A/N: Thank you to everyone who told me they actually enjoyed all that fisheries information last chapter. I won't be nearly so detailed in the future so if there is some fishspeak or something else you don't get, please ask and I'll be happy to explain. I'm sure this story's slow start may have turned off some but things should start to pick up speed, especially after this chapter. I'm so thankful for all your reviews, and I'm excited to see what you all think of Carlisle, among others. If you have your pm's on, I promise a reply. Big shout out to Mandita 93 who correctly guessed about Carlisle.

Beta- StacyO72; I'm her mini-me, which sounds better than saying she's my maxi-me. If I were 8 inches taller, we'd just be twins. No, she's not a giant, I'm just that short.

Disclaimer: Stephenie Meyer owns all things Twilight. No copyright infringement is intended.

Wild boys never lose it
Wild boys never chose this way
Wild boys never close your eyes
Wild boys always shine

- Wild Boys, Duran Duran

Ch. 3 High Liners and Low Lifes

I had hit re-dial on my cell before I could even register the fact that I was doing so.

"Newton's Fish."

"Mike, why didn't you tell me Doc Cullen was the captain of the Vampress?!" My voice was a few octaves higher than normal.

Mike groaned. "Aw no! Not you too! Jess is already here acting like a total fangirl."

I heard Mike's longtime girlfriend Jessica in the background yelling excitedly. "Is that Bella?! I need to talk to her right now! Oh my God, give me that phone!"

I held the phone away as the sound of one being pulled from Mike's hands echoed through the line. I knew Mike's protests were in vain. When Jessica Stanley was determined to get something, she was a woman possessed.

A moment later, Jess was giggling loudly in my ear. "Oh my God, Bella! Can you believe it! THE Doc Cullen will be here in less than an hour! I swear I saw every episode of Wild Boys. Do you think he's that good-looking in person? He is so swoon-worthy. Oh. My. God. Do you think I could ask for his autograph? That's cool, right? I can't believe I'm going to meet Doc Cullen! I am so, so excited! What was it Mrs. Weinstein used to say? I'm plating; no, I'm plotting; no…. plotzing! That's it! I'm plotzing!"

Jess was practically hyperventilating. I took a deep breath just in sympathy for her. I certainly couldn't blame her for overreacting just a bit. It's not every day one of the stars of a television reality series arrives in our isolated little corner of the world. Doc Cullen had appeared on all four seasons of Wild Boys: Highliners of the Atlantic, a show about the top fishermen on the East Coast. We had both been so disappointed when it was cancelled last year. As much as I hated to admit it, I was probably only one step behind her in the fangirl department. That was my secret though, so I tried to play it cool, teasing her about quoting our fifth grade teacher. "Damn, Jess. I don't think I've ever heard a Swamp Yankee speak Yiddish before. I'm sure he's probably no different than every other captain on the water."

"Isabella Swan! I have known you since we were in diapers, don't think you can fool me with that act! You were just a big of fan of Wild Boys as I was! Come on! Don't you just want to scream?! It's Doc Cullen!"

She had me. It was my turn to giggle like a schoolgirl and that's something I never did. "O.k., maybe I'm just a little excited. Oh my God! Do you remember that episode when the entire crew couldn't haul up that triple marker during fifteen foot swells and Doc goes over and pulls it up with a single gaff? That was so awesome!"

Jess sighed, her voice taking on a dreamy tone. "I know, right? He is so hot… Oh! Did you see the episode about the twentieth anniversary of the Perfect Storm? It was so touching. When he talked about being out there as a young deckhand on the Hannah Boden, knowing that its sister ship was gone. Then, when he said that line about how the storm caused him to lose someone back on shore too? He looked so sad, like he lost the love of his life." She took a deep breath and slowly exhaled before she whispered into the phone. "I don't care if he is almost as old as my dad, I would so do him."

Apparently, she didn't whisper softly enough because I could hear Mike's indignant voice behind her.

"What?! What are you talking about? No way are you staying here during the pack out. You're supposed to be working at the supply store today anyway. And where is Bella? She doesn't have time to stand there and listen to you gush about Doc Cullen."

He was right. I should already be inside the Fisheries Office. I quickly exited the truck as Jess tried to reassure Mike that she was only speaking theoretically, whatever the hell that was supposed to mean.

"Jess, tell Mike I'm already in line for the license, o.k.? I gotta go."

