Chapter 17
17
T he rumble of an engine drew Maileah outside her cottage as Sailor pulled up in his weathered Jeep.
He had showered and changed into a T-shirt and hoodie with cargo pants and deck shoes. Even dressed casually, he carried the understated self-assurance of a champion.
Crossing to the other side, he opened her door. “Your rusty chariot awaits.”
Maileah laughed at his exaggerated bow. “Rust adds to the character.”
“I can take it anywhere on the island without worry about damaging it.” Sailor patted the vehicle with affection. “It’s a classic.”
As Maileah climbed in, she detected the scents of sunscreen and wet gear, which whisked her back to summers spent on the island with Nana. The more time she spent here, the more memories were emerging from the recesses of her mind.
Sailor got in and smiled at her, his blue eyes shimmering. “Are you getting settled in the little rose cottage?”
“It feels like home already,” Maileah said, and she meant it. “I needed this change more than I realized. ”
Sailor nodded with a thoughtful expression. “Sometimes the universe gives you what you need, even if you don’t know it yet.”
“When did you get so philosophical?” Maileah teased, nudging his shoulder.
“Must be all that salt water on the brain,” he replied.
Sailor drove the short distance to the marina. The windows were down, and the balmy evening air whipped through Maileah’s hair. An electric charge filled the air with possibilities that made her pulse quicken.
They parked at the Crown Island marina, where rows of boats of every size rested. A few people were cleaning their crafts, while others were relaxing with a glass of wine or a beer.
Sailor waved to friends as they walked.
Life could be simple, she thought.
Sailor led her along the wooden dock until they stopped before a pristine cabin cruiser.
“Meet the Mermaid Maria .” A note of pride filled his voice. “I bought it to take my dad out. Sometimes, he brings a few of his musician friends with their guitars, and we grill what we catch.”
“She’s a beauty,” Maileah said, admiring the vessel. She’d been aboard tech founders’ enormous yachts in Seattle, but she preferred this size. It looked far nimbler and more exciting. “Who was Maria?”
“My mother,” Sailor replied with a wistful smile.
Her heart went out to him. She remembered his mother had died when he was only a boy. That explained why he looked after his father, and why he and Skeeter were so close.
“I’m sure she would be proud of you now.”
“I like to think that, too.” Sailor took her hand and helped her aboard.
With Sailor at the helm, they eased out of the slip under a blazing sunset that sent brilliant streaks of orange and pink into the waning light .
Maileah leaned into the wind as they got underway, letting the sea mist cool her face. She watched Sailor, confident at the wheel. He was at ease on the ocean, though he wasn’t neglectful. He scanned the sea with a practiced eye.
They soon passed the lively Ferry Cafe and continued skirting the island.
“Have you seen Crown Island from this side?” he asked.
“It’s been years.” Under the rising full moon, she made out hidden coves and beaches. Sailor pointed out landmarks, spinning tales of shipwrecks and pirates that made Maileah laugh.
“But seriously,” he said. “Some swear there are kraken in these parts that can take down any boat.”
“Sea monsters?” She hugged her sweatshirt closer and shivered.
“Aye,” Sailor replied with a deadly serious expression. “Pacific cousins of the giant Norwegian ones. Only fools venture out on moonless nights around here.”
“Now you’re making that up.”
Sailor clutched his chest in mock offense. “But would you take the chance?”
“You’re incorrigible,” she said, laughing.
As they rounded the island, music drifted across the water. Sailor guided the boat into a small inlet, where a cluster of lights twinkled onshore.
“What is this place?” Maileah asked as they docked.
“Only the best fish tacos this side of the equator,” Sailor replied, helping her onto the pier. “My mother used to bring us here. Some of her cousins run it now.”
They followed the music to a take-out structure. Beside it, grills blazed on one side, and mouthwatering aromas of grilled fish filled the air. On the other, families feasted at wooden picnic tables.
A small group carrying instruments—guitars, a violin, and a horn—strolled around singing Mexican mariachi songs. Several children called to Sailor and sprinted toward them .
“Hola. ?Qué tal? Sailor bumped fists with the kids. ?Cómo te va?”
The children giggled while the parents welcomed him like family. He shook hands with the older men. A couple of the women hugged him. Maileah felt curious eyes on her.
“I teach surfing and water safety to many of these kids,” he explained.
Maileah was impressed by how everyone gravitated toward him. He conversed easily in Spanish with a few white-haired abuelas , switching to a formal, respectful version with them.
She drew on what few language skills she remembered from school. She might not have spoken perfectly, but she got her point across, and people welcomed her, too.
