Page 38 of Hooked

“I meant what I said, Sia. I really do care about you.”

“I believe you.” Her voice is warm, but the look in her eyes is distant, far, like from Boston to the Vineyard.

“I’m almost ready to go here—Kristi’s invited everyone from here to Nantucket. Should be an interesting crowd.”

She’s giving me another out.

“I’m glad you could help Kristi get to the salvage. She should be full-time at sea. Having that under her belt will help a lot.”

I want her to know that I’m aware of her kindness. That I know she wasn’t just spending money to be frivolous. That I had been wrong about her.

“I’m just glad I could do something for her. Do you think her parents will let her join the Guard full-time?”

Always with the quid pro quo. I decide to say something this time. “You know, it’s okay to let people help you for the sake of helping you. It’s not a zero-sum game. You don’t owe Kristi anything for piloting the boat that rescued you.” My hand drifts to the bow around her neck.

“I just like doing nice things for people.” She doesn’t tell me to stop touching her, so I untie the bow.

“I know. I’m just saying that you don’t have anything to prove.”

She frowns, and opens her mouth to say something, but changes her mind and closes it.

“Kristi’s parents are good people. They must know that keeping her cooped up in that boutique isn’t good for her. Besides.” I start retying her bow. “Eventually Sven is bound to catch on that Kristi’s into him too, and he can take over running the liquor store with Kristi’s dad and leave the boutique to her mom.”

She’s not at all surprised that I know, and I find it oddly flattering.

“With you and Kristi working together he’s sure to figure out how to make a move.”

She reaches for my hand. She’s got flexibility back, and her scrapes are healing. The big bruise on her right hand is still a dark purple, though. She sees the concern on my face and drops my hand so she can move hers behind her back.

“Don’t.”

I don’t know what I want, or where this is going. But I don’t want her to hide her pain from me to make room to hold mine.

“It’s not pretty,” she sighs, looking at the back of her hand.

“You’re beautiful, Sia. Bruises and all.”

She’s confused, and I don’t blame her. I am too.

I need to get the hell out of here.

“I have to go. I’ll see you when I get back.”

“Are you coming?” she asks. “To the party, I mean?”

I don’t think there’s any way to avoid it. She’ll need a bodyguard in any case, and it will be good to see Kieran and his brothers.

“Wouldn’t miss it. I have the perfect sweater in mind.”

Her laughter is genuine this time. I hug her. Can’t help myself. She wraps her arms around my waist, and as I hold her, I think about how nice it might be to be able to hold her all the time. When I let her go, she’s resigned but smiling.

“Careful on the ladder,” she says, as I head out the door. “Vinny.”

I look over my shoulder.

“It really isn’t far. Boston, I mean. Not if you don’t want it to be.”

I just don’t know.

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