AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Okay,” I whispered, keeping watch down the hallway. “Now be fast, and be quiet—both, not one. Gram is a light napper. We’re gonna make it down to the shore without being seen, even if I have to drag you all the way there myself.”
6
Claira
Leander stepped next to me, shadowing me with his colossal height.Holy—Had he been this much taller than me when we were younger?
Swallowing my nerves, I snatched his wrist and made for the front door. He followed without protest, his gait easily matching mine. If I hadn’t been so worried about Gram seeing us, I might have been impressed by how solidly he moved on his legs.
When we reached the front door, I swung it open without incident. Without looking back, I leaped for the walkway, Leander’s heavy footsteps sounding from my flank as the door crept shut behind us.
We raced through the dunes, my eyes checking every angle for any sign of Dad as we went. A streak of turquoise caught in my peripherals, and Leander passed me with a chuckle, that infuriating grin of his smeared over his face.
How was he so quick on his feet?
Doubling my efforts, I sprinted fast enough to pass him, leaving him in a cloud of sand I’d kicked up from the heels of my feet. When we finally reached the shore, my nervousness had all but vanished. My chest heaved in breaths as we both slowed to an abrupt stop.
Lady Ochrewasn’t where I had left her, which meant either this was the day pirates had finally raided us or, more likely, Dad had taken her out on a cruise. Sadly, it was never pirates, but I held out hope that one day I’d get to watch Gram brandish her great-great-grandfather’s pirate pistol.
I froze in place, my toes planted in the dry land, as I watched the waves ebb and flow.
Idiot,I cursed, gnawing at my lip. I’d gone down to the ocean with shorts on and, worst of all, barefoot.
I needed to be careful not to let any damp sand touch my bare toes—if enough salt water were to touch my legs, the unthinkable would happen.
Damn.It had been years since I’d made such a foolish mistake. I practically lived in my boots and thermal overalls at home, but it had been so hot in my room with the heater on!
When Leander stepped beside me to peer out at the ocean, my eyes drifted over to him. Sure, exercise had brought color back to his complexion, but he still looked absolutely ridiculous.
My pajama pants were way too short for him, their stiff hemline dusting halfway down his calf. Between that and his bare, hairless chest, I was soaking up enough sun-kissed skin to make my eyes burn. Looking at him was like gazing at a freaking supernova.
I drew a line from his sandy feet up to the side of his shoulder with my eyes. That was interesting. I hadn’t thought about it until now, but how had he gotten so tan?
“You, uh, come up to land often?” I asked, my curiosity getting the better of me.
His eyebrows rose into his fringe as he turned from the ocean. “Why? Want me to come back to visit?”
I toed some sand at his feet, rolling my eyes. “You know what I mean. How are you so good with your legs?”
“There are lots of things I’m good at,” he laughed, the same velvety rumble I was growing to both love and hate simultaneously. “Besides ‘forcing mermaids to play with me whenever I wanted.’ Is that how you said it?” He kicked a cloud of sand right back at me.
“Okay, pretty boy,” I sighed. “It’s been real fun saving your life and all that, but feel free to swim on home now. I’ve got work to do on the boat later.”
“I don’t see a boat,” he said, his eyes scanning the horizon. “You mentioned catching me in a net. You were on a boat, then?”
“Yeah, I pulled you into it, though I still don’t know how I lifted you up that high. You are heavier than a freaking anchor.”
That got a chuckle, but he made no attempt at leaving. What was with the small talk? Was he stalling or something?
“So, where is it? You let other people paddle off with your boat?”
I let out a long, heavy sigh. Leander was definitely stalling. “No,Lady Ochrebelongs to whoever is at her helm. When that’s me and I’m her captain, she’s my responsibility. The same whenever my dad or Gram takes her out. But seriously, are you afraid of the water now? Do you need me to push you in or something?”
I nudged his shoulder, but he didn’t budge.
“When was the last time you used your tail, Nera?”
“None of your business,” I snapped. Just like that, I’d suddenly had enough of our little heartfelt reunion.
