Chapter 12

Dane sat at a table in the outside section of the Clearwater's restaurant. It was mid-week, mid-afternoon. Traffic picked up as the new tourists for the coming weekend trickled onto the island. Down the street were two of the island's accommodations buildings. Cars slowed down, turned around, or pulled over to check a map. Same old, same old.

Most of the time he enjoyed meeting new people from faraway places. Ibis Island was a place people came to relax, kick back, get in some quality diving, and maybe a glimpse of a sea turtle. Not many came to cause beach trouble. It's hard to do that with someone like Raine around.

"Okay. Floors are swept, dishes are done, food is prepped." Willow took the seat next to him with Chloe close on her heels.

"Well, hello, young lady. Have you seen a little six year old girl around here?" Dane asked her. "About yea tall? I didn't expect your mom to bring a young lady to my table."

Chloe blushed like Zoe. Except, she looked like her dad. It had been five years since his death. Dane's eyes turned to Willow who seemed to be thinking the same thing. He took her hand. "You've been working a lot. How are you holding up?"

"I have my Yoga and Pilates. They keep me balanced. And now that its summer, I have my helper here. We're holding up quite well, aren't we, young lady?" Willow squeezed his fingers before letting go. He read the tired on her face.

"You need a boat trip. Both of you." He turned to Chloe.

"Oh Mom, can we? When, Mr. Corbin? I mean... if it's okay with my mom." The look on her face was somewhere between pleading and a small threat of a tantrum if Willow said no.

"I'm sorry," he amended. "I should have asked in private."

"We'd love to, actually. On a Monday, I assume? Those are the slow days at both Luciana's and here. I assume they're your slow days, too."

"That's right. Is this Monday too short of notice? I know Liam's been talking about an easy afternoon, too."

"Let's ask Raine and Zoe. We could make it a party."

He nodded. "It's a plan."

"Yesss," Chloe fist-pumped the air. "I'm going to go snorkeling and catch sand dollars. Liam always helps me find sand dollars. And I'm going to work on my tan."

It made him smile. Willow and Chloe were two of his favorite women. Speaking of favorite women. "Zoe clammed up again."

He appreciated the way her expression fell. "But you were making such good progress."

"We were. I don't know what spooked her. I'm not as patient as I thought I'd be."

"Oh, Dane. Throw me a bone, here. I'm female. I need more than that."

"We kissed again. On the beach."

"You kissed Zoe?" Chloe said it like it was a disease.

"Just before a mama sea turtle came up and laid her eggs," he said to Chloe. "And after."

Chloe wrinkled her nose.

"I wish you would let me say something to her."

Willow was a girl. She wouldn't understand. She'd been after him to open up and tell Zoe about the changes he'd made in his life over the past year or so. Well, since the day Zoe came crying on his doorstep, wanting to sell Sun Trips.

Zoe still thought of him as selfish. A womanizer. He'd earned it. "I want her to make her own opinions. And not because her sister told her to." He dropped a large bill on the table. "But thank you. You're a real friend."

"You're welcome, but it's killing me. She cares about you. She wants you more than she knows, but she doesn't see."

"I hope you're right. How about ten Monday morning? Maybe it will take everyone's mind off of your brother. In fact, do you think your parents would come?"

Willow's eyes lit up almost as much as Chloe's who was bopping up and down in her chair. "I'll ask. What a great idea."

"Let me. I haven't seen your mother since the break-in at her house."

* * *

Dane parked in front of the Clearwater home, alongside the rows of honeysuckle. The scent reminded him of Zoe. Damned, confusing woman.

The sight of the goats grazing on the roof should have been jarring. Henry Clearwater had been guiding goats up there every day for too many years for it to jar anyone anymore. From this angle, Dane could see the ramp Henry built for them so they could climb up early in the morning and back again at night. He better be glad the police on Ibis Island didn't regulate much of anything.

As he slid down from his Jeep, Harmony came around from the side of the house carrying a basket. Her face lit when she spotted him. Yes, he adored this woman.

"Dane. It's so lovely to see you. I was just gathering some snap beans for dinner. Are you hungry?"

"I can't stay, thanks. Can I get that for you?"

She smiled and handed him the basket. Together they harvested a half-bushel.

"Summer is here. I won't get much more out of this garden." For the first time Dane could remember, she sounded like an elderly woman.

"I bet you have a pantry full of canned stuff."

She didn't look elderly. The lines that drew from her eyes when she smiled made her look smart and distinguished. Who says that only happens to dudes?

"I think I'll take some of this mint for tea. Surely you have time for some tea?"

"I can do that." He followed her back around the side of the house. A very large mermaid surrounded by goldfish stared down at him as they passed on the stone walkway. "I came by to see if I could talk you into a ride on our newest pontoon boat Monday. Willow and Chloe are coming. So is Liam, and I plan to ask Raine."

