His eyes widened slightly, holding a questioning gleam before his lips curved at a rakish angle. “Really?”
Realizing what she’d said, heat as hot as a summer day shot up her neck. Had he thought she’d meant something else by the way she’d been looking at him? Maybe she should jump overboard! She stared at Maple Island behind him instead of his impressive chest. “Yes, really.”
Cody’s soft chuckle carried over the sound of the water lapping against the boat.
Soon he pulled alongside the first float and Jean grabbed it. Cody quickly brought the oars into the boat and took it from her. Hauling the rope attached to the buoy hand over hand, he brought the pot to the surface.
Stacey held her breath in anticipation. The girls’ eyes were glued to the water.
“I bet we’ve got a big one.” Lizzy’s voice was filled with excitement.
“It’s a little early in the season so I hope we have at least one.” Cody continued to work.
“We’ll get one, Daddy. You know where to put the pots.”
Stacey watched him, grinning. It was nice to hear a child have that much confidence in her parent. Stacey hadn’t felt the same about hers. If her father had been around, would she have adored him? She’d never know. “Why, Dr. Brennan, you’re a lobsterman as well as a surgeon. Who would have thought?”
He gave her a quick acknowledging look before his attention returned to the job at hand.
The girls were inching toward the side of the boat the pot was on.
“Girls, stay put. We don’t want to turn Stacey over. Better yet, move to the other side while I’m getting this up.”
“Where do you want me?” Stacey asked.
“You just stay put. If you see the boat dipping too far to one side, then adjust a little.”
Stacey had next to zilch experience with boats but she could do that.
Cody continued to lift the square metal cage until it sat on the rim of the boat, with water sloshing through the holes until it was completely out of the water. Cody’s thighs were wet now, defining the strength of them.
“Daddy, we got one. We’ve got one,” Lizzy squealed, half-standing.
The greenish-brown crustacean remained secure in the middle of the pot.
Stacey reached over and placed a hand on Lizzy’s shoulder, easing her to the bench.
“Well, it looks like at least one of us is going to eat tonight.” Cody’s broad smile beamed at them each in turn. He placed the pot in the bottom of the boat, sat and picked up the oars once more. The girls’ attention remained on the lobster as Cody rowed to the next buoy. Minutes later he came alongside it.
“I’ll get it.” Stacey reached over the side. Grabbing the buoy then the rope, she hung on as the boat continued to move forward. When the slack was gone it jerked her forward and onto the bottom of the boat, but she continued to clutch the rope.
“You all right?” Cody’s concern was clear in both his voice and face. He started over the girls’ bench toward her.
“I’m fine. Give me a second and I’ll have this trap...uh...pot out of the water.” She righted herself by sliding into a sitting position. Tugging, she felt the pot lift off the sea bottom. Slowly she drew the rope up. Her shoulders burned.
When she started to stand Cody called, “Don’t! You might go over. You’re doing great. Just keep at it. It should almost be up.”
Seconds later the top of the pot surfaced.
Jean leaned over the side. “You have two. Two!” Her smile went from ear to ear.
“Our best catch ever.” Cody sounded as excited as his daughter as he sat as far to one side as he could as a counterbalance to the extra weight. Stacey grabbed the pot.
“Let me see.” Lizzy moved to Stacey’s side of the boat.
“Hold on a minute. Let’s let Stacey get it into the boat. Give her some room.”
Stacey pulled it up and over the side until it sat on one end in the bottom of the boat. The process wasn’t nearly as effortless as Cody had made it look. She had gotten wetter than him. Yet she smiled triumphantly. “I’m going to get to eat tonight after all.”
“That you are.” His smile was the one that she liked so much.
“We all are.” Jean moved the pot around, laying it down as she gave the lobsters a closer look.
“You’re right.” Cody picked up the oars again and started pulling them toward the shore.
The return was much faster with the help of the current.
When they reached the sand, Stacey jumped out with the rope in hand having given up on trying to keep her shoes or clothes dry. She hurried to the pole to secure the boat. Cody hopped over the side, pulling the boat up on the shore. He then lifted Lizzy out. Jean handed him one lobster pot then the other before he assisted her.