The Tides That Bind

“What can I get you?” she asked as he sat down.
“You’re new,” he said, raising his head and giving her a quick once-over.
“Actually, I’m not,” Cassie said. “I’m filling in. My family owns the place.”
He did a double take. “You’re a Gallagher? Emily or Cassie?”
Wow, personal much? Cassie took a giant step back as she folded her arms across her chest. “Who are you?”
He gave her a sheepish grin. “My apologies. I’m Ryan Caulfield, the mayor of Blue Heron Bay, thanks in large part to your father.” He held out his hand, and she hesitated before she took it. “Your dad meant a lot to me, and I like to stop by and check on the place whenever I can.”
She worked to swallow past the emotion that welled in her throat whenever someone spoke of her father. He’d mentioned working on a local campaign, but as she’d never much cared for politics, she hadn’t paid attention to who the candidate was.
“I’m Cassie,” she said. “The youngest of the Gallagher brood.”
“It’s wonderful to meet you. Did you move back?”
Cassie shook her head. “My siblings and I came home to help our mother, but I’ll be leaving at the end of the summer.”
“That’s too bad, though I’m glad your mother found help.” He folded his hands on the bar. “I was afraid I’d asked too much of her when I told her about the hotel group I’ve pitched to build here.”
Cassie nodded absently. She vaguely recalled Emily talking about a hotel during their FaceTime the other day, but truthfully, she’d been more focused on the time off from work than the reason it was needed.
“Now that you’re here, I hope to make the most of your time,” Ryan said with a wink.
She blinked, unsure what to make of it. Was he flirting with her? She, of all people, should be able to tell, especially after spending much of the evening flirting herself. But he was different, more sincere, more… purposeful. Like he knew what he wanted from life and had a plan for getting exactly that.
“So, can I get you anything?” Cassie asked again.
“Sorry, yes, I’ll have a Sam Adams.”
She nodded and grabbed a glass before heading over to the taps. The weight of his gaze followed her every move, and she shifted uncomfortably from foot to foot. While there wasn’t anything wrong with him necessarily, he wasn’t her type. For one thing, he appeared much older than her—maybe mid-thirties?
“Thank you,” he said as she set the glass in front of him. “Are you planning to go to the town’s Memorial Day parade?”
Cassie gave her one-shoulder shrug. “I’m not sure. I only arrived today.”
“And you’re already working?” he asked with raised eyebrows.
“I wanted to. Besides, it was a long drive. Feels good to move around.”
“How far away are you?” Ryan asked.
She stared at him. Again, with the personal questions.
As if he read her mind, he hurried on. “I mean, if you don’t mind my asking.”
“I’m right outside of D.C.,” she said, not wanting to give out too much information. A girl could never be too careful, regardless of his connection to her late father.
“Wow, that’s quite a change of pace from here. Do you prefer the city?”
“Usually,” Cassie said, the tension in her shoulders easing. “I love being able to walk most places, and there’s so much life there. Every day, I meet new people. But I do miss the ocean.”
“What do you do?”
Cassie rolled her eyes. Of course, the inevitable professional question. Sometimes it seemed like that was all that mattered to some people: a job, a profession, a neat and tidy box into which they could categorize someone.

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