.
“Welcome aboard…”
“Isabella.”
“Bella…” I spoke her name with reverence. “That suits you.”
She grinned. “Really? Because no one calls me that.”
Aw, shit. I’d known her less than five minutes and I’d already offended her. “I’m sorry.”
“No. It’s okay.” Her head dipped and she brushed several strands of hair that had fallen in her face off of it. When she lifted her chin, the smile that was on her face caused a very funny feeling to stir in my stomach. “I like it.”
Putting that smile on her face, hearing her say that she liked me calling her Bella, had a completely disproportionate amount of pride welling up in my chest.