Sailor gestured to the chalkboard menu, casually touching her shoulder as he did. “That’s the fresh catch for today. Whatever was biting today is what’s for dinner.”
All the offerings looked and smelled so delicious that Maileah could hardly decide. “What are your favorites?”
“Everything is fabulous,” he said with a chef’s kiss on his fingers. “The tacos with grilled tilapia are outstanding. I’m going for a couple of those and the grilled bimac.”
“The—what’s that?”
He wiggled his fingers. “Local octopus. It’s pretty good.”
Maileah arched an eyebrow. “That’s all yours. I’ll stay with the fish tacos.”
“Think of it as calamari.” He gave her a quizzical look. “I thought you were more adventurous than that.”
“Even I have my limits,” she said, grinning. She enjoyed the easy banter they had.
Sailor ordered their grilled fish, along with lime-infused ceviche, guacamole, and icy margaritas that came out first.
They piled garnishes from large bowls on a side table into small cups. Shredded cabbage, cilantro, tomatoes, and onion. They moved on to various flavors of salsa: traditional roja and verde salsas, pico de gallo, salsa fresca with mango and pineapple, and grilled tomatillo salsa verde.
“These look homemade,” Maileah said, dipping her finger into the mango salsa on her plate.
“That’s because they are. A consortium of grandmothers runs this place.” He gestured toward a bowl of sliced peppers. “Be careful of those. They grow the hottest jalapenos.”
Sailor carried their tray and found a weathered picnic table. They sat on the same side to watch the waves lapping the shore. “I’ll get the rest of the food when it’s ready.”
A few people stopped by their table to say hello, and Sailor introduced her as his very good friend. She thought that was sweet and suspected they wanted to find out who she was.
Maileah sipped her margarita and then took a bite of guacamole on a tortilla chip. She closed her eyes, savoring the flavor. “This is delicious.”
“Told you.” Sailor grinned as he squeezed a lime over the ceviche and scooped some onto a spear of romaine lettuce. “You’ll learn to trust me.”
“Well, we’re friends, so...” She stopped at that.
Sailor slid a bowl of salsa between them. “So what does that mean?”
“Like you said, very good friends,” she clarified, echoing the term he’d just used, yet still searching for words that conveyed how much she treasured him without sounding like she was fawning over him.
She failed to find any. “Of course, I trust you.”
His eyes brightened with amusement. “Are we talking about food or something else?”
“I don’t know, are we?” She wished she could bite off her tongue. Why couldn’t she keep her comments under control?
Sailor sprinkled more cilantro over the ceviche and laughed. “You always amaze me.”
And he amazed her, she thought, sitting so close to him that the narrow space between them fairly vibrated. She had to ask, “Is that good or not? ”
“More than very good.” Sailor gave her a long, curious look. Only when a man called his name did he move, tearing his gaze from her.
“Tacos are ready. I’ll be right back.”
Something was shifting between them; Maileah could feel it. She knew she should reorient herself back into the friend zone, but the draw she felt to him was so intense she could only lean a little in the other direction.
Sailor returned with their tacos, which smelled so savory. Sitting beside her again, he held out another sauce.
“This is a creamy cilantro sauce for the fish. Would you like some?”
With her heart nearly in her throat, she nodded. He drizzled it over her fish and added a spritz of lime. She loved how he took such care of little things for her.
She recalled the first time she’d met him with Junie and how he’d patiently helped her learn the basics of surfing. She had fallen for him way back then but now was different.
Much different. She’d gotten to know him.
Gazing at her with a questioning look, he asked, “Is everything okay?”
Finally, she found her voice. “I can’t remember the last time I had such a wonderful, carefree evening. The ocean, the food, and…” She lowered her gaze from his earnest eyes to the fullness of his lips.
Heat built in her chest again.
“You’re long overdue then.” He slid his fingers toward hers. “Is there anything I can do?”
She hooked her little finger with his. “Just keep being the real you.”
“That’s the only way I know how to be.” Twining his fingers with hers, he dipped his head. “I know you have a lot of choices, and I don’t know what you’re looking for, but when you do, I’m here for you.”
“As what?” She had to be sure.
“Whatever you want. I don’t say that often. If ever...” Sailor cleared his throat, breaking the spell. “We should probably eat before this gets cold.”
She squeezed his hand and nodded, slipping hers reluctantly from his warm grasp. She wasn’t as hungry now, but the fish tacos were still delicious.
They ate in silence as if each was examining their feelings.
