My food arrives, momentarily distracting me from the Koko show. The chowder is indeed heavenly – rich and creamy, with a blend of spices that make my empty stomach roar in delight. The lobster roll is perfect, tender, and flavorful. As I savor each bite, I find my eyes continually drawn to the door, half-hoping to see Levi enter. But as I finish my meal and pay the bill, I admit to myself that he’s not coming.
The drive back to my houseboat is short, and as I park, I’m not quite ready to go inside. The night is beautiful – clear andcrisp, with a sky full of stars that I never get to see in the city. On impulse, I grab the bottle of wine that Koko gave me yesterday and head out to the small deck of my houseboat.
I pour myself a glass and sit on the edge of the deck, dangling my feet in the cool water. The gentle lapping of waves against the hull is soothing, and I find myself relaxing completely. The wine is full-bodied and fruity, perfectly complementing the salty sea air.
As I sit there, enjoying the peacefulness of the night, I hear a soft splash somewhere off to my left. It’s probably just a fish, but I can’t shake the sudden sensation of being watched. A shiver runs down my spine.
Pulling my feet out of the water, I peer into the darkness, trying to make out shapes in the water, but the inky blackness reveals nothing. An uneasy feeling creeps over me as my mind races with possibilities. What lurks beneath those shadowed waves? Would a shark venture into the harbor? Then, my mind unhelpfully conjures an image of a massive jellyfish drifting silently beneath my feet. But a jellyfish wouldn’t make a splash like I’d heard. I shake myself, knowing it was probably something innocuous, like a bird dropping something. Or maybe it’s something adorable like a harbor seal. As my imagination goes into overdrive, the harbor seems less like a haven and more like a concealing cloak for nature’s most dangerous predators.
I take another sip of wine, letting the flavor roll over my tongue as I force myself to stop imagining worst-case scenarios. I make myself look around and enjoy my surroundings. Lublin Harbor, with its charming locals, welcoming atmosphere, and, of course, the enigmatic Levi, has already exceeded my wildest hopes. No sea monster is waiting below to snatch me into the ocean’s dark depths and make a meal out of me.
I steer my thoughts toward brighter things, like tomorrow’s fishing trip with Levi. I can almost see him showing me howto cast, his hands on mine, patient and sure. The dawn will splash the sky with colors I’m already itching to capture on canvas. Warmth blooms in my chest – partly for the adventure ahead, but mostly, if I’m honest with myself, for the hours I’ll spend with Levi. When I look toward his houseboat, I find only darkness and silence.
I finish my wine and stand up, stretching languidly. Just as I’m about to head inside, something draws my gaze back to the water. For a split second, beneath the water’s surface, two eyes gleam in the moonlight. I blink, and the vision is gone, leaving me to wonder if it was just my imagination playing tricks on me. It was probably a big fish or a trick of the light on the water.
Shaking my head at my overactive imagination, I head inside to prepare for bed. As I set my alarm for the early morning wake-up, I can’t help but smile. I’m eager for tomorrow’s adventure. And if my plans happen to involve spending time with a particular blond, blue-eyed tour guide, well… that’s just a bonus.
I drift off to sleep with the gentle rocking of the houseboat, my dreams filled with images of the day’s experiences – the shimmering water, the lively town, and the endless expanse of the sea stretching out to the horizon.
CHAPTER 7
Levi
The sky is still dark when I arrive at the harbormaster’s office. The air is brisk, carrying the tang of the sea and the promise of a beautiful day ahead. Although summer is just around the corner, it’s still cool enough that we won’t be bobbing and baking out on the ocean today.
I rest against the building’s salt-worn siding, peering into the darkness for any sign of Rose. My heart quickens at the thought of spending the day with her, even as I scold myself for this weakness. She is a client and a human with no knowledge or understanding of the supernatural creatures and magic that exist in this world. And it needs to stay that way. The veil between her reality and mine must remain intact, no matter how tempting she might be.
My mind wanders to last night when I was swimming in the marina’s waters in my scout form. Rose was sitting on the edge of her deck, feet dangling in the water, completely unaware of my presence beneath the surface. As she got up to head inside,our eyes had met – or at least, I could have sworn they did. I saw the flash of fear in her eyes, the way her body tensed as if ready to bolt. But then, just as quickly, she relaxed. She had dismissed it, probably convincing herself that seeing me was a trick of the moonlight or her imagination.
That moment haunts me now. I again see her unconscious flinch, the flicker of primal fear in her eyes – a bitter reminder of what others think of me. Even the most civilized monster is still a monster to humans. That single instant of raw terror in her gaze tells me everything I need to know: my truth must remain buried, no matter how it claws at my chest to be free.
A figure emerges from the shadows, and I straighten up, recognizing Rose’s graceful gait. She’s bundled up against the early morning chill, her cheeks flushed from the brisk walk.
“Good morning,” I say softly, not wanting to disturb the pre-dawn quiet. “Ready for an adventure on the high seas?”
Rose’s smile is warm enough to chase away the lingering chill. “More than ready. I could hardly sleep last night, I was so excited.”
I chuckle, gesturing for her to follow me down to the docks. “Well, I hope the reality lives up to your expectations. I’ve got everything packed and ready to go.”
We make our way to a sturdy fishing boat I’ve been loaned for the day. It’s not fancy, but it’s reliable and perfect for our needs. I help Rose aboard, trying to ignore the spark that runs through me when our hands touch.
“I’ve packed a cooler with drinks and snacks,” I explain, pointing out the various gear stowed around the deck. “And, of course, we’ve got all the bait and fishing equipment we’ll need.”
Rose nods, taking it all in with wide, eager eyes.
“By the way, the mayor is hosting a clam bake on the beach tonight, and we’ve been invited,” I say, studying her face. “I thought we could bring today’s catch to share.” Her eyebrowslift with interest, and I add, “Though I suppose that means we actually need to catch something first.”
The moment the words leave my mouth, I cringe inwardly. It was meant to be a joke, but my delivery is off, and I see a flicker of concern cross Rose’s face.
“I’m kidding,” I quickly add, feeling heat rise to my cheeks. “We don’t need to bring anything. It would be nice if we catch something, but it’s not expected.”
Rose’s smile softens the awkward moment, but I still want to kick myself. I gesture toward the bench seat, already turning toward the helm. “Make yourself comfortable while I navigate us out of the marina. Once we’re clear, we’ll find the perfect spot to cast our lines.”
As I guide the boat out of the harbor, I steal glances at Rose. She’s leaning back against the railing, her hair whipping in the wind, a look of pure joy on her face. The sight makes my heart ache in a way I can’t explain.
“Levi,” Rose calls over the sound of the engine, “I’ve been meaning to ask – am I the only person coming on this fishing charter? I thought there might be other tourists joining us.”
I hesitate for a moment, considering how to explain. “You’re kind of a trial run,” I admit, reducing the engine’s speed so we can talk more easily. “This is part of a new venture Koko – the mayor – is starting to attract more tourists to Lublin Harbor. You’re our first client.”
