Page 25 of Stolen Kiss

He wanted a woman who was that carefree with her smiles.

Jason stood next to his brother and sister-in-law, grateful that the locals didn’t care that Erica was Erica, the Oscar-winning actress and left her alone. They were able to enjoy life on the island relatively undisturbed.

Jason hadn’t ventured into town since the wedding and now that Heidi was receptive to his affection, he brushed aside why she’d changed her mind from eleven years ago and scanned the boats to find her face.

She was in the middle of the boat third in at the starting line. She wasn’t looking his way but then he didn’t expect her to be. She was rallying her team, he could tell by her posture, facial expression and fist pumps. A voice came over the tannoy but to everyone on the quayside it sounded like Charlie Brown’s teacher. A minute later, a flare gun shot into the air and they were off. The yelling and screaming was deafening, even with all his years watching gig racing, he’d forgotten how much people got into the semi-professional race at the end of the season. Heidi’s boat was pulling in front inch by inch leaving the rest behind. They had to row to an island uninhabited a mile away and then come back. On the return leg, Heidi’s boat was well in front and the three of them were jumping up and down cheering on Heidi like they were watching the Olympics.

A minute later, Heidi’s boat went over the finishing line and the whole quayside erupted. He was so proud she’d won and the other three boats had men which should’ve meant they were stronger. Keith stood up in his boat yelling at his sister that we want not going to play trivial pursuit. At least it narrowed down what she was talking about. It must be a family thing.

Just as Heidi stood up to yell back, the girl behind her swung her oar around and struck her on the side of the head. Heidi fell off the boat like a sack of spuds and a collective gasp rang out around the quayside. Jason didn’t wait. He shoved his way through the throng of the crowd to get nearer to where her boat was. It wasn’t safe to jump in where it was. When a gap in the crowd opened, he ran full pelt while not taking his eyes off Heidi. All but one woman jumped into the water and grabbed for Heidi who had sunk under the waves and pushed her back over the side of the boat. She was lying below the top of the boat and he couldn’t see what was happening. The other woman hand flung themselves back into the boat and a neighbouring team, headed by Keith, towed them back to the stone steps at the mouth of thedock. Jason arrived at the same time Heidi’s boat did. He raced down the steps, careful not to shove anyone in the water.

When he caught sight of her, he relaxed and then he got angry. She was laughing, sitting up on her elbows, swaying her feet from side to side. The other girls sagged against sides of the boat throwing various glances from happiness to pissed off. They were soaking wet and exhausted.

When he got nearer he heard her say, “we won, let’s celebrate.”

“Heidi Shaw, get your arse out of that boat so I can tan your hide. You scared your mother senseless.”

Jason looked behind him. The man was standing with his hands on his hips glared at Heidi. It was Mr Shaw.

“It’s okay dad, I’m fine. I passed out for like a second or two.”

The quayside was quiet waiting for his reply.

“Is that you, Jason Turner?”

All eyes swung his way. It was the second time he’d been in the middle of an Island event and now he was torn between waving and diving into the water to get away. Looking across the water he gauged how far it was to the other side to scramble up the hill to his cottage.

“Hi, Mr Shaw,” he said.

“Jason?”

His attention then went back to Heidi who was struggling to stand up. As soon as she did she fainted. Jason was down the steps and jumping over the side of the boat before her head hit the deck. Crouching down, he scooped her up in his arms.

“Hold the boat still,” he said to the women who had rescued her.

They did as he asked. He carried her off the boat and up the stone steps, to mutters ofhe’s hot.The crowd made a path for him to carry an unconscious Heidi. The wet from her clothing seeping through to his. But he didn’t care.

Freya skidded to a stop in front of them. “Follow me, I have keys to her place,” she said.

“I’m fine,” Heidi said opening her eyes.

“Thank the Lord,” Heidi’s dad said. “Don’t think this gets you out of making roast potatoes for tomorrow.

“Harold Shaw, hush your mouth. She has a concussion and needs constant care for twenty-four hours. I don’t want her at the oven making potatoes. We’ll do without.”

Mr Shaw gave his wife a glare that said clearly he did not agree. He hoped he had half the marriage they had if this was how they acted after thirty years of marriage.

“She’s made of hard stuff, Colleen she’ll be fine,” Harold Shaw said.

“Let me get her home and then we can assess the potato situation,” Jason said.

“Of course, let us know how she is will you?” Colleen Shaw said as she hobbled along at a slower pace and then stopped, leaning on her stick.

Jason briefly looked her way to see she was struggling but didn’t ask any questions. Freya was leading the way, making a path, yellingmake way, like she was from another era. But it worked.

Five minutes later Jason was laying Heidi on her sofa and then immediately picked her up.

“We should get her out of these wet clothes,” Jason said.

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