Doc, never one to let a guy catch his breath, had immediately clapped him on the shoulder and declared, “Get a fire burning and let’s eat!”
Since Romeo had worked up quite an appetite battling the beast, he’d shaken off his weariness, wiped a hand over his brow, and gotten busy doing exactly as Doc suggested.
The matches out of the first aid kit had come in handy for lighting the pile of driftwood the others had gathered from the beach.Thank you, Mia, for your fast thinking back on the life raft.And the makeshift spit he’d created had worked pretty damn good at barbecuing the fish, even if he did say so himself.
The snook had been big and meaty, so it’d taken a while for it to fully cook over the open flame. And by the time it’d been done through, the outer parts had turned a little dry. But thankfully, the packages of Italian dressing Cami had produced from her purse had spiced up even the most overdone portions.
Truly, the lawyer’s leather carryall was like a swap meet; it seemed to have a little bit of everything.
“Snook?” She wrinkled her nose now. “Sounds like the imaginary woodland creature country kids get city kids to spend all night hunting.”
Doc chuckled. “That’ssnipe. And by the expression on your face, you’re speaking from experience.”
“I have a couple of bratty cousins who live in Upstate New York,” she admitted. “One summer when my sister and I were visiting, they took us into the woods with gunny sacks and had us sit under an old oak tree half the night, waiting for a snipe to run into the bags. We finally figured out we’d been had at about two o’clock in the morning.”
Doc laughed again. “You city kidswerefun to tease.”
“I take it you sent someone on a snipe hunt in your misspent youth?” She arched an imperious eyebrow.
“Sure.” Doc nodded. “Every year when the Boy Scout troop from Billings would come camp on my neighbor’s ranch, me and the local boys would take them out snipe hunting.”
“Little savages,” Cami declared hotly. Then she returned them to the original subject. “But back to the fish. While I can’t say I approve of the name, I do approve of the flavor. Light, white, and with just the right amount of firmness. And with the Italian dressing?” She lifted a hand to give a chef’s kiss.
“So whydoyou keep packages of dressing in your purse anyway?” Doc asked, peering carefully into the bag under discussion as if he thought a leprechaun or a unicorn might jump out of it next.
Cami sighed. “The place I eat lunch gives me two packets of the stuff for my chef’s salad. But since I gain five pounds justlookingat oil, I only allow myself one. What?” She frowned at Doc. “What’s that look for?”
“Oh, sorry.” He glanced around. “Did I accidently roll my eyes out loud?” When Cami curled her hands into fists, he was quick to add, “I only meant that you’d look good with a little extra. So indulge in the two dressings.” He did a pretty good impression of Donna fromParks and Recreationwhen he added, “Treat yo’self!”
“Says the man who can probably eat five thousand calories a day and still lose weight.” Cami’s eyes roved uncharitably over Doc’s lean form.
“Good lord, woman. I was trying to give you a compliment.”
“Were you? Sorry. I guess it’s a touchy subject. And not because I’m that vain, but because high blood pressure and diabetes run in my family, so maintaining a healthy weight is not just an ideal, it’s a must. And I’msojealous of anyone who doesn’t have to worry about every bite they put in their mouths. Plus, if I’m being honest, I’m still a little peeved at you for ruining our chances of an early rescue.”
That was the second time since sitting down to dinner that Cami had accused Doc of being the reason they were all still stranded. Romeo wasn’t surprised when Doc said, “I reckon it’s time you embraced your inner Elsa and just...let it go.”
Cami’s lips twitched. “Did you just admit to watchingFrozen?”
“I did.” Doc’s expression was unflappable. “Disney is badass, and any man who claims otherwise is insecure in his masculinity.”
“You know what? You are absolutely right,” Cami agreed with a forceful nod. “Which movie is your favorite?”
“Toy Story, hands down. The combo of Woody and Buzz Lightyear is pure comedy gold.”
“Mmm. Thatisa good one. Although”—she lifted a finger—“it was produced by Pixar and onlyreleasedby Disney. Not that that matters, but, you know, precision in all things and—” She pointed her finger at Doc. “No! No more lawyer jokes. I’m lawyer joked out for the day.” When Doc obediently closed his mouth, she nodded her satisfaction and added, “My favorites areThe Little MermaidandAladdin.” Her smile turned dreamy. “I love a good star-crossed lovers trope.”
Romeo saw something odd pass over Doc’s face at that. And he was intrigued when Doc didn’t come back with a smart-ass response and instead turned quickly to Mia to ask, “And what about you? Got a favorite Disney movie?”
The gentle breeze had turned cooler with the lowering of the sun. It caught a lock of Mia’s hair, brushing it across her face. Romeo had to tuck his hands under his legs to keep from smoothing it behind her ear.
When she did the deed for him, she made the move look so sweet and innocent and unconsciously sexy, he nearly groaned again.
“If we can count Pixar movies, then mine isWALL-E,” she admitted quietly. “I adore that little robot.”
Romeo had been red hot for her all evening long. No, that wasn’t right. He’d been red hot for her since the first moment he saw her. It was just thatnowhe knew he couldacton all that red hotness. But her admission burned something new inside him. Something decidedlynorthof what’d been burning previously. Something that lived a little left of center of his sternum.
He didn’t need a degree in psychology to draw a correlation between her chosen life and a movie about the last robot on Earth. A lonely, sensitive creature that marveled at things left behind by a society long since gone.
