Page 26 of A Shore Fling
He crosses his arms, his flannel sleeves conforming to his muscular biceps. “Wish I could say the same.”
“What the fuck, Travis?” Willow asks, scowling.
I hold up a hand. “It’s okay. I’m familiar with the harbormaster’s grumpy disposition.”
His brothers guffaw, and one of them calls out, “She’s got your number, bro.”
Travis sends a cool look their way before his dark gaze returns to me. “Have you all met Nina, the disaster?”
“That’s a disaster I can get on board with,” one of his brothers replies.God bless that man.
I gasp, clutching imaginary pearls. “Are you implying I’m some kind of natural disaster?”
Travis doesn’t crack a smile. “You did run a perfect boat onto a sandbar. At low tide.”
I lift my chin. “It was mostly high tide when I started.”
Travis blinks like he’s debating whether he heard me correctly or if his brain’s rejecting reality. “What’s next?”
I blink back. “Next?”
He crosses his arms tighter. “Are you going to try kayaking down Main Street during a rainstorm? Maybe organize a clambake on someone’s front lawn?”
“I would never—” I pause. “Okay, the clambake thing sounds kind of awesome.”
Willow coughs to cover her laugh.
He gestures at me. “You laugh now, but this walking disaster is going to single-handedly drive up the town’s liability insurance.”
“That’s Miss Walking Disaster to you,” I correct, tapping a manicured finger to his very serious, very muscular chest.
He glances down at my finger, then back at me. “You drove a boat when you had no business doing so.”
“David gave me a tutorial first. You know,your employee.” I tap his chest once more before removing my hand.
His eye twitches. “You sank in the gravel. Perkins Marine said you’re probably looking at replacing the motor.”
Oops.
“And yet, I emerged stronger,” I say, tossing my hair over my shoulder, pretending I’m not affected by my costly error. “I’m like a phoenix.”
“Yeah, a phoenix who can’t drive a boat,” he drolls.
I sigh quietly. If I wanted this much judgment, I’d call my mother.
Willow moves closer, hooking her arm through mine. “I hate to interrupt, but we need some drinks.” She spins me away from Travis and walks me over to the bar with Ginger following us.
“I could kiss you for getting me out of that situation.”
“What the hell was that all about?” Willow asks.
“Who knows? He’s hated me from the moment we met. Granted, it wasn’t under the best circumstances. I did drive a boat onto a sandbar, but in my defense, how was I supposed to know it was there?”
Ginger snickers. “Sounds like something I’d do, which is why you’ll never catch me driving a boat.”
“Yeah, it’s not something I feel the need to repeat,” I say with an embarrassed laugh.
Willow pats my arm reassuringly. “He doesn’t hate you, Nina.”
