Page 81 of Spindrift

“Yeah,”Morgan said in a croak. Even from here, she could see that Emilia’s eyes werered as if she had been crying, and she wore an oversized man’s sweater withleggings and a defeated set of her shoulders. Nell pressed herself close to herperson and eyed the crowd dubiously. Morgan’s heart leapt across the spacebetween them as Emilia laughed at something Stevie said, then raised her eyesto look around the room until she found Morgan.

Fuck. Morgan smiled as best she could,remembering Emilia on the boat. At least, she thought, unable to look away, shewasn’t a man. Hiding her desire was just a matter of keeping her hands toherself. Much harder to suppress was the surge of protectiveness that rose inher at the thought of Emilia crying.

Lillianstood and prodded Morgan’s thigh. “Move it, lover boi.”

“Lookwho I found,” Stormy said with her irrepressible smile.

“Hi,”said Emilia. She sent Morgan a look through her lashes that drowned theprotectiveness in a much more basic emotion. “This is my sister, Anna Maria, andthis is Morgan, Lillian, Stevie, and Stormy.”

“Sonice to meet you,” Anna Maria said. Her gaze lingered on Morgan a moment longerthan it did the others. “You should join us.”

“Done,”said Stevie.

“Onlyif we’re not intruding,” said Lillian.

Morganraised her eyebrows at Emilia in a question. Emilia shrugged, as if to say “toolate now.”

AnnaMaria placed her order and led her way to an open table. Her thick black hairswayed like Emilia’s as she walked, but something about the assertive way inwhich she commandeered an extra chair from a nearby table reminded Morgan of aJack Russell. She saw enough of the tiny terrors on her rounds to recognize theindomitable and slightly crazed air of a creature determined to bend the worldto its will.

Stevie,Lillian, and Anna Maria sat, leaving two chairs side by side for Emilia andMorgan. She didn’t think this was an accident.

“Whatdo you think of Seal Cove? Is this your first time here?” Lillian asked AnnaMaria.

Morgantried to listen to her answer, but her body focused exclusively on Emilia’sproximity. Their legs brushed beneath the small table, and she wanted to runher hands along Emilia’s thighs again or, better yet, have them wrapped aroundher waist while she . . .stop, she scolded herself.

“.. . change of pace,” Anna Maria was saying.

“She’shiding from her children,” Emilia explained.

“Youhave kids?” If Lillian were a dog, her ears would have perked toward heaven.

“Twins,”said Anna Maria with grim satisfaction.

“Howold?”

“Three.They say twos are terrible, but it’s the threes you have to watch out for.”

“Ineed to see pictures,” said Lillian.

“Andwe’ve lost her,” Emilia said to Morgan.

“Lil,too.”

“Whatdid you think of Sally’s?” Stevie asked Emilia. Her face radiated innocence, andeven Morgan doubted for a second that she had any ulterior motives.

“Thefood was amazing. Beautiful view, too.”

Stevie’seyes flickered over at Morgan while her lips twitched in a suppressed smile.

“Youwent to Sally’s?” Lillian looked up from Anna Maria’s phone.

“What’sSally’s?” asked Anna Maria.

Emiliaplaced her hand on Morgan’s leg beneath the table and dug her nails in.

“Localrestaurant,” said Morgan. “Really good seafood.”

“Yum.”Anna Maria fixed Morgan with a charming, but predatory, smile. “What do you do,Morgan?”

---