by Jana DeLeon
“How far out are we going?”
“Waist deep, and I’ll be right there.”
“Then I’m good.” She took a deep breath and blew it out. “Okay. Let’s do this.”
Luke picked up the board and they headed into the water. Alayna let out a small gasp as the somewhat chilly water soaked her feet and Luke grinned.
“It’s still a little cool,” he said.
“It is,” she agreed. “But give it another couple weeks of this sunshine and it will be nice.”
“You’ll acclimate quickly enough as long as the sun is out.”
From years of swimming in the Gulf as a teen, Alayna knew he was right, but those initial steps were always the worst. Goose bumps rose on her legs and arms as she moved forward, but she was gradually adjusting. When they were waist deep, Luke positioned the board next to them, pointed it at the shore, and stood next to it, facing her. He was so close she could see the gold flecks in his green eyes and the tiny scar on his chin.
“First, you’ll hop on the board and get into a kneeling position in the center,” he said. “Ready?”
“Just like that?”
“Just like that.”
“Okay.” Alayna said a quick prayer that she didn’t embarrass herself. Then she pulled herself onto the board, scooted to the center, and knelt. The board swayed beneath her with the movement of the tide, but Luke held it in place.
“Okay, here’s your paddle,” he said and placed it across the board in front of her. “It’s best to go ahead and learn to stand with the paddle, as you probably won’t have someone around to hand it to you every time.”
She put one hand on the paddle and glanced back at the Gulf to make sure it was still nice and calm.
“This part you can do however you’re most comfortable,” he said. “You can lift one knee and get the foot underneath you so you can push up into a standing position. Or you can put both hands flat on the board in front of you and push up, kinda like a yoga move. Do whatever you think you can maintain balance best with.”
Alayna considered her choices and decided to go with the one leg up, then rise. She had never been a yoga person, choosing to burn her calories running or swimming. She lifted her right leg up and got the foot flat on the board, then placed the paddle across her knee. Thank God she’d never scrimped on core exercises, she thought, as she forced herself to stand. She rocked on the board and felt her abdomen tighten as she struggled to maintain her balance.
“Move your other foot forward and spread them the width of your shoulders,” Luke instructed.
She inched the left foot up to match the right, then scooted them both a little to the side, clutching the paddle with a death grip.
“Awesome!” Luke said. “See how easy that was?”
She looked down at him. “You and I have different definitions of easy. Apparently, I should have done even more ab work.”
“Paddleboarding is definitely good for the core. Okay, now that you’re up, grab the end of the paddle with one hand and the middle with the other.”
She positioned the paddle as instructed and he nodded.
“I’m going to let go now,” he said. “Take a couple seconds to make sure your balance is good, then you’re going to gently paddle forward. One stroke on one side, then the other. The tide will help carry you into the shore.”
He let go of the board and she swayed first to one side, then the other, her legs and core working in unison to keep her upright. When she finally felt stable enough, she eased the paddle into the water and gave it a little push. The board moved forward, and she shifted the paddle to the other side and pushed again. Luke stayed nearby, moving with her toward the shore.
“That’s it!” he said. “You got it. First time up and you’re doing great.”
She smiled and felt her body relax just a tiny bit. It wasn’t as easy as people made it look, but it wasn’t as scary as she’d imagined, either. And really, what calamity could befall her when she was in waist-deep water and Luke was standing right there ready to assist? With her newfound confidence, she gave the board a larger stroke and quickly shifted again, pushing it forward.
“Okay,” Luke said. “Now you need to turn or you’re going to get in too shallow. Unless you’re ready to quit.”
“No. I’m good. How do I turn?”
“Paddle on one side until you get the board facing the direction you want to go. I’d suggest turning all the way around. Then you can go out a ways, turn again and head back in, and repeat the process until you’re ready to take a break.”
She nodded and shifted the paddle to her right side. That felt like the best option. She gave it a good shove, then another and another, and slowly, the board turned until she was facing the Gulf.
“I did it!” she said, unable to keep from grinning. “It’s so cool up here. I can see everything in the water—the fish and seaweed. You were right about the view. It’s a totally different perspective than the kayak.”
“So worth the additional effort?”
“Definitely,” she said, and started to paddle out.
And that’s when she saw the tide in the distance.
“Oh no,” she said. “There are waves coming.”
Luke looked out and frowned. “Don’t panic. Just head straight for them and try to ride them out. You can still touch bottom, so you’re fine.”
She knew he was right but that didn’t stop her from clenching as the first wave reached her board. Which had the exact opposite effect of what she desired. The stiffness caused her balance to shift more. She wobbled to the right, then left, and thought she’d saved it when the second wave hit and she tumbled off the board and into the ocean, crashing right on top of Luke.
The chilly water encompassed her as she flailed about in a tangle of arms and legs, trying to get back into a standing position. Strong arms circled her waist and pulled her up and she broke the surface, looking right into Luke’s smiling face. Another wave hit her from behind and pushed her forward until every inch of her body was pressed into his. His grip around her tightened as they balanced for the next wave, and then everything went calm.
Except for her beating heart.
