Page 21 of Romance Reset
An hour later, Amelia parked her SUV at the marina and took a deep breath. No pressure. No expectations. No thoughts of the future or babies. Not tonight. Tonight she wouldn’t think about her age or upcoming appointments or anything else. She would stay in the moment and simply breathe.
She exhaled slowly and swung her legs out of the vehicle, only then remembering to grab her bag and the duster lying in the seat beside her. Once she had those in hand, she got out and locked the car with a press of the key fob.
She had to slow her steps as she walked toward the boats bobbing up and down at their moorings. The little rocks atop the asphalt shifted randomly beneath her four-inch wedges and left her very aware that a slip and tumble would not be a good way to start a date.
Finally she made it onto the planks and searched the area for Lincoln as she slowly walked down the length.
“Hey, beautiful.”
She turned at the sound of the male voice but found a very sun-grizzled and drunk man.
“You’re looking for me, sweetheart,” the man added, grinning. “Come join us.”
The friends with him chuckled, and she turned away with a silent shake of her head and bumped nose to chest into Lincoln.
“She’s with me,” Lincoln stated firmly as he wrapped an arm around her to steady her. “Sorry, boys.”
Lincoln steered her back up the ramp the way she’d come and across the way to another. Neither of them spoke until they were out of earshot of the group of men.
“I saw you drive in but wasn’t in time to meet you before you’d headed the wrong way. Sorry about that.”
Amelia liked the feel of his hand at her back, riding just above her hip. It was a show of protection and possession, both of which sent a tingle of pleasure up her spine. “All good. Which one is yours?”
“ThePearl.”
“After your mother.” Sweet. But then Lincoln had always been sweet. She remembered the night his parents had been killed. The night she’d spent cradling him as close as he would let her as he stared into space and tried to process the news while Carter slept upstairs.
Lincoln hopped aboard thePearland held out his hand to help her cross. She caught him looking at her long legs and her body warmed.Good choice.“So are we staying here? Eating onboard?”
“Nope. We’re heading out, and before you ask where, you’ll see soon enough. As much as I like the sight of you in those shoes, though, you might want to remove them. Save an ankle or two.”
So they weren’t taking the boat to a restaurant? Okay then.
Amelia settled herself in the chair behind the high windshield beside Lincoln after he loosed the vessel and started the powerful engine. She donned the duster she’d brought with her as they trolled slowly out of the marina and into the Intercoastal, where Lincoln increased speed.
The wind made it difficult to talk without practically yelling, but the silence wasn’t uncomfortable. She stared out at the passing scenery, the beautiful homes and lights that looked so serene in the setting sunlight.
There was something about being on the water. Something natural and freeing yet primal. The sights and sounds and smells cleared her mind of worry and wondering what the future would hold, blew away all but the moment at hand and the occasional whiff of Lincoln’s sandalwood cologne.
Lincoln handled the expensive boat with careful precision, his hands practiced and steady. She remembered those hands touching her many years ago, and the memories brought another flush to her cheeks. Hot-blooded teenagers would be teenagers, after all.
She turned away from him to stare out once more, only then becoming aware of the boat slowing as they approached an isolated stretch of Masonboro Island.
Her nervousness suddenly kicked into gear once more. As dating teens, they’d bummed a lot of boat rides out to the uninhabited island. It was the best place to shell hunt and sun and party without the adults getting judgmental. But now there were no parties. No lights. No people. What were they doing here?
Lincoln anchored the craft with the expertise of an experienced boatsman. The only problem was they were still quite a ways from shore due to the size of the vessel, which meant—
“Don’t worry. I’ve got you,” Lincoln said in that deep voice of his.
He jumped into the water and carried two huge backpacks toward shore. Once those were safely on the beach, he returned and held out his arms, waving his fingers for her to jump.
Amelia laughed, glad she’d taken off her shoes earlier when he’d told her to. She tied the loose ends of the long duster around her waist to keep it from getting wet. She held on to the railing as she stepped over the side, getting her balance before she jumped, and even though she didn’t mean to, she shrieked when Lincoln caught her. His chuckle warmed her ear and sent a sizzling tingle racing through her, making her tremble.
Lincoln cradled her high against his chest as he waded through the water, and in moments, her feet hit the sand.
“Hang tight while I change out of these wet clothes.”
He pulled something from one of the backpacks and moved into the darkness toward a dune. Despite having seen it all before, she turned her back on him, toes digging into the sand at the effort he’d already made for their second date. Men like Lincoln… Well, she was grateful for a second chance. She wouldn’t blow this one.
