Free Playing with Fire by Amy Knupp

shower?”
    He didn’t want to think about the last time he’d gotten his butt in the shower with her here. “Yes.”
    “A dolphin cruise.”
    He stared, waiting for her to laugh and say she was joking. She crossed her arms and stared right back at him.
    “Shower.”
    “You’re kidding about the dolphin cruise, right?”
    “Not in the least.”
    “Macey. I have a bar to run.”
    “Actually, I’ve kind of been running it for you, and I’ve scheduled people to cover until noon. They won’t let you in before that. Consider it an employee revolt.”
    “What makes you think—”
    “We made a deal, Derek. You can bark at me all you want later, but you’re not going to work until noon. You can either stay in your lonely condo and brood or you can come with me and shut me up.”
    “That’ll be the day.” He stood but made no move toward his bedroom. Macey took his arm and tried pulling him in that direction. When she figured out she couldn’t budge him, her shoulders drooped.
    “Will you do this for me, please?” she asked softly.
    “Do what for you?”
    “I want to see the dolphins. I haven’t had the chance to do anything fun or touristy since I’ve been here, and I just want to do this.”
    “Why do you need me?” he asked suspiciously.
    “Because I can’t watch dolphins all alone.”
    He stared at her, sure she was playing him, but the look on her face was earnest and a little bit sad.
    “Please?” she repeated.
    He knew he’d been a terrible friend since she’d set foot on the island. He could do this one thing. Even if she was feeding him a line of crap. “You’re sure they’ve got the bar covered?”
    “Andie’s there, Ramon’s there and so is Kevin the Great,” she said, referring to the newest hire, the veteran bar manager from up North. He was one of three more new hires Macey had made in the past week. “They’ll be fine and we’ll get there in time for the big lunch crowd.” She pegged him with those green eyes. “Trust me, Derek.”
    He gritted his teeth and headed for the shower, muttering the whole way that he was a sucker and he knew it.

    “L OOK AT ALL OF THEM !” Macey said in awe.
    She and Derek stood on the top level of the double-decker boat, leaning along the front railing. They were crowded into the corner, near all the other passengers straining to get a glimpse of the dolphins, but they had an excellent view so she wasn’t complaining.
    There must have been a dozen dolphins out there, just a few feet away. She’d seen them on TV and at zoos, but never in the wild. It was incredible to watch them so close, playing tag with the boat. Macey stole a glance at Derek and saw he was actually smiling. Such a small thing, that smile, but a huge step.
    He looked down at her. “They’re amazing, aren’t they?”
    Macey nodded and turned her attention back to the pod. The captain had stopped the engine and the boat was drifting in the bay, close to where it and the gulf joined. Other boats sped by, trailing monstrous wakes. A particularly large wave reached and rocked them, sending Macey crashing into Derek’s side.
    “I told you to lay off the liquor,” he said as he put his arm around her to steady them both against the high railing.
    Macey gasped. “Was that a funny? I didn’t know you still had it in you.”
    “I take it back. Don’t know what came over me.” But he was smiling. And his arm remained at her waist, which made the moment all the more magical. Even if it was one-sided magic.
    “You think we should call Andie?” Derek asked after the dolphins had swum away and he and Macey had taken their seats again. “What for?”
    He shrugged. “To make sure everything’s okay.”
    “Everything’s fine. And if it isn’t, what are you going to do? You’re on a boat in the middle of the bay.”
    Derek bounced his knees up and down restlessly. “I’m not used to not being there.”
    Macey squeezed his forearm gently. “Don’t take this the wrong