Chapter 15
FIFTEEN
My plan had involved the five of us—no matter how reluctant Hayley was—floating out to the middle of the lake and gossiping there for an hour, no doubt incurring glares from Preston as he sat on the shore and internally raged about losing the most amazing woman in the world.
That was not quite how things worked out.
It seemed we weren’t the only authors who wanted to kayak.
The others heard us planning and invited themselves.
Since I didn’t care if others participated and we didn’t own the lake, there was no need to stop them.
The outing turned into a big excursion, especially when Preston suggested he go with us and even lobbied the idea of taking Daisy with him in a tandem kayak.
In my estimation, double kayaks were akin to hellish torture. The Cenobites had nothing on trying to steer with another person working against you. Unfortunately, there was a single-kayak problem once everybody hopped on the author-floating train.
“The only way this works is if the two engaged couples also take double kayaks,” Preston said in his oiliest voice. I didn’t look up but could feel his gaze on me. “You don’t have a problem with that, do you?”
Of course I had a problem with that. Steering a kayak with another person, especially on a lake instead of a river, was freaking painful.
No offense to Bella, but she didn’t look all that athletic.
She was tiny. She wouldn’t have a lot of muscle to offer.
I was totally fine doing all the work, but she would try to help because that was her way. That’s where things would get ugly.
I wouldn’t let Preston think he’d won though.
“Sure,” I answered automatically. “I would like nothing better than to be with my Bellarino in a kayak for the next few hours. It will allow me to whisper sweet nothings into her ear at regular intervals.”
As if to prove it, I leaned closer to Bella. “Jason Voorhees is better than Michael Myers,” I said in a whisper that Preston couldn’t make out.
Bella burst out laughing then caught herself when Preston frowned. “We’ll be fine,” she assured Preston. “It’s not a big deal.”
“It’s difficult to steer a tandem kayak with two people,” he argued, handing her a paddle. “You have to be totally in tune with the other person to make it work.”
Bella made an exaggerated face. “Did I ever mention that my mother used to be part of a group that kayaked on the bay in witch outfits?” she asked out of the blue.
I stilled, surprised by not only her tone but also the story she was telling. “No,” I replied.
“I was actually talking to Preston.” Bella shot me an apologetic look. “He never wanted to hear stories about my mother.”
“That’s not true.” Preston had the gall to look wounded. “I thought your mother was a lovely woman.”
“Right.” Bella rolled her eyes, clearly not believing him. “Anyway, several times a year—the biggest event being in October whether it was cold or not—my mother’s group of friends—”
“Flakes,” Preston corrected for Daisy’s benefit, earning an understanding nod from her.
“Her friends,” Bella stressed, irritation rippling over her ridiculously cute features. “They all got into kayaks in their full makeup and outfits. They had sparkle necklaces and even put lights on the kayaks. Then they would go out on the bay and wave at everybody they passed.
“We’re talking the people at the restaurants or out on the Derby Wharf,” she continued, a smile on her face that melted everything inside of me.
This memory was a good one, and she was grabbing onto it with both hands.
“When I was little, she would put me on her lap in the kayak. When I was older, we rented a double kayak so I could dress up, too, and be part of the show.”
Suddenly, I wasn’t as worried. I’d underestimated her, and for that I felt guilty. She wasn’t a novice.
“We did it every year,” Bella said. “Then, when I got older, my friends and I did it every weekend. My mom dated the guy who rented the kayaks, so he would give them to us for free once all of his reservations had been fulfilled on weekends. I got to be pretty good.”
Preston glowered at her, and I grinned.
“Well, then I think we’re going to make quite the team,” I said to her.
“Don’t count on it,” Preston shot back, forgetting his manners. “I used to be part of the rowing team at Yale.”
Bella’s brow wrinkled. “I saw the photos. I don’t ever remember you actually participating in a single event, though. I thought that was just so you would have something to list on your résumé.”
If looks could kill, Bella would have dropped dead right there. Preston was practically foaming at the mouth he was so angry.
“I guess we’ll have to see on the lake, then,” he spat.
Bella merely smiled. “Whatever floats your boat.” She laughed at herself. “In this case, that’s literal.”
AN HOUR LATER, WE WERE DRESSED in tank tops and shorts and dragging our kayak to the water.
