a zeal for life. There was never a dull moment around her.
At that moment, the shop’s door chimed and Swan knew without looking in that direction that David had walked in. She also knew when he saw her with a customer that he would wait until she finished before approaching her.
Rosie leaned in. “Looks like you have a customer. Let’s hope he buys something since he came in a minute before closing.”
Swan inwardly smiled. “We can only hope, right?”
“But then he’s such a cutie. Look at him.”
Swan didn’t have to look at David to know what a cutie he was, but she did so anyway. He was browsing around the store wearing a pair of shorts and a sleeveless T-shirt with flip-flops on his feet. He looked laid-back and sexy as sin. “You’re right, he is a cutie.”
“I love those tattoos on his upper arms. Nice.”
“Yes, they are.” She knew Rosie was into tattoos and was one of Rafe’s frequent customers. The woman had them everywhere, visible and non-visible.
“You need to go wait on him. See what he wants. If he’s not sure, offer him a few things.”
Swan smiled. Little did Rosie know, but she intended to offer David a lot. “I will. Come on, I’ll walk you to the door. I’m officially closed now,” Swan said, coming from around the counter.
“You honestly want me to leave you here with him?” Rosie whispered. “For all you know he’s not safe.”
Swan chuckled and decided it was time for her to come clean. “He’s safe, Rosie. That’s David and he’s here to walk me home. I’ll introduce you on your way out the door.”
“You mean that gorgeous hunk is your guy?”
Swan glanced over at David again. He was definitely a gorgeous hunk but she couldn’t claim him as her guy. “Yes, he’s the guy I’ve been seeing a lot of lately.”
“Smart girl.”
David glanced up when they approached and gave her a huge smile. “Hi,” he greeted.
“Hi, David. I’d like you to meet Rosie McCall. A friend who has been away for the past few months and just returned back to the island. Rosie, this is David Holloway.”
David extended his hand. “Nice meeting you, Rosie.”
“Same here, David. I like your tattoos.”
“Thanks and I like yours,” he responded.
“Thanks. Well, I’ll be going. I hope you guys enjoy yourselves.”
“We will,” Swan said, smiling up at David. “I’ll be back after seeing Rosie out,” she told him.
He nodded. “Nice meeting you, Rosie.”
“Same here.”
Swan returned to David a few moments later, after putting up the Closed sign, locking the door and pulling down the shades. She turned and studied him as he stood across the room, looking so amazingly sexy. She felt a lump in her throat. She loved everything about him, especially the muscles beneath his shirt, the masculine thighs and his tanned skin.
“Got more sun today, I see.”
“Yes, I had to go out on the boat today.”
“One day you’re going to have to explain to me in detail just what your ocean duties entail.”
“I will. But for now, come here. I missed you today.”
She crossed the room to walk into his arms. “I missed you, too.”
“That’s good to know. Rosie seems like a nice person.”
“She is.”
“She has a lot of tattoos.”
Swan chuckled. “Yes, she does. She’s one of Rafe’s best customers.”
“Is that right?” David asked, still smiling. “He did an awesome job.”
She checked her watch. “We can leave as soon as I grab my purse.” They would be having dinner at Nathan Waterway and afterward would attend an art show. “I’ll be back in a second.”
* * *
Flipper watched Swan walk off toward her office while thinking of what she’d told him about Rosie McCall. He recalled what he’d overheard Rafe and Horacio arguing about that night behind this building. Ink and roses. Or had they said Rosie? Was she a part of the group? If she was, that meant she had an ulterior motive for befriending Swan.
Pulling his phone from his pocket he texted Nick. Check out Rosie McCall.
He received an immediate reply. Will do.
He then texted Bane. Excursion tonight.
The reply was quick. On it.
Most of today he and Viper had pretended to go fishing after Mac, who’d been tailing Rafe for the past two days, reported that Rafe had rented a boat and headed in the direction of another island close by. Today Flipper and Viper had also rented a boat, making sure they stayed a good distance behind Duggers.
The man had docked in Fleming Key. Bane and Cooper, who’d arrived ahead of them, picked up the tail on Rafe. It seemed the man had gone into a sports shop where he’d stayed for three hours.
Pretending to be two guys enjoying their time out on their boat, Flipper and Viper had waited at the pier and knew when Rafe had left the island to return to Key West. Mac had been there to pick up the tail and reported that the man had been carrying a package when he went inside his tattoo shop. A package Rafe had gotten from the sports shop, according to Bane and Coop.
“I’m ready.”
He looked up and when Swan met his gaze, she quickly clarified, “I’m ready for dinner.”
He placed his phone back into his pocket and smiled. “That’s all?”
The smile she returned made his insides quiver in anticipation. “For now, Mr. Holloway.”
It was getting harder and harder to leave Swan’s bed, Flipper thought as he and his teammates docked at Fleming Key close to two in the morning. But at least he’d left her sleeping with the most peaceful smile on her face.
Without waking her, he had brushed a kiss across her lips and whispered that he loved her, knowing she would remember neither. But he decided to tell her how he felt when he saw her later today. He couldn’t hold it inside any longer. She deserved to know. He wanted her to know. And when all this was over and she knew the truth, he would do whatever he needed to do to win her forgiveness and her love.
He