Sailor had also ordered sweet flan for dessert. Maileah enjoyed hers, and when she glanced at Sailor, she smiled.
“Hold it right there,” she said, dabbing a smidgeon of thin caramel sauce from the corner of his mouth.
“Thanks,” he said, turning slightly into her finger.
She rested her fingertips on his lips for a moment. “I wouldn’t mind if you kissed me,” she murmured.
A smile played on his mouth. “I’ll keep that in mind.”
“Oh,” she replied, drawing her hand back.
He caught it and kissed her hand. “Maybe with less of an audience.” He nodded toward a group of children who were watching them.
Maileah laughed softly. “I didn’t see them.”
“They’re curious about who you are. They’ve never seen me with anyone before. A woman, I mean.”
“I figured that.” Her face burned, and she knew she was blushing. She pressed a chilled water glass to her cheek, smiling as the children giggled among themselves.
Younger people were now playing lively Mexican pop music, and couples began dancing on the hard-packed sand.
He brushed her hair from her cheek and tucked it behind her ear. “Since we’re finished, would you like to dance?”
“I’d love that.” She broke into a smile and pressed a hand to her chest as if she could control the pull of her heartstrings.
When they reached the others, Sailor put his arms around her, leaving a little space between them. “Do you know this Latin beat?”
Maileah swayed her hips to the music. “It’s been some time,” she admitted, trying to keep up with him. Stumbling a little, she added, “Well, maybe never. ”
He laughed. “Trying new things is worth it, right?”
“It can be scary but exciting.” They weren’t talking about dancing. “I finally feel like I’m writing my own story, you know?”
Sailor nodded, his expression radiating happiness. “Sometimes you have to leave the shore to find your joy.”
“Are you getting all philosophical on me again?” Maileah teased, finally falling into rhythm with him.
“Take it how you want.” Laughing, he whirled her around.
She loved it.
As the night deepened and the moon cast a glow, they danced, talked, and laughed. They shared stories and dreams.
Suspended in the moment, Maileah felt like she’d finally found a place in the world with Sailor where everything was right.
A slow song began, and Sailor reached out to take her hands. “One more dance?”
Maileah hesitated for only a moment before nodding.
As Sailor pulled her close, swaying to the rhythm of the waves and the melody, she let herself lean into him and this magical moment. She wanted to remember everything about this incredible evening.
Whatever tomorrow might bring, tonight was perfect. And for now, that was enough.
She was torn between staying here and listening to the music or being alone with him on the boat. What had transpired between them changed everything for her.
For months, she had ignored, then squelched, her attraction to him, but tonight, it spilled over into their friendship like a tsunami.
And nothing might ever be the same again. Just when she’d been on the verge of recreating her life. A steady life. No rockers or surfers.
But Sailor was different.
The song ended, and it was time to go. She slid her arm around his waist. He draped his arm effortlessly around her shoulders, and they fell in step with one another as they started for the boat.
He smiled at her. “This was unexpected, but it sure is nice.”
After helping her onto the boat under the moonlight, he paused, holding her in his arms.
With the waves lapping against the hull, mesmerizing her, she lifted her face to his and searched his eyes for a sign that his emotions were genuine. “Is this what we really want?”
“I’ve wanted this for a long time.”
“You concealed it well.”
He shook his head. “Not anymore. I’ve watched you with all those other guys, waiting for you to see me.”
“And now I have.” She feathered a kiss against his lips, tasting his essence.
But then she stepped back, still holding his hand. “Mind if I think about it?”
With a long sigh and a grin, he nodded. “You know where I live.” He bent to untie the boat and push off.
When he finished, he took her hand and led her to the helm.
Sailor cranked the engine, and she leaned into him, resting her head against his shoulder as he eased the craft toward deeper waters. The racing of his heart matched hers.
When they were on the open sea with the navigation lights on, he turned to her, his eyes twinkling. “Want to have some fun?”
“Depends on what you have in mind.”
“Do you like to go fast?”
“Usually too fast.” She threw her head back and laughed into the night. “Do it.”
After scanning the area ahead, Sailor increased their speed until they were racing across the waves with saltwater spraying around them, blowing off the emotion building in them.
“Woo, woo, woo!” Maileah screamed into the night with exhilaration, hanging onto Sailor as adrenaline surged through her.
Just as quickly, he eased off. “That’s enough at night.”
When they finally arrived at the marina, she flung her arms around him. They spun around, laughing like lovers.
Maileah thought she would never tire of this.
This evening would stay with her forever. Yet, she wasn’t sure what she’d do about it when tomorrow came.