A large bass could feed several people, and since they didn’t want to waste food, they had put one in the fridge for later, and released one.
The entire group crowded around the table, the mood far more jovial than it had been during last night’s dinner, and Josh wanted to take at least partial credit for Danae’s carefree demeanor. She hadn’t mentioned the schedule or their project since before the lighthouse trip.
“Um, don’t everyone look at me,” she said a minute or so later, after everyone had taken a bite and declared the fish to be delicious. “It makes me paranoid to eat while people watch.”
“Seriously, just try it already,” Franco said. “I’m extra picky about seafood, and it’s better than anything I’ve ordered at a five-star restaurant.”
Josh nodded at the guy. “Thank you, Franco. I don’t have a lot of specialty dishes, but fish happens to be one of them.”
“Try it, try it, try it,” the group began chanting, until Danae’s skin reddened and she ducked her head.
Finally, she scooped up a bite and shoved it in her mouth. Her hand lifted to shield her face as she chewed. The fork clattered against her plate as she let it go, and Josh’s stomach dropped.
She hated it.
Which again, was fine.
“Oh my gosh, if that’s what I’ve been missing for years, I’m all regret.” A close-lipped smile spread across her face. “It’s so good.”
Everyone cheered, as if they also had a stake in the dare he’d given Danae, and a floaty frenetic sensation buzzed through his body. It had been a long time since he’d experienced anything akin to camaraderie.
Danae dug into her food again, leaving Josh in danger of bursting with pride. She might’ve been able to fake a positive reaction to one bite, but she cleared her plate along with everyone else.
As people jumped up and pitched in to fill the dishwasher, Josh excused himself. With their fishing lesson over and dinner coming to a close, it was time to sail the ship back to the island so they could dock for the night. He’d heard Paige mention wanting to get a hotel so she didn’t have to spend another night on the ship, but during dinner, the sour mood she’d been in earlier seemed to have dissipated.
Light footsteps alerted him that someone was coming, and his pulse skittered, hoping it was Danae, while telling himself it would be greedy to want more time with her.
Then the very woman he couldn’t get off his mind came around the corner. Josh went to turn the wheel and completely missed, forgetting that this ship had a smooth metal steering wheel instead of wooden spokes that were easier to grip. Then again, since he’d also leaned forward to get a better look at Danae, he still would’ve ended up with a knob to the ribcage if they’d been on Solitude.
Danae Danvers turned his insides into a mushy mess, and he found he kind of liked it.
“Hey,” she said. The tip of her nose and cheeks were rosy and wind-whipped, and she still wore his jacket. “I just wanted to say thank you.”
“For proving you wrong? Most people don’t thank me for that, but I’ll take it anyway.”
She laughed, and he took that as a sign she finally understood his humor. “I meant more for…” She tucked her hair behind her ear, suddenly shy. “The whole day. The lighthouse and the hike on Cuttyhunk afterward. For making sure that Vanessa got pictures of that mansion, and for helping everyone with fishing.”
“Everyone?” he repeated, unsure why.
Her eyes lifted to his and the air between them crackled, charged with a day that had felt like one amazing, multi-location date. With extra people, sure. But those amazing moments when they had ended up alone—mostly because he’d finagled his way next to her, unable to get enough—had felt like the best date ever.
“Well, as the ambassador of the group, so to speak, I don’t want to leave anyone out.” She took a few more steps until the toes of her shoes nearly met his. “But of course I’m extra grateful for my fishing lesson. And for the ability to talk about my dad. It helped me concentrate on the good memories. I’ve been guilty of focusing on the aftermath and forgetting the allure of the sea, and why he spent so much time and money there.”
“Happy to help.” This time he took a step. He reached up and snagged the runaway strand of hair that kept sticking