Page 4 of Hearts on the Line (The Maverick Key #1)

We reach the front door, and I knock, the solid sound echoing in the quiet morning. Denver sits at attention beside me. I knock again, thinking Ms. Connor may not hear us if she’s in the kitchen. The door opens faster than I expect and I take a step back from the woman who greets us.

Clearly, not Ms. Connor.

Her light brown eyes—the color of desert sand—meet mine with a warmth that throws me off balance.

Damp, honey-brown curls frame her face and brush against her cheeks, the color perfectly matching her eyes.

A fine dusting of freckles crosses her nose.

She’s gorgeous, no doubt, but what catches my attention, and the rest of the crew’s, is what she’s wearing.

A tiny, tight blue bikini. The straps of her top tied loosely behind her neck, exposing her toned shoulders.

A yellow beach towel is wrapped around her waist, barely covering the tops of her long legs.

Her face flushes a deep rose as she fumbles with the towel, clearly aware of the five sets of eyes on her.

Jamie lets out a low whistle.

Margaret glares at him. “Really?”

Denver barks once, agreeing with her assessment.

Liam raises a brow.

“Not what I expected for breakfast,” Jamie says nonchalantly, making her cheeks darken even more.

The towel slips.

She gasps, her eyes wide with horror, scrambling to grab it before changing course to snatch a T-shirt from a nearby chair. She tries to pull it over her head.

“Dang it,” she mutters, talking to herself as she struggles with the shirt.

She’s not quick enough to prevent a peek of the bikini bottom and a clear view of her toned ass. After she gets it on, the oversized shirt barely skims her thighs, doing little to hide the skin beneath.

“Sorry, I was swimming… I didn’t… uh…” She clutches the hem of the shirt, trying in vain to pull it down. “I thought it might be an emergency.”

I stoop to pick up the towel and hand it to her, our fingers brushing briefly.

Something about her—the way she stands, shoulders back, trying to reclaim her composure—pulls me in. I clear my throat, recovering faster than the rest of the team. Ms. Connor must not have given her a heads-up we were coming.

“I’m the one who should apologize for the intrusion.” I keep my voice steady and try to ignore Jamie’s smirk I feel radiating from behind me.

“I’m Scott Rickter.” I shake her hand, noticing the firmness of her grip.

“My dive team is chartered for a university research project led by Dr. Garrett Harlow to explore and chart Carter’s Drop.

We hold our dive briefing here every Monday morning with Ms. Connor’s permission.

” I motion to the others, saying, “This is Margaret, Liam, and Jamie.” The crew waves and smiles at her. Denver adds a friendly bark.

“Nice to meet you. I’m Maddie.” Her voice is strong despite her embarrassment.

“Maddie Carter.”

Jamie straightens slightly. “Carter? As in related to Nathan Carter?”

Her expression falters. “He was my brother.”

Sympathy hits me. Carter’s disappearance is still a fresh wound for many people on the island. How hard is it for her?

“I’m sorry for your loss. Your brother was a good man—a hell of a diver. It’s an honor to continue his work.”

“Thank you.” She glances up hopefully. “Did you know Nathan?”

“Our paths didn’t cross too often, but his reputation preceded him. We all feel we knew him a little.” I press a hand to my chest. “He was famous, here on the Key.”

“Everything about this place reminds me of him.” Her sweet face looks down at Denver. “You’re a good boy, aren’t you?”

She rubs behind his ears, and he nuzzles against her hands.

I catch myself staring at her.

What am I doing?

I force myself to refocus. This isn’t the time.

Before the awkwardness lingers, Ms. Connor’s familiar voice rings out from behind us. “What are you all doing, standing around like a pack of loiterers? Move aside… I’ve got groceries.”

She’s bustling up the path, arms loaded with bags. We hurry to help, grabbing the bags. I hold the door open as she ushers everyone inside.

“It’s good to see you again. I hope you slept well, honey,” Ms. Connor says. “Join us this morning. You can listen in and see what these troublemakers are up to.”

Inside, Ms. Connor gets started on breakfast, and Maddie excuses herself to go change. I hope she’s coming back to eat with us. She’s a good-looking woman. I’m going to have a hard time getting her and her little blue swimsuit out of my head later on.

As we wait in the living room, Jamie goes on and on about Nathan’s hot sister, and the rest of us try to tune him out as we prepare for the dive briefing.

“Wow, did you get a good look at that body?” He asks, excitement in his voice. “Mmm. and those gorgeous eyes. Seems sweet, too. I wonder if she’s single. Ms. Connor probably knows—”

I thwack his shoulder. “Ow.”

“Shut the fuck up.” I give him my boss stare.

Soon, the savory smell of bacon permeates the air, mingling with the bright, citrusy scent of freshly squeezed orange juice. I make a beeline for the coffee pot, pouring myself a steaming cup and taking a long, satisfying sip.

Maddie returns, and the team peppers her with questions as we wait for the food to finish. Her answers are gracious, and she listens attentively with genuine interest. She’s a delight to be around but guarded. Denver thumps his tail against the floor, approving of her presence.

She’s a real sweetheart. And she’s drawing us all in. Me, the most.

“Time to eat, friends,” calls Ms. Connor, setting plates of pancakes, bacon, and biscuits on the table. Chatter fills the dining room as food is passed around.

At first, Maddie sits at the table quietly. Her posture is rigid, her shoulders tight, and her movements are tentative as she puts food on her plate. For a while, she just eats and observes. She’s way too shy for this group. I’ll fix that.

“Now that you’ve been here a couple of days, what do you like most about the Key?”

She looks at the ceiling for a moment. Inhaling deeply, she moves her gaze back and locks eyes on me. “The air.” She closes her eyes like she’s let something go. “I can finally breathe again.”

My heart just takes off. This woman, she’s got layers. Layers, I want to unwind.

“You’re already fitting in,” Jamie praises Maddie after she tells a funny joke. “Careful, though. Margaret’s the only one who can out-snark Liam.”

“I’ve got no snark, man. I’m the teddy bear,” Liam says with a straight face.

Maddie leans back in her chair, relaxed.

Reaching for the syrup like she’s been sitting at this table for years, she eats in earnest. Over the course of one breakfast, she’s no longer an outsider. She’s a new friend.

For a little while, the tension from Garrett’s call this morning and all thoughts of Harrington’s impending arrival fade away, and I feel… alive.

“Are they always like this?” Her bright sandy eyes meet mine again. The directness of her gaze makes me catch my breath.

“Every day.” I shrug. “You get used to it.”

“Take us or leave us,” Jamie says, jumping in.

Maddie glances around the room, the warmth in her expression spreading over me. “I think I’m going to keep all of you.”

Who is this woman?

Despite myself, I hope she means it.