"So, tell me again why you're doing this for him?" Jimmy asked.
"Because the fishing business is still half mine, and dammit, I'm not going to lose money because Sam and Tessa lost track of the time."
"So your motives are purely business oriented."
"Absolutely."
"You're not just saving Sam's hide because you still love the guy and you don't want to see his business take a hit?"
"Absolutely not."
"Right."
Jimmy didn't believe her. Well, why should he? She didn't believe herself. Why was she here? She hated messing about with live, icky, squirmy fish. But someone had to do it. The fish had to be in Petrie's truck by two o'clock, and she was bound and determined to make that deadline.
Alli leaned over and grabbed another one, only to find the fish ripped in half. She now had fish guts dripping all over her jeans.
"Yuck, yuck, yuck," she squealed.
Jimmy laughed as she tossed the fish into the water next to the boat.
"I hate Sam Tucker," she cried.
"Well, here's your chance to tell him," Jimmy said as Sam's boat pulled into the slip next to them.
Alli saw Tessa step off the boat, looking pristine clean in her white jeans and tank top.
"Hey, babe," Jimmy called out to her.
Tessa walked over to them. "What on earth are you doing, Alli?"
Alli glared at her. "I'm playing with the fish, what does it look like I'm doing?"
"And what are you doing here, Jimmy?" Tessa asked.
"Waiting for you. Have a good trip?"
#p#分页标题#e#
"It was all right."
"Anything exciting happen?" Jimmy asked.
Alli saw Tessa shake her head, then tuck her hair behind her ear the way she always did when she wasn't telling the truth. Damn her. Something had happened on the boat. Something between Tessa and Sam? Had they made love? Was that why they were late?
The sickening truth overwhelmed Alli, and she felt like throwing up. What was she doing—saving Sam's business when he was more concerned with fooling around with Tessa. She was an idiot, a stupid, helplessly in love idiot.
Sam finished tying up the boat, then came over to her, his expression wary. "Where's Billy? He was supposed to help with this."
"He's disappeared again and Josie said you turned off your radio."
"I didn't turn it off. It's broken."
"So you say," she said, tossing another fish into the crate. "Fifteen more minutes and your order with Petrie's was history."
"I appreciate your doing this."
"You're such a good little wife, Alli," Tessa said mockingly. "And I've never seen you look better."
"Oh, just shut up," Alli said. And on impulse she drew back her arm, and instead of tossing the fish into the bucket, she aimed it straight at Tessa.
Tessa screamed and jumped aside as the fish writhed at her feet. "Get it away from me. Get it away from me," she said, closing her eyes, apparently frozen in place.
Jimmy reached over and picked up the fish, tossing it back into the bucket. "It's okay, you're safe now, Tessa." He put his arm around her and flashed a smile Alli's way. "I'll protect you," he said to Tessa.
"I just want to get out of here," Tessa replied, and without even bothering to say good-bye to Sam or to Alli, she let Jimmy lead her up to the main road. "I'm surprised you didn't jump in front of her, protect her from her nasty little sister," Alli said to Sam.
"I don't think I need to get between you two any more than I already have."
"Is that where you are—between us? Or are you with Tessa now? You never run late, Sam. You never forget about your business. Oh, you can forget to come home for dinner or buy me a birthday present or show up for our anniversary, but you never forget business—until now. I guess Tessa must have kept you occupied."
"It wasn't like that. We were talking."
"Oh, sure, talking. God, I hate you." She felt the anger rage within her, and she just couldn't stop it from bursting out. She picked up a fish and threw at him. "I hate that you took her out on our boat." She threw another fish at his head, as he stepped around the first shot. "I hate that you can lose track of time with her but not with me."
Sam sidestepped another throw. "Alli, calm down."
"And I hate it when you tell me to calm down," she cried, launching another fish in his direction.
This time he caught the fish, tossed it into the crate, and jumped onto the boat next to her. "Don't," he said, grabbing her hands with his. "Don't."
She looked up into his face, her eyes blurring with furious tears. "I hate you."