Free Secrets Among the Cedars (Intertwined Book 2) by Sherri Wilson Johnson

My boat can float in ten inches of water."
    "That's a relief. I'd hate to leave Sadie for too long." Of course, Kathryn could think of worse things than being stranded on a boat with Phil. Who cares if he was Maria's ex and Louie Ezzo's nephew? This was the closest thing she'd had to a date in years, and since she was on a forced vacation from her duties, she might as well enjoy it.
    "Do you want to go water skiing?" Phil stepped off the last step and sidled up next to her, motioning with his head to a pair of water skis leaning against the storage area.
    "Ha ha, funny! I don't think so."
    "Okay, if you're not feeling adventurous. Maybe we can do a little fishing though."
    "Sure. As long as you don't bring in another giant shark."
    "Giant? That was a baby."
    "Well, keep the sharks out of the boat."
    "Yes, ma'am. If you insist."
    She nudged him with her elbow. "I do."
    Phil led the way through his backyard to a dock on a canal and stepped on to a white Carolina Skiff. He placed the cooler on the floor of the boat and then reached for Kathryn's hand. "Watch your step, miss." He winked before he slid his sunglasses onto his face.
    Kathryn sat on the bench behind the steering wheel and adjusted the strap on her dress. Her insides felt like spaghetti.
    Phil adjusted several knobs on the console then untied the rope that secured the boat to the dock. "You look very nice, by the way."
    "Thanks. You do too. I like your face." Kathryn gulped and erased her words with her hands. "I mean, the lack of beard and glasses. I mean, I liked the beard and the glasses, but your bare face is nice too." Shut up, Kathryn!
    "Grazie. I like your face too."
    Oh, he was speaking Italian to her now? The stakes just got higher.
    "It was getting too hot for a beard. And the glasses…well, they're just for looks. I can see fine without them."
    "Just for looks, huh? So you're a trend follower?"
    "Sometimes. Only when it makes me look better though."
    She giggled. Nothing could make Phil look bad. Beard. No beard. Glasses. No glasses. Mud on his face. Food on his clothes. He'd look great no matter what. She'd already seen him covered in fish bait and shark blood and even they didn't detract from his charm. Kathryn fanned her face. The heat was getting to her.
    Phil put the boat in reverse and then directed it toward the open water. He waved at some of his neighbors, who sat on their docks. "I thought we'd go over to Atsena Otie Key for our picnic, if that's okay with you. It's got a gorgeous beach."
    "I saw some pictures of it in a scrapbook at my condo. It’s beautiful, but I read that there are a lot of snakes on the key." Kathryn shuddered.
    “Yes, there are a lot of rattlers and copperheads, but I know how to watch out for them. Stick close to me, and you’ll be fine.” Phil straightened his back and puffed out his chest, playing the role of the guardian.
    He wanted to protect her? She’d gladly let him. “Don’t worry. I will.” Kathryn shook her head and grimaced at her boldness then she pointed. "There's my dock right there." She had to turn the course of this conversation away from too much closeness with Phil. Without the umbrella of business over their heads and without the security of the accountability she had back home, this time together could catch her off-guard and take a turn in a taboo direction before she knew what had happened.
    "You're right there? I know the owner. You're not far from me. I could've picked you up in the boat." Phil maneuvered the skiff around a bend, watching on both sides to steer around the shallow spots. "You can stand up here with me, if you'd like. You'll have a better view, and we won't have to yell over the wind once I open her up."
    Kathryn eased herself up from the bench, finding her sea legs, and inched her way to Phil, who laughed. "Don't make fun of me."
    "Sorry. I've done enough of that already, right?"
    "Right." Kathryn let her shoulders relax, although she held on to the bar around the console.