Page 11 of Merry with a Captain

She let out a cry, and he grabbed her before she fell to the ground. Pulling her tight to him, he turned his back to protect her and carried her out of the mob to an empty spot behind one of the tents.

“Are you okay?” he asked and set her down. She turned, pushing her blond curly hair out of her face, and he couldn’t have been more stunned. “Robyn!”

She looked up at him, confusion written all over her face. “F-Fletch? What? How?”

“The one and only.” He smiled at her. “You’re here, I thought you’d left weeks ago.”

She nodded, and straightened her jacket. The box in her arms crushed. “Oh, damn.” She opened it and showed him. A mishmash of pastries coated the inside of the box.

“Oh, I’m sorry if I did that.” He frowned and took it from her to try and unsquish the sides.

She shook her head. “Don’t worry, some look salvageable. But wait a minute, it’s you! You’re here. What a coincidence."

"I think I'm the one that should be surprised. I never expected to see you again, so this is fantastic." He wanted to pull her into his arms for a hug, but resisted the temptation.

She nodded and smiled up at him. "It is. I felt the same, like our one night was a one and done.”

He watched a blush stain her cheeks at the mention of their night together and was enchanted. The pleasures they had given each other that night certainly were blush worthy.

"What are your plans for the rest of the evening?" he asked.

“Nothing really. I'm staying at The Cove across the street until I can find something a bit more permanent. I could see the market out of my window and decided to come down to get something to eat." She pointed at the box.

“Are you still hungry? Did you want to go and sit down somewhere for a meal?"

"I was going to take those back to my room to eat after having a few by the fire. Now I'm not sure. At least they all go down the same way." She chuckled. "But you know what, I would like to catch up, so sitting down somewhere would be nice."

“Okay then, how about we find somewhere in your hotel to warm up and then you won't have far to go at the end of the evening,” he suggested.

"I like that idea." Robyn hooked her arm through his, and he led her through the crowd, making sure she didn't get bumped again.

They ran across the street into the hotel lobby, and he enjoyed the way she hung on to his arm.

"Did you want to go into the restaurant or sit by the fire in those two armchairs?" he asked her.

"I think those chairs look comfy. Let's sit there. I could use the fire to help me warm up.” She shivered.

Once seated, they fell silent, and a slight awkwardness settled around them. Even though they’d spent a scorching night together, they didn't know each other at all. This was like a first date. He didn't want to treat it like a first date though.

"Tell me, how come you're back in Love Beach? Your note said you were leaving." He reached for the menu card sitting on the table beside them.

"I was in Savannah for a new position. Was there a couple weeks and then was called back here due to a staffing issue. Kind of a pain in one way really, because my apartment here was leased out, and now that means I have to find something else. Hence, living here for the time being.” She waved her hand indicating the hotel. “Thank goodness the company is covering the cost.”

“That's a lot of changes in a short period of time," he commented and leaned forward to hand her the menu. "What do you like on here?"

She took it and looked at it.

"It is a lot of changes. I'm usually good with change, but this was a bit too much all at once." She smiled then looked at the menu.

He watched her. She was chewing her lip, and Fletch had a feeling she wasn't really seeing the words. Something was on her mind. She put the menu down and looked at him.

"Look, I'm really sorry about how I left. You know, after that night we… Anyway, to be honest, I haven’t been able to get you out of my head. I'm not so sure why I feel so awkward right now, but, can we try and not be?"

She looked him dead in the eye, and a swelling sensation rose deep inside him. It was an unusual feeling, and he was momentarily at a loss for words.

"It's okay,” she rushed to say more. "It's fine if it bothered you and you'd rather never see me again. We can have this one drink and meal and go from there –”

Fletch held up his hand and she paused. "Don't get ahead of yourself."

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