“Have you heard about Saylor Jones?” Tally asks, and I nod in response. “He was the most handsome and kindest of them. We went to school together, and I used to have a little crush on him before Tim swept me off my feet when his family moved here inthe last year of high school. If he were around, I bet he would’ve been your favorite.”
Gosh,I’m glad he isn’t here right now.
I would never hear the end of it.
“I’ve only heard nice things about him,” I tell her instead, hoping he will not pop out of thin air at this moment like he usually does. He vanished while I was shopping for Tally’s chocolate earlier.
Tally’s eyes well up with tears as she recalls, “Oh, he was nice,sonice. And funny. It’s such a shame…” She trails off, and I reach out to squeeze her hand. She quickly composes herself,pops the last piece of chocolate into her mouth, and stands. “Come on, guys. The first customers will be coming in soon,” Tally reminds us, and true to her word, they arrive shortly after we finish preparing for the dinner shift.
To my dismay, our first customers are none other than Tim, Nash, and two other fishermen who had helped us earlier with the boat.
Fan-fucking-tastic.
“Hey, baby,” Tim greets Tally with a warm smile, planting a kiss on her forehead before crouching down to place his hands on her belly. He coos, “Hey, little Timmy.”
Tally swats him on the head, sighing. “How many times do I have to tell you…”
Tim stands and turns to me with a wide grin on his face. “Hey, Tarzan, I heard all about your little vine swing around the yard.”
Nash and the two guys beside him chuckle.
Oh, you’re going to regret that, buddy.
I grin right back at Tim and tease in the same tone he used on Tally’s baby belly, “Hey, little Timmy, so good to see you.”
Tally can’t hold back a giggle, and Tim shoots me a glare. “What the fuck, Sloan?”
“Oh, you don’t like that? Such a shame, little Timmy.”
“I thought we were friends, woman,” Tim mutters as he pulls Tally into a side hug.
I shrug nonchalantly, smirking. “We are, but I likehermore,” I note, pointing at the woman in his arms.
Tim laughs and concedes, “That’s fair. I like her more too.” He leans down to kiss Tally long and passionately.
“Well, that’s getting awkward, so do you guys want a table?” I turn to the two fishermen standing with Nash, who nod. “Follow me.”
I lead them to a table for four next to a window, where they sit, handing each a menu, but Nash doesn’t take it from me. Instead, he puts his hand on the back of my thigh and pulls me closer to him. The warmth of his palm over my jeans sends shivers down my spine, though I refuse to acknowledge it.
“You haven’t even said hello to me, pretty girl,” he pouts up at me, attempting to be cute. But I’m still annoyed hearing about his “taking another spin”comment, which dampens any potential charm.
“I’ve seen you twice today already,” I reply tersely, almost thrusting the menu into his face before swiftly stepping out of his grasp.
“Sloan, I don’t think I introduced you to the guys this morning,” Tim announces as he and Tally approach the table. “This is my crew, Adam and Steven. And you know this dickhead,” he adds, pointing at Nash.
Nash responds with a playful smile, “Oh, she does.”
I swat him over the head with the remaining menu before I hand it to Tim and turn to head for the kitchen, where Mac is standing with a knife in hand. His smirk looks dangerous as he asks, “Do I need to wash thebabyJones’s head for you, Mouse?”
I chuckle and assure him, “Thanks, I’ve got it.”
His grin widens as he teases, “The offer stands.”
TWENTY-TWO
The early morningsunlight filters into the shipyard, casting a warm glow over the scene. I’m alone, except for Saylor, who leans casually against the table covered with tools. His posture is relaxed, yet his eyes have an unmistakable attentiveness, as if he’s quietly absorbing everything I’m doing.
Sitting on the floor beside the boat, I focus on reassembling the motor parts I had disassembled earlier. The silence between us is surprisingly comfortable, interrupted only by the rhythmic clinking of my tools and the soft hum of the radio playing in the background.
