She nodded, but he could already sense the change in her. Like she’d pulled the shutters down. Her previous ease was replaced by tension that held her back ramrod straight.
“Maybe I’ll go and listen to Brett after all,” she said softly, giving him a brief smile. “It’s not every day you get to learn about blue whales while one’s darting around in front of you.”
“Sure.” He nodded. “Brett’s a mine of information. Go and listen while you can.”
* * *
Twilight had painted the sky and clouds in orange and peach hues, contrasting with the dark blue of the ocean. Autumn climbed off the gangway that led to the pier, and thanked the crew for their welcoming support.
“Anytime,” Brett told her, as Ellie leaned in to give her a hug.
“And we’ll see you around, right?” Ellie asked. “Since you work here and all.”
“Almost certainly.” Autumn smiled.
Mike nodded at her and slung his bag over his shoulder. “Have a good evening.”
“You too.”
Behind her, Griff was closing up the boat and locking the gangplank. “You heading home?” he asked her as the other three left.
“Yeah. There’s a shower and a glass of wine with my name on them.”
“I’ll walk you up there. My truck’s parked at the coffee shop.”
“How do you know where I live?” she asked, two tiny lines appearing between her brows.
“Because your landlord’s my best friend. Lucas Russell. He told me you moved in yesterday.”
“Oh.” She gave a half-laugh. “I guess this really is a small town.”
“Yeah. Sometimes it’s good, sometimes it drives you crazy.”
“Lucas seems nice. Ember does, too,” Autumn said, as they passed Delmonico’s. It was already full, with diners spilling out onto the terrace. “And they have a little boy, right?”
“Arthur.” Griff nodded. “He’s my godson.”
She glanced at him from the corner of her eye. “And you? Do you have children?”
Griff laughed. “No. No kids, no wife. Just me.”
There was a little flutter in her chest. “So you were singing to Arthur the first night I saw you?”
“Yep. Sorry if I burst your eardrums. How about you?” he asked. “Did you leave a brood back in New York?”
She shook her head. “I didn’t leave anything in New York except a closet full of shoes.”
“Interesting.”
The flutter increased. He was so damn attractive. And she was lonely, and it had been way too long since she’d even laughed with a guy let alone done anything else. And then there was the way her body reacted every time he was close. It was like he was sparking off a chemical reaction.
One she liked too much.
They reached the boardwalk, and turned left toward the row of cottages that lined the sand. Autumn pushed her hands into her pockets, and willed herself to be an adult.
She wasn’t in Angel Sands on vacation, she was here for work. A clean slate. Maybe even a chance to show her father and Josh and the whole damn world that she could make good decisions.
And good decisions didn’t involve sleeping with one of your tenants just because your body felt electric every time he was close.