I hit end before she could relay the message. I found myself humming Duran Duran's Wild Boys, the show's theme song, as I headed inside the large brick converted mill building that housed the Fisheries Office.

Getting the license itself was quick and easy. I was back on the road headed south in just fifteen minutes. I might be able to catch the 1pm ferry and get back to the fish house a whole hour earlier than planned. I decided to forgo stopping to top off the tank on the gas guzzling Suburban. With an out of state boat at the dock I was sure someone would need to go off island again so they could fill up. However, I made sure to stop at Dunkin' Donuts and get myself a large ice coffee and a sesame bagel. I had my priorities. I was a little concerned about hitting beach traffic once I got back into South County but the force was with me or some shit, because I sailed through the lights on Route 4 then made it through after only two light changes at the Tower on Route 1. I called Jake as soon as I got into Narragansett and asked him to make sure they kept a space open for me on the car deck. Visitors with cars had to make a reservation several weeks ahead of time, not only to board the ferry, but to actually be allowed to have a car on the island. The Block was only ten square miles so when the population tripled in the summer from one thousand to three thousand residents plus another five or six thousand day trippers on top of that, vehicle access had to be limited. Most people got around on rented mopeds or bicycles. As a year round resident, I had a permanent ferry pass so I didn't need a reservation, just a quick call to keep a spot open. Sometimes it was good to be a local.

Less than an hour later, I pulled into the company parking space in front of Newton's with only a slight glance toward the dark green Environmental Police SUV parked directly in front of the building.

"Assholes." I muttered as I exited the vehicle. It was better to get the hostility out of my system now. I would have to be polite, or at least indifferent, once I was inside.

I had already texted Mike, so I knew they were expecting me. Rather than enter through the office, I walked behind the building, directly to the bulkhead. I could see Mike standing on the dock with his dad, a few of Newton's dock workers, and the crab cops. The rest of our employees were already positioned at their assigned stations: forklifts, scale, and packing area. Everyone wore their bright orange Grunden's oil gear and looked ready to go. The Vampress was tied up alongside and damn, if she wasn't pretty for a commercial boat: no rust stained scuppers, no chipped paint, decks scrubbed clean and shiny. Her steel hull was painted a deep navy blue with F/V Vampress printed in white letters on either side of a large white crest with VS, for Volterra Seafood, in red, directly over the bow. The wheelhouse was a bright white with navy trim to match the hull. As I walked closer I could see the unmistakable blond hair of Doc Cullen as he stood on deck, with a crew member behind him. I assumed the other two were already waiting below in the hold, ready to start the packout. My stomach felt like it was tied in knots. Carlisle "Doc" Cullen was actually at our dock. I took a deep breath to steady myself before I walked up and presented the landing license to Doc.

"I think you've been waiting for this, Captain." I heard myself say. I wanted to sound friendly and unflustered, not like a screechy fangirl fawning over a celebrity. Somehow, my brain didn't relay that message to the rest of my body and my voice ended up sounding breathy and deep, more like Lauren Bacall than I meant it to. Crap, he was going to think I was coming on to him. I felt my cheeks heat up at the thought and knew I needed to get off the dock before I made a complete fool of myself.

Doc flashed me a heart-throb smile as he thanked me, his cobalt blue eyes raking over me from top to bottom and back up. I may have uttered a small gasp. I really hoped it wasn't audible. Good Lord, he was probably the most handsome fisherman I had ever seen. Most guys here were considered passable if they had all their teeth and fingers. Doc looked like Brad Pitt's better looking brother. He signed the license, gave it to the crab cops, along with the boat's federal fishing permits, the captain's logbook, and the VMS records. After a few minutes of inspection, the crab cops finally agreed everything was legal so the offload could begin. I practically ran back inside the office where Jessica and now Mike's mom were watching the whole process, each with a pair of binoculars. Since Mrs. Newton ran Block Island Marine Supply and Jess was her only employee, I assumed it was closed for the afternoon.

"Seriously?" I asked as I walked inside.

Jess scowled. "They're using the damn crab cops as an excuse to keep us off the plant floor, saying they could get in trouble for violating HACCP regulations if non employees are out there. That's total bullshit. They just don't want us drooling over Doc."

"That is one fine looking man!" Mrs. Newton didn't even lower her binoculars as she spoke. "What was he like up close Bella? We need deets."

Deets? Did Mrs. Newton really just say deets? This was getting awkward. Still, I caved and fangirled right along.

