Page 84 of Between the Lines

I simply woke up wanting to be with Fia.

Ten minutes later, we’re parked in the lot next to the marina. The sun-faded asphalt lot is pretty empty considering it’s the middle of the workweek.

Excitement and confusion flash simultaneously on Fia’s face as she whips her head around, checking out the surroundings.

“What are we doing here?”

I jump out of the Jeep, flip-flops hitting the hot pavement. “We’re sailing.”

Fia swivels around, her eyes tracing my steps to the trunk. She pops through the backseats like a little kid.

“You can sail? You have a boat?”

I laugh and nod. “Yes, and yes.”

With my hands wrapped around the cooler handles, I glance at her. “You don’t get seasick, do you?”

“No.” She pauses, gazing out over the boats as seagulls circle around us. “I mean, I don’t think so. I’ve never been sailing . . . or on a boat. Unless a kayak counts.”

“So what you’re saying is that I’m taking your boat virginity?” I ask, and Fia rolls her eyes but smiles too.

A warm summer breeze flows through the parking lot, bringing the smell of fuel and salty water. The docks are full of boats, ranging from small, zippy speedboats to forty-foot sailboats.

“I’m not sure why I’m surprised that you own a boat and know how to sail,” she mumbles, more to herself than me.

I hoist the cooler on top of my shoulder. “I packed a beach bag, grabbed your swimsuit from the outdoor shower, and the sunscreen, so we’re good to go.”

“When did you even plan this?” Fia climbs down from the Jeep and walks beside me.

“This morning as I ate breakfast.”

Fia stops with her hands on her hips, looking up at me. “Huh . . . you’re kind of a romantic, aren’t you?”

“Only for you,” I reply, flashing a crooked smile as she follows me closely down the dock to my boat.

“I should probably text Halle and tell her the business meeting is going to take a few hours.”

“Probably a good idea. Wouldn’t want anyone worrying about you.”

I step into the sailboat first to set down the cooler, then turn back towards Fia.

“I still can’t believe you kidnapped me to sail.” She laughs as I take her hand. I reach forward, grabbing her waist with my other arm and lift her into the boat with me.

I tip her face up towards mine.

“I’ve been waiting all morning to kiss that pretty mouth of yours.”

Fia blushes, and I set a soft kiss on her lips, but then she steps back to look at me.

“Who are you and what have you done with Caden Brooks?” she teases.

I grin and give her ass a playful tap. “Oh I’m still here . . . just a bit less grumpy.”

The truth is part of me is terrified every minute that I’m going to screw this up, that it is reckless to date Fia, but the other part of me feels light, like I never want to sleep, I just want to be with her.

Is this what it feels like to be happy?

“So this is how the other half lives?” Fia asks, looking around Shelly-Ray. I’m pretty glad I spent time cleaning it up recently. “They take off work on Tuesdays and sail around the bay?”