16. Galvin

galvin

. . .

S he once again found herself in a stupor, albeit a happy one. The events from earlier still replayed in her mind like a live action movie only the things that transpired between her and Sail were mind blowing. Sail had done things to her body no other man had come close to. Galvin thought, after Sail left to run home, shower, and go to work, she’d regret their moments of bliss, she felt nothing but elation. He’d left her more than satisfied with promises of more later.

Later had been the term she used. She wanted to sleep with him, make love or have sex—whatever the appropriate term was these days—despite knowing nothing good would come from starting a relationship with him. They were on different paths. He still needed to finish college and she had three years of law school a head of her.

It was right then, reality hit her like a ton of bricks. Not only were they headed in different directions, but there was a slight age difference between them. She’d already finished undergrad and had a year off. Sail had at least another year in Miami. If not more. He’d told her about the trouble he’d gotten himself into, and while he partied there, she hadn’t seen him do anything of the sort in Seaport. Granted, they weren’t together twenty-four-seven. Although, pretty damn close.

Galvin was confident Sail wasn’t doing anything untold when they weren’t together. Not that it would be untold since she told him they’d never be anything more than friends.

Friends don’t do what Galvin and Sail did this morning.

Not without crossing a line that once crossed there’s no going back.

They’d seen each other naked and came as close to having sex as one humanly can without penetration.

“So stupid,” she muttered as she wiped the counter.

“What’s stupid?” Penny asked.

“Nothing,” she muttered in reply.

Penny snickered. Galvin assumed Penny figured out something transpired between her and Sail. She didn’t want Jack to know, let alone Penny. Sail and Dune had both reiterated nothing would ever happen to her job, but she still worried.

Galvin prepared for the lunch rush, thankful to have the morning off. Although, had she worked, she would’ve missed out the best orgasms of her life. Sail hadn’t been joking when he told her he wanted to make her feel good.

He had.

Repeatedly.

As cars began parking along the front of the building, Galvin picked up a stack of menus and greeted the first set of customers. They were men from the bank, who came in to “talk shop” a couple times a week. It didn’t take Galvin long to figure out “shop” meant balls (any sport with a ball), bars, and boobs. The last two normally went hand-in-hand with these guys. While they sat and pretended to look over a menu they had memorized, she greeted the next handful of customers before going back to the bankers.

“What can I get you gentlemen?”

“Your number to start off with,” the one in the corner said. When Galvin glanced his way, he winked. Much like Sail, only this was creepy.

She smiled kindly. “I’ll look to see if it’s on the menu. It might be a new item.” She hoped he’d take the joke as a hint and move on. Others had hinted about getting her number, but this was the first customer to outright ask for it.

Come to think of it, she wasn’t sure Sail had it or even asked for it. They’d always made plans when they saw each other, and he’d never been late and had shown up.

Being busy kept Galvin’s mind from the morning’s events. Even still, Sail’s face held a permanent and prominent spot in her mind. Every time she thought about him and the things he’d done to her body, she warmed with embarrassment. Galvin needed a Sail cleanse.

And possibly a reality check.

Everything she had done in the past twenty-four hours where Sail was concerned went against everything she’d vowed to not do. She was in Seaport to work, not hook-up with a local. Especially when the local was her boss’s son. Now, she felt incredibly irresponsible and needed to have a coming to reality moment.

By the time the mid-day rush died down, Galvin was ready to call it a day. She still had hours to go but was in desperate need of a nap. Even though she’d slept soundly in Sail’s arms. She hadn’t even noticed they had fallen asleep on her small couch, or that she’d rolled over to face him. Galvin didn’t even remember laying on him. But that is where she woke up, in his arms, and while she should regret it and tell him it’ll never happen again, she wasn’t sure those words were inside her.

Yet, they needed to be. Risking her job for a little bit of romance wasn’t a smart thing to do.

She finally had all the tables cleaned, restocked, and set for the dinner rush. So far, the day had been good to her tip wise. Her cash tips went into a bag in her room, probably not the smartest way to save, but she hadn’t opened a bank account in town. After taking a quick break, where she did, in fact, head up to her apartment and dump her tips, she came back down just in time to see Sail, Dune, and three others walk in.

Her heart raced at the sight of Sail, but then turned to an agonizing pounding when Dune made eye contact with her. The group didn’t wait for her to tell them to find a seat, they walked by her, on their way to the big booth in the back. She caught Sail’s wink, which caused her to blush.

Sail stopped next to her. She stepped back not knowing if he was going to try and kiss or touch her. Either wouldn’t be appropriate in the diner, especially while she was working. No, not even if she wasn’t. Too many people knew she worked there, and she didn’t want her laundry aired out for the public to see.

If Sail noticed, he said nothing. “Are you having a good day?”

Galvin nodded. “I am. You?”

He offered her a one-arm shrug. “Busy. Wilson hit a wave and I got soaked. All part of tours, I guess.”

“Did you sign up for that race thing?”

Sail’s grin spread from ear-to-ear. “I did. I’ll start training in the morning.”

“How does one train for an event like that?”

“Well, for one, you get out there and make sure your boat is functioning. That all your wenches are working and there are no holes in the sails. Then you tell your brothers to make you an obstacle course and time you.”

“Sounds complicated.”

“It’s going to be exhilarating,” he told her. “Especially knowing you’ll be there to cheer me on.”

