John sat back in the chair and shook his head. “Damn fools,” he muttered. “A boat can be replaced. A life can’t.” But he didn’t say any of this to the captain of the ship when he lifted the handset and depressed the push-to-talk button. “Copy that. We’re here if you change your mind. In either case, godspeed, sailor. Over.”
“To you too,” came the reply. “Over.”
John tossed the handset onto the desktop and shook his head again. “Well, I tried.”
“That’s all you can do.” Dana placed a comforting hand on his shoulder.
“They’ll be okay as long as their engine holds.” Doc was trying to reassure himself as much as anyone. A strange feeling of foreboding had settled across his shoulders. He tried chalking it up to the storm bearing down on them, but he couldn’t shake the certainty that there was more to it.
“And if their engine doesn’t hold, they’re gonna be in a world of hurt,” John insisted. “All they’ll have is their anchors to keep ’em steady, and that ain’t much.”
Doc made a face. “As my dear ol’ daddy always said, you can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make him drink.”
John snorted. “Sounds like horses and fishermen are both dumb as dirt.”
Doc chuckled, but his response was cut off when Cami let loose with a loud yawn.
“Sorry.” She winced, covering her mouth. “I’m not insensitive to the plight of the fishermen. I’m just feeling like I might lapse into a coma.”
Doc leaned close to her face and saw her pupils had nearly eclipsed her irises. “Did you get into Uncle John’s stash?”
Not that he’d blame her if she had. Getting high on the devil’s lettuce was probably the best way to get through a hurricane. In fact, if he didn’t feel the need to keep his signals clear in case things suddenly went pear-shaped, he too might try to bum a joint off John.
She made a face. “No. I got into your Dramamine because IthoughtI was going to be spending the next couple of days on a sailboat.”
“How much did you take?”
Her grin looked a little drunk. “A double dose.”
“For shit’s sake, woman! Overdosing on Dramamine can cause hallucinations and seizures.”
“There’s a difference between double-dosing and overdosing.” She pursed her lips. “Or didn’t they teach you that in med school?”
He didn’t deign to answer. “Now I’ll have to monitor you until it wears off.”
“Number one”—she lifted a finger—“I’m perfectly fine all on my own. I just need a nap. And number two”—a second finger joined the first—“even if youdidhave to monitor me, why do you make that sound like the worst thing since New Coke hit the market?”
Another question he didn’t deign to answer. Instead he turned to Dana and Uncle John. “You two okay to finish gathering everything up? I’m going to take her upstairs before her legs stop working.”
“Oh my god!” Cami lifted her hands and let them fall dramatically. “Itoldyou I’m fine.”
“We can bring up the supplies,” Dana assured him. “Go get her settled in.”
After nodding his thanks, he grabbed Cami’s hand. “Come on. Let’s get you into bed.”
All her ire disappeared in an instant. It was replaced by a wide, teasing grin. “Oooh. Now you’re talkin’. Although, I have to be honest, I don’t usually go for guys who run around shirtless all day.”
Okay. She was drunk. Or high. Or whatever. Becausehewas the one with the sexual innuendos that rendered her speechless. Not the other way around.
He caught her roving finger and held it tight in his fist. “Cut that out. And what do you meanusually?”
She giggled.Giggled.Which was totally un-Cami-like. She was a laugher. Maybe even a full-throated chuckler. But a giggler? No.
Sighing heavily, he half dragged, half carried her upstairs and into his bedroom.
“Sit.” He pointed to the end of his bed while he lit the candle atop his dresser. He set the candle he’d brought up from the desk downstairs on his nightstand.
The dual flames created a cozy, romantic glow.
