“I’m impressed you’ve gleaned so much already,” Elaine says.
“I just want to understand what he was looking for. And why he kept so much of it to himself. I want to know why he dived alone.” Her lips quiver.
I study her for a moment. She’s composed, but the pressure of not having the answers about what happened to her brother is pressing in on her.
“Maddie, if you’re interested.” I stand and walk over to her. “You can join us on tomorrow’s dive. It’s shallow and safe—a good opportunity to get back in the water and familiarizeyourself with the area. You can see the hole yourself… from a distance.”
Her eyes widen. But it’s with excitement, not fear. I like that.
“I haven’t dived in years. Not since Nathan disappeared.” She hesitates. “I’m not sure I’ll—”
“It’s like riding a bike.” I take the seat Wes abandoned and sit beside her. “You haven’t forgotten how to do it. We’ll go at your pace. Make sure you’re safe and comfortable. You’ll do great.”
Hannah nudges her. “You should go. It’ll be good for you.”
Doubt flickers across her face. She takes in an audible breath.
“Okay. I’ll come. Thank you.”
Then she leans over and gives me a big hug. My heart stops as I wrap my arms around her. She’s so soft. Her curves press against my chest and I can hear the flutter of her heart. My breath hitches, and I try to control my body’s reaction to her touch. Reluctantly, I let go when she pulls away.
After the meeting, I linger by the window and watch as Maddie helps Ms. Connor clear the table. The sunlight catches the soft waves of her hair and highlights the freckles on her nose. She’s stirring a promise of desire I thought was long gone. My mind is on the hug, the sweet pressure of her body against mine, her smell. I want…
I approach her as she sets down a stack of plates. “Hey. Got a minute?”
Her light brown eyes meet mine. “Of course.”
I swallow before speaking. “I wanted to apologize for last night. It wasn’t the best introduction to our island’s nightlife. I promise the locals are decent people, and nights at the bar are usually fun.”
She shrugs it off. “That’s okay. At least it wasn’t boring. I had a lot of fun.”
“That song you played on the piano last night was beautiful. What was it?”
Her expression softens, and she glances down. “It’s a song my mom played for Nathan and me when we were young. She taught me how to play.”
“You’ve got a gift.” My pulse quickens, exciting possibilities overtaking any practical thought. I feel ten years younger.
She blushes and breathes in deeply. “Thank you.”
The words are out before I stop myself. “If you’re free Saturday, maybe I can take you fishing. A break from all this chaos. My personal welcome to the island.”
She drops the rag she was using to wash the dishes into the sink. “I’d like that.” She licks her bottom lip. The urge to kiss her hits me hard. I force myself to look away for a moment, trying to shake it off.
“Great. I’ll pick you up at eight on Saturday.” I give her a gentle caress on her shoulder. “And we’ll see each other bright and early tomorrow morning for the dive.”
“I can’t wait.” Her husky whisper tells me she may be affected, too.
We say goodbye, and I get out of there before I grab her and kiss her in front of everyone.
In my truck, I start the engine and try to clear my head. This isn’t loneliness or missing Adeline.
This is new. And it’s dangerous.
But I don’t care.
Chapter 8
Maddie
