“Nice reels.” he said
“I found this box of tackle, too. They look handmade.” She handed him the metal box, then shielded her eyes and looked up. “This is good timing. Dusk is setting in.” Even though it was late in the day, they may still have a chance of catching something. “They’ll work, yeah?”
“They’ll work.” He examined the rod she handed to him. “So will this. Want me to check—?”
“I’ve got it.” She didn’t snap, just made the simple declaration. She chose her own tackle from the box and tied it on. A few minutes later she was casting off and taking a seat in the chair beside him.
“You’ve definitely done this before.” He repeated her actions, got a bit more distance than she had and set the pole down in the receptacle on the arm of his chair. “I was thinking about grabbing a beer. You want one?”
“No, thanks. But I’ll take some wine.” She replied.
“Good idea. I’ll join you.”
Forced politeness, Bonnie thought as he disappeared below deck, had its advantages.
He’d set new ground rules for his boat. Nothing romantic. Nothing emotional. Until she got her life straightened out, it was all business between them. Bonnie wished she had that wine now. She was not looking forward to having to deal with the real-life stuff that awaited her. It meant needed to have a plan of action where her future was concerned.
Her days of running from her problems were over. Her inheritance and family's money would give her a cushion, but she needed… No, that was wrong. She wanted a purpose.
“Here you go.” David traversed the rocking of the boat with a practiced step. “Depending on what we catch, we should have plenty of food left to supplement.”
“Works for me.” She accepted her wine-glass and leaned back her head, keeping one eye on her line and the other on the water.
The silence between them was deafening and Bonnie hated it so much that she almost blamed herself for bringing up the topic of being in a relationship. She focused on her line while sipping her wine and was relieved when the line snapped tight. The reel began whizzing as whatever had caught at the end was making a break for it.
“Grab it!” David ordered.
“Got it.” Bonnie pulled the rod out of its holder, bracing it against her thigh. She pulled back, tightened her hold with one hand and started cranking the reel with her other. “Holy mackerel, this thing is heavy.” Her arms strained as she struggled.
“You’ve got it!” David got to his feet, moved behind her, but he didn’t touch her; didn’t even try to help her. “Just keep it steady, nice and even. There you go.”
Bonnie laughed in the moment and then nearly lost her grip. When the flapping fish slammed against the hull of the boat, she yanked up hard. The fish dropped onto the deck, flipping and flopping, its silvery scales glistening in the dimming sun. She blinked, set down her rod and walked around to examine it. “What is it?”
“It’s a fish.” He replied.
She rolled her eyes. “Dinner?” She laughed.
“It’s a sablefish,” he told her. “Black cod.”
“Oh, a butterfish. Excellent.”
“So you’ve cooked one before?” He bent down and removed the hook from the fish’s mouth and set her future meal into a bucket.
“Nope. I’ve eaten one, though.” She grinned.
“Your turn.” She pointed to his line as it whizzed free. “Need some help?”
“No, thank you.” David retrieved his rod and a few minutes later had another fish landing on the deck. “Halibut. Excellent.”
“Tonight, we shall feast.” This time it was Bonnie who made quick work of the hook while David gathered up their equipment. Contentment slid through her. They really did make a good team and the quiet fishing time gave her some time to clear her head a bit.
“Hang on!” David held up a finger, then disappeared downstairs, only to return a few minutes later with a tape measure.
“Really?” She folded her arms across her chest and waited as he studied each one. “Well?”
“Doesn’t matter.”
She beamed. “Ha! Sure it does. ’Cause mine’s bigger. For the record and between friends.” She moved him aside and grabbed the handle of the bucket. “That wasn’t a question I needed an answer to.”
He smiled back and chuckled. “Noted for future reference.”
—------------
The sound of muted conversation and unfamiliar voices drew Bonnie out of her sleep. She blinked awake, a bit startled to find sunlight streaming into her cabin at a higher point than she was used to. She sat up, pushing her hair out of her face, and took a moment to get her bearings.
Her and David’s dinner conversation had stretched far into the night; long enough to welcome the moon and bid farewell to the ocean bounty they’d caught earlier in the day, and she was a bit glad that at least they could look past their issues even for a little while. She’d finally fallen into bed sometime after one, happy, well-fed and utterly and completely content.
A contentment that was none too thrilled with David’s loud speakerphone conversation at… Bonnie glanced at her watch. Oh
.
She bit her lip. It was after ten. Oops. She’d slept through breakfast.
When she popped open her door, she expected to find David in the galley, but the entire interior was empty. Whomever he was talking to was up on deck. Taking quick advantage of her solitude, Bonnie jumped into the shower, got dressed and headed toward the voices. A smile curved her lips as she passed the table and found a thermos of coffee waiting for her, along with a bagel and cream cheese wrapped in plastic. She grabbed them both and a banana and climbed the ladder… only to stop short when she found David buried in the engine compartment, being observed by a woman in a loose-fitting T-shirt, jeans and a black baseball cap with BHFD embroidered on it. She had a long red ponytail sticking out from the back of that cap and she turned amused, friendly and familiar sparkling green eyes in Bonnie’s direction.
“Hi,” the lady said. “I’m Mavis”
“Oh, hello, Mavis, I’m Bonnie,” Bonnie replied. After setting down her breakfast, she offered her hand in greeting. “David told me Bryan was coming to fix the engine…I didn’t realize someone would be making the trip out with him. Welcome”