Page 65 of Tempting the Heart

This was precisely the problem. They did exist and would become an integral part of Mae’s life if this thing between us went somewhere.

I pushed my paddle through the water, quickening my pace to meet up with Mae. I just needed to spend time with her instead of worrying about our future. After all, I was only here for another week.

“You look like you’ve done this a time or two,” she said, admiring my skills.

“I have a paddleboard back in Wisconsin. My house is on a lake, so it makes it easy.”

“Sounds beautiful.”

I nodded. “It is.”

My eyes fell along the curves of her body, and she chuckled.

“Like something you see there, big fella, or…?”

I laughed and brought my gaze back to hers. “That obvious?”

She nodded. “And I kinda love it.”

Mae kept the paddle in one hand and held out her other.

I took a deep breath, feeling a mixture of calm and exhilaration as our fingers intertwined with one another.

“This is highly technical, you know. Not many could pull this off,” I joked as the water bobbed both of our boards in unison.

“Just don’t sneeze or make any sudden moves,” she warned.

“Right. I’ll try not to lean over and kiss you.”

“I dare you.” Her brows rose in a challenge.

I shook my head. “You know what happens when you dare me.”

She smiled and nodded. “I do. I generally get kissed.”

“Is that something you want?”

Mischief flittered through her gaze. “Yeah. I think I do. Let’s see if you can pull it off.”

I looked down at the paddleboards and attempted to gingerly move my board closer to hers as we dipped and swayed with each breeze. Keeping my knees relaxed and my core solid, my eyes caught hers when I was less than a foot away.

“Ready?”

She smiled. “Mm-hm.”

I barely leaned and gingerly craned my neck as I went to kiss her, but I missed.

The paddleboard shot out from under me as I crashed into the water. My head went under, and I bobbed up quickly with the life vest as laughter rolled off my lips.

“Oh, my word. Are you okay?” Mae asked between tears and laughter.

She held out her paddle, which I grabbed onto. Mae pulled me over and kneeled on her board as I crawled on between laughter.

“Now, I can kiss you.” Mae’s green eyes were wide and expectant as my lips found hers. The sweetness of her lips was intoxicating as hope and excitement coursed through my veins. Her fingers tangled in my wet hair as our kisses slowed until she broke free.

“Your lips are freezing.” She smiled. “Ready to grab your board and go in to shore?”

“Absolutely.”

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