"I can't believe how good looking he is. His eyes are so blue and he gave me this look when he thanked me for the license. Oh my God! I swear my knees almost gave out."

Jess started waving her hands in front of her body. "Tell me exactly what he said, don't leave anything out."

"He said 'Thank You.'" I felt my face heat up again as I remembered the way he looked.

Mrs. Newton finally lowered her binoculars. She and Jess exchanged a look.

"How did he say it?"

I described my encounter in as much detail as possible for a ten second exchange. Mrs. Newton gasped. "He Rhett Butlered you?!"

I scrunched my nose in confusion. "He what?"

"You know, he looked at you in that Rhett Butler 'I know what you look like without your shimmy on' way." Mrs. Newton demonstrated by giving me her best come hither look. This was getting a bit creepy. I shook my head and laughed it off.

"My dad would have a conniption fit if he thought some sea gypsy his age, famous or not, was coming on to me. Besides, you both watched Wild Boys. I think that's the way Doc acts around all women. He just can't help being dazzling."

I left Jess and Mrs. Newton to their in-depth analysis and sat down at my desk, resuming the work I had left there this morning. Just as I had gotten back into a groove, the door from the plant opened and the crab cops walked in accompanied by Mike. I casually glanced up as Mike led the two crab cops through the common area that overlooked the plant floor. I recognized one of the cops, a pompous ass with dirty blond hair and pale blue eyes. He liked to lord his authority over people. The other cop was new; a slim redhead who didn't fit the stereotype of a crab cop at all. She looked around in slight disdain, as if she were not used to such meager surroundings. As fish houses went, the place was decent. It was slightly shabby, with a faded wood floor, plain white walls, and four inexpensive faux wood desks, three of which were topped by outdated computers. My desk was at the opposite end of the office, closest to the glass front door. I could see most of the parking lot through it. Behind me, a window provided a view of the bulkhead looking across to the ferry dock, my million dollar view. Posters featuring different species of fish common to the waters of the northwest Atlantic covered the wall nearest my desk. There was always a lingering smell of fish inside the building, it clung to the walls and permeated the air. None of us minded, in fact after a few minutes, no one noticed the odor. The three of them strode over to me.

"Bella, you remember Officer James Cox and this is Officer Victoria Small. They asked to see our wholesale license."

"Uh, sure." I leaned back and pulled the license down from the bulletin board. "Here you go, Officers Small, Cox." I saw Mike's lip twitch ever so slightly. It took me a second, but then I realized what I said. Damn, I had stepped right into that one. I felt myself blush and quickly tried to change my line of thought.

"Is Officer Smith on vacation?"

"Actually, Pat retired. Officer Small will be taking her place." Cox answered. His eyes cut over to the other cop and for just a second, I saw a lecherous look in his eye. Yeah, I'm sure he was thrilled. Pat Smith was in her late fifties. She was built like a linebacker and was about as feminine as my dad, maybe less so. Officer Small was young and attractive. She nodded slightly as I welcomed her to Newton's. Cox's gaze returned to the license in his hand.

"Well, everything seems to be in order here so we'll be on our way."

Mike's eyes met mine. Of course it was in order, nothing had changed from last week, which was the last time Cox had checked our license. They left a few minutes later, if not they would have missed the 3 pm ferry back to the mainland. Most state employees got off work at 4 pm and there was no way they'd work past the end of their shift.

The next hour flew by. I heard the fax ring and went over to pick up the single page that came through. It was an authorization from Volterra Seafood for crew advances. Emmett McCarty was to get a check for $5,000 with instructions that Doc be given $2,000 and the other two crew members $1,000 each. I had just finished printing the check when I heard the plant door open. I looked up to see an enormous guy in orange Grunden's oilers over a t-shirt that said 'I got my crabs at Dirty Dick's'. He walked right up to my desk.

"Hey, I'm Emmett. You got my advance?"

A/N I know, I know, no bronze-haired fisherman. I swear he is in the next chapter. He was just busy down in the fish hold for this one.

How many have seen that episode of Oprah from the Eclipse premiere when she sends Rob to a teenage girl's house for a surprise visit? The mom in that one is my inspiration for Mrs. Newton. She's the one who blurts out "You're so hot!" when Rob walks in to visit her daughter. I die laughing whenever I see it. I could see myself saying it, because, damn he IS hot.