Page 45 of These Rough Waters

“Did you grab the napkins?” She asks.

“Shit! No, I’m sorry!”

“Here, just have a coffee, my sister will be here soon.”

I nod, guilt eating at me at how much I’m failing even just being helpful and watch Imogen disappear to grab the napkins I’d originally gone inside for.

Unable to stop myself, I sweep my eyes towards Torin, letting my gaze eat up every hard inch of him, from the thick muscles of his arms, roped with protruding veins, the wide set shoulders, tapering down into trim hips and hard thighs. He was nothing like what I knew, and while his body was rough and hard, hands calloused and likely deadly, I felt like there was a softness to him no one saw.

Like he was hiding it but on rare occasions you catch a glimpse, a small little reveal of the man he was concealing.

I see his mouth notch up into a crooked half smile and promptly look away, feeling my cheeks burn just as Imogen returns.

“You two are being weird,” She laughs, “Spill it!”

“There’s nothing to spill,” I shake my head in denial, “Not a thing.”

“I detect a lie,” She laughs, “That man hasn’t been to a single town event ever until now and I have never, and I meanneverseen him look at anyone like he looks at you.”

“He hates me, Imogen.” I scoff, “It’s probably a look of disgust.”

She chuckles, “I don’t think so, even Harper likes him!”

I glance through the curtain of my hair to find my daughter jumping on the spot in front of the man in question. He has his face tilted down, watching her with a subtle smile on his face. My chest twinges at how he is with her, how patient he has been with her when she’s practically forced her presence on him. I’ve watched them out the windows, how he produces a candy bar for her to eat while he does whatever work he has deemed necessary on the cabin, sitting her on the bed of his truck. He even allows her pet chicken to sit with her!

He wasn’t the cold, storm of a man I met that first day on his boat, but he wasn’t warm either.

Or at least he hadn’t been until recently.

I was confused about the one eighty, confused how we got here.

“Imogen!” A feminine voice squeals and I turn to see a blonde head of hair forcing her way through the crowd toward where me and Imogen stand.

“That’s my sister,” Imogen whispers before she jumps out from behind the stall and throws open her arms, “Vanessa!”

The two women embrace and jump, giggling as they go and I smile at the view. I move my focus back to Torin and Harper only to find them walking over.

The two girls break apart, Vanessa catching sight of Torin and narrowing her eyes, “You’re still here.” She almost hisses at him.

“Hello Vanessa,” Torin greets her and yet brushes her off all the same.

Something twists in my gut as I wonder just how they know each other, and I know I have no right to this sudden jealousy and I can’t help but look away, fingers curling into my palms.

“He’s not here,” I hear Torin say, “You can stop looking for him.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” She snaps before her whiskey-colored eyes latch onto me. “Hi,” She smiles kindly, the frosty start with Torin now replaced with warmth, “I’m Vanessa.”

“Maya,” I force a smile on my face and shake her hand as Torin stops at my side, his hand gently brushing on my back for a quick second.

Vanessa scowls at him as a second girl stops at her side with a wide grin. Where Vanessa was honey blonde hair and whiskey eyes, this girl was midnight black hair, cut severely in a bob that angles and frames her face and blue eyes. Both were stunning.

“This is Ana,” Vanessa introduces her friend who is staring at Torin with a sultry little grin.

I couldn’t stand this nausea in my stomach and was prepared to make a run for it since Harper was back now, until Torin leans in, whispering against my ear, “We’re going to talk, little doe. Tonight.”

He’s gone before I can respond, his big body parting the crowd around him, and I knew he would arrive and make good on those words.

“Wait are you…” Vanessa starts but Imogen quickly jumps in, saving me, “Vanessa! How was the trip over?”

---