Page 14 of Stranded

Alph gives me a quick glance and a smile, and his shoulders relax. “Phew. I was going to say, couches are available, if you’d prefer to suffer. Or floors.”

“I have a comfortable bed fetish,” I hastily reassure him. “Your guest room would be great, thanks.”

Alph laughs, his eyes flicking across the dark water ahead of us. The islands are so close together that we’re already at Sunrise Island, and he’s glancing at his watch like he’s calculating reefs and tides and stuff.

The headlight glances off a grimy, sea-worn old building that I’m pretty sure is actually floating over the water. Light and noise spills out of the open windows, along with the smell of freshly cooked food.

“Ohhh,” I whisper. Alph’s riddle suddenly makes sense. “Isthatthe place?” I ask.

“Yup,” he beams, his barrel chest swelling with pride that makes me feel a little warmer toward the dingy exterior.“Sunrise’s only floating restaurant, bar, and ferry terminal. Now hold on tight, and keep all arms and legs inside the vehicle.”

Alph’s smile is fading with concentration. He moves the throttle forward and back, fiddles with the wheel, and we start to drift sideways. We’re close enough to the building that I’m worried we’ll hit it.

Finally, I can’t stop myself.

“What are you?—”

Alph holds up a hand and grins at me. “Wait for it… almost…” I find myself holding my breath until he says, “There.”

Then he cuts the engine, pulls the keys out, and pockets them as the ass-end of the boat keeps swinging around. Within seconds, we’ve finished a full 180-degree turn to face the floating bar and the wharf next to it.

Alph whistles under his breath, strolling toward the bow like he has all the time in the world. Just as he picks up the rope, the ferry bumps into the wharf so gently and evenly that I could just step right off.

After my boarding experience, I won’t… but Icould.

Boys.I try to stifle my laughter, shaking my head as I stow my blanket and Alph ties her up.

“Shall we?” Alph asks, his eyes gleaming like he knows exactly what he did and he’s waiting for me to say something.

I have to admit… itwaspretty cool.

“Was that the boat equivalent of parallel-parking to impress a first date?”

Alph gives me a huge, boyish grin as he steps up onto the dock, then offers his hand. “Yes. Did it work?”

His excitement is so contagious that I can’t help grinning back. “Actually, yeah,” I admit, taking his hand for the step up.

My hand slides into Alph’s large, strong palm. His fingers curl tightly, clasping me with a steady confidence that justdistracts thehellout of me. My heart pounds against my ribcage, my knees trembling like jelly.

I step up onto the wharf, and then I stare up at Alph.

The skipper’s breathing catches in his throat. His pupils go wide as he shifts and stands up straighter. The tip of his tongue darts out all of a sudden to moisten his lips.

I find my footing, but I keep on holding his hand and I count the seconds—two, three,fourwhole seconds—until at last, he thinks to let go and glances furtively at me.

Ha. Knew it.

One smug grin from me is enough to make Alph blush beet red as he turns to face the bar. “Right,” he says and clears his throat. “Yep. Let’s drop off the keys and see about that drink.”

I stifle my laughter at his retreating back and follow in his footsteps. “Yeah, let’s.”

Who knows? Maybe tonight has a few more surprises up its sleeve.

Chapter

Five

RONAN

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