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She was the last one to get off the boat and accepted Dune’s hand for help. “I hope you enjoyed the tour,” he said as he guided her onto the dock.
“I did,” she told him. “I’d never seen a whale until now.”
“Where are you from?” he asked.
“How do you know I’m not from here?”
Dune chuckled. “I know everyone in town, even the people who moved here last week. If you had moved here, even last night, I would’ve heard about it.”
“Are you the mayor or something?”
“Or something,” he said with a flirty head tilt. He liked her and he knew without putting much thought into his actions, he would do irrational things to get her attention. She was far too sexy for this island, for him, or anyone on it. But Dune was going to show her that he deserved her attention.
“Well.” She huffed lightly. “I’m Caroline Taylor. I’m visiting for the summer. The waiter at Starboard’s told me your tours were the best.”
“He’s not wrong, and it’s very nice to meet you, Caroline. I hear you rented the cottage.”
“I’m sure there is more than one cottage on the island,” she said to him.
Dune chuckled at her feisty attitude. “Of course, there is. However, the one you’re staying in is literally called, ‘The Cottage.’”
Her mouth made a little o. Dune couldn’t hold back his laughter. “Do all the houses around here have names?”
Dune turned and pointed up the street, and then turned to face her. “Most of the homes do. Especially in this area. If you go out into more of the residential areas, not so much, unless they’re on the cove or bay. They tend to name their homes.”
“I had no idea.”
“It’s all stuff you learn, the longer you spend here. And since you’ll be here for three months, you have time.”
“Right.”
“Like, you’ll learn where to shop for groceries. Places to avoid. Who has the best take-out, the fastest delivery. All the fun stuff.”
“And where to hang out,” she added.
Dune nodded. “Most tourists go to the Sea Shanty. Drinks are expensive and watered down. Food is meh.”
“So, you don’t hang out there?”
Was she flirting with him? Dune ducked his head and then glanced at her, meeting her gaze. His grin was slow and only went halfway. This was his way of flirting. Sometimes it worked. Sometimes he crashed and burned.
“Nah, not my scene.”
“I see,” she said.
“Yeah, so, I don’t know if you have plans later, but me and the guys from the boat tour earlier will be at Diego’s. That’s where most of us hang out. I’d love for you to come and chill, get to know us.”
“Thank you.” She paused and seemed to think about Dune’s offer, and then added, “But I have plans.” Caroline declined with a polite smile.
Crash and burn. Dune suspected she didn’t have plans. She had hesitated too long after he asked her but said nothing. She didn’t know him and if he had a sister, he wouldn’t want her to take an offer from a stranger.
“Well, if you change your mind, Diego’s is right over there.” He pointed to one of the buildings on the seafront. “You just walk toward the sand, and you’ll find it. Just ask for me because it’s really a place for locals.”
“Good to know.”
Dune nodded. “Have a great day, Caroline Taylor. It was nice to meet you.” He didn’t wait for her to respond and walked toward the next line of people waiting to go on his tour. He greeted Randy and then told everyone to follow him.
Caroline seemed to be frozen in place and when Dune walked by, he winked.
Later that night, after a few beers and some wild tales about a very sexy blonde visitor, he stood against the wall of Diego’s and watched Caroline stumble out of the Sea Shanty, the tourist hot spot. He shook his head and wanted to laugh, but she looked drunk and in need of some help.
He finished his beer and told the guys he’d be back in a minute and then made his way over to the Sea Shanty. Loud music blared from inside and it was packed with people. Somehow, in a matter of hours, the tourist population had tripled.
“Hey, Caroline,” Dune said softly as he approached her, trying not to scare her.
“Captain Blue Balls!” She threw her hands up in the air in excitement.
“Cute, you figured out my nickname.” Dune smiled from ear-to-ear.
“Are they really blue?”
“Sometimes, especially when pretty women like you don’t take me up on my offers.”
“Oh, poor baby.” She squeezed his cheek with her hand and almost fell over. Dune caught her in time and held her up.
“Come on, I’ll walk you home.”
“You don’t even know where I live,” Caroline slurred with a sloppy hiccup. She leaned forward, toppled over, and fell right into Dune’s open arms. Her hands clutched his biceps and she squeezed, and then her hand went higher, under the sleeve of his shirt. Dune met her gaze and grinned.
