by Aurora Rey
As she approached the one with the mystery woman, Graham walked past it quickly, afraid the woman might reappear and catch her staring. At the end of the pier, she spent a moment looking out at the breakwater. She breathed in the salt air and let the sun beat down on her face. Gorgeous woman or not, Graham couldn’t imagine a single place on earth she’d rather be.
She made her way back toward the boat slowly, searching for signs of life, but also details that might tell her more about its crew. It looked to be about twenty feet long, with three walls and a covered area instead of a fully enclosed cabin. The deck had been hosed and scrubbed clean and the white paint on the outside looked like it had been applied this season. Across the transom, in dark burgundy paint, she read Paquette, Provincetown, MA.
Graham swallowed the flutter of excitement. The boat was local. That might mean her crew was, too.
“Dom, are you there?”
The sound of a voice—a rich, deep, yet utterly female voice—sent Graham scurrying. She didn’t slow down until she reached Commercial Street. Nor did she look back.
Rather than turning left toward home, Graham made a right. Maybe she’d pop by Aunt Nora’s for a bit now. She’d be in the middle of happy hour, but that was okay. Graham had nowhere to be. She could make herself useful or relax in the garden. Then she and Aunt Nora could catch up and she could sweet talk her way into that lobster dinner.
Chapter Two
Mat stopped at home long enough to take a shower. She didn’t want to seem like she was trying, but she also didn’t want to walk in smelling like diesel and bait. She put on a pair of dark jeans and a black button-down, her favorite boots, just a touch of paste in her hair.
It was taking a chance, but she drove to the restaurant, and pulled her truck into the spot reserved for deliveries. She was, after all, delivering something. She took the tote from the back of her truck, careful to hold it away from herself, and headed to the back door.
Preparations for dinner service were well underway, but the kitchen lacked the frenetic pace of the dinner rush. Mat snagged the attention of a guy slicing lemons. “Do you know if Audrey is here?”
He nodded. “She’s out front going over specials with the waitstaff.”
Mat frowned, unsure of how long that would take, or if she should wait. Before she could decide, the door from the dining room swung open and Audrey came through. Her white chef’s coat fit like it had been tailored for her curves. As did the black pants. Rather than detracting from the look, the rubber clogs left no doubt she meant business in the kitchen. She looked in Mat’s direction and smiled. “Well, hello, stranger.”
“Stranger? Is that any way to talk to someone who comes bearing gifts?”
Audrey’s eyes sparkled. “A present? What did you bring me?”
Mat set the tote on an unused square of counter and flipped open the lid. “The freshest catch in town.”
Audrey peered inside. “Did these come in today?”
Mat smiled. In addition to being gorgeous, Audrey had a keen appreciation for Mat’s line of work. “I hauled them myself.”
She watched as Audrey did a quick count and, likely, estimate of their weight. “What did I do to deserve such an offering?”
“It’s what I know you’ll do with them that matters.”
Audrey narrowed her eyes, but her tone remained playful. “Are you after dinner or a date?”
It was almost too easy. “I’d never say no to either, but at the moment, I’m here with a business proposition.”
“Oh?” Audrey raised a brow and Mat couldn’t tell if she was intrigued or disappointed.
“We both know you’re one of the hottest new spots in town. On top of that, you’re elevating local seafood to a new level.” Mat lifted a hand. “Not that I have anything against lobster rolls.”
The rich, sultry sound of Audrey’s laugh made Mat wonder if maybe she should angle for the date instead of the business. “I should warn you that, unlike most chefs, my ego isn’t running the show.”
Mat grinned. “I’m only calling it as I see it. And as I see it, we should be partners.”
“Tell me more.”
Mat leaned against the counter. “You need a more consistent supply of fresh lobster than one person can provide.”
“Agreed.”
“But going through a wholesaler means you’re paying a middle man. On top of that, you don’t know exactly where or how your product was caught.”
Audrey nodded. “Also true.”
“Pero and Sons can offer you the best of both worlds.”
