Page 37 of A Line in the Sand

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Caroline took in Max’s presence, the absence of Molly’s apron, and cleared her throat. “Super great. And Max is here too. This is all just…great.”

“Whyisthe blender whirring away like that?” Molly’s dad crossed his arms.

Caroline darted behind the counter to turn it off, causing an avalanche of children’s literature in the process. Ursula yipped and darted behind Molly to avoid being conked on the head withTale of a Turtle.

Molly and Max immediately bent to gather the books, nearly bumping heads in the process.

“We were just stopping in for a coffee on our way to check into our rental, but things seem a little chaotic around here,” Mom said.

“Sorry, the new girl I hired seems to have vanished into thin air.” Caroline gave Molly a strained smile.

Dad harrumphed. “Maybe we should go.”

“That might be a good idea.” Molly nodded.Please, please go.“Things are indeed crazy around here. You know how the island gets during SandFest weekend. Why don’t you guys get checked in and we can catch up in a bit for lunch?”

Mom’s eyebrows squished together. “But won’t you two be busy at the aquarium this afternoon?”

Where to start?

First of all, who said anything about Max tagging along? Couldn’t she accidentally hold hands with a man without him automatically being invited to lunch with her parents?

Also,of courseshe wouldn’t be busy at the aquarium since she didn’t actually work there anymore.

“Um.” Molly’s head spun. She was going to have to confess to losing her job right here in front of Max. Perfect, just perfect.

“Molly?” her mother prompted.

Was it Molly’s imagination, or did her mom’s gaze flit to her torso as if wondering why she didn’t currently have two clamshells and a green sequined tail covering her lady bits?

“We’d love to have lunch,” she heard Max say. “Don’t you two worry about the aquarium.”

Her mother beamed. “Excellent.”

What. Was. Happening.

“How about that nice place on the bay? The one with the grilled lobster?” Dad said, finally perking up now that a fancy meal might be on the table.

“Sounds great. I’ll make a reservation. We can sit outside on the deck,” Molly said.Now please go.Her face was already hurting from all the pretend smiling.

“See you soon.” Mom gave them a wave as Dad ushered her out the door and onto the boardwalk.

Caroline turned toward Molly. It was only then that she realized Max had taken hold of her hand again. “I’m not even going to ask what that was all about.”

Good, because Molly was fresh out of answers.

***

Molly handed Max his frozen Milky Way latte—which, after the excessive blending, was no longer frozen and bore no resemblance to a latte. At this point, he really could have passed.

She jammed her hands on her hips. “For someone who doesn’t like holes, you just dug yourself an awfully deep one, Wilson.”

Wilson. Her use of his erstwhile nickname made Max’s heart squeeze, despite the frown on her face.

“Me?” He sucked at his purple jumbo straw. It was like drinking the melted dregs at the bottom of a carton of ice cream that had been sitting out in the sun all day. “If anyone is digging holes for themself it’s you. Actually, you made hole-digging look like an Olympic sport just now.”

Max had been astounded. And far more intrigued than he wanted to admit.

Molly lifted her chin. Blonde waves, kissed with the barest hints of pink, tumbled down her back. Max wanted to bury his face in her loose curls and take a deep inhale. Those beachy waves would smell of sea air and cotton candy. He just knew it. “Perhaps, but I have my reasons.”