“Meet me at Sammies’ at seven-thirty.”
* * * *
After the grizzly accident scene, Jo’s message improved Ray’s mood. Did she really believe he’d chuck their friendship because she’d been angry with him? Maybe he expected too much by pretending she was the same Jo who left the Outer Banks as a girl. A lot in her life had changed.
He almost drove to the house instead of calling, but followed her lead for breakfast.
Sipping coffee at the counter of Sammies’, he’d lost count of breakfasts he’d eaten with Cappy, Bobby, and Jo at the fisherman’s hangout. The wooden floored, shaker-shingle house held iconic status in Nag Head as did the fish pictures on the walls.
Jo slid onto the stool next to him and the waitress poured her a cup.
He offered a half smile as she took a long swill without adding cream or sweetener. “Do you need a pain reliever to go with?”
“I didn’t drunk call you.” She leaned in and pecked his cheek with a kiss.
He inhaled her clean scent. It reminded him of the ocean and the sensual kiss they’d shared on July Fourth. So many times, he’d rehearsed her homecoming in his mind. In every scenario, he made love to her the very first night. Here he sat weeks later like a horny teen.
“I’m sorry, I put everything on you.” Chewing on her bottom lip revealed her concern.
“I’ve got big shoulders.”
“That you do.” She appraised his physique. “But it wasn’t fair.”
“You felt betrayed by the people you trusted most. I knew you’d come around when you were ready.” He brushed his shoulder against her.
“We even?” Her voice cracked.
“Hardly, Dahlin’.” He narrowed his gaze and chucked her chin with his knuckle.
Their food came and he ate while she picked at her eggs. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing. How’s work?” She finally glanced at him.
“Working extra shifts when I can. Summer’s always busy you know. Are you still bartending at Harley’s?” He tried to suppress the irritation in his voice.
Jo shrugged. “Lifeguard season is nearly over and until I come up with a new career plan, I gotta do something.”
“They’ve got a lot of turnover at the hospital.” Anything to get her away from Harley.
“Don’t think I’m cut out to be a nurse.” She wrinkled her nose.
“No bedside manner?” He raised a brow.
“Hmmm, I’m sure you know all about nurses’ bedside manners.”
Ray frown while snapping a piece of bacon between his fingers. “What makes you say that?”
“I doubt your reputation has changed since high school.”
“You might be surprised?” He reared back in his seat before glancing about the restaurant. “So tell me.”
“Fast hands, faster tongue.”
He nearly choked on breakfast. After swallowing some coffee, he said, “Yikes, you chicks talked like that?”
Her eyes lit up and a smile followed.
“You don’t believe everything you hear, do you?” God, he hoped not.
“Actually, I think the fast hands comment was a misnomer. Remember at the beach the night of the fourth?”
His face heated at her words.
“Well, they were slow and very skilled.” She cleared her throat and stared at her plate.
“Do you have to remind me, now?” He suppressed a groan.
She skimmed her hand along his thigh and winked.
“Brat.” He took her hand in his. Her trembling fingers made him want to feel her whole body shudder.
“Come in for a drink. Bring your nurse friend, if you like. You have a hundred dollar credit from the huge tip you left me.”
A drunk Bobby had to have brought up the nurse who was only his captain’s daughter who needed a favor. He’d see to paying him back. “That was for the gas hog.”
“Broncosaurus.”
He grinned at the reminder of Bobby’s nickname for the truck. “So, how is your brother?”
“Acting like a butthead at the bar last night. I haven’t really talked with him since he grilled steaks for Sarah and me.”
“Appears to be on the fast track to matrimony.” He pushed away his plate.
Jo snatched the tab as the server laid it down. “You think so, too?”
He scrubbed his chin. “I’ve never seen him so tied up with a woman, even while you were in college. We haven’t golfed all summer.”
“He should get back to doing guy stuff in a bit.” She laid cash on the counter and stood.
“More like years from what I’ve heard.” He walked with her to the door and out into the parking lot. “So, what are you doing today?” Could he talk her into surfing?
“Job hunting. Bartending isn’t going to cut it, especially If I have to start paying rent.”
“For the cottage?” He frowned.
“I’ll have to pay him something, if he moves out. It is half his.” She unlocked her truck.
“You could get a roommate.” He opened her door.
“Yeah, six-foot four, sporting a six pack and nice guns. Oh, and some awesome Husky blue eyes. Know anybody capable of filling my order?”
He rolled his lips to keep from grinning. “I hope you guys don’t ever think of selling the place, Jo. I’d have to mortgage my life away to buy it. There are just too many good memories.”
* * * *
Apologizing to Ray set Jo’s day off on a good note. His acceptance proved he cared for her, faults and all. After filling out a county firefighter’s application, she signed up as a volunteer responder or volly. Already certified in pulmonary resuscitation, she was exempt from the CPR class.
Even though her legal issues were resolved, she provided her former probation officer’s name and number. If accepted, she would be required to pass a written exam as well as the grueling CPAT or Candidate Physical Abilities Test. Seven months of training at the fire academy would follow. She debated calling Ray, for help, but decided to wait to see if she was accepted.
Monday afternoon of Labor Day weekend, she neared the end of her last lifeguard shift for the season. The usual humidity was lacking as a bright azure sky spanned from horizon to horizon. Local surfers swarmed in full force.
“You staying, Jo?” A regular paused with a huge cooler on his shoulder.
If they broke out the weed like last time, she’d leave. Even being around illegal drugs was the last thing she needed after probation. “Maybe.”
“Come on, it’s the last one. We’ve got a bonfire permit and everything. You don’t need to bring anything, but your sweet self. Who knows if we’ll be lucky enough to have you stationed at Coquina next summer?” A smile warmed his face.
“Thanks.” Would she even be a lifeguard next summer?
The party intensified as her