receive it before refolding it and setting it back down.
Ryan comes over not long after Kate's finished getting ready, opening the front door and shouting, “Hullo,” before walking in.
"We're out back," Kate calls out.
Ryan is wearing loose green swim shorts that hang low on his hips and a blue t-shirt. I try hard not to look at his waist.
He checks out what I’m wearing. "Wearing togs under that?"
"Huh?"
"Oh right. Sorry," he says, lifting his arm up to scratch the back of his neck, exposing a bit of his abs. "Your suit."
"Um." I’m trying not to drool. "Yes, I am wearing my suit," I say, lifting my shirt, wondering why his eyes just dilated.
"Ready?"
"Should I put on sunscreen? I have some on my face, but since it isn’t summer, I wasn’t sure about the rest of me."
"Sure, wouldn’t want you to burn."
I go to my room to get the sunscreen and take off my shirt. Once back in the kitchen I ask Ryan if he will help me get my back. He gives me a cheeky grin, motioning with his finger for me to turn around. Ryan starts with my shoulders, almost massaging them as he moves to the back of my neck. I have to control myself from dipping my head back onto him as his long fingers work the lotion in. Ryan squeezes more lotion into his hands before rubbing my arms. My eyes are closed as his hands are on me, but when I open them he is standing right in front of me, holding out the bottle.
I blush when he says, "You should probably do your front and legs."
Yes, that is a good idea, I think, taking the bottle from him to finish up before putting my shirt back on. Per his recommendation, I am wearing simple sneakers.
"Should I bring anything?"
"Nope. I've got it covered."
Kate tells us to have fun, winking at me, and asks if we will be home by dinner. Ryan says he wouldn’t dream of eating anywhere else, which makes Kate happy. As we walk up to his Wrangler, I grin when I see two kayaks on his roof. I have always wanted to try this.
"So where are you taking me?"
"Someplace wet," Ryan laughs.
"Silly Kiwi."
"Hey, well done!"
"I thought you were crazy when you said it," I admit.
We’ve been in the car sometime before I groan "I forgot my sunglasses."
"Not a problem" Ryan says, reaching to the floor board behind me, producing a worn looking baseball cap and hands it to me.
I flip the visor mirror open and put it on, pulling my pony tail through the opening in the back. The hat is huge on me.
"Is it okay if I adjust it?" Jon had gotten angry at me once when I had done that to one of his hats without asking first.
Ryan gives me a strange look and nods.
The hat has a strap you can use to tighten it with on the back. I make it as small as I can. It is still a bit big on me but will work. Once I have my hair pulled through, I turn to Ryan and smile. He laughs, pushing the bill down so I can’t see him anymore.
"Hey!" As much as I protest, I have to admit I am drawn to Ryan. Why does that make me feel so guilty?
Bargaining
a transaction, situation, or event regarded in the light of its results
-Merriam Webster
We head west towards St. Petersbu rg, crossing the Howard Frankland Bridge. Ryan takes me to the dock at his business. It’s called Erickson Gulf Water Sports. We stop by the front office first so he can introduce me to the kids who get folks checked in and manage any release forms and payments. They all seem so young, maybe just out of high school. I’m surprised when a couple of employees seem to recognize my name. Did he talk about me to them? I stand there, politely making small talk, while he carries the kayaks down to the dock. I wave goodbye to everyone when he calls me over.
I hold my breath as he buckles me into a lifejacket. I probably could have done that myself but make no move to stop him. As he is adjusting the strap tighter on one side, our eyes connect and I giggle, making him smile. When he’s finished, he tugs on my vest, making me fall into him. When I gasp,
Ryan comes over not long after Kate's finished getting ready, opening the front door and shouting, “Hullo,” before walking in.
"We're out back," Kate calls out.
Ryan is wearing loose green swim shorts that hang low on his hips and a blue t-shirt. I try hard not to look at his waist.
He checks out what I’m wearing. "Wearing togs under that?"
"Huh?"
"Oh right. Sorry," he says, lifting his arm up to scratch the back of his neck, exposing a bit of his abs. "Your suit."
"Um." I’m trying not to drool. "Yes, I am wearing my suit," I say, lifting my shirt, wondering why his eyes just dilated.
"Ready?"
"Should I put on sunscreen? I have some on my face, but since it isn’t summer, I wasn’t sure about the rest of me."
"Sure, wouldn’t want you to burn."
I go to my room to get the sunscreen and take off my shirt. Once back in the kitchen I ask Ryan if he will help me get my back. He gives me a cheeky grin, motioning with his finger for me to turn around. Ryan starts with my shoulders, almost massaging them as he moves to the back of my neck. I have to control myself from dipping my head back onto him as his long fingers work the lotion in. Ryan squeezes more lotion into his hands before rubbing my arms. My eyes are closed as his hands are on me, but when I open them he is standing right in front of me, holding out the bottle.
I blush when he says, "You should probably do your front and legs."
Yes, that is a good idea, I think, taking the bottle from him to finish up before putting my shirt back on. Per his recommendation, I am wearing simple sneakers.
"Should I bring anything?"
"Nope. I've got it covered."
Kate tells us to have fun, winking at me, and asks if we will be home by dinner. Ryan says he wouldn’t dream of eating anywhere else, which makes Kate happy. As we walk up to his Wrangler, I grin when I see two kayaks on his roof. I have always wanted to try this.
"So where are you taking me?"
"Someplace wet," Ryan laughs.
"Silly Kiwi."
"Hey, well done!"
"I thought you were crazy when you said it," I admit.
We’ve been in the car sometime before I groan "I forgot my sunglasses."
"Not a problem" Ryan says, reaching to the floor board behind me, producing a worn looking baseball cap and hands it to me.
I flip the visor mirror open and put it on, pulling my pony tail through the opening in the back. The hat is huge on me.
"Is it okay if I adjust it?" Jon had gotten angry at me once when I had done that to one of his hats without asking first.
Ryan gives me a strange look and nods.
The hat has a strap you can use to tighten it with on the back. I make it as small as I can. It is still a bit big on me but will work. Once I have my hair pulled through, I turn to Ryan and smile. He laughs, pushing the bill down so I can’t see him anymore.
"Hey!" As much as I protest, I have to admit I am drawn to Ryan. Why does that make me feel so guilty?
Bargaining
a transaction, situation, or event regarded in the light of its results
-Merriam Webster
We head west towards St. Petersbu rg, crossing the Howard Frankland Bridge. Ryan takes me to the dock at his business. It’s called Erickson Gulf Water Sports. We stop by the front office first so he can introduce me to the kids who get folks checked in and manage any release forms and payments. They all seem so young, maybe just out of high school. I’m surprised when a couple of employees seem to recognize my name. Did he talk about me to them? I stand there, politely making small talk, while he carries the kayaks down to the dock. I wave goodbye to everyone when he calls me over.
I hold my breath as he buckles me into a lifejacket. I probably could have done that myself but make no move to stop him. As he is adjusting the strap tighter on one side, our eyes connect and I giggle, making him smile. When he’s finished, he tugs on my vest, making me fall into him. When I gasp,
Similar Books
