Page 27 of Fake Dating the SEAL
“Look what the tide brought in,” Billy called out from behind the counter, a knowing grin spreading across his face. His gaze flicked from a sandy, salt-streaked Kenny to her. “Having fun on your day off?”
The question was innocent enough, but the look in his eyes made Sara feel a flush of heat creep up her neck. For the first time, she felt a pang of guilt over their deception. Billy was her friend, and here she was, playing a part. But then Kenny’s hand was on the small of her back, a light, casual touch that was both for show and, she suspected, for support, and a tiny part deep down hoped maybe even for real—and wasn’t that dangerous territory to be wandering in. “We had a great time.” She hoped her voice sounded more casual than she felt. “Kenny’s a fast learner.”
Billy’s grin widened. “I’ll bet he is.”
Just then, Lexi walked into the shop from the back office. “Just got off the phone with Steve at the marina. You’ll never guess whose boat pulled into a rented slip in the middle of the night.”
Wiping grease off his hands on a towel, brows buckled, Nick came through the doors from the warehouse.
Lexi didn’t wait for guesses. “Julian Vance.”
Stopping in his tracks, Nick’s frown deepened. “What is that snake doing here?”
Sara had no idea who this person was or why they called him a snake, but from the way the staff at the shop all glanced each other, they certainly knew.
“The Thornes?” Billy asked even though she suspected it was more of an answer than a question.
On a sigh, Nick tossed the dirty rag onto the counter. “Is the pope Catholic?”
“Is this Vance character going to be a problem?” Every muscle in Kenny’s body seemed to tighten as if he were a hound dog on a mission.
Nick shook his head. “If we’re all lucky, that modern day pirate is just passing through on his way to being someone else’s headache.”
None of that sounded good to Sara. She could see the way the men looked at each other and could almost see the silent conversation. If she were a betting woman, she’d wager this is how they communicated when they were all active duty together.
Just then, her cell buzzed and she glanced down at the phone. Quickly reading the text, her gaze shifted to meet Kenny’s. “That’s Maria, her son is running a fever. She wants to know if I can take her shift tonight. Is it okay if we do a rain check on dinner?”
“Of course. Tomorrow we can play in my world.”
“Your world?” She hadn’t meant for her voice to crack.
His grin widened. “Today we played on your water. Tomorrow, we play under mine.”
A happy smile replaced the moment of panic that had tickled her spine. “I can do that.” And she could. Anyone who had grown up with these water rats could handle her own over or under the water. “Works for me.”
“I’d better get you home so you can change for work.” Kenny waved at his buddies, not saying another word about the latenight visitor, and gently placing his hand once again at the small of her back, ushered her out the door.
The simple touch, along with all the playful teasing made her stomach twist and flip. The line between their fake relationship and whatever reality they were sharing had never felt more blurred.
Chapter Twelve
“So, what do you think?”
Holding the cell phone to her ear with one hand and the kitchen curtains slightly askew with the other, Missy sighed. “I honestly don’t know. What has it been, a week?”
“Is that all?” Maile Everrett huffed over the phone. “Feels longer to me. Maybe I should hang some extra mistletoe around.”
“Won’t work. I’ve got some hanging from every chandelier and every doorway but they never come in to have a reason to stand under it.”
“So now what?”
Missy shook her head even though her best friend couldn’t see. “Ooh, here he is.”
“And?”
“Well, hang on.”
“I’m leaving, Mom.” Sara called from the hall. “We’ll be with Nick and the gang. If you need me, call the dive shop.”
