Page 7 of Stepping Into Tomorrow

She clasped her hands on the metal railing on the side of his boat, determination lighting her expression. He slipped his hands under her arms. She gave a surprised squeak as he lifted her onto the boat and deposited her in front of him.

She swallowed. “Th-thank you.”

He grumbled and headed for the door leading below deck to the small kitchen/bedroom. Grabbing a sweatshirt from the hook, he smelled it to make sure it wasn’t too fishy. Thankfully, it wasn’t. He grabbed a pair of extra rubber boots and returned to the top deck. Bella had turned towards the full moon, her whispers floating on the wind, but he couldn’t be sure what she was saying. Was she talking to herself?

“Here.” He handed over the sweatshirt. She’d probably swim in it, but it would keep her warm.

She swiveled around, blinking at the material in his hands before tentatively reaching for it. A small appreciative smile curved her lips upwards. Some of the ice around his heart melted.

“Thank you.” She pulled it on and zipped it up. “What about you?” She motioned to his thin dress shirt.

“I’ll be fine. You’ll be safer in these.” He held out the waterproof shoes to her.

She looked down to her heels and then back to him. “I guess I’m not really wearing the right footwear for fishing, am I?” She giggled and accepted the shoes, leaning against the side of the boat for support while she changed them out.

There was something about the sight of Bella in his clothes that made his rib cage squeeze tight.

He grabbed a life vest from the storage under one of the seats. “Put this on and we’re ready to go.”

Her brows drew together. “Is that really necessary? I can swim.”

“Captain’s rules.” Safety was the number one priority.

“If you insist.” She pulled it on, trying to zip it up and failing. Her breasts were too big for the vest he usually reserved for his teenage help, Anthony.

“Here.” He loosened the straps on the side, pulled it together with one hand, and zipped it with the other. The movement jerked her closer so that her scent melded with the sea air in a way that became intoxicating. His abs clenched as his blood heated. It had been a long time since he’d been with a woman. He’d only indulged in quick fucks once in a while. He’d not spent this much time with someone he was attracted to since . . .

“Nash?” A hand just as soft as the voice that had spoken landed on his arm. “You okay?”

He pulled away, unhooking the ropes from the dock. “Fine. You ready to go?”

“As ready as I’ll ever be.”

He headed towards the cabin and the steering wheel. She followed close behind.

Nash pointed to the seat on the other side of the walkway that led down to the cabin. “You can sit there.”

He started the engine, waiting until she was settled before guiding them through the no-wake zone out of the marina, through the bay, and into open water. The wind wasn’t strong, but the sea wasn’t calm either. The up and down of the waves lulled him as it always did.

He turned to his guest, her head tipped towards the window, pointed towards the blackness of the night. The moon glinted off the water, their only source of light save for the few dim lights on the boat. He kept the cabin illuminated enough to see, but not too bright. Her skin glowed under the soft bulbs. A few stray curls of her hair danced in the sea air.

“Do you do this often?” she asked, turning to face him.

“Take women I’ve just met night fishing? Never.” Not even Ana.

Guilt weighed down his shoulders. He was used to the burden. He deserved it.

“Well, I meant night fishing, but that’s nice to know too,” Bella said.

“Sometimes when I can’t sleep, I come out here.” Offering that personal information was like removing an infected sliver—painful and yet necessary.

“Is this a hobby or a profession?”

He slowed the boat before cutting the engine. “Both I suppose.”

“Why did you change your mind?” Her voice wavered.

Because I’m trying to move on—little by little. Nash leveled his gaze on her, repeating the same words she’d used at the wedding. “Because sometimes to move forward you have to do something scary and uncomfortable. And I need to do something different. Because what I’ve been doing has led me to a place I don’t want to be anymore.”

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