Page 27 of Deep Waters

“Yep. No problem.”

Harry’s gaze drifted to the south bank and pier as they glided past. A couple of anglers were fishing off the end, but there was no sign of the police unit that had been stationed there yesterday.

“Any further news?” Christian asked, following the direction of his eyes.

Harry shook his head, turning his attention back to the river ahead. “Not that I’ve heard. Idle speculation in the café this morning, but nothing more than that. It will keep them talking for a few days until something else takes their attention.”

Christian moved closer, standing right behind him at the wheel. “I get the impression that while you love this town, you don’t have a high opinion of many of the residents.”

Harry laughed. “You’ve quite observant. I guess that’s why you’re a reporter. You’re also right. All this small-town gossip and bitching gets on my tits. Some of these folks literally have nothing better to do than put others down. Their minds are narrower than the Nye Valley. They were born here, they’ll die here and they’ll never aspire to do anything else.”

“But you’ve been here your whole life, too. Doesn’t that hypothesis apply to you also?”

As they left the protection of the harbour, the sea was remarkably calm. The boat rolled gently in the swell but was nothing to worry about. The most fair-weather sailors would be content with today’s conditions.

“Guilty,” he said. “But I’m not one of those people. I know Nyemouth is not the be-all and end-all. It’s a nice place, but it has its problems. It’s no better than anywhere else. We’ve got some fantastic people living here and some real arseholes. It just happens to have a nice coastal location. But the people who do the moaning and bitching don’t even appreciate that. They’re too damn lazy to walk up onto the cliff tops or along the beach. It would never occur to most of them to get out of town and explore the moors. They just sit on their arses and complain about the tourists. They infuriate me at times.”

He heard Christian chuckle behind him. “Why don’t you tell me how you really feel?”

Harry sighed. “Sorry. I’ll get down off my high horse.” He flashed a smile over his shoulder. “We’re about to turn south. There are some amazing views all along this section of the coast. So, just over there is the south cliff. You’ll find some excellent walking trails along both cliff tops if you fancy exploring the area by land rather than sea. Shout out if you see anything you want a closer look at. The coast is pretty rugged, but there are a few places where I can get the boat near to the shore.”

Harry focused on the wheel and the route ahead, leaving Christian in peace to take photographs and scribble in his notebook. The eroticism of his dreams lingered, and he fought hard to put them aside. There was no point dwelling on it. He couldn’t deny that he found Christian increasingly attractive, but in a few days from now, he would leave Nyemouth and they would likely not see each other again. With the wide horizon in front of him, Harry recognised his fancy for what it was…a crush, nothing more meaningful than that. It would run its course in another day or so, and that would be the end of it.

Time passed quickly at sea. The mild weather improved as the morning went on and soon they enjoyed clear skies and perfect conditions. Motoring along the coast, past fishing boats and small towns, answering Christian’s questions, Harry was surprised when he checked his watch and discovered it had gone twelve o’clock. They would have to turn back soon.

“Are you hungry?” he asked.

Christian put down his camera. “Actually, yes. I didn’t expect to be, especially after your generous breakfast.”

“It’s the sea air,” Harry told him. “It gives everyone an appetite.”

“Unless they’re sick,” Christian grinned.

“Well, yes, there’s always a risk of that. But you look fresh enough to me.”

“I feel great.”

“That’s what I want to hear.”

Harry slowly turned the boat around and headed farther out to sea. Once he was satisfied that they were well clear of the fishing nets, he cut the engine and let the boat idle in the swell. They could safely drift for an hour or so out here without any risk. On a regular trip, he would have Tom to take care of their lunches, but today he would have to deal with it himself.

He pointed at a thermos in the wheelhouse. “There’s coffee in there if you want something hot. It won’t taste as good as the stuff this morning, but it’s better than the instant stuff I’ve got onboard. I forgot to shop this week and stock up on the ground stuff.”

“You’ve had other things on your mind,” Christian said. “The thermos is fine.”

“I’ll be right back,” he said, hovering over the hatch to the lower deck. “Can I fetch you a cold drink? There’s cola, beer, water.”

“Water will be fine. Thank you.”

Harry scooted below and grabbed two bottles of water and the salad boxes he’d bought earlier from the fridge. Christian was sitting on the bench in the stern, drinking coffee from an old mug, when he climbed back up. The midday sun caught the strong angles of his face, making him look even more handsome than ever. Harry’s pulse quickened.

Steady. This is only a crush, remember? You’ll get over it.

He crossed the deck and sat beside him. “I’ve got roast chicken or prawns. Which do you prefer?” he asked, holding up the salads.

“I’m fine with either. Chicken, I guess.”

Harry handed him the box, together with the water and a fork. “Enjoy.”

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