She focused her gaze on the first man who made eye contact with her. He was tall and lean. Though it was only June, his skin was sun-darkened. He wore a baseball cap with sunglasses perched on the brim. Judging from the white circles around his eyes, she assumed those glasses were normally perched on his nose. He pulled his gaze from her and dropped a large fillet into a bag held by a lanky young man who bore a similar tan.
“I’m looking for Captain Samuelson from Reelin’ In Charters. My friends and I have the afternoon voyage with him,” she said.
“Voyage?” she heard a nearby man repeat.
Laughter followed.
She cut her eyes in that direction, and all gazes landed on their feet.
She turned her gaze back to the man she’d originally addressed. He wore a look of dismay.
His broad shoulders slumped. “Are you sure your charter is today?”
“Yes.”
“On Reelin’ In Charters?”
“Listen, I certainly know who I’ve booked a charter with. Now, do you know where I can find him and his boat, or not?”
“Yes, I’m Captain Samuelson. Call me Cap.” His brows furrowed. “But there must be some mistake because my afternoon charter is already booked. We’ll find a way to work it out.”
“No kidding. I booked it.”
The man rinsed his hands and dried them with a piece of paper towel. Then, he pulled his phone from his shorts pocket, tapped at the screen, and studied it.
“My records show that I’m taking four guys out. It’s a bachelor party. Jonathan Milbourne is the unlucky soul.”
Heat rushed to her face. She lifted her hand and pointed at Cap.
“What a horrible comment to make. I bet you’re still single. Aren’t you?”
“Single and loving it, sweetheart.”
His sarcastic tone sent fire through her veins.
“Jonathan would have been lucky to marry Emma. The jerk doesn’t deserve her. I’m glad the wedding is off,” Morgan said as she slung an arm around Emma’s shoulders.
Thank God for her friend stepping in, or she may have slapped that smug smile right off of Captain Samuelson’s face. Okay, no, she wouldn’t have because she wasn’t a violent person, but his heartless comment struck a nerve just now, so she wouldn’t mind if the machine spinning fish guts would spray him full of the nasty stuff.
“Let’s go, Emma. This wasn’t a good idea anyhow,” Morgan said as she shifted her friend in the opposite direction of the captain.
* * *
“Wait!” Cap called out.
Emma was a slim woman of medium height with jet black hair, and her dark eyes slowly turned to face him again. Her dagger-shooting glare sliced through his eyes and heart. Now that he realized she was a jilted bride, he felt horrible about the comment he’d made.
Emma’s friend’s gazes were on him. His fishing buddy’s gazes were on him. He knew he had to reel back, but totally didn’t want to in front of the other charter captains, first mates, and anglers. This was going to suck. His mother’s voice rang through his head, reminding him to be kind to others and do the right thing.
“My apologies, Emma. I didn’t know. Your charter will be ready to leave at the scheduled time. About fifteen minutes.”
Her almost black eyes softened a fraction.
“Okay then. Where should we wait?”
Disdain still laced her tone.
He pointed to the dock wall. “That’s my boat right there. You can wait on the dock, and then I’ll help you onto the boat.”