"You might want to have Willow ask Raine. My girl can hold a nasty grudge."

"But from as far back as high school?"

"When Seth left for college, she felt it was her job to take over as eldest brother. But no, I don't think that's all of it."

Did he want to ask? He was the one who started the conversation. That's what happens when a guy starts a conversation. "Do you mind me asking what that might be, then? She does have a direct influence on Zoe, and something tells me that you're well aware I'd like to see more of her."

"And she'd like to see more of you, dear. Honey in your tea?"

He sighed. Women were an endless puzzle. Why did he bother? Why couldn't he be more like Henry and worry about keeping quiet and taking care of his goats?

"No honey." He put the basket on the counter and gazed around as she started rinsing the beans under running water. The kitchen hadn't changed much from the few and far between times he'd been in it. Cabinets with glass doors, each framed in white-painted wood. Exposed spice racks and cookie jars in the shapes of pigs and grandmas. He decided to let her take the lead from here.

She filled an old-fashioned teapot with water and started snapping beans. He washed his hands and helped.

"Raine thinks you can't keep it in your pants."

He froze mid-snap. How had he forgotten Harmony's aversion to filtered conversation? It was always funny when the topic was someone other than himself. He was speechless. It was rare but true.

They snapped and rinsed for a few more minutes before Dane built the nerve to ask, "And how would Raine know about my... pants?"

Harmony shrugged. It was a youthful gesture as many of her mannerisms were. "She thinks she knows."

"What do you think?" It was one of those questions that came out before he realized who exactly he was asking.

"I think I know a man in need of a good roll in the hay when I see one."

Great. Man slut to can't-get-a-piece in one quick conversation.

"You should tell Zoe why you haven't been with women lately." She didn't even question her theory.

"I shouldn't have to." It was like talking to Willow. Women. Time for a subject change. "Do you think you'll come out on the boat Monday?"

"We'd love to." Didn't she have to ask Henry or something? "With or without Zoe and Raine."

* * *

Dane sat with Liam at the end of the bar at Luciana's, drinking glasses of water between shots of tequila. It was Dane's definition of moderation. Lick wrist. Sprinkle salt. Lick salt. Toss back shot. Do not cringe at the burn in front of another dude. Then, suck a lime wedge and pretend the look on your face is from the lime, not the tequila. Pick up glass of water and all is good in the world.

He confessed his conversation with Harmony. It was the tequila's fault. "Even old ladies know I'm not getting any."

Liam laughed. Some friend. "You could always choose the open approach with Zoe and tell her why you're not getting any."

Dane dumped his elbow on the bar and plopped his chin in his hand as he sipped around the salt. "Funny, coming from you."

Not laughing now, was he?

"That's different, asshole."

"It's been five fucking years," Dane slurred.

Liam looked pissed, but he always did when Dane brought up Willow.

"Five years. Isn't that supposed to mean something?" Dane said. "I think it's the friends-don't-date-friends'-ex's expiration date."

"Best friends. Dead friend. Dead, best friend who died in battle."

"Land of the free, baby." Dane lifted his glass and cheered with the air. It wasn't fair, he knew. Somewhere deep inside he knew he was pissed at himself, but it was easier to take it out on Liam.

The door opened and let in a temporary glare from the streetlights. "Oh hell." It was all three of them. His five shots hadn't done enough to drown out his conversation with Willow. I wish you would let me say something to her. Or Harmony, for that matter. I know a man in need of a good roll in the hay when I see one. It was definitely easier to be pissed off at Zoe. This was all her fault anyway.

Dane stood when they approached. "The turtle sisters."

"Is that supposed to be an insult, Corbin?" Raine barked as she eyed his empty shot glasses. "It's eight o'clock."

"Hey Raine," Liam said as he stood with Dane. "Willow. Zoe. What gives?"

Willow finished Raine's statement. "You're loaded at eight o'clock in the afternoon."

"Eight o'clock isn't the afternoon," Zoe said to Willow.

Dane didn't want her help. "Don't stand up for me, Zoe."

"Someone might need to stand for you since it doesn't look like you can do it on your own."

She wore a sundress, striped with light blue and yellow. The sandals on her feet had those straps that wound up her ankles. His chest expanded. He forgot to exhale for a few seconds. When he did, it was the kind a guy does when he was defeated.

He didn't care if it was obvious he was looking her over. Or that his chin dropped several inches as his eyes bore into hers. "You and I, babe." He put an emphasis on the word, 'babe.'

"There is no you and I, Dane Corbin. You need some water."

"Oh, there's a you and I, all right." He moved his tired feet purposefully and stepped nose to nose with her.

She didn't back up, not one inch. Damned sexy woman. Damned strong, sexy woman.