Nantucket by Nan Rossiter Read Free Book Online

his long brown fingers holding the smooth white wheel and controlling the throttle at its center with his thumb. She found his hands mesmerizing and couldn’t help but wonder how they’d feel touching her. Liam glanced over and smiled, and she blushed.
    He engaged the clutch and pushed the throttle up, and as the runabout picked up speed, slicing through the surf, Cadie’s hat soared into the air and landed in the foamy wake behind them. She put her hand on Liam’s arm and pointed, and as soon as he saw it bobbing up and down, he swung around to retrieve it. As he slowed down and leaned over to pluck it from the water, his white shirt billowed up, exposing the smooth brown skin of his lower back and the light tan line along the top of his swim trunks. Cadie looked away, surprised at how quickly her mind slipped below that tan line.
    By the time the island came into view, the mist was burning off and snowy clouds were floating in the endless blue sky. As they passed the first house, Liam slowed down and the children playing in the yard waved. Liam and Cadie waved back. “I didn’t know people lived here,” Cadie said in surprise. “I thought there was no electricity. . . .”
    â€œThere isn’t,” Liam said, “but just because you can’t blow-dry your hair doesn’t mean you can’t survive.”
    â€œThat’s debatable,” Cadie said with a laugh. “Do they live here year-round?”
    â€œSome do.”
    They circled the island and Liam pulled up to a small white skiff tied to a buoy anchored several yards offshore. He dropped the boat fenders over the side, cut the engine, and tied the Chris-Craft to the buoy too.
    â€œWhose rowboat is this?” Cadie asked uncertainly.
    â€œOurs,” Liam replied as he transferred the cooler, towels, and beach blanket to the smaller boat. “There’s nowhere to dock, so we have to row to shore.”
    Cadie stood up and Liam held both boats steady so she could climb from one to the other. Once she was settled, he stepped across too. Then he untied the skiff, pushed off, and sat on the middle seat, facing her. “Want to row?” he teased, holding out the oars.
    Without missing a beat, she said, “Sure!”
    Liam laughed. “I was only kidding.”
    â€œI wasn’t.”
    Liam shook his head, smiling as he started to slip an oar into its lock, and Cadie raised her eyebrows. “Do you think I don’t know how?”
    â€œI didn’t say th—”
    â€œSwitch with me,” she demanded, and he suddenly realized she meant business.
    They switched seats and Cadie slipped the oars into their locks, plunged one oar straight into the water, and held it against the current. The boat spun around; then she dipped both oars in and pulled back hard. Liam shook his head in surprise as the worn, wooden oars clunked and creaked in their locks, and the waves, lapping against the sides, pushed the boat inland. “This is the easy part, you know. . . .”
    â€œWhat do you mean?” Cadie asked, eyeing him.
    â€œWe have the tide with us, but coming back, we’ll be fighting it.”
    â€œI’m sure I can handle it,” Cadie assured him.
    â€œIf you say so,” he said, lying back casually on the wooden bench seat and putting his hands behind his head.
    Cadie looked at his long body stretched out in front of her and sighed.
    â€œWhat’s the matter?” he asked, opening his eyes. “Are you tired?”
    â€œNo, it’s . . . it’s just so beautiful out here,” she said.
    â€œIt is indeed,” Liam agreed, closing his eyes again. “Someday, I’m going to live out here.”
    â€œWithout electricity?!”
    â€œIt’s not completely without electricity—most houses have generators.”
    â€œAnd how much energy does a generator . . . generate?”
    â€œIt depends on the size, but mine will be big enough