Page 30 of Seale the Deal

I stare at the paper cup in genuine disbelief. Okay, this might be the best cup of coffee I’ve ever had.

Walter smiles proudly. Well, thank you. Then he winks. And welcome to Alpine Harbor, Wrenley. I hope to see more of you.

We head back outside, and I make a beeline for the truck, but Remi whistles. Let’s go to the docks.

I blow out a breath. I want to go home.

No. Wait. Ruger’s house. Home? Definitely Ruger’s house. Anything other than that is crossing a line I don’t want to cross.

We follow Remi down the street. After a few… let’s call them blocks, we cross the road and take a short path to a cliffside bench overlooking the ocean. The mountains are jagged and untamed, like the state itself.

There are two cruise ships docked, and seagulls circle overhead, crying out. The smell of salt and brine fills the air as people travel from shop to shop.

I imagine this must be prime time for these businesses. When I came in the winter, Remi said there wasn’t a lot open, but right now, this town feels kind of bustling.

Well, Remi says as we sit near the docks, ensuring that Ruger and I are beside each other, that could’ve gone worse.

Ruger huffs quietly beside me. Bonnie worked quickly.

You know why she went to Walter first, Remi says. If she gets Walter, she gets Walter’s wife, and Mavis is the second-biggest gossip in town.

I groan into my cup. I feel like a celebrity, but like a D-list one who got caught eating a hot dog off the ground.

Remi laughs. At this point, I think we just have to laugh.

I’ll leave that to you, Ruger says before taking a sip of his coffee.

Oh, come on, it’s funny, Remi insists. You pretending to be romantic? It’s entertainment in its purest form.

Remi.

No, seriously. I’m obsessed with this.

I laugh despite myself.

Then Remi looks between us.

Okay, but if we’re being honest? she says. You two still act like co-workers.

Aren’t we basically co-workers? Ruger mutters under his breath.

See? Remi points at him. That right there. Very emotionally unavailable fiancé energy.

I snort into my coffee.

Let’s start simple, she says. Try sitting a little closer together.

I scoot toward Ruger.

Wow, Remi deadpans. Scandalous.

Ruger rolls his eyes but drapes an arm across the back of the bench.

There, Remi says smugly. Now you at least resemble people who have voluntarily touched before.

We sip our coffees as a cruise ship glides through the water. Ruger looks perfectly at ease beside me, with his eyes following the cruise ship as it moves through the water. Meanwhile, I’m still feeling a little overwhelmed by how quickly news travels around here and the warmth radiating from his arm that’s barely touching me but still has my stomach fluttering.

Is that Ruger Seale? a gravelly female voice calls out.