Chapter 25
Beats on the Boardwalk sat just two blocks from Seabrook’s carnival grounds. On this busy Saturday night, the rustic building
teemed with locals and tourists alike. Sounds of chatter and laughter punctuated the space between the band’s songs, and the
smell of grilled burgers dominated.
Josh and Maggie had been fortunate to score a table far enough from the speakers to allow communicating. Though conversation
had started out a little stilted.
Probably didn’t help that he could hardly take his eyes off her. Her brown hair fell past her shoulders in soft waves. Her
doe eyes seemed large and luminous under the pendant light, her sun-kissed skin flawless.
He could hardly believe he was here with her, on a date. He’d waited so long for this chance.
Since their conversation the night before, he’d been unable to keep the smile from his face. The wonder from his heart. It
had been hard putting himself out there, risking her rejection. But her admission that she could feel more than friendship
for him had turned his world upside down.
Across from him, Maggie shifted in the booth.
He was staring. And his daydreaming had ushered in a long, awkward pause.
Don’t blow it now, idiot. He needed to get them back on familiar ground.
He dropped his napkin on his empty plate. “How did your lesson go today? This was the teenager who’s hoping for a spot on
the high school team?”
“Right. Keondre’s a strong athlete, a good swimmer. He’ll have no trouble making the team.”
“Do you prefer teaching the advanced swimmers or the beginners?”
“Definitely the advanced. Having the swim team back home is what gets me through my day job.”
She talked about teaching sometimes, but she’d never really admitted that. “Teaching isn’t what you thought it would be?”
She propped her chin on her hand. “Oh, I don’t know. I guess it’s actually more than I thought it would be. I like the actual
teaching part. But it’s almost impossible to get parental support. A lot of high school students still need monitoring with
their schoolwork, and some parents aren’t able or simply won’t give them the help they need to be successful. And then, of
course, it falls to the teacher.”
“That’s a lot of students to monitor.”
“Then there’s discipline in the classroom, which has become complicated if not impossible. Also, pressure from administration
to teach to the tests is frustrating. And don’t even get me started on school politics.” She took a sip of her tea. “Sorry
you asked?”
“Not at all. I’ve heard other teachers say the same things.”
“It’s the students who keep us coming back. I see one of them grasp a new concept or discover a passion for writing or reading,
and I forget all about the frustrations.”
He tilted his lips. “I’ll bet you’re a great teacher.”
“I try my best.”
“I’ll bet you have a dozen high school boys with massive crushes on you.”
Her laughter rang out over the lively country tune. “They’re more likely to be scheming up ways to get even with me. I’m a
stickler for the rules. And what about you? Is captaining your own boat everything you dreamed it would be?”
“No regrets there. I get to spend my days on the water and be my own boss—not that that doesn’t come with a few headaches.
But overall I’ve been blessed with a healthy share of business and a good crew. I can’t complain.”
“You’re lucky to have found your calling so young. You’ve wanted to be a captain like your uncle Clyde since I can remember.”
“Good ol’ Uncle Clyde.” He’d passed away almost twenty years ago, but all those boat rides had made an impact on Josh. “I
think my dad wanted to throttle him. But then Ethan decided to be a doctor and he eased up on me.”
Maggie gave a wan smile and glanced down.
Maybe he shouldn’t have mentioned his brother. Josh wished she didn’t feel weird about dating him. “Should we talk about him?
About Ethan?”
She took her elbows off the table and offered a real smile. “Not necessary.”
A woman passed their table. Darcy Stuart. He started to avert his face but was too late.
She did a double take and backed up, beaming. “Well, hey, Josh. How you been?”
“Doing all right, Darcy. This is Maggie. Maggie, Darcy.”
Maggie offered a polite smile. “Nice to meet you.”
The woman barely spared Maggie a glance. “Haven’t seen you in ages. We’ve missed you around here.”
He’d met Darcy through a mutual friend and gone out with her once. She’d spent the whole night talking about herself. “Been
busy, I guess.”
Darcy glanced back at a table where someone was motioning for her. “Well, I’m being summoned. It was good to see you, Josh.
Don’t be a stranger. Nice meeting you, Maggie.”
“Same.” She regarded Josh with a lifted brow. “Old girlfriend?”
“Just a blind date gone awry.”
Her lips twitched. “I see. Well, not to change the subject, but...”
“Please, feel free to change the subject.”
She chuckled. “I wanted to ask about something that involves our investigation into Will, but I wasn’t sure if you wanted
to talk about that tonight.”
He leaned forward. “It’s just you and me, Mags, whether we’re on a date or sleuthing around Seabrook. We can talk about anything
you want.”
“Oh good, because I had this idea the other day. We talked about DNA testing, but you didn’t want to go there with Will’s
DNA. I get it. But what if you just did yours?”
“What good would that do?”
The music crescendoed and she leaned in. “This would be a long shot, but there are huge databases of people out there who’ve
had their DNA tested to find family and complete their family trees and such. Once the database has your DNA, it automatically
sends you matches. It can even differentiate between maternal and paternal matches. If Will has his DNA in the database and
your dad is his biological father, Will would turn up as a sibling match for you.”
“It seems unlikely that Will would’ve done a DNA test.”
“You’re probably right. But if he’s had any questions about his paternity, it seems like it would’ve been the place for him to start.”
“That’s a big ‘if.’”
“It is. Will might believe the man who raised him is his biological father. But we have to do something and there’s really
no downside to doing a test. It’s relatively inexpensive and the results, if he’s on there, would be proof positive. The only
negative is that it takes five to eight weeks to get database results.”
