Chapter Nine #3
She held on just as fiercely while she blinked back tears.
Moving to Rockville was one of the best decisions she’d ever made.
Of course, she’d come here because she’d basically been driven out of Portland because of Thorne and his viciousness toward her, but she could see herself making Rockville her forever home. She loved this little town.
“How was today at the shack?” she asked, tilting her head back but not letting go of Zach.
He grinned. Huge. “Good.”
“Good?” she questioned. “Just good?”
“Great. Fantastic. Better than I could’ve imagined.
I’m going to have to make those lobster pot pies a regular menu item.
I could jack up the price simply because they have lobster in them, but in reality, they’re mostly bread, which is fairly cheap.
People are happy about the lobster, though. When in Maine . . .”
“They’re happy because they’re damn tasty,” Marit corrected.
“That too,” Zach said.
She studied him for a moment. “You really love what you do.” It wasn’t a question.
He’d told her that he’d wanted to be a chef from the time he was young, but standing here, with Zach smelling like fried food and grease, sweating from being in the back of his shack, smiling from ear to ear because he wasn’t just making people happy with his food, he was making money while doing it .
. . all that made him more attractive to her.
“I definitely do. You want to head out, get a good spot to watch the race?”
“Yes!”
He handed her a paper bag with The Lobster Buoy’s logo on the side.
“I bet you thought I forgot. Lunch for you,” he said, nodding toward the bag as she took it from him.
“It’s a lobster roll. I know, I know, it’s cliché, but I really loaded the lobster on.
So it’s more lobster than roll. Just don’t go spreading tales about how my lobster rolls have twice the amount of lobster as everyone else’s, because I made it that way special just for you.
I’d go broke if I stuffed every roll I sold with that much meat. ”
Of course, Marit’s mind immediately went into the gutter. “That’s what he said,” she muttered, as she reached into the bag.
Zach roared with laughter. His hand rested on the small of her back as they made their way toward the harbor, and as she ate the delicious sandwich. He was right, it was literally overflowing with buttery lobster. And it tasted delicious. She was ruined for any other lobster roll for sure.
As she ate and they walked, Zach asked, “You have tomorrow off, right? Because in the summer, no pots can be hauled on Sunday, yeah?”
“Uh-huh.”
“You want to spend it with me? At least the afternoon, after I spend the morning at The Lobster Buoy?”
It was just that morning that Marit had been thinking about slowing things down with Zach. It was why she hadn’t seen him for the last couple of days. But him asking if she’d spend the afternoon with him, and not just assuming, made all her reservations disappear in a puff of smoke.
Growing up, her brothers had preferred she remain out of their sight as much as possible.
They didn’t like the constant reminder that they were responsible for her.
They saw her as a huge burden. As a result, she’d taken it for granted that people didn’t want her around.
That they’d prefer she do her own thing.
Having Zach insist he wanted to spend time with her felt nice. Heady.
“Marit?”
“Sorry, yes, I’d like that.”
“Anything in particular you want to do? It’s supposed to rain all day, so doing much of anything outdoors is probably out.”
Amazingly, Marit didn’t get any sexual vibes from his statement. He wasn’t suggesting she come over and have sex with him all afternoon—although she probably could be convinced to do so—he simply wanted to spend time with her. There went those butterflies in her belly again.
“Britt said things were crazy at Lobster Cove. Cleaning the rental houses and baking in preparation for the next guests. Chad and the guys are swamped at the auto body shop, and she mentioned something about helping with their inventory? Said she loves living there, and helping out wherever and however she can. Sounds like she works a lot,” Marit said.
“Maybe . . . we can go over and help them out?”
“When did you talk to Britt?” Zach asked.
Marit shrugged. “She texts me all the time. And she called last night.”
Zach was beaming.
“What? What are you smiling all freakishly like that for?” she asked.
“I’m just thrilled she’s reached out. Chad’s been worried about her. She does work a lot, hardly takes any time off. And she hasn’t really made any friends here yet, because she’s always out at Lobster Cove. I’m just happy you two are hitting it off.”
It said a lot about Zach that he was happy for his sister-in-law-to-be. Some people couldn’t stand their siblings’ significant others. Marit liked that Zach seemed to honestly care about Britt the way he would a sister.
“I like her. She’s nice.” That was probably an understatement.
The other woman had made Marit feel so welcome.
And it felt great to have a friend. Even if they’d just met, they’d clicked.
“Anyway, since it’s going to be rainy, maybe we could go over to Lobster Cove and lend a hand.
Maybe even help decide what they need to do to the rental house after the season’s over, before they move in.
She mentioned ripping up carpets and gutting the kitchen.
Said they wanted all-new appliances, but she has no idea where to start trying to figure out what to buy to replace them. ”
“Is that really what you want to do on your day off? We could hang out at your place, or mine, and watch a movie. Or go out for dinner. We could get some donuts from Ruckus and eat them in bed,” Zach hinted, with a teasing glint in his eye.
“Or, we could get some donuts for everyone before we head to your mom’s place. Maybe watch a movie with your mom and Britt and Chad after a hard day’s work.”
Zach laughed. “It’s a date.”
Marit had never had such unique dates with a guy before, and was happy Zach had agreed.
Not that she’d had all that many dates to begin with, but she liked their twist on them.
A lot. Enjoyed knowing they’d be helping out his family, and she was excited to go back to Lobster Cove.
There was such a welcoming, homey feel to the place.
Something she’d been missing for a long time.
That wasn’t to say she wanted to live there. She liked Evelyn, but she didn’t think she’d want to live with Zach’s mother. Besides, Lobster Cove was too far away from the boat docks. She’d have to get up even earlier than she already did to get to work, which didn’t appeal.
