Mack’s lips quirk, but he stares me down with one of his serious looks. “I don’t like the thought of anyone out here alone after dark.”
I glance up and around. The stone shrouding the cove and the dusky sky above has made the night appear darker than I expected.
“I’m totally fine.”
“I’m not leaving. Forget I’m here if you have to, but I’ll wait until you’re ready to be done.”
Mack isn’t someone who’s easy to ignore, what with his over-six-foot stature and perpetual broody stares. I stare back at him. I don’t know why I’m trying to convince him to leave. It’s sweet that he’s looking after me. I’m not used to that out of anyone, and it feels good. “You know what?”
“What?”
“You’re like the big brother I’ve never had.”
Three sharp creases appear on his forehead as he frowns. “Big brother?”
“Absolutely. You’re a classic protector.”
“Not sure about that.”
I skim my hand along the top of the water. “You are. I’ve seen you around town. You look out for everyone.”
This is all making complete sense, and I feel better about my weird reaction to him already.Of courseI’d be thrown off to have someone like Mack looking out for me, helping me. I’ve been deprived of it for so long it only makes sense. And it’s the way Mack is. He helps people. It’s in his nature.
Mack looks beyond me, out into the vastness of the bay.
“You don’t have to be embarrassed. It’s very endearing. You don’t know you’re doing it. It’s like a personality trait.”
“I don’t think so.”
“It is. And I’ll allow it.”
“You’ll allow it?”
“Sure. I’m an independent, self-made woman, so you need permission to protect me. And I’m granting it.”
“You sound like some sort of royal when you talk like that.”
I nod, trying to look solemn. “Maybe I am.”
All of a sudden, I feel something slimy around my toe, nibbling at my skin. I yelp and lunge forward, right at Mack.
“Whatwasthat?” I squeal.
Whatever it was has followed me to where Mack is standing. I feel it brush against my skin under the water, and I grab onto Mack’s torso and start climbing up him, trying to get my full body out of the water. I’m clinging to him like a leech. “Get it away from me! What is it? Look out, Big!”
Mack stumbles in the water, his arms coming up to wrap around my calves as I tug myself up onto his back.
I peer over his shoulders, scanning the surface of the water, trying to determine what sea creature is lurking, but I can’t see anything but waves and shadows. “Something was trying to eat me!”
Mack’s body starts to shake underneath me. “It’s only silversides.”
“What?”
“Little fish that come up to feed at the surface at night. They’re harmless, Boo.”
I crane my head around so I can see his face. His eyes are laughing at me, and I can tell he’s fighting to keep the rest of his expression neutral.
“Nothing about this is funny.” I’m doing my best to sound stern when Mack scoots me up higher onto his back. I yelp, clinging tighter to his skin. “Don’t you dare put me back in the water. I don’t want to be fish food.”
