By the time they touched down, Lace was giddy.
“That was so freaking amazing,” she gushed, practically jumping up and down. “I’ve never felt anything like that in my life.”
Obi-Wan and Zita were grinning at her so hard they could barely speak, but Obi-Wan finally managed. “If you want to go up again, all you have to do is say the word. I love an appreciative audience. I might even put you up front next time and let you fly.”
“Really?” Lace’s eyes went wide.
Excited, she grabbed Vince’s sleeve. “Did you hear that? Obi-Wan’s going to let me fly.”
“I heard,” he answered with a chuckle. “Before you know it, you’ll be wanting to get your license.”
Lace’s eyes glazed over.
Vince recognized the look by now; the minute Lace got sucked down into one of her fantasies. He also knew from experience that she’d be lost for a while, so to give her time, Vince turned and thanked Obi-Wan. He then asked questions about the couple’s sightseeing plans for the week.
“What kind of things are you looking to do while you’re here?” he asked.
“We don’t have anything definitive on the agenda, yet. Your mother mentioned a few nice hikes, some museums…and, oh, Zita is ahugeStephen King fan, so we have to go snap a picture in front of those iconic gates.”
Vince nodded. “Yeah. I totally getthat,” he responded sagely, then glanced at his watch. It was three in the afternoon. “I know my mom is going to want to feed you tonight, but you have time to takethatshort trip before you eat. As for anything else,” he added, “why don’t you stop by Diver Downeast tomorrow, and we’ll make a plan.”
Vince thought of something that would probably appeal.
“Tabitha, my brother Spence’s wife, will easily be talked into giving you two a tour of the harbor in her submarine if you’re interested.”
Zita’s mouth dropped open. “A sub? A real sub? I’ve never been in one,” she gushed excitedly.
“That makes two of us,” Obi-Wan admitted, also lighting up. “An oversight I’ve always wanted to correct.”
“Then it’s a plan,” Vince told them. “Stop by the shop around ten and I’ll make sure Tabitha has a heads up so the sub is ready for all of you.” He pondered thoughtfully. “Then, if it’s not overstepping, after your underwater excursion, my brothers and sisters-in-law can take shifts bringing you around toothervarious sights.”
Obi-Wan laughed and nodded with enthusiasm. “You know, my whole team is going to want to come visit once I tell them about the V.I.P. treatment we’re receiving.”
“Bring it on. We’d love to have them,” Vince agreed easily.
“Have them what?” Lace blinked, finally coming out of her reveries.
Obi-Wan and Zita didn’t look rattled by that, in the least. They must have noticed Lace doing it a time or two, albeit briefly, during their flight.
“Have themandtheir friends come back for another stay,” Vince filled her in.
Putting an arm around her waist, he brought her the rest of the way up to speed. “They’re going to do a few things on their own today, then come hang out at Diver Downeast tomorrow morning where they’ll get some submarine time. After that, we’ll work up an interesting agenda going forward.”
Lace pouted. “Damn. It figures I’ll miss out. I have to work,” she told them, clearly not happy to be left behind.
“Oh? What do you do?” Zita asked. “I just figured you worked with this guy.” She hooked a thumb toward Vince.
“Nope. We actuallylivetogether,” Lace responded with a lilt in her voice. “It’s new, but we’rereallyenjoying each other’scompany.”
She gave Vince a not-so-innocent side-eye, and he wanted to groan.
If things worked out the way Lace had suggested, they’d be enjoying more than a little “company” once they got home.
Lace continued as if she hadn’t just rattled Vince’s cage. “I work for NOAA. I’m assigned to a different fishing vessel each summer where I count and measure the catch, making sure everything the captain does, follows our rules.”
“Is rule breaking something that happens often?” Zita asked.
Vince knew Lace was thinking of Captain Nasty as her mouth tightened.