Her dad’s voice resonated across the crowdedpatio, "Chase made it back in the nick of time to celebrate with ustoday. I hear he reeled in more cod than the rest of the crewtoday," her father shouted across the patio to his second incommand.
His conversation across the patio was apoorly concealed effort to sow the seeds for Chase's acceptance inthe community and as the future of McAllister Fisheries. "Chase,you'll have worked with several of the team before, but there arequite a few newcomers. Steve, you'll re-acquaint Chase with theropes while I'm showing those Italian's how to properly catchwhitefish? I know you hate the office, but let's get that kid usinghis brain for business matters. He's got that fancy businessdegree."
Frank gestured across the patio to his oldestfriend. They bantered back and forth about fishing and travel,roping a few of the others into their conversation. Chase quietlylistened while neatly avoiding joining the conversation himself.Maddy knew he was not comfortable with praise.
Maddy smiled inwardly as she watched Steveand her father promoting Chase. She had always enjoyed her dad'screw; the town cherished local businesses, and her father's was oneof the major economic staples and charitable donors in Seaview.Steve had worked with him since before Maddy was born. He'd alwaysbeen his right-hand-man. Frank had offered him partnership yearsprior, but Steve had refused, insisting he only wanted to catchfish without strings attached. They’d compromised on Steve managinggroundfish operations. When they’d added the rod-and-reel route tosell to the local restaurants and seafood stores, Steve had calleddibs on captaining that route himself; a fisherman’s dream job.
After a few more lively conversations abouthow the local justice system would never be the same again and themust-see sites of Italy, the party finally started to wind down.Maddy let out a long sigh as she leaned against the door afterhaving escorted out the last of the guests. She grabbed her jacketand made her way to sit outside and enjoy the last of the eveningwith her family. She saw Chase coming out of the kitchen, againwith drinks. Coffee this time.
"I thought you were here as a guest, but hereyou are serving drinks again. You’re in the wrong line ofwork."
The corner of his mouth turned up, "You knowyour parents love putting me to work. 'A helpful, busy body doesn’thave time to find trouble.'" He quoted her mother with sarcasm, butit was impossible to miss the admiration in his voice.
She knew her mother had helped him out ofmore than a few scrapes, and not just when Aiden was involved. Notthat he ever outrightly accepted help. Nor did he ever remain idle.The labor now, as it has always been, was likely more of his ownchoosing. Chase never was one to sit still, or one to let anyonewait on him.
She took the two mugs from his hands. Theirfingers brushed again, and again she was overwhelmed by the zing.That was new. Their eyes locked.
She'd always been ridiculously attracted tohim, and maybe had fantasized about his return more than a fewtimes over the past decade but had never imagined this newsensation. Maybe because she had never felt anything like itbefore. Had read about it, but thought it was a bunch of romanticfantasy bullshit.
Chase quickly disappeared back into thekitchen and returned with the remaining three steaming mugs. Again,she followed him outside. Earlier, she had simply wanted to avoidthe crowd. Now, she wanted to savor the moment. And the view. As henudged the door open with his foot, he looked back and caught herchecking out his ass.
He raised one eyebrow in challenge, "Enjoyingthe view?" The corner of his mouth turned up in satisfiedsmirk.
And here came the blush. Dang, she hatedbeing such an easy mark. "Yes, I am. I've had an embarrassinglylong dry spell. Now shut up and keep walking,” she fired back witha flirty laugh. They were chuckling together as they stepped ontothe patio.
She could swear she heard him mutter, “Metoo,” as she followed him outside.
***
Something in his brain shifted as she openlyflirted with him. As always, she could dish out more than she took,but the flirting was new. He wanted to continue their easy banter,seeing where else she might take this. He was suffering from aridiculously long dry spell too. He was sorely out of practice withany sort of flirtation, maybe even plain talking to an attractivewoman. He hoped he could keep up.
He took his time and may have swaggered backout to the patio, knowing it would make her laugh more. That laughwas incredible, so unrestrained. So much passion in those fewgiggles. Giggles wasn’t the right word; way too womanly and sexyfor giggles, but whatever you might call it, she had a fucking sexylaugh.
