Graham gave one more tug, and the fish broke free.
Only it wasn’t a fish.
It wasa snake! My shriek filled the air, and I twisted around. My legs tangled on the thwart as I heaved all my weight as far from the creature as I could. Graham caught my waist, but only after he’d released the line, and we fell to the bottom boards.
“That’s not a fish!” I screeched again. I was tangled in a rope, splayed most indecently across Graham, so I pushedup on his broad, hard chest. His eyes were as wide as mine, mouth parted as he sat up. He must have not heard me, so I repeated, “That is not afish!”
Morton had jumped the center thwart, then over us, and taken the line in his hands. Steadily, he reeled, completely unafraid. Excited, even. “Did you see the size of that beast, Everett?” he called over his shoulder.
“Cut the line!” I begged, twisting around Graham for protection. I never wanted to see that creature again as long as I lived. “Graham, make him cut the line!”
Graham hesitated, then, “Morton,” he said in a deep voice.
But Morton heaved a final time, and there it was, flopping its long body—or tail?—around like a swimming snake. The sea beast of Tabs’s nightmares. I held in a screech, backing over the center thwart, as far away as I could go.
“Well done, Miss Lane. Look at that eel. Twenty pounds at least.” Morton looked positively giddy. He flung the twisting thing toward the front thwart and made quick work of slicing the head, then rinsing it out and flinging the eel into his ice bucket. “With a haul this full, I ought to payyou twofor this trip.”
“Row us home before Miss Lane faints,” Graham ordered, then tossed a rag to Morton. He followed me over the center thwart. “And before the sun sets completely. Then you can pay us a cod or two for putting up with you.” His voice sounded the slightest bit cross, but his amusement won out. Especially when he looked at me.
“All is well,” he chuckled, grabbing a blanket from a basket under the center thwart. “The eel is dead, and Morton has caught more than enough to take home.”
I stilled as Graham wrapped the blanket around my back, then sat down beside me. This time, far enough away to make me miss him.
The sun was setting, framing Brighton’s hills in a fiery glow. Pinks and oranges and yellows lit the sky as Morton started to row us toward the shore, humming his happy tune.
In companionable silence, we watched the sun’s last reflections on the sea as gentle waves careened us to shore. I glanced at Graham. So handsome, his wavy hair windswept, lips parted, and cheeks creased as he smiled softly toward the sea.
I’d been surrounded by his family all week, and it had been a dream. But, sitting beside him, I realized, even when we were silent, I never felt alone in his presence.
I felt likeme.
I felt wanted. Cared for. Like I’d be missed. And Graham did that. He made me tingle all over, made me laugh so hard I ached, and when he spoke to me, he spoketo me, and he listened.
How had I been so foolish? How had I let my pride and jealousy fuel this fire against him? For thinking back, even when I’d wanted him gone, his presence had felt like home. He’d fit with us. Never out of place, even when I’d served him goat cheese and tortured him with the most awkward questions. He’d matched me flame to flame, and I’d loved it.
I’d loved him.
I love him.
Stupid, stupid girl. How had you not seen?
I watched his profile, the curve of his nose, round at the tip, and the soft dip in his upper lip. I wanted those lips. I wanted to kiss the crease of his mouth, the dimple in hischeek. I wanted ... too much for one night. But I hoped he wanted the same.
I plastered on a smile, hoping for nonchalance instead of“Ihave just realized my heart’s desire,”as Morton splashed into the sea and tugged the boat the rest of the way inland.
“Out you go.” He raised a hand to steady Graham, who jumped out.
“You did well on the return,” Graham said to me, extending his own a hand to help me over the side of the boat. “Did you enjoy the trip?”
Heavens, but his eyes were so sincere. How had I never paid attention? Graham wore his heart on his sleeve, and hecared. “Very much. Thank you, Graham.”
I braced myself against the unsteady motion and took his hand as I lifted a leg over. He caught my waist to steady my one foot as my shoe found enough purchase on the rocky beach to swing my other leg over. Still, I stumbled into him. A second’s worth of his hold seemed to brand me with something new. Something only he could give. Something I would not mind having forever.
“Steady?” His low chuckle rumbled between us.
Hands locked on his strong forearms, I swayed. How had I missed it? Why had I locked these feelings away until now? “Not quite.”
His gaze swallowed me whole, and I shouldn’t have let him look at me so openly. Like there weren’t fifty other tourists scattered along the shore ahead. I also shouldn’t have reached up to smooth the hair from his—
