Page 113 of The Promise Of You

That would be a no, but I’m not sure why he’s asking, so I safely settle for “Um…”

“I’ll pick you up in two hours. Taking you to the lake.”

thirty-four

Chloe

“In two hours?” It’s morning, and he wants to go to a lake already? I wasn’t at the restaurant yesterday because of the fair. I need to show my face today, or my staff is going to—

“I’ll bring you back by three. You’ll be there before the action starts. Plenty of time to do your office work and do admin work and help your staff.” He grins and slaps me playfully on the butt. “Now go get ready and pack a bathing suit.”

He arrives at the cottage an hour and a half later, and the Chevy does not disappoint. For a moment, I’m blinded, my eyes dancing between Justin in a tight tee and shorts, aviator sunglasses pushed over his head, and the car fit for a movie star, stretching forever, blue and off-white with some fantastic stripes and shining chrome. Moose is on the back seat, the car’s leather duly protected from the dog’s paws by several layers of moving blankets tucked neatly so as not to move.

“I did run this by Colton, by the way. He said it was okay to bring Moose in the car.” Justin takes my straw tote bag and holds the door open for me.

“He must really like you,” I say.

“I think he likes Moose better.” He shuts the car door softly after I’m in, leans in and kisses me. “And he thinks my truck isn’t good enough for you.” He rubs our noses together and dashes to his side, then roars the car to life.

“That’s because he doesn’t know how creative we can get in your truck.” I lean into him to drop a kiss on his jaw, then stay snuggled against him. “Though there’s something to be said about that bench seat. Definitely holds more makeout power than the truck.”

A big grin on his face, he sets his hand on my bare thigh and leaves it there, moving it only to change gears, as we cruise away from the cottage, through Emerald Creek, and toward the lake.

“Canoe or paddleboard?” Justin asks. We’re at ‘The Beach,’ an area tucked way up north on Emerald lake, where the shallow waters are what gave the lake its name and there’s actual sand.

Tucked at the edge of the woods that border this corner of paradise is a shack that rents paddleboards, canoes, and kayaks. A hut on the side serves ice cream and sodas. A couple of picnic tables complete the picture.

Everything else is pristine nature.

“Paddleboard, so we can keep an eye on Moose,” I say. “I don’t think I can go too far on a paddleboard.”

“Ever been on one of those?” Justin says, fists on his hips.

“Never.”

“Me neither.” He grins. “Hey, Mindy! How’s it going?” he asks the teenager coming out of the shack.

“Hey, Tinman! You guys doing SUP today?" she asks, referring to Stand Up Paddle. "Fuuuun!” she adds in an upbeat tone as she hands us each a life jacket. “All about balance.” She grabs a board under each arm and dashes to the water. “Grab the paddles!” she says over her shoulder.

“The energy of that kid! She makes me feel old,” I chuckle.

“Tell me about it.”

We follow her to knee-deep water. “Start by kneeling on the board. Place your knees on the deck, shoulder-distance apart, near the center of the board.” My first try, I slip back into the water. Second, I make it. Justin is already crouching on his board, trying to stand up.

Splash!

“You wanna paddle on your knees first,” Mindy says while Justin shakes the water off his body and hoists himself back up, water sloshing upward, his muscles now glistening in the sun.

My knees soften. He’s too distracting.

I manage to turn the board so I can’t see him anymore. I have no interest in getting wetter than I need to, and I don’t mean the sexy kind.

Should have thought about that before choosing SUP.

What can I say? Seeing Justin just makes me lose my focus.

Ten minutes later, Mindy’s laughing so hard it’s embarrassing. For both of us. We can’t stand on the freaking things. We just keep falling off. Moose barks. “Knees wider!” she repeats for the umpteenth time. “Hip distance apart. Closer to the center. There! Now. Lift yourself...” I do as she says—I think. But then I take a look at Justin, who’s in the same crouchy position as me, and I laugh again.

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