Total pages in book: 76
Estimated words: 72059 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 360(@200wpm)___ 288(@250wpm)___ 240(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 72059 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 360(@200wpm)___ 288(@250wpm)___ 240(@300wpm)
What she liked best was that he looked like the type of guy she imagined herself with when she started law school. Her friends would dub Sail as posh or even snobbish. But to her, he was class and attitude. He had the appearance of the type of guy she wanted to be with although she didn’t know him yet.
“You’re talking about my brother.” The words sputtered through Sail’s gritted teeth. “I am nothing like Dune.”
The realization washed over Galvin. “Ah,” she said, regarding her innocent mistake.
“Ah? What does that even mean?”
“It means . . .” Galvin stopped talking when she realized she didn’t actually have an answer for Sail. Wasn’t “ah” just one of those words people used when they had nothing clever to say?
“Huh.” Sail grunted.
“You grunted.”
“So?”
“So,” she said, with a hint of snark and sass. “Do you always grunt your responses?”
“As a matter of fact, I do.”
“Why?”
Sail looked at her with his eyebrow lifted. Was this banter? Flirting? Galvin wanted to flirt with him but knew doing so would only lead to trouble. There was only one rule when dating: stay away from your boss’s son.
Well, for Galvin, there were more rules. Another she’d add to the list: don’t do it. Law school was far more important than having someone to cuddle with at night.
“I—I don’t know,” Sail finally said. “It’s a guy thing, maybe.”
“Do your brothers do it?”
“Have you met my brothers?”
Galvin shook her head.
“Really? Tidal, Crew, and Dune haven’t been into the diner?” Sail scoffed. “I find that hard to believe.”
“Why? Is it mandatory for you and your brothers to frequent the places your parents own?”
“Yes.” Sail sighed. “Okay, maybe not, but why wouldn’t we? We get to eat for free.”
“Not the other night.” Galvin pointed out. “I charged you.” It hit her then that he might tell his dad. “Am I going to lose my job because you didn’t tell me you were Jack’s son?”
Shit. Shit. Shit.
Galvin stood. Her blood pressure rising faster than her breathing could regulate. “You’re going to get me fired.”
“No, I’m not.”
“You most certainly are! I need this job.”
Sail stood, towering over her as he looked down. He gripped the sides of her shoulders and gave her a little shake. His hands were firm. Strong even, but his fingers didn’t dig into her flesh. She felt oddly at peace being this close to him.
“Listen, I will not get you into trouble. The reason I didn’t say anything in the diner is because as soon as I saw you, I felt an attraction. Honestly, I figured you knew who I was because I was under the assumption my brothers had been in. We all look alike. There is no mistaking a Carter boy. When you didn’t fall at my feet, I turned the charm on.”
“That was you flirting?”
Sail exaggerated his eye roll. “Fine, I’m out of practice.”
“I don’t know whether that’s a good thing or not.”
“Probably isn’t,” he said as he dropped his hands. “Listen, I’m already in enough trouble with my dad—whenever he gets back—I’m not looking to take you down with me.”
“I appreciate that.” Galvin sat down again. Some of the unease dissipating.
“I’m sorry.” Sail sat next to her. “I didn’t mean to scare you.”
“It’s fine.”
“I hate that word.”
Galvin laughed. “I think most men do, but in this case, things are really fine. I’m over it.”
“That’s good. Maybe you want to reconsider the boat ride?” he asked with a wink.
The wink caught her completely off-guard. Her swaying legs faltered in rhythm, and she had to stop and restart. She swallowed hard and shook her head because words failed her. He closed one eye. What was the big stinking deal?
Because a smirk accompanied the wink. And if she was looking for trouble, he’d be the right kind of trouble.
“I’m really a keep my feet on the land kind of gal,” she said meekly. The truth was, she had every intention of taking advantage of one of the tours.
Where there would be other people.
She wouldn’t be alone with Sail.
No, being alone would be incredibly unsmart of her.
He eyed her suspiciously. “Did you tell me where you’re from?”
“No, and I’m not sure you asked.”
“This is me asking.”
“I’m from California.”
“Ah,” he said, laughing. “What brings you to New England? Specifically, Seaport?”
“Well,” she paused and took a deep inhale. “I moved out here to go to law school, but I need to save some money first so I don’t struggle, which is how I ended up in Seaport.”
“And my dad had a now hiring sign in the window?”
“Not exactly. Our fathers went to college together. When I said I was moving out here, my dad emailed your dad, who then offered me the job.”
Sail nodded. “Sounds like something my dad would do.”
He was quiet for a moment. “Do you like it here?”
Galvin smiled and nodded. “I love it. I thought I would miss the heat from home, but I don’t. Waking up to this view.” She pointed toward the water. “The sunrise and sunset are so vivid. I feel like I’ve only read about them in books. To see them in person is magical.”