He nodded. And for the first time since they met, he smiled. To Charlie, it was as if the morning mist had suddenly parted and the sunshine shone down. He was even more attractive, if that was possible.
Men who looked like Ronan Smith usually learned to wield their charm early on. By the time they reached their teens, they knew the effect they had on the opposite sex and used it to their advantage. But Ronan seemed reluctant to use his God-given advantages.
He set to work on the skiff, a shower of paint chips flying off with each stroke. Charlie watched him for a moment, her gaze falling on the finely cut muscles in his arms. A shiver skittered down her spine and she turned and hurried back upstairs to clean up the tasting room. A bit of privacy gave her a chance to take a deep breath and focus her runaway thoughtson Ronan Smith. It was an odd name, Ronan.
She grabbed the bottle and guzzled the remainder of the champagne, then opened another split. Hed mentioned he was from Seattle. She really ought to ask for references. Or a resume. For all she knew, he could be a criminal or a con artistor a competitor, out to get an inside look at their operation.
Sliding onto one of the stools, she opened up another oyster and slurped it down. Ronan was a complete enigma. But then, when it came to men, she really didnt know what she was doing. Shed only had one romantic relationship in her life and that had lasted six years.
She and Danny had started dating when they were juniors in high school, playing opposite each other in the school musical. When they graduated, they were both determined to chase their dreams on Broadway.
But New York was a rude awakening. Danny was easily discouraged and took a full time job selling cell phones. After some minor parts in a criminal drama, a series of commercials for generic laundry detergent, and an appearance in an off-off-Broadway play, Charlie was beginning to break through.
But as she got more work, Danny became more and more distantand jealous. Their relationship began to fracture and Charlie realized that New York wasnt where she wanted to be. So, she moved out and came home to Sibleyville, older and a little wiser.
She glanced up at the chefs mirror above the granite counter. A groan slipped from her throat. Her chestnut hair looked liked a tangle of seaweed. Charlie grabbed a clean oyster brush from the drawer next to the fridge and ran it though the shoulder-length strands, then pinched her cheeks to give herself some color.
She rarely wore make-up when she was working and usually didnt care to dress in anything that showed off her figure. Yet she couldnt help but regret that it wasnt the New York City actress Charlotte Sibley that opened the door to Ronan Smith rather than the oyster farmer Charlie Sibley.
She looked at herself in the mirror once more. Though she could pretend to be a myriad of interesting and exotic characters, Charlie knew that the woman she was would have to be enough.
Shaking her head, she walked to the door, but found herself off balance from the champagne shed guzzled. If she was going to hire Ronan, than shed have to keep her feelings to herself and her wits about her. A man like Ronan probably had women drooling over him everyday. And Charlie had never aspired to be one of the crowd.
RONAN SMOOTHED HIS hand over the hull of the twenty-foot skiff. The boat was old, maybe sixty or seventy years old from the clues hed found in the construction. Nowadays, most commercial outfits chose fiberglass boats for their easy upkeep and long life.
Hows it going?
He glanced up to see Charlie watching him. Jaysus, she was pretty. Her wavy dark hair framed a beautiful face, each of her features a perfect complement to the others. She had the kind of beauty that made him want to sit her down in front of him so he might study her in greater detail, like a fine painting or a famous sculpture.
Good. This is a beautiful boat, he said. I love the lines.
Its old, she said.
They dont make them like this anymore. I think the best boats are made of wood.
My dad would totally agree with you. Charlie came closer to examine his work. Youre very thorough, she murmured.
The compliment pleased him, more so because it came from her. This scraper is kind of dull. If youve got a way for me to sharpen it, Id get more done. And you might want to use a better grade of marine paint next time, he said. If you apply it properly and maintain it, you shouldnt have to repaint as often. He stopped himself. Now he was sounding like the boss.
You know something about boats? she asked, raising an eyebrow.
Yeah, Ronan said. Just a little.
You said you were from Seattle. What are you doing in Maine?
Just traveling, Ronan said. Seeing America.
Well, if youre willing to work hard, Ill pay you a fair wage, she said. We have the office and shop here in town. And our nursery and hatchery is out at Kepley Pond. Then we grow out the oysters at Mistry Bay.
Kepley Pond. Mistry Bay. That sounded like a lot of water. Since hed been eight years old, Ronan made a point to stay off the water, at least the ocean. But he wanted this job and hed need to put his fears aside. Maybe it was time to face the past. Besides, no one ever got lost at pond or at bay like they got lost at sea.
Youve done good work on the boat, she said. The job is yours, if youd like it.
There is one thing, he said. I need to find somewhere to stay. I was hoping you might be able to help me.
Weve got a small apartment upstairs next to the office. I could rent that to you, she said. As long as youre quiet and tidy, I dont see any problems.
Great, he said. Ronan knew he ought to tell her his real name. She didnt seem like the type to discriminate, although he still hadnt figured out what the problem was with the rest of the town. I tried to find a place in town, but no one wanted to rent to me.
