LITMIR.BIZ

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lowered Max to the ground when the ceremony concluded. The crowd dispersed. She spotted her dad shooting the breeze with his buddies, many of them serving as auxiliary volunteer support to Station Kiptohanock. Amelia tensed as the Kole boy waved to Honey from the CG boat at anchor in the harbor.

      Max tugged at Braeden’s hand. “Let’s watch the boats go by.”

      Amelia caught Max’s arm. “Braeden probably has things to do.”

      Max opened his palms. “Please, Mimi. Please.”

      Braeden adjusted his cap. “I really don’t have anywhere to be until I report for watch tomorrow.”

      Two pairs of imploring eyes—bright blue and chocolate brown—shifted her way.

      Amelia’s high-minded resolve to avoid the XPO weakened. “Oh, all right. But only for a minute.”

      They shouldered past the clumps of chatting people milling about on the pier. Getting an earful from a come-here—anyone from elsewhere other than the Eastern Shore—her dad backpedaled as Amelia approached. She pivoted toward Honey, who ducked her head and disappeared into the café.

      Cowards. She’d give them an earful and a piece of her temper for hatching this plot to rent out the cabin. They’d left her out of the loop and made her look like a fool in front of the XPO.

      Amelia sighed.

      Okay, she’d accomplished that feat under her own steam.

      Max occupied himself by saluting as the flotilla of recreational and commercial fishing vessels chugged away toward the open water.

      Braeden looped his thumbs in his duty belt. “I take it you knew nothing about the cabin rental. I’m sorry I scared you.”

      “I’m sorry I almost skewered you.” She surveyed the sparkling water. “Money’s been tight since Dad’s heart attack. Honey had to drop out of college and come home. And with Max...” She cleared her throat. “They probably believed they were helping the Duer bottom line.”

      He leaned toward her, his gaze intent. “But this is going to add to your workload, isn’t it?” His probing awareness penetrated down to the depths of her heart.

      She flushed.

      When he looked at her like that...

      She wished she’d taken Honey’s advice last week and had her hair styled. Big waste of money. For as often as not, she stuffed her hair inside a cap and let the sun and the wind have their way.

      “You already run the family fishing business—”

      “What’s left of it these days.”

      “And operate a charter boat during tourist season by yourself?”

      She nodded.

      Braeden’s cheeks lifted, turning his eyes into half-moons. “I’m impressed. You’re a woman of many talents.”

      Max plucked at her sleeve. “It’s not too cold, Mimi. Braeden and I could—”

      “No, Max. It is too cold.” She wrapped her arms around herself, wishing she’d brought a jacket. The wind off the water was cool. She should’ve been more vigilant.

      Out of habit, she darted a glance at the horizon. Red sky this morning. “Sailor take warning. Wind’s picking up.”

      Braeden removed his cap and plopped it on Max’s head. “USCG,” he read aloud. “Station Kiptohanock. Would you take care of it for me until lunch, bud?”

      Max grinned. “Sure, Braeden. I’ll take real good care of it.” He trotted toward the end of the dock.

      Braeden sniffed the air. His nose twitched, resembling a bird dog’s. “Smells like chowder.”

      She relaxed. “The volunteer fire department’s serving clam chowder and crab cakes to raise money for the Watermen Association.”

      “Want to get Max a bowl?” He dropped his eyes to the weathered pier and shuffled his feet. “Maybe get some for yourself, too?” The back of his neck reddened. “Save me from eating my first Shore meal alone. My treat.”

      A gust of wind carried his words. She imagined the gawking stares and resulting speculation around the lunch counter at the Sandpiper about the new XPO treating the old maid Duer sister to lunch.

      Was this his attempt to make up for scaring the daylights out of her? She didn’t usually merit attention of the male persuasion.

      Probably only being nice to the kid’s poor fishy aunt Mimi.

      Shouting, Max made a futile grab as the wind snatched Braeden’s cap off his head. The cap sailed into the air before plummeting into the choppy waters of the harbor.

      Her stomach knotted. “Max, not so close to the edge.”

      “I’m not a baby, Mimi.” He scowled as the cap drifted farther out of reach. “I promised Braeden.”

      His brows drawn together, Braeden took a step, hand outstretched. “It’s okay, champ. No worries. I can get another—”

      Dodging his hand, Max took a running leap. “It’s not too cold. I’ll show you.”

      She and Braeden realized his intent a second too late.

      Fear stabbed her heart. “Max, don’t.”

      Drawing up his knees in midair, Max landed like a cannonball in the blue-green waters. The top of his copper-colored hair disappeared beneath the waves.

      She screamed. Heads jerked in her direction. Chief Thomas and the reverend came at a run.

      Coughing, Max surged to the surface. His hands beat the water. His fingers strained for the cap. “Mimi!”

      Sputtering on seawater, he disappeared from sight.

      Without hesitation, Braeden dived into the water. With long, broad strokes, his arms ate up the distance separating him from Max. Kole tossed a life preserver off the side of the response boat.

      Unable to stand by and do nothing, Amelia vaulted in to assist. As she sank, the shock of the freezing-cold water sucked the breath from her lungs. Her father cried out her name.

       Oh, God, don’t let my father try to save me.

      In his weakened condition, they’d both drown.

      Weighted by her Wellingtons, she struggled to maintain buoyancy. She reached for the life ring, but the boots acted as an anchor and pulled her downward. Fighting a riptide, she flailed at the water. The light receded, sounds muffled and the darkness deepened.

      A body splashed, hurtling downward, on her left. Foaming bubbles obscured her view, but strong arms encircled her and yanked her sunward. Rotating her on her back, someone hauled her toward the pier. Treading water, her rescuer placed her hands on the rungs of the dock ladder.

      “M-max...” Her teeth chattered.

      “XPO’s got him.” In jumping off the CG patrol boat, Sawyer Kole had lost his own cap. “Can you climb the ladder?”

      His ash-blond hair lay flattened and slick against his skull. “We need to get out of the way.” Kole hoisted her leg into position on the rung.

      Amelia swayed.

      Hands reached from above. She gripped the rung above her head, gasping to regain her breath and replenish her spent store of strength. Between Kole, Thomas and her father, they managed to raise her dockside. Her knees buckled. She collapsed.

      Amelia rolled onto her side. “Where’s Max?”

      On his knees, Seth cushioned her in his arms. “Amelia, are you all right?” His face contorted at the effort to hold his raw emotions in check.

      She pushed onto her elbows as Braeden’s head topped the ladder with Max clutched in a one-armed

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