Take the Bait (Lake Mercury Lovers #2)

Chapter 1

Chapter One

Ace

There are very few things better than Lake Mercury before the tourists wake up.

The water is smooth as glass, the air still cool enough to feel like a gift.

No speed boats zipping by yet, no pontoon boats piloted badly by people who rented them twenty minutes ago, no kids shrieking off the swim dock.

Just open water and the soft rhythm of my kayak paddle and the kind of quiet that only exists before the rest of the world opens its eyes.

I dig in and settle into an easy stroke, cutting across the open stretch near Abner’s Point.

This is why I come out early. Before the marina opens. Before Mercury Slice starts selling breakfast pizza to fishermen and hungover tourists. Before the lake gets loud.

Right now, the only thing that matters is the pull of the water and the ache in my shoulders and the sun climbing up over the tree line.

Movement catches my eye off to the right—another kayak gliding across the water about twenty yards away, moving fast enough that I immediately know whoever's paddling isn't a typical tourist. The boat is low and sleek, cutting clean through the lake instead of wobbling across it, and the woman inside it clearly knows what she's doing.

Her strong shoulders work through each stroke without wasted motion.

Her long hair is braided and topped with a baseball cap to shade her face from the sun.

I keep my pace steady at first, mostly curious, but when I pull slightly ahead, she speeds up too. Just enough to make it clear it wasn't an accident.

A grin pulls at my mouth.

Most people on Lake Mercury paddle for fun.

This woman paddles like she's trying to prove something…

and apparently that something is that she refuses to let me beat her across open water before eight in the morning.

I speed up again. She matches me immediately, stroke for stroke, without even glancing over.

Game on.

I laugh under my breath as our kayaks surge forward side by side. We pass the old fishing dock, both of us digging harder with every stroke, water spraying lightly against my arms. She's still not looking at me, which somehow makes this even better.

I angle toward the red channel marker ahead and silently decide it's the finish line. A second later, she adjusts course too.

Yeah. She had the exact same idea.

My shoulders burn as I put real power into the next few strokes, but every time I gain half a length, she closes it again. By the time we reach the marker, it's nearly dead even. Nearly.

I coast to a stop, breathing hard. "Morning."

She turns her kayak toward me slowly, and for the first time I get a good look at her face.

Her cheeks are flushed from exertion, which just makes her sharp, dark eyes stand out even more.

A sheen of sweat glistens in the Cupid’s bow above her mouth, highlighting just how plump—and kissable—her lips are.

Damn, she’s beautiful. And without a stitch of makeup on.

She crosses her arms. "Do you always paddle like you're auditioning for an energy drink commercial?"

I bark out a laugh before I can stop myself. "It’s called exercise, sweetheart.”

"You were showing off,” she accuses.

"To who?" I gesture at the empty lake. "The fish?"

Her gaze flicks around briefly, confirming the total lack of audience, before returning to me. "And you got in my way."

“Is that so?” I raise an eyebrow. “It’s a pretty big lake for me to somehow be in your way."

One corner of her mouth twitches, and I feel a ridiculous swell of satisfaction over it. So, despite her best efforts, there’s a bit of interest there.

I let my kayak drift a little closer. "I'm Ace."

She rolls her eyes. "I know."

That catches me off guard a bit. “How?”

"It's Mercury Ridge," she says. "Everybody knows everybody."

And yet, I have no idea who she is. "Well, you've got me at a disadvantage."

She smirks. "Good."

I can’t help but grin. She’s a sassy one. "So, you’re not going to tell me your name?”

She dips her paddle back into the water, already turning away. "Maybe if you ever beat me fair and square."

Then she takes off, and she’s several lengths away before I find my voice.

“I did beat you!” I yell.

“Not a chance,” she yells back, her laughter echoing across the lake as she leaves me behind.

I can’t help but laugh too.

So much for a peaceful workout. Now I’ll be looking for her every day when I hit the lake.