That’d been the hardest part, losing the one person who understood what he’d been through. Part of him would never forgive Billy for getting himself killed in a storm, leaving him all alone to face the rest of his life.
But he didn’t want to think about that shit when he had the glorious Sierra Mancini sitting across from him, looking more beautiful than ever in the glow of the fire, which brought out red highlights in her hair that he hadn’t noticed before.
“Why are you staring at me?” she asked from behind her menu.
He ducked his head so he could see around the menu. “How can you see what I’m doing?”
“Don’t answer a question with a question.”
“If you were me, you’d be staring at you, too.”
“You can’t see me through the menu.”
“I don’t want to miss anything when you put the menu down.”
The menu landed on the table. “Are you for real with these lines?”
“They’re not lines. They’re truths. You make me want to stare. Among other things.”
“What other things?”
“We should talk about them when we’re not in a room full of nosy islanders.”
Their waitress came to take their order, which was clam chowder for both of them to start with, as well as wine for her and a beer for him.
Duke and McKenzie came over to say hello.
“We thought that was you,” McKenzie said.
“Oh please, don’t be ridiculous. You want the scoop.”
“That, too,” McKenzie said with a laugh.
“How’d the tat come out?” Sierra asked her.
“It’s half done. We’ll finish it tomorrow. But who cares about that? Tell us everything about you two.”
“Well…” Sierra leaned toward them like she was going to say something top secret. “We’re both having clam chowder.”
Duke cracked up. “That’s what you get for being a busybody, MK.”
“That wasn’t nice, Sierra. You wouldn’t want to hold out on your bookkeeper, now would you?”
“We’ll talk,” Sierra said. “But not now.”
“Fair enough.” To Morgan, McKenzie said, “I don’t know you very well, but everyone says you’re a good guy.”
“I try to be.”
“Be nice to our girl, or else I’ll send Duke to talk to you.”
“He’s already talked to me.”
“What?” Sierra and McKenzie said, zeroing in on Duke.
Duke’s face flushed as he laughed nervously. “It was a friendly conversation between men. Nothing to see here.”
“He wanted to make sure I have good intentions toward you,” Morgan said to Sierra.
