First Time in Forever (Puffin Island 1)

Alec didn’t lift his gaze from the book he’d been reading before Ryan had joined him. “I’m allergic to hot blondes.”

Ryan glanced over to the doorway, saw Emily and Lizzy and, behind them, another woman he assumed to be Skylar.

She was tall, her almost ethereal beauty emphasized by the dress she wore. A mixture of green and blue, it floated round her slim frame as she walked.

“She looks like a mermaid,” Kirsti muttered. “Alec, you are going to want to look at this.”

“In Greek mythology mermaids summon men to their doom.”

“You read too much. You need to watch more TV and play some video games. Rot your brain a bit like normal folk.”

Ryan’s gaze was fixed on Emily. It had been two days since he’d seen her, and he’d had to force himself to stay away and give her space. He saw her smile at something her friend said and felt something clench in his gut. There, right there, was the real Emily. He wanted to capture that smile and follow it to see where it led, but it vanished quickly, and she was watching the child again, as if she were afraid she might blow away in the breeze. He understood that the responsibility was new to her, but he sensed there was more to her overly protective attitude than the unfamiliarity of unplanned parenthood. “Give them the same table as last time.”

“It’s reserved for the couple sailing that racing sloop. There will be pistols at dawn.”

“I’ll handle them. Give it to Emily.”

“You’re the boss.” With a shrug Kirsti moved away to welcome her new customers.

Convenience should have made Emily take the seat with the best view of the water, but instead she switched with her friend so that she once again sat with her back to it.

Pondering the possible reasons for that, Ryan tried to focus on the conversation with Alec. “So, you’re planning to see Selina while you’re in London?”

Alec wrapped his hand around the beer. “Yes, but that’s one encounter that will be as brief as possible.”

“I don’t understand how the two of you ever got together.”

“Never underestimate the mind-distorting power of great sex.” Alec stared broodingly over the ocean. “Before me, she dated bankers and mega-rich city types. She wanted adventure and thought I was a sea-loving version of Indiana Jones. I took her kayaking on our honeymoon.”

Ryan raised his eyebrows. “White water kayaking?”

“No, just plain old sea kayaking. Her hair got wet. Let’s talk about something else.”

“I’ve got a better idea.” Ryan stood up. “Put your book away. We’re moving tables. You’re going to talk to a live human instead of reading about dead ones.”

“Dead ones are more interesting, and they don’t bleed you dry. And I am not moving tables. I like this table. It seats two people which means no one can join us.”

“I own this place,” Ryan murmured. “If you don’t move, I’ll physically eject you.”

With a sigh, Alec looked up. “Are you meddling with my sex life? Because I have enough of that from Kirsti.”

“No. I’m meddling with my own, and you’re my wingman.”

“I’m not a good wingman.”

“You’re the perfect wingman. You’re so bitter and twisted, you make me look good. Stand up. We’re going to join them for lunch.”

Alec’s gaze flickered to Skylar, and just for a moment he stared. “Women like her don’t eat lunch. They order it, make you pay and then push it round their plates.”

“Every time you think like that, you’re letting your ex-wife win.”

“She has won. She has a large chunk of my income and my house in London.”

“You have plenty of income left, you can stay in a hotel when you travel to London and you have your freedom. Seems like a good deal to me.” Ryan gave him a slap on the shoulder and strolled across to the group on the other side of the terrace. Lizzy sat, swinging her legs, and she reminded him so much of Rachel at the same age, he smiled. “Cute hat.”

Her face brightened. “Ryan! Can I play with Cocoa?”

“And there was I thinking you were pleased to see me, but it’s all about the dog.” He winked at her. “She’s with my grandmother, but you can visit anytime. They live in the big white house with the wraparound deck just up from the harbor. If you wanted to walk Cocoa, you’d be her favorite person.”