Laney took way too long getting dressed after her shower. She stared at her reflection in the mirror. What should she wear?

This wasn’t a date, she knew that, but there was that kiss they’d shared on the deck of the dive boat that muddied things between her and Jack. She had wanted so badly to hate him, but sharing in the discovery of the Livingston had forged a bond between them that she couldn’t deny. However, that didn’t mean there would ever be anything between them other than a purely professional relationship. If that was true though, why was she so concerned with how she’d look that evening?

She finally settled on a flowered sundress with espadrille sandals and hurried to the restaurant to meet Jack. When she arrived, he was waiting for her in the rear of the pub, leaning against the back of the aged vinyl booth seats. His dark brown hair was swept back from his forehead, accentuating his chiseled profile. Her heart fluttered a little and she paused. This was getting weird.

He waved to her and she walked over to him, sliding into the seat across from him.

“You look nice,” he said. He smiled at her and she felt her stomach flip-flop.

What was going on? She’d been determined not to like him, but had she been wrong? So what if he’d made decisions about hiring a dive boat to explore the shipwreck? Someone had to do it, and she might as well appreciate that he’d taken care of it. In truth, she hadn’t known who to call.

“Thanks. You clean up well yourself.” She grinned back at him. He’d changed into a polo shirt over khakis, a far cry from all the swimsuit-clad college kids she’d passed on the way to the restaurant.

“So, what’s good here?” He ducked his head behind the menu.

“I’m partial to the Guinness Beef Stew.”

He laid the menu down on the scarred wood table. “Sounds good.”

The waitress came by and they both ordered the stew and their drinks, then stared awkwardly at each other. Fortunately, the waitress came back quickly with their drink orders, and Laney was able to hide her face behind the Guinness she’d ordered.

“Have you told anyone about the shipwreck?” he asked after tasting his beer.

“No. I told my sister Becki about what I’d found in the settler’s journal, but not that we’ve located the wreckage.” She made a face and shook her head. “Most of my friends and family wouldn’t get how exciting this is. Becki thought it was just another place for tourists to go scuba diving in that area. She had no concept that it could be a historically significant find.”

“I know the feeling. My sister would probably laugh at me if I told her how thrilling it was to find the Livingston,” he said. “Luckily for me, I have colleagues in the same field, and Dane of course. Still though, I have this feeling like I want to keep it a secret, just for a little bit. Like a private glimpse into the past that only we are privy to.”

She nodded. “I know what you mean. I never thought I’d be a part of something like this. I’d originally thought about becoming a historian, but my parents convinced me it wasn’t very marketable. So, I became a small-town librarian instead.” She shrugged and took a sip of her beer. “It worked out though. I have plenty of time to indulge my passion for history while at work, and what better place to do so than at a library?”

He laughed. “I have to agree with your parents. It took a lot of hard work and luck to get to the position I’m in now. It’s not an easy field to succeed in, that’s for sure. I’m up for tenure this year, but if I don’t get it, I’m not sure what I’ll do.” He stared down at the table and then looked back up at her, a smile sliding across his lips. “Although, finding the Livingston will be a boon to my credentials.”

Jealousy spiraled through her and she fought to tamp it down. If she’d followed her heart and became a historian, this would be huge for her career, as well. But, she’d made her choice, and if she hadn’t become a librarian, she’d never have settled in beautiful Fortune’s Bay. She forced herself to change the subject to something less painful.

“So where are you from?” she asked. The waitress came by with their food and Laney took a bite of stew while he responded.

“I’m from Maine originally, but I’ve lived in Florida since college.”

“I’m also from the Northeast,” she exclaimed. “I wanted to get out of the frozen north, so I chose a university in Florida to attend. I can’t say I’ve regretted my choice, especially when I’m wearing shorts and my parents send me a picture of their house in Boston, covered in a few feet of snow.”

He laughed. “I love Maine, but they had such a good underwater archeology program down here that I couldn’t pass it up.”

“So, do you still have family back home?” She lifted her fork to her mouth and ate a piece of carrot.

