“Well, let’s get this over with,” Everly said as she turned and picked her way across the dock, choosing each step with care in her high heels.
There was no way she was making it two miles in those shoes even if she wasn’t hauling a carry-on roller bag. Correction. She could make it, probably powered on pure Riverside attitude alone.
“Here,” he said, catching up with her and putting one hand on her suitcase handle. “Let me.”
Her grip tightened. “I appreciate the offer, but I can do it myself.”
She could and she would, but she didn’t have to. Telling her that was the very last thing he should do, however.
“I don’t doubt it. In fact, you could carry both the entire two miles in those ridiculous shoes when it’s a million degrees out in the shade.” He reached back and pulled out his wallet, withdrawing his lucky quarter. “How about we flip for it? Whoever loses has to take both bags.”
Her eyes narrowed. “I’m not carrying your bag.”
“Not if you win.” There, now if that wasn’t enough of a challenge for her to react to, he didn’t know what was.
“Fine,” she huffed and set her suitcase on the ground. “Flip you
r grubby coin.”
“It’s not grubby. It’s well loved.” Now that didn’t sound lame at all. “Heads or tails?” Not that it mattered. It was going to land on her side regardless, as much as he could add a little spin in her favor.
She crossed her arms, the move accentuating the perfect fit of the black tank dress she’d been wearing under the sweater she’d stuffed in her oversize purse when Alberto’s jet had touched down. “Tails.”
He adjusted the angle of his thumb and flicked the quarter in the air, caught it, and flipped it over on the back of his hand. Tails. Imagine that.
“Well, someone finally got lucky.” He held out his hand. “Looks like I’ll be carrying that.”
She didn’t seem happy at winning. In fact, the suspicion in her eyes had to be visible from the space shuttle. “I’m gonna figure out how you do that.”
He shrugged. “It’s just flipping a coin.”
“And it always seems to go your way.”
“My way?” he asked, picking up both bags by the handle because there was no way the little wheels would last on the dirt path to the house. “I’m hauling both bags.”
“Which you totally didn’t mean to have happen.” She raised one eyebrow suspiciously.
He set his bag down and held up three fingers close together. “Scout’s honor.”
She shook her head, but her smile was back—the real one. “Like you were ever a Boy Scout.”
“Most popcorn sold three years running.” It had been his first taste of business, a chance to use his ability to read people and the situation for something other than staying the hell out of the way when tempers were short.
Everly threw back her head and laughed. “Now that doesn’t surprise me at all.”
The tension seeped out of his shoulders, and they headed inland together.
Chapter Sixteen
Key West wasn’t what Helene expected. One, she could get an amazing Chardonnay. Two, whatever a conch was, it was delicious in a stew at the waterside restaurant they were in near Mallory Square. Three, the heat must be doing things to her head because she hadn’t been so at ease in years. Perhaps that was due to being away from Harbor City for the first time since Michael died. Perhaps it was because of the company. The more time she spent around Alberto, the harder it was to maintain the crusty exterior she’d held onto out of habit, and it felt…rather good. Not that she’d admit it out loud.
“Do you think they’re okay?” she asked as she looked out over the water in the general direction of Treble Key that Alberto had pointed to when they’d sat down for drinks and appetizers.
Alberto gave her an indulgent smile and poured her another glass of wine. “The captain said he dropped them off in the designated spot and everything was fine. Now we just have to wait and hope the beauty of the island works its magic.”
“I’m not sure it will be that easy.”
“It will. Have faith, bellissima.”