As they walked toward her parents and Aiden,a rush of wind ruffled his freshly cut hair. Despite theunseasonably hot day, the ocean managed to bring in a cool breeze.Laura and Frank snuggled up in a blanket on a loveseat in front ofthe firepit. Aiden had pulled a chaise lounge up close to the fire,eyelids at half-mast, cozied up under an over-sized wool blanket.That left the one remaining loveseat close to the fire with a knitblanket strewn across the back.
Chase passed out the three coffees to Laura,Frank, and set Aiden’s next to him on the side table. He turnedback around to see Maddy handing him the extra coffee she hadcarried. Her hair, pin-straight when she had arrived, was now in abit wildly in disarray.
When stressed, overwhelmed, or even whilejoking around, she ran her hands through her hair. He doubted sherealized she was doing it. He wasn't about to say anything, as itwas ridiculously sexy disheveled like it was. He briefly allowedthe fantasy of her bringing him coffee and crawling back into bedwith him in the morning, her hair tousled like it was now, butinstead due to a wild night in bed with him.
Chase almost jerked when he realized where hehad been allowing his brain to wander in front of Maddy's parentsand very protective big brother. He blamed his long day. Waking upwell before dawn, spending the first 10 hours of his day in thefresh sea air, on his feet on the rocking ship, then the last fewhours at a big social gathering; he was practically falling asleepwhere he stood.
Observing his brief, standing nap, Maddy,already seated on the loveseat herself, gestured for him to joinher. Not much space; they’d be pretty snuggly on the undersizedloveseat. Shit. He finally settled at the opposite end of the smallloveseat, squished against the arm of the chair to avoid touchingher in any way. A few centimeters separated their hips. The coolnight air was suddenly a hot, suffocating August day in Texas.
Chase tried to calm his thoughts. He lookedaround at his friends. His family, really. He no longer had his ownfather, and really hadn't had him in years. Who the hell knew wherehis mother was… he certainly didn't want to know at this point.Chase had berated himself enough over the years, struggling to savehis own father from self-destruction after his mother had ditchedthem. Somewhere in the last decade he had accepted defeat, if notpeace or acceptance.
The McAllisters and Chase slowly sipped theircoffees in silence. The fire crackled between the five of them,their gazes all lost in the flames, eyes glazed from a hectic day.Each lost in thought and enjoying the silence. A great party; Laurahad grinned all evening. He was glad he’d been here to see her sohappy.
Maddy slipped off her heels. She rotated herbody and tucked her ice-cold feet under Chase's leg. So much forkeeping his distance. He gave up and pulled the blanket across themboth, letting himself savor the closeness, but trying not to makeanything of it. Keeping his imagination tamed.
After their coffees had gone cold andeventually drained, Laura's soft voice interrupted the silence."That was a fantastic party. Thanks, guys, for making sureeverything flowed so well and letting me relax and enjoy myparty."
Without lifting his head from his pillow,Aiden rolled towards his mother and drolly replied, "Mom, this wasa great party. A very crowded party. You've made an incredibleimpact on this community. Thank goodness you are retiring. Leavesome room for we mortals." With a soft chuckle, he rolled backover, pulling the blanket tightly around him.
Laura's laugh warmed the night more thantheir coffee or warm blankets could hope to. "Oh boy. On that note,my dear sarcastic son, I'm heading for bed." Laura slowly stood,took a few steps towards Aiden and draped her blanket over him.Frank rose to his feet as well, his arthritic knees creaking asthey straightened. He gently placed his free hand behind his wife’sback and followed behind her. They gave sleepy farewells.
Aiden sat up just enough to fully recline hiscushioned chaise lounge, then plopped back down against themakeshift bed. "Well, it's been quite a day. I'm crashing rightwhere I am. 'Night." From all appearances, Aiden was asleep by thetime his head laid back on the pillow. Chase and Maddy both stoodon sleepy jell-o'd legs. Maddy carried their blanket and wordlesslyspread it neatly across Aiden’s sleeping form.
Chase followed Maddy back into the house asthey walked through to the front door. The sky was dark, and thedriveway was only visible thanks to the solar powered gardenlights. Chase paused with his hand on his truck door, parked infront of Maddy's Jeep. He looked back to Maddy as she did the same,holding her gaze for longer than was appropriate. Each offered asoft, lingering smile, hesitating before climbing into theirvehicles.
