“You’re being transparent, Josh.”
He actually had the temerity to look innocent and offended. “Me? Transparent? Right.” He held out his hand to Dave. “Josh Collins. I’m the other doctor in the Jewell Cove practice.”
“Dave Ricker.” Dave shook Josh’s hand and smiled. “I’m working at the boatyard.”
Josh tilted his head and wrinkled his brow. “Hey, are you the guy renting Tom’s cottage out at Fiddler’s Rock?”
Dave nodded. “Yeah, that’s me. You know Tom?”
Josh grinned. “He’s my cousin. Welcome to town. Listen, a bunch of us are going to the Rusty Fern for a bite to eat. Come along and I’ll buy you a drink,” he offered. “You too, Charlie,” he added as an afterthought.
“I think we already have plans,” Dave replied, his gaze leaving Josh and falling on Charlie.
Charlie looked from Josh to Dave. “You did say you didn’t know many people in town,” she said, surprisingly grateful for the invitation. “And you mentioned something about a drink. This way you kill two birds with one stone.” She let the words hang in the air. It was a chance to spend more time with him without it getting too intimate too fast. Fantasies were one thing. But Charlie was a little more reserved when it came to the actual execution. This might be a chance to get to know him better, rather than being swept away by her mystery guy.
Dave sighed. “Sure, why not?” he agreed. He leaned down and whispered in her ear. “But you still owe me a date.”
She shivered with anticipation. She had to admit, it felt great being pursued. It had been ages since that had happened.
“Great!” Josh said. “I’ll go round up the others.”
Before they could answer, he was gone again, melting into the departing crowd.
“Do you get the feeling we were just bulldozed?” Dave asked.
She laughed. “I’ve learned to pick my battles where Josh Collins is concerned.”
“And tonight wasn’t one of them?”
She smiled, feeling a little cheeky. “It saved me from having to turn you down later,” she explained, and started walking away. “When you would have propositioned me. You coming or not?”
He caught up to her, laughing a little as he looped his arm through hers. “I’d say you assume too much, but you probably don’t. Just so you’re aware, I haven’t given up.”
His persistence sent a wave of warmth through her. Their steps slowed and Charlie left her arm linked with his as they ambled down the block. Little flakes of snow were drifting lazily down, settling on the sidewalk with a soft shush. Evergreen wreaths with huge red bows hung from each lamppost, and the businesses that had remained open for late shopping were lit up with Christmas lights. Last Christmas she’d just moved here and hadn’t taken the time to really enjoy the holiday season and the sense of community that pervaded the town. This year was different, though. She couldn’t help but be swept along in the festive spirit.
“You’re awfully quiet,” Dave remarked, pulling her arm closer to his side.
She tilted her head and glanced up at him. “Sorry. I’m just enjoying the walk. It’s so pretty out tonight.”
“It is, isn’t it?” He angled a look down at her. “It’s been a while since I’ve seen snow at Christmas.”
“Really?”
He nodded. “Yeah. I was deployed a few times, and there’s not exactly a lot of Christmas spirit in the Middle East.”
Deployed. So he was military—or ex, since he was working on the docks. Now that Charlie thought about it, it fit. There was something in his bearing, the way he carried himself. Confident but not cocky. Respectful and with intent.
He paused, taking a deep breath of cold air as if savoring it. “Before that I was stationed in California. Not much snow there.”
“I guess not. How long have you been out, then? I mean, did you resign or get medically discharged or something?”
He stopped in the middle of the sidewalk. “Hmm. A lot of questions.”
“I guess I figured if we’re going to get that nightcap at some point, I might want to know a little bit about the man behind the invitation.”
His dark eyes searched hers for a moment. A group of teenagers went past them, talking loudly, half of them with their heads buried in their phones.
He shrugged. “I was a SEAL. I’m thirty. I was already older than most of the guys on my team. Besides, it was time to come home. Stop running around the world being Rambo.” He smiled. “And now I’m back to where I started. Working on boats and being by the ocean. It suits me.”
A SEAL. She couldn’t deny the little shiver of excitement that rippled up her spine. Not just a soldier but an elite one. She tried to lighten the mood a little. “I didn’t realize SEALs had a best-before date.”
“Only with some things.” His gaze burrowed into hers again, surprising her with its intensity. “I promise, with just about everything else, I’m nowhere near approaching my shelf life.”