Chapter 3

“It’s awful,” Krista moaned over her muffin.

Grace rolled her eyes with a laugh. “Your brother working with your best friend isn’t the end of the world.”

Krista popped a piece of her muffin into her mouth and chewed. “You’re just cheery because you’re getting married. I need Abby to join us for our next morning muffin meeting. She’ll sympathize with me.”

Grace shook her head. “Abby’s in the kitchen before the guys are even in the ocean. I could never be a chef.”

“Me, either,” Krista agreed, although she was starting to think the same about being a nurse. “Karen retires in six weeks. There’s no way she’s going to recommend me for the head nurse position. Even though I’ve been there the longest. Most of the other nurses were recruited fresh out of school. They have nowhere near as much experience. Except for Danielle. We were hired around the same time. She’ll probably get Karen’s vote because Karen thinks I’m too cozy with the patients.”

Grace pulled her coffee to her mouth and sipped as she listened. Setting it back on the table, she cocked her head. “Couldn’t you just withdraw from your normal too-personal MO until Karen retires? Then, once you get the promotion, you could go back to being the overly loving and caring nurse you naturally are.”

“So, lie?”

Grace shrugged. “I wouldn’t call it a lie. You deserve that promotion. You’re next in line, and you’re awesome with those kids.”

Krista frowned and popped more muffin into her mouth. Between Joey taking a job with Noah last week and her sinking hope for a promotion at work, she was in a dire mood. “I guess I could do that.”

Grace smiled. “Perfect. Could you also lighten up and transform back into my fun-loving friend for a minute?” Grace glanced at her watch. “We have ten minutes, actually.”

Krista used her right index finger to poke one corner of her mouth up into a smile. “Better?” she asked.

“Kind of. I need to tell you something.” Grace sucked in a breath, a genuine smile lifting on her own face. “Jack and I have decided on a wedding date.”

Krista straightened. “Finally! I’ve been waiting to mark my calendar.”

“I know! Me, too!” Grace was so happy, she seemed to be glowing from the inside out.

And Krista was happy for her, if not a little envious, too.

“Okay, so Jack and I went back and forth on dates for next year and none of them seemed quite right.” Grace pulled her clasped hands to her chest. “So we’ve decided to marry on the Saturday after Thanksgiving.”

“Next year?” Krista asked, taking a sip of her coffee.

Grace shook her head. “We decided that next year is too far away. We don’t want to wait. We’re getting married this year.”

Krista choked on her sip of coffee. “Thanksgiving is next month.”

“I know!” Grace squealed excitedly. “There’s so much to do!”

“You’re going to plan a wedding in one month?”

Grace nodded, her grin stretching through her rosy cheeks. “I was hoping you’d help me.”

“Of course I’ll help you. I’ll do whatever you need. This is awesome news, Grace!” Krista got up and walked around to give her friend a hug. “You’re getting married! Next month!”

“Eek!” Grace laughed excitedly and looked down at her watch again. “Oh, I have to get to the office, but we’ll talk later?”

“Definitely. We have planning to do.” Krista started to collect her uneaten muffin. She’d finish it on the drive to the hospital.

“Do you think you could make time to go dress shopping with me this weekend?” Grace asked.

“Shopping?” Krista asked, walking beside her to the parking lot. “Do you even need to ask?”

“Great.”

They broke away and went to their separate cars. Krista felt slightly better as she drove into the hospital parking lot. Maybe Grace was onto something, she thought. She could distance herself from her patients for a few weeks. How hard could that be? She’d be caught up in helping Grace plan her wedding anyway.

She rode the elevator up to the second floor and hurried toward the nurse’s station, stopping short when she ran into Mandy.

Mandy lifted her red, teary eyes to meet Krista’s, and Krista’s heart nearly stopped beating. “What happened?” she asked.

The mother waved a hand. “Nothing really. Adam just doesn’t sleep well here.”

“Which means you don’t sleep well, either.” Krista frowned sympathetically. “Go home. I’ll make sure he gets extra special care.”