Of course, once winter hit, while the lobster industry was no longer prohibited by law from working on Sundays, the amount of time they’d spend on the water would be reduced.
As would her salary. But Marit didn’t mind.
While she loved lobstering, she didn’t love being on the water in subzero temperatures.
Marit felt Zach watching her, and she tilted her head to meet his gaze. “What?” she asked, wondering why he was staring at her so intently.
“I’m just wondering what I did right in my life to deserve you. Having a girlfriend who willingly wants to go to my family home and work, or shop for a house she won’t be living in, or hang out with my mother, and who seems happy about all of it.”
“Funny, I was wondering how I got so lucky to have a boyfriend who’s willing to share his family with me, and who doesn’t mind spending his day off with them.”
“Who said I had the day off?” Zach asked with a grin.
“I need to go by in the morning and do some cooking, then set the menu for next week. We won’t get nearly as much business as we are now, during the festival, but I want to make sure I have some new stuff for anyone who might be sticking around.
And for the locals. I thought maybe I could experiment while we watch that movie. ”
“Can I help?”
“Sure.”
She loved that he agreed so quickly, despite knowing she wasn’t much of a cook . . . and given he wouldn’t let her near the food during that first dinner in his apartment. She grinned at the thought. “What are you thinking about making?”
“Lobster and truffle macaroni cups. The cupcake tins went over so well with the lobster pot pie, so I figured we could use them again, charge the same price for mac and cheese cups. I also thought I’d experiment with some breakfast food, and see if people might be willing to buy it for lunch or dinner.
Lobster and cornbread waffles with maple butter—from right here in Maine, of course.
“For those who might not want carbs, or who’re watching their weight, I want to try out a lobster and blueberry salad with citrus vinaigrette.
Again, with the blueberries coming from a farm not too far from Rockville.
I’ve already talked to the owner, and she said she’d bring a bushel of blueberries down to the shack this week.
Oh hey, before summer’s over, maybe we can go blueberry picking together?
I used to love to do that when I was little.
Maine has the best blueberries. They’re smaller than what you get in the stores, but so much sweeter. ”
Marit grinned even wider at hearing Zach’s passion. About the meals he wanted to create and the possibility of spending more time with her, showing her things he’d loved while growing up around here.
She’d finished her lobster roll by the time they got to the area around the harbor that had been set up for spectators.
It was already getting crowded, and Marit was glad they’d gotten here early.
Zach texted his brothers and let them know approximately where they were standing.
It wasn’t long before Knox, Evelyn, Chad, and Britt joined them.
“Where’s Linc?” Zach asked.
“He’s with Kash, over near the starting platform. His mom couldn’t come, and of course, Victor refused to watch ‘something so ridiculous,’” Evelyn said.
Marit frowned. That sucked. The kid had been so anxious about proving to his grandfather that he could do something athletic, just to make him proud.
“So Linc took it upon himself to watch over Kash and be his coach. To keep him company and try to keep his nerves settled,” Evelyn finished.
“Harper’s not here to watch her son?” Knox asked, slight derision in his tone.
“She had to work,” Britt said, defending their neighbor. “She tried to get the day off, but her boss said no. I told her that I’d record Kash’s run for her, so she can watch it with him when she gets home.”
“You’ve been talking to her?” Zach asked in surprise.
“Yeah. She came over the other day because she couldn’t find Kash, and she was worried. I broke down and told her about the fort, then I swore her to secrecy. We got to talking a bit. She’s nice. I like her,” Britt said firmly.
“Easy, Peach. No one’s saying they don’t like her,” Chad soothed.
“Coulda fooled me. I know Linc has a history with her, but Kash is a good kid. He wouldn’t be that way if she was a complete bitch.
She works all the time, and her dad isn’t the easiest person to live with.
I don’t know her entire story, but she’s obviously had a rough go of it, from the little things Kash has let slip.
She’s doing her best to raise her kid, save enough money for a place of their own, and to make amends for the person she used to be when she lived here.
So, I decided she could use a friend. Like I did when I first got here. ”
“Where does she work?” Zach asked.
“The big-box store on the outskirts of town.”
“She can’t be making too much there,” Knox mused.
“I don’t think she does. But as I said, she’s working as much as possible to save up some money.”
“You sure know a lot about her for just meeting with her once,” Knox observed.
“That’s just who she is,” Chad explained. “I swear if the Russian president came over, she’d convince him to give up his power-hungry ways and be a decent person.”
Everyone chuckled.
“If you want to give her my number, I’d be happy to text her,” Marit blurted. “I mean, I’m new here too, and I wouldn’t mind making another friend.”
“I’ll do that,” Britt said with a grin.
Talk turned to the upcoming race, and Zach took that opportunity to lean down and whisper into Marit’s ear, “You’re a good person. Thank you.”
“You don’t have to thank me for befriending your mom’s neighbor. I like Kash, and like Britt said, Harper can’t be all bad if her kid is anything to go on. Besides, I wasn’t lying. I could use more friends. Other than you and your family, that is.”
“She’d be crazy to turn down your offer of friendship,” Zach replied.
Just then, the public address system let out a loud and ear-piercing squeal. Everyone moaned, and some people covered their ears.
“Sorry about that, folks! Welcome to this year’s world-famous Lobster Festival Great Crate Race. Are you ready to cheer on our contestants?”
The crowd roared in response. Marit tried to find Kash among the crush of people down at the docks, near the floating platform. The crates were strung across the water all the way to another floating platform, ready for those brave enough to attempt to race across them.
She crossed her fingers, hoping Kash would do well. It was obviously important to the boy, and she wanted him to be proud of his performance.