A guy in an apron brushed past them with a crate of vegetables. Audrey nodded. “I want to hear more, but I’ve got a hundred things to do before dinner service starts.”
“Don’t let me keep you. Maybe we could grab drinks one night after your shift.”
Audrey quirked a brow. “I didn’t realize lobstermen stayed up that late.”
Mat tipped her head slightly. “We just need a good enough reason.”
“Should I feel honored to be on that list?”
Mat smirked, then nodded at the tote. “You enjoy those. I’ll stop back in a couple of days to pick up the bin and you can tell me about all the delicious things you made.”
Audrey looked Mat up and down. “I’ll look forward to it.”
Mat left the way she’d come, climbing into her truck, and making the short drive home. Tomorrow wasn’t a day off, but since she’d gone to the trouble of getting dressed, she considered going out for a drink or two. A quick text exchange later, she’d wrangled Dom into joining her.
Since he’d only requested a few minutes to get ready, Mat stood in the driveway of the building where they each had an apartment. She leaned against her truck and let her mind wander. But instead of Audrey, Mat’s thoughts went to the woman from earlier in the day, the one she’d caught staring at her from the pier.
Even from a distance, Mat could tell she was beautiful. The strawberry blond hair and blue eyes gave her a look that seemed to hover somewhere between all-American girl and Irish beauty—striking, but in an innocent, almost unassuming way. Mat wondered if she lived in town or was just passing through.
Dom appeared at the top of the back stairs and waved. When he reached the bottom, he raised a brow. “So, how’d it go?”
Mat nodded. “Good. We didn’t really get to talk, but she seemed impressed with what I had to offer.”
Dom chuckled. “Again, I’m not sure if we’re talking about you or lobsters.”
Normally, she’d go back and forth with him, topping one another’s double entendres until they crossed the line into the ridiculous. For some reason, tonight she didn’t. “I think we might be able to get her as a regular.”
Dom narrowed his eyes, but didn’t comment on the directness of her answer. “That would be really great.”
It would be. There were only a couple of restaurants they supplied exclusively. Those relationships, the confidence they implied, were like a feather in her cap. Even better, the more they sold locally, the higher the profit margin. “Don’t say anything to Uncle Emilio yet. I’d like it to be a done deal before he swoops in.”
They started the stroll into town, debating between the beer garden and the After Tea Dance. As they walked down Commercial, Mat scanned the faces they passed. The diverse press of people that spilled into town during the day had thinned, leaving a crowd that was predominantly queer. That was why she liked evenings best.
She found herself looking for the woman. It surprised Mat she’d invaded her mind to that extent, given they’d not even spoken to one another. It didn’t bother her, though. Whether she ever saw her again or not, appreciating a beautiful woman was one of her favorite pastimes. Sharing a moment of mutual appreciation was its own pleasure.
* * *
Graham walked along Commercial Street with her roommate, Jess. Aunt Nora had been exceptionally busy, so Graham made plans for dinner the following week and bid her good night. She’d headed ho
me, feeling mildly restless. She’d readily accepted Jess’s invitation for a walk and a slice of pizza. Not only would that provide a nice diversion, it meant she didn’t need to think about cooking.
“You seem distracted.”
“Huh?” Graham looked at Jess.
“Exactly. I said you looked distracted.”
“Oh. Yeah, I guess. A little.”
“What’s on your mind, sunshine?” Jess studied her with concern.
“Nothing bad. I just saw this crazy hot woman earlier and I was thinking about her.”
“Crazy hot, huh? Tell me more.”
Graham shrugged. “I’d just left work and was walking along the pier, looking at the boats. And there she was, looking rugged and sexy. I kid you not, I stood there with my mouth hanging open like a complete idiot.”
“Did she look back?”
Graham thought back to the brief interaction, to the way her body responded. “Yeah.”
“And? Did you talk to her?”
“God, no. We exchanged a look. Fortunately, after I managed to pick my tongue up off the sidewalk.”
