"I buried her there, at the lighthouse. On the side with all the beach plum bushes." I ran my free hand down my face. "Cried the whole damn time," I admitted with alaugh.
"Have you thought about adopting another dog?" he asked. "Not that you can replaceSheilagh."
"I have thought about it." I jerked my shoulders. "But whenever I think about it, the time isn't right. Puppies are a lot of work, and I—I don't know that I can doit."
"You need a dog," Cole said. "And I need to stop with the depressingquestions."
We sat there for several minutes, Cole's arm tight around my torso and his lips pressed to my temple. It was then I noticed the quiet in the tavern. Glancing up, I found the citizens of Talbott's Cove watching us. JJ was frozen behind the bar, a rag in one hand, a dripping glass in the other. A group of waiters were clustered nearby, their arms crossed over their chests. Patrons sat motionless, their forks still and eyes wide. Even Annette stopped reading long enough to glance in ourdirection.
"We have an audience," I whispered toCole.
I felt him smile. "Iknow."
JJ shook free from his stare and set down his towel and glass. "There's nothin' to see here," he shouted, his Down East accent thicker than ever. "Eat ya food, mind ya business. All of you now. If ya want to gawk at my customers, get the hell outtahere."
A gust of relief blew through me. I'd never expected anything short of acceptance from these people, but the world was packed with contradiction. Good people often made hateful choices. Friends turned their backs and families closed their doors. It mattered that JJ was willing to speak up for us, more than I'dexpected.
I cupped Cole's face and kissed him. It was quick—as quick as I could be with him—and when I pulled back, life in The Galley was back to normal. "Thanks for coming over here," I said. "I like having you next tome."
His eyebrows arched up. "You like easy access to mydick."
"I enjoy both of those things," I said, laughing as I dropped my hand to his thigh. "I'll think about it. A dog. I need sometime."
Cole shook his head. "I know how you are," he said. "You need to think everythingthrough."
"You should know Sheilagh used to sleep on the bed with me," I said. "If she was still alive, she would've climbed on top of you and sleptthere."
"Cozy," he murmured. "Hey. That's interesting." He jerked his chin toward the far end of the bar. I craned my neck to see a man at Annette's side. "Who'sthat?"
"Jackson Lau," I said. We were flat-out staring now, and we weren't the only ones. All the eyes that had once been on us were now trained on them. Talbott's Cove operated an equal opportunity gossip mill. "The town's chief ofpolice."
Jackson pulled his wallet from his back pocket, thumbed out some cash, and dropped it on the bar. He brought his hand to her lower back and tipped his head toward theexit.
"It looks like they're…friendly," Cole said. "And by 'friendly' I mean he'sfucked—"
"No." I speared him with a sharp glare. "This is one situation where I don't want your filthythoughts."
With her lips pursed, Annette hopped off the barstool and shoved her book into a tote bag. She went to sling it over her shoulder but Jackson relieved her of it first. She scowled at him. I couldn't explain the genesis of this feeling, but I was proud of her. I wanted to high-five her, and tell her to make him work forit.
"Yeah, they're veryfriendly," Isaid.
"See? It was a good thing that you broke up with her," hesaid.
I rolled my eyes. "I didn't break up withher."
"Close enough," hereplied.
Jackson and Annette crossed the restaurant, his hand low on her back and a town's-worth of eyes following them. She glanced in our direction as they passed, and offered a smallsmile.
"That is interesting," I said under my breath, waving to her inresponse.
"I'm just glad she's found her own man and stopped pining over mine," Colesaid.
I swiveled away from Annette and Jackson to face Cole. "What?" Iasked.
He lifted his beer to his lips, smiling. "You heard me," he replied. "You know I'd bite your neck and piss a circle around you,too."
My heart slammed into my throat so hard I was certain I'd choke on it. "Yeah," I said. Then, quietly, "It's nice to hear you say it, littleprince."
