The pond was separated from the ocean, and the swimming was easy. No seaweed and no waves. If she’d been smart, she would’ve spent that morning paddleboarding here.

“I’m fine, you know.” She got out of the Jeep, clinging to her phone as if her life depended on it.

He reached over and pried it from her hands. “You can leave that here.”

She watched him as he opened the door of his vehicle and put the phone in the glove box.

“I thought about it, and we can go to the marina and go back out today,” she said. “I really am fine.”

He stood in front of her, loving that she was only a few inches shorter than he was. He liked that she was independent—and that it annoyed her to have this weakness.

“You know I’m an officer in the US Coast Guard, right?”

She shot him a look dripping with irritation.

“So you know I am trained and certified to save you should you get pulled under by a giant, man-eating fish.”

“You think you’re really funny, don’t you?”

He let himself smile for a fleeting moment, then turned toward the water. “I want you to feel safe, is all.”

She was at his side. Their arms brushed against each other as they walked. He didn’t move away. Neither did she.

“I do feel safe,” she said. “I’m with a three-time state-champion swimmer.” She pushed her shoulder into his.

“Oh, I’ve got way more impressive credentials than that.”

She stopped, eyes wide. “You do?”

He’d forgotten this about her. She was easy to get close to. You wanted to tell Louisa things—wanted her to know everything about you so she would tell you everything about her. And she always did. A true open book.

He noticed she was still standing in the spot where she’d stopped. He turned toward her and squinted into the sun. “You coming or what?”

“Spill it.”

He groaned and started back toward the water.

“I’m not going in till you tell me,” she called out.

“Forget I said anything,” he called over his shoulder.

She crossed her arms over her chest—her way of digging in her heels.

“I was just blowing smoke, Lou. Forget I said anything.”

She didn’t move, and neither did a single muscle in her face. Not even the slightest twitch of an eyebrow. When it came to staring down an opponent, she was better than anyone he knew.

“I got a medal once. It’s not a big deal.”

“Obviously it is,” she said. “Why didn’t you put that on your Coastie auction facts and figures?”

“Would you have paid more for me if I had?” He tossed her a half grin, and for the briefest moment they were back to who they used to be—not an ounce of painful history between them.