“Yeah, why?”
She tugged her lower lip between her teeth, hope flashing in her eyes. “Can we go out on it?”
“Sure, if you want. But unless you want to catch fish for breakfast, we’re still going to have to stop for something to eat.”
“Let’s get takeout. I haven’t been out on the water in way too long.” She beamed at me, then jerked her head in the direction of the bathroom. “Should I shower first, or do you want to?”
I blinked at her. We were falling into this morning-after routine really easily for two people who had only done it once before. “You can. I’ll bring you a shirt.”
In the end, I showered with her and we fooled around a little but didn’t get too intense again. Last night had been something else. I just wasn’t sure what yet.
We stopped to pick up bagels for breakfast and added a variety of snacks and drinks for the day. Once that was done, we drove together to the marina and Sofia surprised me by being willing and able to help me with the boat.
“Dad sails, too,” she said in passing, and I didn’t ask anything else about it because the last thing I wanted was to talk about Charles. Especially in the context of having something in common with him.
Eden was on my mind constantly, but I’d left a message at the base hospital. I’d been told in no uncertain terms that he wouldn’t be allowed visitors today. Apparently, they were running some tests on him.
It was hard to go about having a relaxing day on the water when I knew my brother was lying unconscious in a hospital bed, but Sofia helped. She coaxed me out of my mind and into talking by asking me questions about the boat.
“You didn’t want to keep a place, but you bought a boat?” she asked disbelievingly as we sailed across the bay. Slightly choppy waves clashed with the hull and made us need to anchor ourselves by holding on to something, but it wasn’t bad out at all.
“I’ve always loved boats and working on them. I bought it to have as a form of meditation when we were around.” My lips curved into a slight smirk. “A counselor told me to try therapy and meditation, so I did. But my way.”
“I like that.” She smiled and released a contented sigh. “It’s a damn expensive form of meditation, but I suppose it’s so much better than sitting cross-legged in your own living room.”
I nodded. “Much better. Plus, I bought this one for cheap and fixed it up myself, so it wasn’t damn expensive. Do you mind if I do some fishing for a bit?”
“Only if you’ve got a spare rod.” She squinted into the bright sunshine and shook her hair out in the wind. “But do you mind if we just keep going for a while? There’s something about being out here with the wind roaring in my ears and my hair going wild that clears my head the way nothing else does.”
“Yeah, I get that,” I replied, but I doubted she’d heard it. While she smiled into the sun with her eyes now closed and her nose slightly lifted, I did my best not to stare at her. Where the hell did this girl even come from?
I knew, of course, but how she’d stumbled into my life, I didn’t know. I just knew I wasn’t ready for her to fall right back out of it again.
When we eventually slowed down, Sofia confidently helped me assemble the rods and was even the first one of us to catch something. She needed no help and handled it like a real damn pro.
“I have to admit, I’m impressed,” I said, moving back to the steering wheel to move us to a different location.
Sofia smirked at me, looking sexy as fuck with my ball cap now on her head, my sunglasses covering her eyes, my shirt on her body, and a fishing rod in her hand. I wondered how she’d feel about a quickie as I turned the key. Then all happier thoughts left me when nothing happened.
As in, nothing. The damn engine wouldn’t start.
“Fuck.”
Chapter 24
Sofia
Lincoln cursed. The muscles in his arms bulged as he tightened his grip on the controls and blew out a frustrated breath.
“Everything okay?” I asked, securing my fishing rod before I frowned at him.
He gave his head a terse shake. “She won’t start. I’ve been meaning to fix up a few things, but I haven’t gotten around to it yet.”
I took a deep breath and caught a whiff of fuel in the air. “Do you smell that?”
“Smell what?” Angling himself to face me, he lifted his nose slightly into the air and inhaled. “Fuck. I knew I should have gotten the carburetor looked at.”
“How long has it been since you’ve used the boat?” I glanced at him, wondering briefly if I should follow my instincts on this one or let him handle it.
Lincoln pursed his lips, lifting one shoulder in a shrug. “Eden and I took it out a couple of weeks ago, but before that?” His eyes narrowed, and he rubbed the back of his head. “Before that, I’d say it’s been close to six months since the last time she was out on the water.”
I nodded thoughtfully, tilting my head as I looked back at the motor. It was an outboard model I was familiar with, but whether he’d let me tamper with his precious boat was an entirely different issue.
“Do you mind if I take a look?” I moved hesitantly toward the engine dock, keeping my eyes on him and watching as his brow furrowed.
“Why do you want to take a look?” He pushed himself