That seemed like forever. But Josh hadn’t made any headway with Will. And he wasn’t yet desperate enough to ask his dad point-blank.
If they were wrong, it could cause irreparable damage to their relationship. “It’s worth a try, I guess. There’s really nothing
to lose.”
A playful gleam entered her eyes. “I thought you’d feel that way. I already have the test in my possession.”
Of course she did. A laugh rumbled from his chest. “You’re incorrigible. Now, will you dance with me already, or were you
planning to drag me off somewhere and stick a swab in my mouth?”
***
Almost an hour later Maggie had forgotten all about the DNA test. Josh was a riot on the dance floor. What he didn’t have
in rhythm, he made up for with boldness and creativity.
The band’s upbeat songs kept the dance floor full and energized. Her sleeveless sundress kept her adequately cool and she’d
long ago stopped worrying about her fallen curls or melting makeup.
Josh had a way of making her feel comfortable in her own skin. She’d always been able to relax around him. Years ago it had been a point of contention between Ethan and her. He’d once accused her of liking Josh more than him. It wasn’t true, of course. She’d loved Ethan. But with Josh she didn’t worry about how she looked or sounded or what he thought of her. And the less she’d worried about it, the more he seemed to like her. He was safe somehow in a way that Ethan hadn’t been. It was... refreshing.
The chorus of “Country Girl” kicked up and Josh did a slow turn, waggling his hips as he went.
Maggie laughed and imitated his move. As she turned she caught a pretty brunette eyeing Josh. It hadn’t escaped her notice
tonight that he’d caught the attention of other women—including the one who’d stopped by their table, Darcy. His confidence
and muscular form offered plenty of appeal. His blue eyes were a thing of beauty, and that impish grin didn’t hurt either.
And he was her date. A feeling of pride washed over her as the band segued to a country ballad, the first of the night. The lead guitarist
picked out the stirring melody of “In Case You Didn’t Know.”
Smiling broadly, Josh sauntered up to her and swept her into his arms.
She placed a hand on his shoulder and took the one he offered. Any awkwardness from the beginning of the date had long since
faded. She was almost giddy with pleasure now. “I’d forgotten what a clown you are on the dance floor.”
“Dancing’s supposed to be fun, and you’ve always been a great partner.”
She’d only danced with him a handful of times and always the fast kind. Now as they shifted back and forth, turning in a slow
circle, they were so close she could feel the heat rolling off his skin, smell the hint of his woodsy cologne.
He was five inches taller than her five-seven, and her heels added another two inches, putting her at the perfect level for slow dancing. She fell into the music, into the poignant words as the first verse played out. Their thighs brushed as they moved smoothly together, her right foot tucked between his.
And that’s when she realized—for all his wild flailing and exaggerated moves on the dance floor, he wasn’t lacking rhythm
at all. He was actually graceful!
She leaned back as she slapped him on the shoulder.
“What?”
“You’re a good dancer! You goofball. All this time I thought you were rhythmically challenged. I almost felt sorry for you.”
“Ouch.”
“Why do you hide that you can dance?”
“I don’t—I just like having fun, messing around, making people laugh.”
“You like making people laugh at you?”
He chuckled. “Sure. Why not?”
“Oh boy. You really are the typical baby of the family.”
He hiked a brow. “Shall we discuss all the ways you’re like an only?”
“No, thank you.” The chorus kicked in, the melody stirring and romantic. “Now hush, I like this song.” She moved in closer
and rested her head on his shoulder. His skin was warm beneath the soft material of his button-down, the curves of his shoulder
solid beneath her fingertips.
He tightened his arm around her until their torsos pressed together. Until his hand settled at the small of her back.
She shivered. Tucked their clasped hands into the space between their shoulders. He felt so good pressed up against her. He didn’t feel like a friend. Friends didn’t make your heart wobble in your chest. They didn’t make your knees go noodly or your skin vibrate with life.
He released her hand and slid his arm around her in a full embrace. His breath feathered the hair at her temples, stirring
every hair follicle.
Maggie placed her palm on his chest as the sentimental lyrics rang out, taking root in her heart. It was almost as if Josh
were singing the words to her. Telling her he was crazy about her. That she’d had his heart for a long time now.
Last night he said he’d kissed her all that time ago because he wanted her. But that was over two years ago. Exactly how long
had he felt this way? How long had he been patiently waiting for her to notice him? Josh, who’d been there for her in her
darkest days.
Her eyes stung at the thought. She blinked against the tears, her arms automatically tightening around him.
She’d asked him to help her find a man! She’d overlooked him because—
No, not overlooked exactly. She’d been in denial. Her feelings went deeper than friendship. She was just afraid to trust him
with her heart. Afraid of the ramifications of caring about him in that way.
But she did care about him in that way.
She did.
As if sensing her internal struggle, he leaned back until their gazes mingled. His expression held questions she didn’t want
to answer. Did he notice her eyes were swimming with tears?
He set his hand tenderly on her cheek. “It’ll be okay, Mags.”
Her breath escaped. How did he do that? Read her mind like that?
“I’m not gonna let anything bad happen to you.”
He was worried about her when she’d been so insensitive about his feelings. She’d only been worried about what she was going through and what she
might lose. Guilt pricked hard. “Josh... I’m sorry if I hurt you.”
His lips turned up as a gleam of humor lit his eyes. That quirky eyebrow bounced. “Worth it.”