Jess gave her a look of complete exasperation. “Why didn’t you introduce yourself, make a little friendly conversation?”
“She was working. On top of that, I’d just gotten off work. Not my best look.” It had nothing to do with being a tongue-tied, blushing mess.
“But what if you never see her again?”
Graham tried to ignore the pang of disappointment the idea created. “It’s not like it was love at first sight or anything.” She offered a playful shrug. “Lust, maybe.”
Jess shook her head. “Haven’t you spent the last six months lamenting your lack of a love life? You can’t just ignore opportunities that fall into your lap. You must act.”
Graham laughed at the vehemence in Jess’s tone. But then she let the words sink in. She’d never been the forward one in dating scenarios. Well, aside from her clumsy and ill-fated attempt to hook up with Will, which had crashed and burned. Things had all worked out for the best, obviously, but it certainly hadn’t helped her confidence on that front. “I don’t think I’m cut out to be the aggressor.”
“Nonsense. And it’s not about being the aggressor. It’s about putting yourself out there, making it easy for the other person to make the first move.”
Graham had a vision of herself wandering up and down the pier in a dress and heels, waiting—quite literally—for her ship to come in. It wasn’t a pretty picture. “I’m not sure that applies in this situation.”
“Sure it does. You just have to figure out a way to make sure you cross paths again. Do you think she lives in town?”
“Maybe. The boat’s local.”
“That’s a good sign. Is she our age? Do you think she goes out?”
“You know, I have no idea.” She had a hard time picturing the woman at a bar or in a club, but maybe that was unfair. A Dolphin Fleet uniform and being surrounded by little kids probably seemed incongruous with the kind of girl who liked to go out, too. Graham tried to envision the woman in a dim space, drink in hand, surrounded by people. From there, it wasn’t hard to imagine what it might be like to dance with her. The woman’s hand on her lower back, guiding their bodies in synchronous movement. “Oh, my God.”
“What?” Jess looked at her with alarm.
“She’s right there.”
Jess looked around. “Where?”
“On the patio of the beer place. Don’t look.”
Of course Jess looked. “Who? Which one? Oh, wait.”
Before she could continue the conversation and embarrass them both, Graham pulled her friend past the restaurant and out of the woman’s line of sight. “Are you trying to kill me?”
“Whoa, whoa, whoa. Relax. We’re not trading state secrets here.” Jess leaned back and glanced in the direction they’d just passed. “Short dark hair, black shirt?”
Graham closed her eyes and nodded. “Mmm-hmm.”
“She is hot. Like, really fucking hot.”
“I know.”
“You have to talk to her.” Jess placed exceptional emphasis on the “have.”
“Now?”
Jess spread her hands in front of her. “No, next week. Of course now.”
Graham dared to lean back so she could catch a glimpse of the woman. She was deep in conversation with the guy next to her, the same guy from the boat. She let her gaze linger for a moment. The jeans and button-down shirt were casually sexy and answered any question Graham might have had about whether she was the type to go out on the town. Although, truth be told, Graham couldn’t decide which of the two looks appealed to her more. She reluctantly returned her gaze to Jess. “I don’t know.”
“Well, I do. We’re going to march in there, grab a drink, and just so happen to find ourselves right next to them.”
Graham nodded, her stomach suddenly filled with butterflies. “Then what?”
“Then you make eye contact and smile. She’ll smile back. And then you’ll say, ‘Hey, didn’t I see you on the pier earlier?’ It’s not rocket science.”
“I know it’s not.” She might not have a ton of experience making moves, but she wasn’t completely socially inept. Something about this woman had an effect on her. The kind of effect that made her worried she’d turn into a blushing, blubbering fool if the woman actually spoke to her. But it seemed like the universe might be telling her something, or even better, giving her a gift. She didn’t want to waste it. “Okay. Let’s do it.”
Jess rubbed her hands together with delight, which made Graham laugh. “Follow me.”
