barely know anything about the guy. Except that he’s a scientist trying to save the world. Which you have to admit, sounds pretty cool, almost like a superhero or something. And he definitely kisses like a superhero. More like a god than a geek.”
The dog yawned widely before making some noncommittal noises. Emma couldn’t tell if the chocolate lab was agreeing with her or asking for dinner. She ducked into the back room to grab the keys and flip off the music.
The bells over the door tinkled. “We’re closing now,” she called, coming to an abrupt stop in the doorway. Heat flashed to her cheeks, wondering if he’d overheard the god versus geek comment. “What are you doing here?”
Chapter Eleven
Chase stared back at Emma, nerves jangling at the sight of her. She looked different today but no less captivating, a flowing skirt swishing around her ankles hiding but somehow accentuating her long, sexy legs. Large clunky jewelry sparkled at her neck and wrists, paired with a black tank top bunched into delicate folds, showing a mere hint of the ample cleavage he’d felt pressed against his chest the day before. Her blonde hair gathered in a loose knot at the top of her head, curling strands framing both sides of her face.
She looked right at home among the elegant displays and playful bins of beads and findings, yet so different than her sleek, city look from prior days. Softer and more vulnerable. He cleared his throat. “We had a great day on the water, and I wanted to thank you for recommending Captain Wilbur.”
She exhaled a long breath she didn’t realized she’d been holding. Did he make her nervous? Hope flared inside him. Maybe he hadn’t blown it when he walked away.
Her face split into a wide grin, looking more like the impulsive and headstrong woman he’d had lunch with the previous day. “I’m so glad it worked out! Dad says the guy knows the Atlantic as well as he does, but his behavior concerns me sometimes.”
“Because he’s a drunk?”
Emma’s face reddened, and he wished he could retract the blunt words. “I wouldn’t go that far, but yes, he has a problem with alcohol. Sometimes. Not always. I’m glad it wasn’t an issue today.”
Chase took a few hesitant steps forward. “Speaking of alcohol, Todd thinks we should celebrate our successful day. Care to join us across the street at the pub? To thank you again for all your help.”
She glanced at the floor behind the counter. “I can’t.”
Disappointment crashed over him like a rogue wave, but he tried to keep it off his face. “Because of your boyfriend?”
Her grin faded to a deep frown. “He’s not my boyfriend. Get it through your thick head. And he’s not the boss of me, so he can’t tell me who I can or can’t hang with. But…I do need to get Hershey home and feed him. Poor guy’s been cooped up in the shop all day!” Proving her point, the lab walked out from behind the counter and gave a vigorous shake, loose fur flying into the air around him.
Chase stooped to scratch the scruff around the dog’s neck. Hershey’s tail wagged in a giant circle, and Chase couldn’t help but smile. “It’s a beautiful night for a walk. Why don’t I come along while you take the dog home? Todd’s still at the Center cataloging today’s haul. I’m meeting up with him in half an hour.”
She looked down at the dog before training those turquoise pools on him. “I don’t think I should.”
He straightened to meet her gaze. “Why not?”
She hesitated. “You said yourself, you’re only here for a few days. I wouldn’t want you to get the wrong idea about me.”
He took another step, close enough to feel the heat emanating from her body like pulsing waves. The smell of her honey-lemon shampoo made him dizzy with need. “What wrong idea?” She looked up into his face and licked her lips, seeming at a loss for words. He watched her tongue trace its way around her mouth. Todd’s misquoted words repeated in his
The dog yawned widely before making some noncommittal noises. Emma couldn’t tell if the chocolate lab was agreeing with her or asking for dinner. She ducked into the back room to grab the keys and flip off the music.
The bells over the door tinkled. “We’re closing now,” she called, coming to an abrupt stop in the doorway. Heat flashed to her cheeks, wondering if he’d overheard the god versus geek comment. “What are you doing here?”
Chapter Eleven
Chase stared back at Emma, nerves jangling at the sight of her. She looked different today but no less captivating, a flowing skirt swishing around her ankles hiding but somehow accentuating her long, sexy legs. Large clunky jewelry sparkled at her neck and wrists, paired with a black tank top bunched into delicate folds, showing a mere hint of the ample cleavage he’d felt pressed against his chest the day before. Her blonde hair gathered in a loose knot at the top of her head, curling strands framing both sides of her face.
She looked right at home among the elegant displays and playful bins of beads and findings, yet so different than her sleek, city look from prior days. Softer and more vulnerable. He cleared his throat. “We had a great day on the water, and I wanted to thank you for recommending Captain Wilbur.”
She exhaled a long breath she didn’t realized she’d been holding. Did he make her nervous? Hope flared inside him. Maybe he hadn’t blown it when he walked away.
Her face split into a wide grin, looking more like the impulsive and headstrong woman he’d had lunch with the previous day. “I’m so glad it worked out! Dad says the guy knows the Atlantic as well as he does, but his behavior concerns me sometimes.”
“Because he’s a drunk?”
Emma’s face reddened, and he wished he could retract the blunt words. “I wouldn’t go that far, but yes, he has a problem with alcohol. Sometimes. Not always. I’m glad it wasn’t an issue today.”
Chase took a few hesitant steps forward. “Speaking of alcohol, Todd thinks we should celebrate our successful day. Care to join us across the street at the pub? To thank you again for all your help.”
She glanced at the floor behind the counter. “I can’t.”
Disappointment crashed over him like a rogue wave, but he tried to keep it off his face. “Because of your boyfriend?”
Her grin faded to a deep frown. “He’s not my boyfriend. Get it through your thick head. And he’s not the boss of me, so he can’t tell me who I can or can’t hang with. But…I do need to get Hershey home and feed him. Poor guy’s been cooped up in the shop all day!” Proving her point, the lab walked out from behind the counter and gave a vigorous shake, loose fur flying into the air around him.
Chase stooped to scratch the scruff around the dog’s neck. Hershey’s tail wagged in a giant circle, and Chase couldn’t help but smile. “It’s a beautiful night for a walk. Why don’t I come along while you take the dog home? Todd’s still at the Center cataloging today’s haul. I’m meeting up with him in half an hour.”
She looked down at the dog before training those turquoise pools on him. “I don’t think I should.”
He straightened to meet her gaze. “Why not?”
She hesitated. “You said yourself, you’re only here for a few days. I wouldn’t want you to get the wrong idea about me.”
He took another step, close enough to feel the heat emanating from her body like pulsing waves. The smell of her honey-lemon shampoo made him dizzy with need. “What wrong idea?” She looked up into his face and licked her lips, seeming at a loss for words. He watched her tongue trace its way around her mouth. Todd’s misquoted words repeated in his
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