Page 44 of Sail Away with Me

Repeatedly.

As cars began parking along the front of the building, Galvin picked up a stack of menus and greeted the first set of customers. They were men from the bank, who came in to “talk shop” a couple times a week. It didn’t take Galvin long to figure out “shop” meant balls (any sport with a ball), bars, and boobs. The last two normally went hand-in-hand with these guys. While they sat and pretended to look over a menu they had memorized, she greeted the next handful of customers before going back to the bankers.

“What can I get you gentlemen?”

“Your number to start off with,” the one in the corner said. When Galvin glanced his way, he winked. Much like Sail, only this was creepy.

She smiled kindly. “I’ll look to see if it’s on the menu. It might be a new item.” She hoped he’d take the joke as a hint and move on. Others had hinted about getting her number, but this was the first customer to outright ask for it.

Come to think of it, she wasn’t sure Sail had it or even asked for it. They’d always made plans when they saw each other, and he’d never been late and had shown up.

Being busy kept Galvin’s mind from the morning’s events. Even still, Sail’s face held a permanent and prominent spot in her mind. Every time she thought about him and the things he’d done to her body, she warmed with embarrassment. Galvin needed a Sail cleanse.

And possibly a reality check.

Everything she had done in the past twenty-four hours where Sail was concerned went against everything she’d vowed to not do. She was in Seaport to work, not hook-up with a local. Especially when the local was her boss’s son. Now, she felt incredibly irresponsible and needed to have a coming to reality moment.

By the time the mid-day rush died down, Galvin was ready to call it a day. She still had hours to go but was in desperate need of a nap. Even though she’d slept soundly in Sail’s arms. She hadn’t even noticed they had fallen asleep on her small couch, or that she’d rolled over to face him. Galvin didn’t even remember laying on him. But that is where she woke up, in his arms, and while she should regret it and tell him it’ll never happen again, she wasn’t sure those words were inside her.

Yet, they needed to be. Risking her job for a little bit of romance wasn’t a smart thing to do.

She finally had all the tables cleaned, restocked, and set for the dinner rush. So far, the day had been good to her tip wise. Her cash tips went into a bag in her room, probably not the smartest way to save, but she hadn’t opened a bank account in town. After taking a quick break, where she did, in fact, head up to her apartment and dump her tips, she came back down just in time to see Sail, Dune, and three others walk in.

Her heart raced at the sight of Sail, but then turned to an agonizing pounding when Dune made eye contact with her. The group didn’t wait for her to tell them to find a seat, they walked by her, on their way to the big booth in the back. She caught Sail’s wink, which caused her to blush.

Sail stopped next to her. She stepped back not knowing if he was going to try and kiss or touch her. Either wouldn’t be appropriate in the diner, especially while she was working. No, not even if she wasn’t. Too many people knew she worked there, and she didn’t want her laundry aired out for the public to see.

If Sail noticed, he said nothing. “Are you having a good day?”

Galvin nodded. “I am. You?”

He offered her a one-arm shrug. “Busy. Wilson hit a wave and I got soaked. All part of tours, I guess.”

“Did you sign up for that race thing?”

Sail’s grin spread from ear-to-ear. “I did. I’ll start training in the morning.”

“How does one train for an event like that?”

“Well, for one, you get out there and make sure your boat is functioning. That all your wenches are working and there are no holes in the sails. Then you tell your brothers to make you an obstacle course and time you.”

“Sounds complicated.”

“It’s going to be exhilarating,” he told her. “Especially knowing you’ll be there to cheer me on.”

Even though she didn’t want any acts of public displays of affection, her fingers itched to touch him. She clasped her hands and then looked at the table where his brother and their friends sat.

“I should probably offer them menus, but something tells they have it all memorized, and I’d be wasting my time.”

Sail gave her a crooked grin. “Come on,” he said with a tilt of his head. “I’ll introduce you to everyone.”

Galvin stepped forward and then paused. There was something in the way he said he’d introduce her to everyone. He made it sound less friendly and more romantically if that was even a thing. His demeanor hadn’t changed. Sail was the same flirty man he’d been since the first day they met. So, was it Galvin? Was she now interpreting things differently?

They met at the end of the counter. Sail walked ahead of her and sat at the end of the booth. Much like he had when he’d come in with his brothers. He reintroduced Dune, who gave her a soft smile.

“This is Ana,” Sail said. “She books the tours, greets customers, and literally anything else us knuckleheads can’t figure out.”

Ana shook Galvin’s hand. “It’s nice to meet you.”

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