A tear slipped down Mandy’s cheek. “Thank you,” she said, wrapping Krista in a hug. “I trust everyone here, but I know they all have other kids to see. You do, too, but you seem to be able to do it all. You’re like a superwoman.”

Krista laughed and pulled away. “No, that would be you. Go. I’ve got this.”

Mandy nodded. “Okay.”

Krista continued down the hall and grabbed her stethoscope. She’d distance herself from all the patients except Adam, she decided, hoping that Karen wouldn’t notice. She wasn’t a superwoman, but she was a super nurse, no matter what her boss thought.

“Heads-up!” Noah said, tossing a Coke across the boat at Joey.

Beauty barked at the exchange.

“Yeah, yeah. You have a bone coming to you, too.” It’d been a good day of fishing. Joey knew a hell of a lot more than the kids that Noah had worked with over the summer. This arrangement was going to work out just fine. If Krista could get over it, that is.

“Krista still giving you grief?” Noah asked as he popped the tab on his Coke and took a long drink.

Joey laughed and sat down on the seat molded into the boat’s starboard side. “Always. Nothing new about that.”

“We still love her, though,” Noah said, reaching into the pocket of his shorts and pulling out a bone. He tossed it into the air for Beauty to catch. She snapped it up in a split second, then took it to a corner of the front deck to gnaw on. She’d been a great fisher-dog this week. She hadn’t gone near the catch, even though Noah had seen the look in her eyes telling him she wanted to play. The fish deserved respect, though. That was his lifelong philosophy. Respect the fish and if you’re not going to eat them, toss them back. Same for women. Respect ’em and if you weren’t going to keep them, don’t get them hooked. Noah liked to have fun, but if there was even a hint that the woman he was momentarily with wanted more than that, he always let them go. No exceptions.

He’d thought maybe he’d seen that look in Krista’s eyes before, but maybe he’d been imagining things. Maybe he was projecting because there’d been times he’d wanted more with her. He wasn’t a commitment kind of guy, though. He knew it. He couldn’t even commit on a plot of land, which was why he lived in a houseboat that he could dock anywhere. He was free. Exploring any kind of romantic relationship with Krista would only spell trouble, and he never wanted to risk their friendship. She meant too much to him to screw it all up. Because inevitably he would screw it all up.

Noah glanced over his shoulder at Joey. “You miss the cab at all?” he asked, hoping Joey’s answer would be no.

“A little.”

Noah’s smile faded. “Well, I’m glad you’re here with me. Hoping to make this a record fishing year. And maybe even catch Mitsy.”

Joey rubbed his hand along Beauty’s back. She wagged, eating up the attention. “Who’s Mitsy?”

“My tuna. I’ve had her on the line twice, the same one, and twice she’s gotten away.”

“How do you know it’s the same one?” Joey asked, dodging the puppy’s attempts to lick his face.

“She’s got a heart-shaped mark on her dorsal fin. It’s a perfect heart.”

“You’re kidding?”

Noah shook his head. “I couldn’t make that shit up. If I did, I’d make the marking more manly than a heart.”

Joey chuckled. “A tuna with a heart on her fin. Okay, I’ll buy that. Thought you were a good fisherman, though. How’d you lose her twice?”

Noah shrugged. “She’s feisty. If I catch her again, though, no way I’m letting go. And I’ve got you this time. Between the two of us, we can’t lose.”

Beauty looked up from her bone and barked as if she understood every word of what they were saying.

Noah stepped over and petted her head. “Sorry, girl. Between the three of us, we can’t lose.”

After docking the boat and leaving the day’s catch at the fish house, Noah headed home to shower. He was meeting his brother Jack at Castaways tonight before Wednesday Wings with Krista. He’d made sure to tell Jack he was ditching him when the clock ticked six-thirty. He’d made the mistake of letting someone else impose on Wednesday Wings last week and he wasn’t making it again.

