Page 91 of Pull Me Under

Somehow that makes it worse. And better.

Cal runs us through man overboard recovery. I know the drill cold, but today I keep losing focus.

Because Brynn is good at this.

Precise. Efficient. Asks smart questions, spots problems before anyone else. When we run the recovery manoeuvre, she catches a positioning error that would’ve cost us seconds in a real shout.

‘Nice,’ Cal says. ‘Most people miss that.’

She shrugs, but I catch the flush. ‘Grandad was thorough.’

I’m staring. I know I’m staring. Her hands on the equipment. The way she moves on the boat like she belongs there.

She catches me.

Our eyes lock across the deck. She raises an eyebrow – challenge, question, both – and heat crawls up the back of my neck.

‘Harding.’ Cal’s voice, dry as sand. ‘You planning to participate, or just stand there looking decorative?’

Definitely Tom who snickers.

‘I’m participating,’ I mutter.

‘Then tell me what’s wrong with the kit log from yesterday’s drill.’

I look at the clipboard. The log sheet, neatly filled in. I scan it – not the equipment specs, but the procedural entries. Dates, sign-offs, compliance codes.

‘Expiry date on the flare pack,’ I say. ‘Showing next month, but the batch number doesn’t match the supply order. We got a replacement set last Tuesday – someone logged the old batch number on the new stock.’

Cal stares at me. Then nods, ghost of approval. ‘Good. Anything else?’

‘The VHF check column’s got last Thursday’s date but no signature. And the fuel log shows a top-up that doesn’t match the marina invoice.’

Silence. Tom looks at me like I’ve sprouted a second head.

‘Right,’ Cal says. ‘Someone’s been paying attention.’

Brynn’s watching me. Although not with surprise, more like confirmation.

I shrug. ‘Someone’s got to do the boring bits.’

Training ends at six. Others drift off. I hang back.

Brynn hangs back too.

‘So,’ she says, leaning against the boat, arms crossed. ‘Tonight.’

‘Tonight.’

‘You’re still cooking.’

‘That’s the plan.’

‘At my cottage. With my disaster kitchen.’

‘You warned me about the wallpaper. I’m prepared.’

She studies me.