Liam found a parking space near the far end of the wharf where the boat he had chartered to take them to the island town was tied up, its young captain standing on the bow, smoking a cigarette.
"I hope Eric is as willing to follow you onto a boat as he was to follow you into a car," he said, opening Rayne's door and helping her out. Leaning into the backseat, he picked up the end of the dog's makeshift leash. "He's shaking all over."
"He's nervous," Rayne said sympathetically.
Patting the side of her leg, she called, "Come here, Eric, let's—" The big dog erupted from the backseat in a panicked leap that nearly knocked her over. Laughing, she staggered backward, recovered her balance, and reached for his leash in Liam's hand.