“Oh my God,” she said. “I fell right on you. I’m so sorry.”
“I’m not,” he said, his voice low.
She knew he was going to kiss her, and she also knew she shouldn’t let him. That she should pull away and avoid the letdown that was certain to come if she got involved with Luke Ryan. But her heart and body had pooled their resources to override her mind. His lips touched hers, softly at first, then more insistent. Warmth coursed through her and she moved her arms around him, feeling the muscles on his back rippling as he balanced them in the current.
He tasted of salt water and sunshine and when he parted her lips with his, she felt her whole body relax against his as his tongue touched hers in a slow, erotic dance. This was so much better than her dream. Her chest pressed tightly into his and even with only swimsuits on, the thought ripped through her mind that they were overdressed.
You have to stop.
Her mind broke into the moment, reminding her of the plan. Of her precarious position, especially when it came to emotional involvement and men. She removed her arms from around him and moved back enough to break contact. He released her immediately, sensing her discomfort.
“I’m sorry,” he said. “I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable.”
“You didn’t. That’s all on me. Look, I’m attracted to you, but I’m not in a place in my life where I can get involved. I’ve got things…”
His disappointment was clear, but he nodded. “I understand. And I won’t try to change your mind. But I’d still like to remain friends. It seems we both need things to fill our time here, and it’s nice to have company for dinner or an activity.”
She let out a breath, filled with both disappointment and relief. “Friends. That would be great.”
“Let’s head in and get a drink of wate
r to get rid of the salt,” he said. “Then you can decide if you want to give it another try. The paddleboard, I mean.”
“Of course. Sure.” She reached down to release the paddleboard lanyard from her ankle and handed it to Luke, who secured the board.
As they walked to shore, she lagged a tiny bit behind, needing some time out of view of his piercing eyes and ready smile. Unfortunately, the view from the rear was just as tempting as the one from the front.
Keep your mind on the game.
And the game did not include frolicking with Luke Ryan.
No matter how much she wanted to.
Bea pushed her chair back from the table, looked over at Alayna, and let out a satisfied sigh. “That was the best meal I’ve had on this island in years. Hell, the best meal I’ve had since you moved.”
Alayna smiled. Pleased that her aunt had enjoyed it so much.
“Seriously,” Bea said. “Between working on my lawn today and eating three times what I should have, you might have to cart me home in a wheelbarrow. But I couldn’t bring myself to stop. That was incredible.”
“It wasn’t a big deal,” Alayna said.
Bea waved a hand in dismissal. “You’re being modest. Seared steak with that rich buttery sauce and scallops, creamed corn—real creamed corn, not that shit in a can—those twice-baked potatoes that were so good they made me want to cry, and then you bring out blackberry tarts for dessert. I keep having to pinch myself to make sure it’s not a lovely dream. You have a gift, Alayna.”
Alayna warmed under her aunt’s compliments, even though she hadn’t been exaggerating about the ease of preparation. The meal had been a simple one for her, although she did recognize that wasn’t the case for most people.
“You were always my biggest fan,” Alayna said. “Have I told you lately how much I appreciate everything you’ve done for me? And everything you’re doing for me now?”
Bea smiled. “I love you, honey. There’s nothing I wouldn’t do for you.”
“Nothing?”
“Well, I probably wouldn’t eat escargot or have a bikini waxing, but everything else is pretty much open.”
Alayna laughed.
“It’s good to hear you laugh,” Bea said. “And I see you’ve got a nice tan starting. The pink part anyway. Can I assume you spent some time today enjoying this glorious weather and that beautiful water?”
“I did.” Alayna fidgeted just a bit, not really wanting to get into her day with Bea because she knew right where her aunt would head with that information. But as Bea was also Luke’s landlord and might find out through other means, she relented.
“Actually,” Alayna said, “Luke taught me how to paddleboard.”
Bea perked up. “Really? How did you like it?”
“I’m a little wobbly and I fell several times, especially when the waves picked up, but I can see why so many people are doing it. It’s fun and it’s great exercise. Plus there’s the bonus of getting to work on my tan. How often do you get to say that?”
“Seems to me there’s more of a bonus than tanning if you have Luke teaching you.”
“Don’t even go there. We’re just friends.”
“Good Lord, girl, no one’s saying you have to hitch yourself to the man. Looking is still free, last time I checked. And if I had a partially clad Luke Ryan in front of me, I’d probably be looking so hard my eyes would bleed.”
Alayna laughed. “Oh my God, Aunt Bea, you kill me.”
“If you haven’t noticed how good-looking that boy is, you might already be dead. Come on, take pity on your old aunt and tell me how he looks in swim trunks.”
“Fine, but then you have to stop. I’ll go with one word—perfection.”
Bea sighed. “I haven’t had a date in months and all I get out of you is ‘perfection.’ You’re a real disappointment in the sexy-man-talk department.”
“I don’t see him that way.”
“Were you blindfolded while you were paddleboarding?”
“Of course not. But I meant what I said. We’re just friends.”
“Uh-huh. I was reading an article in one of those trendy lady magazines at my hairdresser’s the other day. It was talking about ‘friends with benefits.’ Sounded like a good deal to me.”
