He turned his smile into the facsimile of a leer. “You’re a hot number, babe. Hell on wheels when you’re naked, but a pain in the ass once you’ve got your clothes on. If you want real communication, pull down your pants.”

She blinked at his crudeness. His stomach twisted, but he was doing what he needed to. Still, he had to will himself not to take her into his arms and kiss the raindrops from her cheeks.

“Interesting.” She pushed her hood back and lifted her chin. “Keep your secrets, Panda. I really don’t care all that much.”

She disappeared, sending him into the foulest of moods.

THE SKIES CLEARED, AND LUCY let Toby talk her into going out with him on Big Mike Moody’s boat. The idea of spending the afternoon in the funk of his salesman’s cologne didn’t appeal to her, but it was better than stomping around the house.

Did Panda really believe she wouldn’t see through his crap—that calculated insult and ridiculous sneer? It was his way of reminding her to keep her distance, as if she needed a reminder. This affair was supposed to be another check mark on her reverse bucket list, but by holding on to his secrets, he’d made her do exactly what she didn’t want—think too much about him.

She forced a smile as she and Toby approached the roomy blue and white powerboat docked in the municipal harbor. Toby’s eyes shone with anticipation. “Permission to come aboard.”

“Permission granted.” Mike’s grin showcased his straight, gleaming teeth. He wore khaki shorts, a white Polo with a green logo, and boat shoes. Expensive Revo sunglasses hung by a strap around his tanned neck.

She’d traded her skank clothes for her black bathing suit and a white terry cover-up, but she’d kept her nose ring. He took the tote that held her sunblock, a towel, her ball cap, and some cookies she’d bought at the Painted Frog. Unfortunately, he also held out his hand to help her aboard, but the cologne pollution she remembered was noticeably absent, along with his gold bracelet and college ring.

“Glad you could come with us today, Miss Jorik.”

She was disappointed. “Bree told you who I was.”

“No. Remember how I said I never forget a face? It finally came to me a couple of weeks ago.” He gestured toward her dragon tattoo. “You’ve got a real good disguise going for you.”

Toby dashed to the stern to check out the fishing gear. She pulled her ball cap from her tote. “Nobody in town’s recognized me, so the news doesn’t seem to have spread.”

“I figured if you wanted people to know who you were,” he said earnestly, “you would have told them.”

His openness was refreshing, and she found herself warming to him.