“I’m not going to give you a hard time,” I said as she prepared to get into the front of the kayak. “How much were you exaggerating when you got into your little tiff with Preston, though?”
I braced myself for her answer.
“I don’t exaggerate,” she replied as she settled into her spot. She was in the front, so it made sense for me to push us in before hopping in myself—I had much longer legs. “The only time I lie is when I’m writing.”
I smirked. “Seriously?”
“I’m amazing. Do you want to know why?”
She seemed to have a point when asking the question, so I had to think about it. “Lay it on me,” I said finally.
“When I was a kid, I used to watch AMC’s Halloween lineup constantly.”
Her smile told me I was going to find joy in her answer, so I waited her out.
“I watched newer horror movies like Scream and I Know What You Did Last Summer.”
“The former was much better than the latter,” I replied automatically.
“Totally,” she agreed. “Except for the Sarah Michelle Gellar chase scene. That was…” She held her fingers to her mouth in a chef’s kiss.
“That was pretty good,” I agreed.
“You’re sidetracking me.” She gave me a dirty look.
“We can talk about that stretch of horror once we’re on the water.
The point I was trying to make is that I watched old horror movies during that time.
I was young—probably too young to be watching those movies—but my mother was always giving tours in October, so I watched movies to entertain myself. ”
She took a deep breath. “I saw Friday the 13th for the first time back then, and toward the end of the first movie, there was a scene that traumatized me for a good year.”
Realization dawned on me, and I smirked. “You learned how to kayak because the main girl in the first movie was attacked from underwater while floating in a boat.”
“I always took that scene as a dream, especially given the opening of the second movie, but yes,” she confirmed. “I didn’t just learn how to kayak so I can pass muster. I can dominate.”
I wanted to kiss her, and for more than one reason. “Let’s do this.” I gave the kayak a solid push and hopped in behind her. We had momentum on our side, so we were out before everybody else.
Behind us, I could hear Bree and Brody arguing.
“I know you’re the man, and that means you’re technically stronger, so you think you should be in the back of the boat. But I have a much better sense of direction,” Bree argued.
“I read up on this while we were waiting for the kayaks to be ready,” Brody argued. “I totally know what I’m doing.”
“Did you make a list?” Bree guessed.
“Why does that matter?” Brody sounded exasperated.
“I’m going to kill Nathan when this goes sideways,” Bree groused. “What a mess.”
Another voice chimed in. Hayley, already out as far as we were in her solo kayak, started singing a song. “Row, row, row your boat, gently up the stream.” She had a terrible singing voice, so everything was cracked and uneven when she hit the merrily refrain.
Bella raised her eyebrows and looked over her shoulder. “Speaking of horror movies,” she said on a laugh.
And I wanted to kiss her again.
She’d been nervous when first meeting us, and my protective instincts had kicked into high gear. I’d assumed she was this quiet, sweet, intelligent woman who didn’t have a mean bone in her body. She wasn’t a bully or anything, but she had a diabolical sense of humor, and I adored that about her.
She was funny, charming, and biting with an insult. What was not to like? I saw fear in her, but I had no doubt it would go away the second Preston was well and truly out of her life. She was trying so hard, and when she let loose, she was breathtaking.
That tool just wouldn’t let her go.
One way or another, I would make sure he did.
We kept going, paddling in tandem. She understood steering and never once barked out an order. I found I didn’t have to either. Our movements worked well together even though her stroke was so much shorter than mine due to the length of her arms.
“How are we so good at this?” I asked, not meaning to say that thought aloud.
“I think we’re just on the same wavelength,” she replied, not looking back. She had her face tilted up to get some sun even though I’d watched her lather on half a bottle of sunscreen before we left.
“It’s the horror movies,” I said. “You do realize, if there really is a zombie apocalypse, we’re going to have to sacrifice most of the others to make our escape.”
“Oh, totally,” she agreed, not missing a beat. “Bree and Brody would be dead weight.”
“Hey!” Bree barked from somewhere behind us, causing me to swivel quickly. They weren’t all that close, which had me wondering how she’d managed to hear us.
“Sound carries on the water,” Bella supplied without me asking. “This is a lake, not a river. There would be ambient cover out there. Not as much on a lake.”
“So I should watch what I say about the inverted penis you used to date,” I guessed. “That’s what you’re saying, right?”