The blush rushed up Alayna’s neck and onto her face. “There will be no benefits to being friends with me except maybe the occasional good meal.”
“That’s his benefit. I was thinking more about what you’re getting out of the deal.”
“I got paddleboarding lessons. That’s all I want.”
Bea shook her head. “I’m still not convinced we’re related. If I was thirty years younger…”
“Anyway,” Alayna said, changing the subject, “since I enjoyed it so much, I was thinking about buying my own board. I need to keep up some regular exercise. The island doesn’t have a gym and I’m not interested in driving to the mainland just to work out. I can run now but in a couple months, it will be a lot hotter and I won’t want to.”
“Paddleboarding is great exercise. I tried it myself a couple times.”
“Really?”
“Yeah, didn’t stick though. Too much effort for me, so I’ll stick to my kayak. But if you want your own board, then talk to Mark at Island Surf Shop. He can recommend what’s best for you, and he has new and used boards. You might be able to find a good used one and make a deal on it.”
“A bargain sounds perfect about now. I’ll check with him tomorrow.”
Bea nodded and stared out at the surf for several silent seconds. “When you come into town, stop by the bookstore for a minute. There’s something I want to show you.”
“You don’t have a sexy new stock boy, do you?”
“Ha! I should be so lucky. No. It’s just something I was thinking about doing and I wanted to get your opinion.”
“Sure. I’m happy to do whatever I can. Do you need any help at the store?”
“No. It’s pretty quiet now. Give it another month and we’ll be hopping, but I have my summer girl lined up—just graduated from high school and looking to make some money before heading off to college this fall. Between her and Nelly, I’ll be fine.”
“I’m surprised a young person wants to spend the summer indoors.”
“She’s a bookworm, that one. And blushes if a boy passes within twenty feet of her. I’ll probably make her cringe on a regular basis with the things that come out of my mouth, but she might as well get used to it. I doubt dorm room talk is rated G.”
Alayna laughed. “Probably not.”
“How are you doing otherwise?” Bea asked. “I know I said I wouldn’t pry, but I want you to be happy here.”
Alayna reached over and squeezed her aunt’s hand. God, she loved this woman. “I’m getting there. I’m the closest to happy that I’ve been in a long time, anyway. I felt better as soon as I drove onto the island. And I believe things will continue to get better every day.”
Bea sniffed and Alayna could see tears in the corner of her eyes. “That’s all I can ask for,” Bea said.
“Me too.”
Mateo lowered his binoculars as the aunt pulled away from the house. He’d gotten bored sitting still and cruised out of the marina several times that day on the chance that Alayna might leave her cottage for the mainland for an outing with her aunt, since it was Sunday and the bookstore was closed. But she’d stayed there the entire day and then her aunt had arrived that evening. When he’d first seen the aunt’s car pull up, he’d hoped they’d be going out to dinner on the mainland, which would give him a better opportunity to search the house, but no such luck. Given that Alayna was an elite-level chef, he supposed her sitting down for a long dinner at any of the local spots was more wishful thinking than anything. She could probably whip up better food in her kitchen in less time and for far less money.
He checked his watch and pulled out his cell phone. Time to check in.
The client answered on the first ring. “Anything?”
“No,” Mateo said. “She stuck to the house all day. Had her aunt over tonight.”
“She’ll leave eventually for shopping on the mainland. The island is too expensive to keep buying basics there.”
“Probably. There’s something else. Something that might complicate things.”
“What?”
“Not a what. A who. The guy who’s renting the house next door has shown an interest in Alayna. Name is Luke Ryan.”
“Some guy at the beach sniffing around a pretty woman is hardly a surprise and shouldn’t be an issue.”
“Normally, I would agree, but I’d bet anything Ryan is military. He’s got a fairly recent knee injury. My guess is he’s on medical leave or maybe even discharged, but I’d like to know what exactly his service involves.”
“I’ll find that out and get back with you. Is that it?”
The client barely waited for him to get the word ‘yes’ out of his mouth before disconnecting. Mateo could tell the client was irritated with him. He didn’t want to waste time or resources on Ryan. But he couldn’t see what Mateo saw. The way Ryan watched Alayna as she entered her home, refusing to move until she was safely inside. That wasn’t just sexual attraction. If Ryan had developed feelings for her, even just protective ones, that could be a big problem. Especially if Alayna felt threatened. And as skittish as she was, he knew it wouldn’t take much to push her to that ledge.
He started the boat and headed back to the marina. Alayna never went out after dark. He was calling it a night.
From his seat on his back patio, Luke heard Bea’s car start and back out of the driveway. Apparently, dinner was over and Bea was calling it a night. He checked his watch: 9:00 p.m. Still early. He reached into the cooler and passed Pete another beer before tossing a hot dog weenie to Gus.
“He’s going to have a stomachache,” Pete said.
“Just him?” Luke asked. “You had a rib eye so big it didn’t all fit on your plate and at least a gallon of potato salad. I’m not even counting cake slices.”
“Yeah, but he doesn’t have to clean up after me if I get sick.”