He pulled on a clean T-shirt and pair of jeans, then climbed in his Jeep to meet his middle brother. Jack had said he needed to discuss something with him. Last time he’d said that, Jack had sprung the news that he was leaving the fishing business. He’d been co-captain with Noah since he was eighteen years old. That was pretty big news. Noah couldn’t fathom what tonight’s news would be.

He walked into the bar, his senses on overdrive for a second. The loud music, dim lights, smell of peanut shells and beer flooding him. He stood in place for a moment and glanced around. There were a couple people at the bar. The after-work crowd would be joining them any time now. A few of the tables were occupied with friends and couples having the infamous Wednesday barbecue wings that Castaways offered. Noah’s gaze landed on Jack in the corner. He already had a beer in front of him and one as a place-marker for Noah. He lifted his hand and waved Noah over.

“Hey, bro.” Noah pulled out a chair and plopped down. His muscles were sore from the day. He’d worked hard and it’d paid off. He felt great.

Jack smiled back at him. If Noah didn’t know better, he’d say his middle brother was happier than he’d ever seen him. Love looked good on him. “How was the catch today?” he asked in lieu of a hello.

Noah pulled his beer to his mouth and took a long swig before responding. “Awesome. Joey Nelson is going to work out just fine. He feels kind of like another brother.”

“You always said Krista was like a sister, so why not?”

A waitress came to the table and looked between the two. Noah knew her as one of Grace’s friends. Tina. “Hey, guys. Wednesday Wings for you two?” she asked.

They both nodded.

“You got it.” Tina turned and walked away.

Noah trained his eyes back on Jack. “So, you said you have something you want to talk about. Last time you said that, I lost my co-captain. I’m a little eager to jump to the punch.”

Jack grinned.

Whatever it was, it wasn’t bad news, judging from his relaxed demeanor.

“How many of those have you had already?” Noah asked.

Jack looked at the bottle. “Only half.”

“So it’s Grace that’s got you all worked up? Don’t tell me you two did another round in the office shower. I swear, I’ll never be able to shower off at the Sawyer Seafood office again.”

Jack laughed. Usually Noah’s comments made him bristle a little, but not tonight.

“So spill. I have to ditch you for Krista at six-thirty if I want to stay off her shit list. Which I do.”

“All right.” Jack set his bottle down. “Jumping to the punch then. I’m getting married.”

Noah blinked. “Yeah. I know. I was there when you popped the question, remember?”

“Let me rephrase. I’m getting married next month.”

“What?” Noah pushed his head forward. “You’re kidding, right?”

“Nope.” Jack held out a finger. “And before you ask, no, it’s not because Grace is pregnant. She’s not. We’re not. We’re just eager. We’ve known each other since we were kids. I’d marry her tonight if I could.”

Noah nodded. “This is great news, man. Congratulations.”

“Thanks. It’s going to be a whirlwind pulling it off.”

“Well, you know I’ll do whatever I can to help.”

Jack leaned back in his chair. “I was hoping you’d say that because we’ll need help.”

“That’s what family is for.” Noah shook his head. “Damn. This is great news.”

“I know.” Jack tipped his bottle back and took a healthy swig.

There was a chilled-out look of pure happiness on his brother’s face. For a second, Noah felt a little envious. He shrugged off the feeling, though. The only thing he’d ever committed to longer than a year was fishing. He hadn’t even made it through his first year of college.

Noah checked his watch. Six-thirty. He glanced toward the door and saw Krista step inside. He adjusted his track record of commitment. The only thing he’d ever fully committed to was fishing and his best friend.

Krista was usually a slow drinker, but tonight she downed her first beer like she was back in college. She was already halfway through her second and the wings hadn’t even arrived yet.

She blinked up at the blurring image of Noah, regretting that she’d missed lunch. The floor had been busy, though, and she’d promised Mandy that she’d keep Adam company during her spare moments.

“That bad, huh?” he asked, his Southern-boy drawl swinging easily, looping through her tired body and awakening areas she preferred stay dormant when he was around.

“Remind me again why I became a nurse?” she asked, taking another drink.

Noah started to answer, but she raised a hand and cut him off.

“Because I wanted to torture myself. I know.”