Graham did, being careful not to look in the woman’s direction and run the risk of losing her nerve. They went inside to the bar and she let Jess order them both a pint of apricot wheat. “Drinks are on me,” Graham said.
“No argument here.”
Graham slid money across the bar. They picked up their glasses and headed to the patio that faced Commercial. It was a fairly big space, so it took them a moment to wind through the groups of people standing at the high-top tables. When they got to the right spot, it was empty.
“Where’d they go?” Jess looked back the way they’d come.
Graham glanced up and down the street and saw the back of the woman, along with her friend, heading to the West End. She nudged Jess’s shoulder and pointed. “There.”
“Damn it.”
And then they were gone. Disappointment vied with relief. “It’s okay.”
Jess hung her head. “I can’t believe we missed them.”
“Yeah.” Graham took a long sip of her beer and set it down. “But you know what?”
Jess did the same. “What?”
“If she changed her clothes and was out having a beer, that’s a pretty good indication she lives here.”
Jess raised her hands in celebration. “Yes. You’re right. We just need to create opportunity for you to run into her again.”
Graham took another sip of beer. “She was with the guy I saw on the boat. Maybe they’re together.”
“Highly unlikely. There were all kinds of studly lesbian vibes coming off her.”
Graham sighed. She hoped so. “They did look kind of similar. Maybe they’re related.”
“Absolutely. The lobster boat is probably a family business.” Jess nodded and she continued formulating her theory. “I bet she’s part of an old Portuguese fishing family who’s been here for generations.”
“You’re probably right.” Graham liked the idea of that. It sounded so romantic. It also increased her chances of seeing the woman again. Now that she was looking. The prospect of flirtation, and maybe more, lifted her spirits. “Hey, do you want to splurge on dinner here instead of pizza?”
Jess grinned. “I love the way you think.” She lifted her glass. “Here’s to the thrill of pursuit.”
“I’m not sure I’d go that far, but cheers all the same.” Graham clinked her glass to Jess’s, then picked up a menu.
Chap
ter Three
Graham carried the ice chest, trying to ignore the thwapping that came from inside. For the tenth time, she reminded herself that lobsters don’t have a central nervous system. Short of being a full vegetarian, cooking and eating lobster was about as humane as it got.
The next thwap caused the cooler to shift in her hand. She swallowed the squeal that bubbled up. Barely.
She let herself in the side gate that led to Aunt Nora’s garden and the back door of the inn. She set the cooler at the bottom of the porch steps and headed into the house. She found Tisha in the kitchen, singing and arranging cheese on a large wooden board. She spotted Graham and smiled. “Hey, girl. I haven’t seen you in forever.”
Graham crossed the room and gave her a hug. “It feels that way, doesn’t it? How’s it going?”
“Well, other than living in the middle of a honeymoon, I’m great.” Tisha rolled her eyes, but laughed.
Graham smiled at the description. If someone had told her a year ago that her aunt would be blissfully happy with a live-in girlfriend—who happened to be Graham’s friend—she’d have scoffed. And yet, here they were. Her unrequited crush on Will felt like a distant memory. “That bad, huh?”
Tisha shook her head. “It’s adorable. I just feel it’s my right to tease Nora about it.”
Tisha was the summer manager at Failte, and one of Aunt Nora’s closest friends. When Will and Nora had temporarily split, Tisha was Graham’s biggest ally in nudging them to get back together. Graham put an arm around Tisha and gave her a squeeze. “It’s your right and your responsibility. Aunt Nora needs to remember it’s not good to be so damn stubborn.”
“Who’s stubborn?”
At the sound of Nora’s voice, both Graham and Tisha turned. Nora stood in the doorway to the dining room, a look of mild curiosity on her face. Without missing a beat, Tisha said, “You.”
Nora nodded and shrugged, making Graham snicker. “We were discussing how blissfully happy you are now that Will has moved in.”
Rather than protest, Nora’s face softened and she smiled. “It’s so much more practical, not to mention economical.”