Even though she didn’t want any acts of public displays of affection, her fingers itched to touch him. She clasped her hands and then looked at the table where his brother and their friends sat.

“I should probably offer them menus, but something tells they have it all memorized, and I’d be wasting my time.”

Sail gave her a crooked grin. “Come on,” he said with a tilt of his head. “I’ll introduce you to everyone.”

Galvin stepped forward and then paused. There was something in the way he said he’d introduce her to everyone. He made it sound less friendly and more romantically if that was even a thing. His demeanor hadn’t changed. Sail was the same flirty man he’d been since the first day they met. So, was it Galvin? Was she now interpreting things differently?

They met at the end of the counter. Sail walked ahead of her and sat at the end of the booth. Much like he had when he’d come in with his brothers. He reintroduced Dune, who gave her a soft smile.

“This is Ana,” Sail said. “She books the tours, greets customers, and literally anything else us knuckleheads can’t figure out.”

Ana shook Galvin’s hand. “It’s nice to meet you.”

“You, too.”

The introductions continued with Speed and Wilson, although a bit more colorful. Sail told her they were lifelong friends and had started working for Blue Lobster Adventures when they were in their teens. They were also part of the Seaport Water Rescue team if she ever needed saving.

“I’m happy with my sea legs planted firmly on the ground,” she reminded him. Although, the more time she spent with Sail, the more interested she was in going out on the boat. She could swim, but that wasn’t the issue. Jaws was. There were sharks in the water, and she didn’t want to become fish food.

In true local fashion, the table didn’t need menus and placed their order with her. She gathered their drinks and when she turned to carry the tray toward the table, Ana was behind her at the counter.

“What can I get you?”

“Oh, nothing,” Ana said. “I know you’re knew to town, but I’m wondering if you would like to hang out sometime?”

Galvin glanced from Ana to Sail, who was in a deep conversation with the guys at the table.

“If not, I get it.”

“No, it’s not that. I’m just wondering if Sail sent you over?”

Ana shook her head. “Just wanted to extend the offer. Sail mentioned you like the arts and I’m always looking for someone to go to the theater with.”

Galvin smiled. Having a friend, other than Sail or the people she worked with would be nice. “I’d like that.”

“Great. I’ll write my number down and give it to you. Text me whenever, but don’t call. I have to talk so much during work, texting is a relief.”

Galvin laughed. “Believe me, I get it.”

Ana went in the direction of the bathrooms while Galvin took the tray of sodas to the table. Each guy thanked her, but it was Sail who coyly touched her hand as she set his drink down. When her eyes met his, he winked. Galvin was starting to appreciate the wink.

At least when he did it.

From anyone else, it just seemed creepy.

An hour later, with the group of them still there, she passed the table to Rihanna and clocked out. Galvin went through the same motions she did the day prior with washing up, ditching her apron, and starting a load of laundry.

When she exited through the backdoor, Sail sat at the picnic table. The smile he’d given her earlier was nothing compared to the beaming grin he had for her now.

He stood as she approached. “I’d give anything to kiss you right now.”

She shook her head slightly. “Not here.”

“I would never,” he told her as he put his hands in his pocket. “I was hoping we could talk about earlier.”

“Oh?”

“Nothing bad,” he said to reassure her. “I want to see if we’re on the same page.”

Galvin nodded and headed toward the stairs. Sail followed. Once they were inside her apartment, she expected him to kiss her and to maybe pin her against the wall. Ravage her. Anything to continue what they started this morning.

But he didn’t.

And her heart dropped a bit even though her thoughts about him confused her.

“Do you want to sit?”

Sail took her hand and led her to the couch. A flood of memories rushed toward her, and she ducked her head to hide her smile.

“It’s okay,” he said as he lifted her chin to look at him. “I’ve done nothing but think about this morning, which doesn’t bode well for me because . . .” his eyes went to his pants. She tried not to look but failed.

Sail rubbed his hand over his face. “Anyway, I like you, Galvin. A lot. I think you know this, but I wanted to make sure I said the words. I also know you’ve been hesitant to get close because of who I am.” He swallowed hard. “Your feelings are valid, and I want you to know I understand. But . . .” he looked at her and smiled. “What do I have to do to get out of the friend zone because I’m not really interested in the whole friends with benefits thing.”

Galvin absorbed everything he said and couldn’t help but smile. Still, she had her reservations.

“Don’t all guys like friends with benefits?”

He met her gaze and shook his head. “That’s never been my thing, and I don’t want it to be our thing. I have feelings for you and this morning just intensified those feelings.”

Galvin pulled her legs up under her and angled her body toward Sail. “I shouldn’t like you, but I do. When I moved here, I told myself I would keep my head down, make money, and start law school. And then you walked in. Long before I knew you were Jack’s son; I thought you were trouble for me.”

Sail linked his hand with hers. “Any trouble will be good trouble.” He winked.

She shook her head. “I can’t afford any trouble, Sail. Law school is my dream. It has been for as long as I can remember. I need this job and it’s a real fear that something will happen between us, and I’ll lose it.”

He brought her hand to his lips and held them there for a moment before setting their hands in his lap. “Do you want me to leave?”

Galvin shook her head. “I want you to stay.”

“I can do that.”

“And be more than a friend.”

Sail grinned. “Now, I know that’s something I can definitely do.”