“No, because you enjoy taking care of people. You always have. It’s who you are.”

She sucked in a breath, grateful that it was only them tonight. She’d missed Noah last week. “But Karen just wants me to hand out medication and change bedsheets. I take too good care of people, and that’s apparently a bad thing.”

Noah chuckled. “It’s a good thing. You’re an awesome nurse.”

Anyone else could’ve said so and she would think they were just trying to make her feel better. But when Noah said things like this, she actually did feel better. “Thank you.” She finished off her second beer. “And to add to my day, I rode the elevator with Dr. Dale again, and he hinted at going on a date. Again.”

“That’s a bad thing?” Noah asked.

Krista frowned. “Yes. I work with him and, I don’t know, he’s not really my type.”

“You should give the guy a chance. Maybe you’re just a little picky.”

Krista’s mouth fell open at the suggestion, and her heart ached a little that Noah suggested she go on a date. A part of her wanted him to be a little jealous over the prospect. But nope, looking at him now, all relaxed and grinning, she didn’t see a trace of the green-eyed monster. “Maybe I will give him a chance,” she said, “just to prove I’m not picky.” And to see how Noah reacted. Not that he would. He didn’t think of her as anything other than his best friend.

“Great. Can’t wait to hear all about it.” He pushed his drink away. “Guess I’m driving you home tonight. It’s the least I can do since I stole your brother away for the Summerly.”

Krista slumped even farther in her chair. “No more free DDing from Joey. That’s going to hurt. Guess I’ll just have to start flirting with the guys here. Have a new one take me home each night,” she said, watching Noah again.

He continued to smile easily. “This is Blushing Bay, but there are still lowlifes out there. You have my number. You call me anytime and I’ll drop what I’m doing and come get you. That’s a promise.”

She stared at him across the table. “What if you’re on a date?”

The left corner of his mouth kicked up, poking a dimple in his cheek. She’d always liked that dimple. Had always craved to touch it, kiss it. God, she was pathetic when it came to him. “You always come first,” he said.

Butterflies swarmed her chest.

“What if it’s a get-lucky kind of date?” She waggled her brows.

Now both corners of his mouth curved into a widespread grin. “Then my lucky date and I will take you home together.”

“A threesome.” She let out a tipsy giggle. She hadn’t even realized she’d crossed the tipsy threshold. She should really stop after two beers. She’d learned that lesson a long time ago, but some lessons needed to be learned over and over again. One of which was that Noah Sawyer was never going to be more than a friend. She really should start looking at her dating options before her youth withered away and all the “good ones” were taken just like her mother kept warning they would be.

Tina appeared and set a plate of yummy wings at the center of the table. “Anything else?” she asked.

“How about another beer?” Noah said.

“Sure thing.” Tina looked at Krista. “What about for you?”

“Can I have another, too?” Krista avoided Noah’s look of consternation. This was the most relaxed she’d felt in ages. She needed another beer. That or she needed a man in her bed melting the tension off her body—and that wasn’t going to happen anytime soon.

“I’m going to have to carry you to your bed, aren’t I?”

Krista’s gaze snapped up and her body warmed. My body nestled in Noah’s arms? Yeah, that sounded all kinds of good to her.

Stop it, Krista. Stop, stop, stop.

“Want to talk about it?” he asked, leaning forward over the table.

For a moment she thought he was asking about the wicked thoughts running rampant through her mind. Then she realized he was talking about the reason she was drinking more than usual.

She shook her head, her thoughts immediately returning to Adam who’d cried a few times that day. He’d never really had a dad. Today he’d seen another dad come to visit one of the other children on the floor and for some reason he’d decided to get upset about it. Krista had sent his mom home to sleep, so Krista had been the one to comfort the poor little guy while he’d cried about all the things he’d never get to do with his own dad. Like play catch outside. Go camping. Go on a fishing trip.

Krista’s gaze snapped up and met Noah’s.

“Uh-oh. You’ve got that look in your eye,” he said, sitting back.

“What look?”

“The one that says I’m about to regret I even asked the question.”

