Page 84 of A Shore Fling
With a slow exhale, I start back toward the harbor. My life will go on with or without Nina. I’ll do my job, be with my family, fix what needs fixing, just like I’ve always done. But, dammit, I thought she’d be a part of that.
Glancing at the phone one last time, I shove it face down on the dash and then push the throttle forward.
CHAPTER 23
NINA
The Uber pulls up in front of the cottage. I think of how different this trip is than the first time I arrived here. If I’d had the Uber driver wait for me while I ran into the harbormaster’s office, I wouldn’t have met Travis that day. But instead, I got the harebrained idea to drive the boat to the cottage, and the rest is history.
The driver gets out to remove Irene’s bags from the trunk, then carries them onto the porch. “Have a nice evening, ladies,” he says, walking back to his car.
“Thank you,” Irene says while I punch in the code.
Grabbing one of her suitcases, I open the door and then flip on some lights.
Irene steps inside and shouts, “Holy crustaceans, Batman!”
I laugh. “I told you it was heavy on the lobsters.”
“Yeah, but I imagined it couldn’t possibly be as bad as you made it sound.”
“You know what’s funny?” I ask.
“What?”
“I kind of like it now.”
Irene snorts. “Did you hit your head and lose your sense of taste? And I don’t mean your taste buds.”
“Nope. You’ll see. This place will cast its spell on you too,” I say.
“Pfft. I’m done letting anything or anyone cast spells on me. That rat bastard Richard took care of that.”
“Don’t let him turn you into a bitter shrew.”
“Oh, too late on the bitter part. We’ll have to see about the shrew thing. It might be a good option for me. What does a shrew wear?”
I roll my eyes and tip my head toward the hallway. “Come on. I’ve got somewhere to be.”
She follows me to her room. “I know you want to see the hottie harbormaster.”
Want doesn’t even begin to describe it.
“So there are clean sheets on the bed and clean towels in the bathroom closet. There’s not much food in the fridge, but The Strand delivers. There’s a menu stuck to the fridge. I’m hoping I won’t be home.”
“That’s okay. I’m done crying now. I might go out and find some handsome man to distract me.”
“That’s not a horrible idea. You’ll have to walk, Uber, or ride the bike that’s in the garage. Oh my God, I’m a dumbass.Why didn’t I have the Uber driver stay?“Actually, I’m taking the bike.”
“I’ll figure it out. Now, get going.”
I reach out and hug her, squeezing her tightly. “Everything will work out for the best.”
“Yeah. That’s what I keep telling myself.”
When we part, I hold up my phone. “Call me if you need anything.”
“I won’t.” She smiles, blowing me a kiss.
