Our arms on the rail, we stare at the dark, rippling water. Tyler holds a clenched fist to his mouth and coughs. “Are you going to tell me what happened?”
“I found a dolphin that had been trapped, harvested. I freed it.”
“I get that. What I don’t get is how you can swim under water without gear.”
“It takes practice.” I shrug.
He snorts. “Yeah, right. Piper, relationships require trust. I trusted you enough to tell you about my Mafia uncle.”
Easy for him to say. He may have Mafia family members but he doesn’t run the risk of being put in a lab, strapped to a table, and cut on.
“I’m here for you when you need me and I always will be. I’m falling hard for you, Piper.” He turns and angles toward me, his expression intense. Even though we aren’t touching, I feel his heat.
“I agreed to be your girl. Isn’t that enough?” I look straight out to sea when I speak.
“Agreed to?” he asks, an edge to his voice.
“You know what I mean.” I feel caught between desperation and exasperation. I’m so not good at this. How do I tell him he warms my heart and makes my toes curl? The words stick in my throat. Communicating my feelings is so not my strong suit.
“No, I don’t.”
Instead of mentioning curling toes and warm heart, all I say is, “I care about you. You are the only one I’d risk a relationship with. Isn’t that enough?”
He gives me a strained smile. “Trust me, being mysterious isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.”
I look at him, incredulous. “Is that what you think this is, me adding a little mystery? Trying to spice things up?”
He gives me a crooked grin. “Spicing things up certainly isn’t an issue.”
I smile, relieved. Maybe things will be all right.
We motor into the harbor. Gramps shuts down the engine and we head for the truck. I sit in the middle. Tyler stares out the window, making no effort to talk.
“We can take care of the dolphins, honey.” Gramps pats my knee.
I clear my dry throat. I’m not sure why I feel close to tears. “How’s that?”
“We get word to the fishing community some big conglomerate is trying to harvest them. It’s bad for the tourist industry. And a lot of the fisherman won’t like it on a personal level.”
I straighten and clap my hands. “Gramps, that’s brilliant.”
He grumbles. “I’m getting old, I should have thought of it before now.”
“So, this isn’t the first time this has happened.” Tyler breaks his silence.
“Third,” Gramps responds.
“You’ve been out there three nights in a row?” Tyler’s eyebrows shoot up.
“Well, it won’t be necessary for her to go out again,” Gramps responds bracingly.
Tyler subsides back into brooding silence.
As soon as the truck pulls in, Tyler opens the door and walks to his car.
“Tyler,” I call.
He looks back. “Yes?”
“I’ll see you tomorrow.” I drop the hand I’ve raised.
“Sure.” He gets in, flashes his lights, and heads down the drive.
“Is there a problem with love’s young dream?” Gramps ask as he ambles toward the door.
Eww. “What a disgusting expression.” I slip my hands in the pockets of my cargo pants.
“He usually takes every opportunity to steal a kiss instead of driving off in a huff.”
“Oh, Gramps.” Heat floods my face. It’s probably red enough to glow like a neon sign.
“It’s none of my business.” He unlocks the front door before reaching in and turning on the lights.
“I suck at relationships,” I complain. My bare feet slap across the floor.
“You’ve never been in one before.” He points out the obvious.
“He got in a snit because I wouldn’t tell him what I am. He thinks I’m trying to be mysterious.”
“Young men get their egos damaged pretty easily. They’re a delicate thing, young male egos. And as far as what you are, you’re a beautiful girl. Or I guess I should say woman. Though, I prefer to think of you as a girl.” As we walk through the kitchen, he grabs a chair and leans against it.
“Are you all right?” My muscles knot. I stare at him anxiously. “Please say you’re all right.”
“Of course I am.” He straightens and gives me a reassuring smile. “Things just aren’t usually this exciting around here. Now you better get your homework done and get to bed.”
“You go to bed, too.” I don’t like his color. “Why don’t you make an appointment with Doc Johnson?”
“That old quack,” he scoffs. “He’d like nothing better than to poke and prod me. Probably draw more blood than a vampire.”
“Please.” I hold his arm.
He sighs and caves. “If it will make you feel better. I’ll make an appointment tomorrow.”
“Don’t forget.”
“You won’t let me. Goodnight now.”
“Goodnight, Gramps.” I give him one more searching look, kiss his cheek, and head to my room.
Screw homework. Fatigue drags at me. I tumble into bed and fall immediately asleep.
Birds chirping wake me the next morning. A good thing, too, I’ve got a quiz in Soc. I hop out of bed, throw on clothes, and crack open my book. I skim the information. I’m good to go.
Gramps is sitting at the table, his hands wrapped around a cup of coffee. “Hi, honey.” He looks exhausted.
“Hi, Gramps.” I walk over and kiss his stubbly cheek.
“I’ve been lazy this morning. Think you can make do with cold cereals?”
Warning bells go off. Gramps is never lazy. “Not a problem, I just want coffee anyway. I need to get to school early to study.”
“You should eat something.”
“I think I’ll treat myself to an Egg McMuffin.”
He nods. “That works.”
“You’re going to call the doctor, aren’t you?”
“Yeah.” He sips his coffee and sets it down.
“Promise?”
“Promise.”
“Call me if you need anything.”
“Of course.”
“Have a good day.” I take a gulp of the steaming beverage and head toward the door. I stop in the doorway and look back. He gives me a reassuring smile.
I wave my fingers at him and head out the door.
It’s only after I’m at school I realize I forgot my GPS watch. I know Gramps got it for me but he said he could use it, too.
“He has his phone,” I assure myself.
“Talking to yourself now, Dunn?” Fahrenbacher slows his step to mine as I hurry down the hall.
“What’s it to you?” I snap. I’m not in the mood to take any crap from Edgar the Asshole today.
“Feisty. My kind of woman.” He steps closer, invading my space.
“Don’t you have some flies you need to pull wings off of?” I retort and pick up my pace.
“Hmm, while that sounds entertaining, I’d rather spend my time with you.”
“Rather torment me is what you’re saying.”
“Actually, that’s no longer as appealing as other things I could do with you.”
I stop and stare at him. “Are you insane?”
“I saw Tyler plant a hot and heavy one on you last night. From where I was at it looked like he used plenty of tongue. There must be something hidden beneath that mousy exterior and I plan on finding out what it is.” He smirks.
Damn it. Damn it. Damn it. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” I continue determinedly forward. He paces at my side.
“Of course, you don’t.” He smiles knowingly.
“I liked you better when you were just rude and mean. And I didn’t like you at all then.”
“A challenge. I enjoy a challenge.”
I shake my head. This is too bizarre. There’s no way my stars are aligned.