“I have an idea,” she said.

“A drunken idea.” Noah nodded at Tina as she placed his drink in front of him. “Thank you.”

“I’m not drunk,” Krista said, pulling her fourth beer in front of her. “Just a little flimsy.”

“Don’t you mean tipsy?” Noah laughed. “Okay. Spill. What’s your idea?”

“I have this patient. He’s seven and his name is Adam.”

Noah nodded. “Uh-huh. I think you’ve mentioned him before.”

“Well, it’s just him and his mom. His father bailed right after he was born. He’s a sperm donor and a check-writer once a month, but that’s all.” Krista ran her tongue over her lower lip. “Anyway, he was really upset today. Sometimes things just set kids off, you know?”

“Is that why you’re drinking?”

Krista held his gaze, getting lost. There was a myriad of reasons why she was drinking. Adam was one. Karen at work was two. Noah was another reason. She was always thinking of him more than she should. It was crazy-making really. “Yep.”

“I thought you decided to pull away from getting too close to your patients. At least until your boss retires and makes you head nurse.” He winked.

“And I will. Just not Adam. I’ve seen Adam in and out of the pediatric floor since he was a month old. I couldn’t love him more if he was my own child. Anywayyyyy,” she said, dragging the last syllable out like a drumroll into her genius idea, “Adam has never been fishing before.”

Noah straightened. By the look in his eye, Krista knew his razor-sharp mind had already connected the dots with lightning speed. “Your brother is a fisherman,” he pointed out.

Krista shook her head. “One, he was a cabbie until last week. Two, Joey isn’t good with kids. He’s awkward around them. When he tries to play with them, he usually scares them.”

Noah laughed while shaking his own head. “I’m not good with kids, either.”

Krista slapped a playful hand across Noah’s forearm on the table in front of her. “Liar. You’re awesome with kids. You come to the peds unit every Christmas and you’d think that you were actually the real Santa Claus.”

“One, Santa isn’t real. Two, I don’t even know this kid. He’s your patient and you’re the one who has a problem getting too close.”

“And you never get too close, right?” she asked, surprised by the sudden switch of her emotions. Suddenly she wasn’t talking about Adam anymore. She was talking about her and Noah. Crap.

“Getting close complicates things. This boy doesn’t have a father. What if he…what if he, I don’t know, starts to think of me as a father figure if I take him fishing?”

“He’s not a duck, Noah.” Krista put on a smile that didn’t feel quite right. “He isn’t going to follow you around. He wants to go fishing. With his compromised immune system, he doesn’t get to do a lot of things that other kids do. The fresh salt air will do him good. I know it. It’s not easy being in a hospital bed.”

Noah frowned.

When she’d been sick as a child, waiting for her new kidney, Noah had barely left her side. He was her protector, the one who made her smile and laugh even when it was the very last thing that felt natural. He’d been doing it ever since.

Their entire history was written in the space between them. After all this time, how the heck did he not feel the same way that she did? But he didn’t. If he did, he’d treat her the way he treated the other women she’d seen him with over the years. He’d flirt with her. Touch her. Do all the things she’d only ever fantasized about him doing to her. Instead, when he was with her, he acted the way he would around any of his other friends. She was just one of the guys, and that was all she’d ever be.

“You said he’s sick. Is he even healthy enough to go out on a boat?”

“Yes. And I’ll be there as his nurse. Just one fishing trip. It’ll be fun.”

“Fine,” Noah relented, his body sagging. “I’ll do it.”

Unable to help herself, Krista leaped out of her chair and went around to hug him. “This is going to be so good for Adam! I can’t wait to tell him!”

“Just this once. And only because I owe you from last week.” He pulled back and looked at her. “And I’m serious. If you want that promotion, you can’t do things like this for your patients.”

“Not you, too.” Krista returned to her chair, plopping down with the grace of a ninety-year-old. Then she reached for her drink.

Noah grabbed a wing from the center tray. “By the way, I’m cutting you off after this one.”

Krista grabbed a wing, too. “We’ll see about that.”