Page 111 of Reel Love

“That’s utterly romantic. Is that true?”

“It’s one theory—the one I like the best.”

“Hmmm.”

We sail out a little way under motor power until we’re in the open waters. I kill the engine and then we have to set the lines so the sails catch the wind. I’m only going to give her control of the rudder. I’ll manage the sails.

“We’re headed around the north point of the island to a cove on the edge of the back side shore. We’ll anchor there and snorkel. Come over here.”

Alana’s standing at the rail, her glasses stowed in her bag, her eyes closed and the wind hitting her face. She pivots when I call her and walks toward me.

“Take a turn at the tiller. I’ll be right here.”

She raises her brows like she’s questioning me, but she dropsinto my lap anyway. I place her hand on the tiller with mine on top.

“Relax and I’ll show you how to work this.”

She looks down at me and wags her brows.

I chuckle. “Don’t distract me.” I make an attempt to be serious despite the playful energy bouncing between us. “With a steering wheel, like the one in Joel’s boat, you turn left to go left, right to go right. With a tiller it’s the opposite. Like riding a horse. Have you ever ridden?”

“Yes. I have ridden a horse. I took lessons most summers. When I was fourteen I rode in a mini-series where I played a girl on a ranch.”

I shake my head in wonder at her and then I admit what I know. “A Slow Ride Home?”

She turns her head quickly to look straight at me. “You said you weren’t a massive fan.”

“Maybe I understated that a little bit.”

She grips my cheeks with both hands, causing me to hold the tiller alone, and then she plants a kiss on my lips.

“My biggest fan,” she says softly against my mouth.

“That, I’m sure I am.”

She kisses me again and I have to pull away so I can keep us on course.

“You’re going to capsize us if you keep that up.”

She giggles and my chest fills with something like laughing gas, only it’s soothing and sweet and I want to inhale her forever.

“Okay, I’ll be serious.” Alana places her hand on the tiller and I cover it with mine.

“Just guide the boat to the left or right, slowly.”

I wrap my arm around her waist and hold her on my lap while she pulls the tiller slightly to the right. We veer to the left and I tug the line just the slightest with my free hand.

“Steady,” I encourage Alana.

She leans back into me and I can feel when she’s needing lessof my guidance. But I keep my hand over hers anyway. I explain how to use the compass to guide us.

“We never merely rely on the things we see on the surface—like dark shadowy things, for example.”

She elbows me lightly.

“Our eyes may deceive us,” I explain. “And there are times, if you are sailing between two land masses where all you’ll see is water in every direction. The compass is all you have.”

She pulls her head back so she’s looking straight in my eyes. “I could use a compass in life.”

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