No Vacancy (The Aveline Series Book 2)

Chapter 37

DARCY

We headed to my parents’house where we could take their canoe out on Hickory Creek. We could have just fished from the dock, but if we paddled down a way, there was a little beach, and it had the best fishing area on the whole creek. Or at least the part that flowed through Aveline.

When we made it to the beach, I hopped out, and Penn helped me pull the canoe onto the sand. I took out the fishing poles, handing him one and taking the other for myself. I opened the tackle box and my cup full of worms and began baiting my line. I looked over and noticed Penn was fumbling with his.

“You said you have been fishing before, right?” I asked him, watching him struggle.

“Oh, yeah,” he replied. “I’ve been fishing. Loads of times.”

I tilted my head. “Recently?”

“Fairly recently,” Penn said, dropping a worm. “Depends on your definition of recent.”

“Like within the last decade?” I set my pole down and walked over to him when he didn’t respond. I held out my hand. “Can I see your pole?”

Penn looked up, a side smile growing on his face. “You want to see my pole, huh?”

I rolled my eyes. “No, not that pole. I meant—”

Penn held up his hands. “Hey now, I didn’t think we knew each other well enough for that. You’re being quite forward, Miss Miller.”

I shook my head, laughing, and took the pole from him. “Give me this.” I fixed the line and hooked a worm before handing it back to him.

“You do that with such ease,” he said, admiring my handy work.

“I’ve been fishing with my dad since I was three,” I replied. “He taught me everything. Not to brag, but I can also change my own oil in my car and play the piano, thanks to him.”

“You play the piano?”

“Well, not really. I can only play the happy birthday song, but he taught me that.”

Penn chuckled. “Is that how you knew what was going on with my car?”

We stepped over to where the water met the sand, and I set my pole on the beach. “Yep.” I stepped behind him. “Care if I help you cast?”

He shook his head. “I guess it appears I could use the help.”

I snickered and wrapped my arms around him. The moment our bodies touched, I felt an electrifying tingle shoot through me. One that I didn’t expect or want any part of, so I shook it off and refocused.

“You kind of swing back like this”—I helped him move his body—“and then release.”

The perfect cast flew into the creek, and I stepped back. I picked up my own fishing pole and cast it next to his. I didn’t like how easy it was becoming to be around him and how the awkwardness in making conversation had dissipated. We both stood side by side, silent for a moment, and I wondered if he had felt the shock too.