Just a Kiss Read Online Free PDF Page B

girls.
    “Is it true what I heard about the shelter?” Lucy said, her tone full of dismay.
    Riley’s eyes fixed on Paige. They’d been alone together all week, and she hadn’t even hinted at a problem. “What about the shelter?”
    Paige gave a tight smile, her eyes flittering around the group. “We’re experiencing some financial difficulties, that’s all.”
    “Charlotte said they were going to shut it down,” Lucy said, referring to the owner of Frumpy Joe’s. “That the board decided yesterday.”
    “Is that true?” Riley asked. But he already knew it was by the look on Paige’s face. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
    “It’s not so dire as that. They’re giving me three months to turn things around. It’ll be fine.”
    “What are you going to do?” Eden asked.
    “Find new sponsors, head up a fundraiser, and apply for grants.”
    Riley frowned at her. “When are you going to find time for all that?”
    “Evenings and weekends. I can get some of it done during slow times at work. Lauren will help with the grants—she’s a whiz at paperwork. It’ll all work out. You’ll see.”
    Riley’s gaze narrowed on Paige. He saw all right. Saw the way her eyes tightened at the corners, the way her brows furrowed, the way her fingers fidgeted with her napkin.
    “If you need help with the fundraiser, let me know,” Eden said. “I can add a page to the shelter’s website and do anything else you need.”
    “Count me in too,” Lucy said.
    “Thanks, girls. I appreciate it.”
    The server came over and took their orders. Riley’s stomach twisted in hunger as another server passed with a steaming basket of atomic wings. It had been too long.
    “How’s PT going?” Beau asked as the girls settled into their own conversation.
    “Good. Guy that’s helping me reminds me of a drill instructor I had back in boot camp.”
    “Sounds fun,” Zac said.
    “Anything that gets me back on my feet.” Foot.
    “Let me know if you ever need a ride,” Beau said.
    The conversation shifted to the Red Sox game. Riley fixed his eyes on the screen and pretended to listen.
    He’d been down since this morning when he’d passed the harbor on his way to therapy. It hit him like a sucker punch. Seeing the lobstermen getting their boats ready, recognizing the markings on the buoys, remembering when he was one of them. Remembering his own colors out there, bobbing in the water. He should be out there right now, hauling traps, seeing how many legals he’d caught.
    He felt a yawning ache to be out at sea, the briny wind in his face, working the way his father, and his father before him, had. Lobstering was in his blood.
    But it was all over now. Beau and Zac had only made it worse, making it seem as if he could just stick on a prosthetic limb and jump back on a boat.
    It was a dangerous trade even for an able-bodied man. He’d lost boots and gloves when they’d gotten tangled in the line. Most lobstermen did. Thankfully he’d never had a body part entangled, had never been dragged overboard. But a prosthesis wouldn’t allow for the dexterity needed to avoid that. Or if it did, it would take years to develop.
    Something in the girls’ conversation tweaked his ear, and he listened in, his eyes still on the TV.
    “Isn’t he the one who bought your picnic lunch at the auction last summer?” Lucy was saying.
    “That’s the guy,” Paige said. “We went out once after that, but he was just coming out of a long-term relationship and he told me he needed to take some time. Then about a month ago he asked me out again.”
    His stomach twisted. Who was she talking about? And why hadn’t she mentioned it to him?
    “Friday’ll be our fifth date.”
    Fifth? He turned a dark look on Zac, who was too busy watching the game to notice. Thanks for the warning, buddy.
    “So where are you going?” Lucy asked.
    “I don’t know. He’s going to surprise me.”
    “He has the dreamiest brown eyes,” Eden said.
    “Like a puppy