Page 43 of Spindrift

“Idon’t need protection.”

Morganheld her hands up in a gesture of surrender.

“ButI will let someone know when I take it out under sail for the first time.Which, by the way, I was already planning on doing.” Anger crept back into hervoice. She’d had women use protectiveness as an excuse before.

“I’msorry,” Morgan said again. “Will you stay?”

Emiliaconsidered her. She’d only known her two weeks. During that time, Morgan hadcome to her aid, both in the water and when she had needed a tool, invited herinto her home, and been kind and respectful if occasionally, as she put it,protective. Her attraction to Morgan aside, she’d felt more herself aroundMorgan and her friends than she had in months. Was she willing to throw thataway because Morgan had expressed worry, especially since Morgan’s firstimpression of her had been seeing her pitch drunk into the frigid ocean? Shehadn’t exactly radiated “competent sailor.” Maybe Emilia had overreacted, justlike Hannah always said she did.

“I’llstay.”

“Stillfriends?” Morgan asked.

“Stillfriends.”

Emiliadidn’t remember moving closer to Morgan, but as the tension ebbed from herbody, she realized she could see the freckles spanning Morgan’s cheeks and noseeven in the darkness, and she smelled the notes of wood smoke, clean laundry,and sandalwood that clung to Morgan’s clothes and skin.

“We’dbetter get in there if we want cake,” Morgan said without making any move toact on her suggestion.

Monthsof numbness burned away like morning fog. It would be easy, so easy, to let herbody purge some of her cloying grief beneath this woman. The catch in Morgan’sbreath told her all she needed to know about what Morgan wanted. If she letherself go, if she let herself act on the impulse to lean in and kiss Morgan,if she let Morgan touch her, would it dull the blade of her accumulated losses?

Couldanything?

“Morgan,”Stevie shouted from the back door.

“Right.”Morgan shot Emilia a rueful smile and turned to walk into the warm glow of thekitchen.

Emiliaallowed herself one muffled, sobbing exhale, then followed.

• • •

Steviescowled at Morgan as she joined her at the counter. Morgan shrugged an apology.The cake topper dripped hot wax onto the chocolate buttercream frosting Steviehad spent the previous evening perfecting into small rosettes.

“Sorry.”

Steviehanded her a slice of cake. “Whatever. You can’t sing anyway.”

Morganmet Emilia’s eyes from the other side of the island counter. Desire lancedthrough her, sharp and sudden.Fuck. It had been a long time sinceanyone had been able to get her this distracted with a look alone.

Friends. That’s what she’d told Emilia, andthat’s what she’d told Lillian. Tempting as it was to consider theprospect—dangled so infuriatingly by Lillian when she needed it least—of afling, she knew herself too well to entertain the idea for long. She’d provedas much already this evening. Pushing Emilia about her safety had been way outof line.

Hereyes returned to Emilia of their own accord as Emilia laughed at somethingStormy said. It wasn’t just the curve of waist and hip and the way her hairmoved as she spoke that held her eyes. There was a deep wariness there, andsomething else; she’d seen it in her patients. Some animals were well-behavedbecause they wanted to please. Others knew the shape, smells, and tastes oftheir limits. Morgan wanted to hold Emilia in her arms as she broke free ofhers.

“You’redrooling,” Stevie said in a low voice. “And since it’s not over my masterpieceof confection, I’m offendedanddisgusted.”

Morganate her cake.

“Picturetime,” said Lillian a little while later, interrupting Morgan in a conversationwith Danielle about the clinic. “Ange, get in the middle. Tall people in theback.”

Morgansaw Emilia hesitate. “I can take the photo,” she offered, and Morgan guessedshe didn’t want to intrude.

“Nope.Get in the back. I’ll use the timer.” Lillian propped her phone on the bar andsurveyed the jumble of people around Angie. “Morgan, move closer to Danielle.Emilia, stand by Morgan. Stevie, do not make that face again, and Stormy—youlook flawless. You’re making the rest of us look bad.”

“PagingDoctor Lee, you’re needed in pediatrics,” Danielle whispered into Morgan’s ear.

“Hushor she’ll put you in time out.”

“Areyou sure I should be here?” Emilia asked from Morgan’s other side. “I just metAngie. I don’t want to ruin her photo.”

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