Why not?
He shrugged. I dont know. As soon as I told them my name, they suddenly didnt have a room to rent.
Ronan? she asked. Or Smith?
Quinn, he said. My name is Ronan Quinn, not Smith. He paused and watched as surprise came over her pretty features. See. Thats the look right there. So it is the name.
She laughed softly and then a sudden hiccup stopped her. Pressing her fingers to her lips, she sent him an apologetic smile. Yeah. People around here have a pretty big grudge against anyone named Quinn.
How could they have a grudge against me? They dont even know me.
Charlotte shrugged. Well, I dont really believe in all the silliness. Spells and curses and witches. Im willing to give you a job, Ronan Quinn. And a place to stay, if you want.
What did this Quinn do to make everyone mad?
Its a complicated story, Charlie said, waving him off.
Dont you think I ought to hear it, so I know what Im up against?
She shook her head. If I tell you the story, youll think were all so crazy that youll want to leave town. And I need an oysterman. She pointed to his duffel. Grab your bag and Ill show you the apartment.
Ronan breathed a silent sigh of relief. I didnt mean to lie about my name. I was just trying to figure things out.
No matter, she said, walking him back upstairs.
Ronan breathed a silent sigh of relief. I didnt mean to lie about my name. I was just trying to figure things out.
No matter, she said, walking him back upstairs.
When they got to the second floor, a doorway opened into a lobby for a spacious office opposite the tasting room. Things usually get busy in here in the afternoon when were preparing packing lists and labels for our shipments but all that starts next week.
She showed him a comfortable one-bedroom apartment with a galley kitchen and a comfortable bed. A bay window overlooked the water and he could hear the metallic clank of the boat riggings through the glass. This is nice, he said.
If you need an advance to buy groceries, I can help you out there.
I could use that, he said. And I can finish the skiff today. Ill work on it all night if I have to.
Great, she murmured. Charlie stood in front of him, her gaze flitting nervously around the room. Though Ronan had tried to hide his attraction to his new boss, he hadnt really considered that she might be attracted to him. As she shifted nervously, her fingers twisted together, he decided to test a theory.
He leaned a bit closer, just a few inches, waiting for her response. Would she lean in as well, and close her eyes, expecting a kiss?
Bathroom, she said, turning away.
He followed her into the tiny bathroom. It looked like the room had once been a small closet and they had to struggle to move around. When they finally maneuvered themselves into a comfortable position, they were so close Ronan could feel the heat from her body.
Youyou have to jiggle the handle on the toilet to get it to stop running. And thethe tub drains real slow, she said, glancing over her shoulder. So its probably best to use the shower stall instead. Unless youre a bath guy. She paused. Most guys arent.
He leaned a bit closer and when she turned back to him, she sucked in a sharp breath, startled by the move. Charlie retreated a step, but didnt realize how close she was to the edge of the tub. She began to lose her balance, flailing her arms.
Ronan had to think quick and decided to save her the pain and humiliation of falling into the bathtub. He slipped his arm around her waist and pulled her against his body. But this didnt have the intended effect at all. She shifted to evade slamming up against his chest and ran face first into the edge of the door.
Ow! she cried, covering her eye with her palm.
Are you all right? Ronan asked.
Charlie pulled her hand away and shook her head. I think Im bleeding. She struggled to get to the medicine chest above the sink and Ronan wrapped his hands around her waist.
Out. Ill get them. Ronan found a box of band-aids and then grabbed a washcloth from the towel rack and soaked it with cold water. He found Charlie leaning against the kitchen counter, her fingers doing little to staunch the flow of blood.
Let me look, Ronan said.
Wincing, she pulled her hand away. Its bleeding a lot. Does it look like it needs stitches?
Ronan dabbed at the small cut. No. Its tiny. Theres a lot of blood. Here, hold this.
She pressed the cold cloth to her head as he fumbled to open the bandage. Sorry, she murmured.
What are you apologizing for? Its not your fault. Ronan wanted to reach out and touch her cheek, to see if it was as soft as it looked. His gaze drifted down to her mouth. If they were going to spend time together, it was going to be hard to resist kissing her.
Though Ronan didnt work hard at romance, he had enjoyed the regular company of a number of beautiful women. But he usually liked to spend his free time in solitary pursuits, which left little for long-term, serious relationships. Still, he was curious about this particular woman. What was it about Charlie Sibley that he found so intriguing?
Hello! Anyone home?
She forced a smile. That would be the real Joel Bellingham, Charlie murmured.
Ronan drew her wash cloth away and then neatly covered the cut with a small band-aid. There. All better.
Thanks, she said.
No problem.
She stared at him for a long moment and Ronans gaze fell to her lips, so lush and slightly parted. He wanted to lean forward and take just a quick taste, but she seemed to sense what was on his mind and quickly stepped back.
He watched as she hurried out of the apartment, her footsteps fading on the stairs. Theyd have plenty of time to figure this all out, Ronan mused. A lot could happen in six weeks.