“I do. Three sisters and my parents—they all still live in Maine, although my parents are considering the snowbird life.” He shrugged. “It would be nice to see them more often if they decide to winter in Florida. I only get up there a few times a year.”

When he spoke of his family, his face lit up. Maybe she’d badly misjudged him. Any guy that was close to his family couldn’t be that bad. Over the next few hours, they talked without hesitation, almost as if they’d known each other for their entire lives.

Before she knew it, workers were wiping down the tables around them and mopping the floor. The only other patrons left were some locals gathered around the bar and a few tables of rowdy college students.

Laney pulled her attention away from Jack and checked her watch, her eyes growing wide. “It’s almost two o’clock in the morning.”

He grabbed her watch hand and stared at the time. “Seriously? I thought it was around nine.”

“How did we talk for so long?” Laney asked. In her whole life, she’d never closed down a bar. In fact, she was probably one of the few people in the world that had never pulled an all-nighter in college. Somehow though, with Jack, the time had flown by quickly.

He laughed. “Good company.” He stood and reached for her hand.

Electricity passed from his fingertips to hers, sending a warm glow throughout her body. She allowed him to pull her up from the booth. When he let go of her hand, she felt as though something was missing. He tucked a tip under a cup on the table and then jutted his thumb toward the door.

“Ready?”

She nodded. “I still can’t believe it’s so late.”

“Are you ready to go home?” he asked, gazing out toward the Gulf. “It’s such a beautiful night.”

It seemed earlier than it was because the streets were still alive with partying college students. She looked at them, envying them their carefree lifestyle. Had she ever been like that? Why not imitate them and live in the moment?

With a huge grin, she said, “Let’s take a walk on the beach. I’ve never seen it at this time of night.”

A wide smile spread across his face. “Me neither.”

She walked next to him and he brushed the back of his hand against hers. When she didn’t pull away, he threaded his fingers through hers. The warm glowing feeling returned. The sun had set long ago, but it was still close to seventy degrees out, and a warm breeze blew off the ocean, enhancing the carefree atmosphere.

She pulled off her sandals and walked barefoot in the sand, savoring the feeling of it sifting through her toes. Jack looked at her and smiled, then removed his own shoes.

He pointed to the pier in the distance. “Race you there.”

He took off before she could agree. She laughed, gripped her sandals tightly in her left hand, and chased after him. They stood together next to the pier to catch their breath. While back in the main part of the beach there were many tourists still around, here in the shadow of the pier it was quieter.

Their eyes locked. He smiled and pulled her close, brushing her hair back from her face.

Her heart hammered in her chest and she stared into his eyes, his face illuminated only by the moon. He bent down and kissed her gently on the lips. While the kiss they’d shared on the dive boat had been electrifying, it had been all too brief.

Now, he took his time, deepening the kiss as she leaned into him and placed her hands on his shoulders. His touch burned into her back in every place he caressed. Being with him was a feeling she wanted to last forever.

Too soon, some teenagers ran past them on the beach, yelling as they streaked into the ocean. Jack and Laney broke apart.

“Wow,” she said. Her vision was still hazy from the intensity of their connection.

“No kidding,” he said quietly. He reached for her hands and kissed her gently. “We’d probably better get home. But, we’ll continue this later, I promise.”

Laney nodded. “I’d like that.” She was glad that the darkness hid how pink her cheeks were. It was unlike her to kiss like that on a first date, and this hadn’t even officially been a date. What had gotten into her?

At her doorstep, he stood on the porch and gave her another long, tempting kiss. She closed her eyes and moved forward, pressing her body against his.

He stepped back and placed a finger on her lips. “Later.”

She smiled and opened the door. “I’m going to hold you to that.”

He laughed and said, “I’ll call you tomorrow,” before walking to the sidewalk.

Laney stood there as he left. How had this all happened so fast? It seemed like one minute she hated him and the next minute, well, she wasn’t sure what she felt for Jack, but it definitely wasn’t hatred. All she knew was that she hadn’t wanted the night to end.