“It’s nothing.”
Sure, sure. However, my instincts and knowledge of this man told me not to push and drive him deeper into his silent brooding.
“Just being here with you makes everything better.” Catching my hands, he pulled me to my feet. His bear hug crushed me against his chest, and then he scooped me up, already in motion, heading toward my bedroom. “Back to bed. We have an early morning.”
Rearing its ugly head was a classic case of avoidance tactics, so I’d bide my time. Tomorrow we’d be on the water, which was his happy place. Once he’d relaxed, maybe he’d be willing to share whatever torment disturbed his sleep night after night.
Jake set his small pack on the chair, then wrapped his arms around me from behind as I put the finishing touches on the food stash for our paddle trip up the coast.
“Who was that on the phone?” I smothered a yawn. “Geez, five feels early this morning.”
“Greg. He’s battling the flu, so a day in a kayak would be too much.” He turned me, cupping my face. “You don’t have to come if you’re not up for it.”
“No, no. I’m fine. Besides, it’s safer with a paddling buddy.” I ran my thumbs in a gentle arc across his cheekbones. The deepening of the dark circles underneath those red-rimmed eyes was surely the after effect of the two hours of restless half-sleep following his startled awakening at three. I wasn’t even sure I’d slept at all. “Are you sure you’re up to this? You look exhausted.”
“I’m okay.” His faint smile did little to reassure me. “A day on the water is just what I need. Are you ready?”
“Almost.” After a quick kiss, I hurried into the bedroom and yanked open my top drawer to sift through my socks. All through my shift yesterday, I’d been looking forward to having a full day with Jake. Now I wouldn’t even have to share his attention.
“Can I borrow your laptop? I need to do a final check on the weather before we get on the water, and this thing,” he said as leaned in the doorway, waggling his phone, “is dead again. I need a new one.”
“No problem. You know the passcode.” After stuffing the change of clothes and extra socks into the dry bag on the bed, I stopped to straighten the duvet and plump up the pillows. Glancing over my shoulder, I picked up the sweatshirt Jake had slung over the chair and pressed my face into the soft cotton, inhaling deeply. I’d spent an interminably long week missing the man while he lived his life on the opposite coast, and this little reminder that he was here soothed me.
The slight whisper of feet against the floor made me look up. I folded his sweatshirt and set it on the chair, wrinkling my nose at the man standing in the doorway. “Oh, is the weather turning?”
“It’s passable, but we should go as it might rain later. The bonus is that the waterways should be quieter today. If I’m to get those samples today, I have to leave. You sure you want to brave it?”
“I won’t melt from a little rain. Give me two minutes, and I’ll be ready.” No way would I pass up a full day alone with Jake. Anyway, I’d committed to digging for the truth. To move forward, we needed to delve into the past.
Three hours into the trip, and I was in deep concentration, intent on keeping up with Jake, whose strokes were clean and strong as he skimmed across the water. The man could put on the power, and the sight of his taught muscles straining under his paddle gear certainly made for pleasant viewing.
He glanced my way. “Let’s pull up here. Time for a break,” he said, turning toward the rocky beach.
The rays of late morning sun filtered through greyish clouds, and I shielded my eyes with one hand, squinting toward the shoreline.
“Almost there.” Jake smiled, lightening both his expression and my mood. “Don’t give up now.”
“Wasn’t planning on it.” I set my lips in a flat line as I fought the grin. “Race you.” My kayak shot across the waves as I dug my paddle in deep, pouring my last dregs of energy into the drive toward shore.
Jake’s hearty laugh echoed across the water behind me. “Good thing you got a head start. I’m coming for you.” The bow of his red kayak caught my eye just before he skimmed past. “Still can’t beat me.” He smirked as he pulled his craft onto the beach.
“Yeah, yeah.” I jabbed him with my elbow as I stowed my kayak beside his. “Such a tease.”
“But you still love me.” He winked as he slung an arm around my waist.
I shoved him lightly before retrieving my pack and the thermos of coffee.
Several feet above the beach we found a large flat rock to perch on. I offered him one of the loaded turkey ciabatta buns and opened the container of veggie sticks.
“Thanks.” He took a bite of his sandwich and scanned the horizon. “Look.”
I leaned in and peered down his arm toward the seals cavorting in the water. “They’re so cute.”
“If we keep watch, maybe we’ll see otters.”
I munched on a carrot, motioning at the seagull as it hopped up the beach toward us, its beak open and its beady eyes trained on my loaded ciabatta. Scooping it up, I cradled it close. “None for you. Go catch a salmon or something.”
“Yeah, that’ll convince him.” Jake chuckled. “Good thing it’s not fish and chips.”
I shuddered and hunched my shoulders, my skin crawling. Those long wings flapping around my head, beating against my face as that greedy gull swooped in to snatch my portion of crispy battered Halibut straight from my fingers, was something I’d never forget.
“You’d think you were being
