Page 5 of Wrong Turn, Right Bear
Did Ash have something on his hands I wasallergic to? Sunscreen, insect repellent, or moisturizer? Perhaps he’d touched a poisonous plant? My palm didn’t hurt as much as tingle. It teetered between pain and something else, but my brain couldn’t grasp what the second thing was.
Ash turned off the car.
“There are a lot of people.”
“Mmmm. Despite the cool weather, everyone flocks to the lake in the summer.”
I hugged my pack, putting a barrier between me and the public. “I suppose most people who live here can kayak like a pro.”
When he didn’t respond, I looked at my companion. A smile tugged at his lips. His eyes softened and held… maybe compassion. That was what I wanted to believe.
But us sitting in the car, in silence, gave me the opportunity to study Ash, who was more approachable than Ashby. His twinkling green eyes, the scruff on his jaw and the parted lips made my belly jiggle as it did on the plane. I wasn’t going to be sick but suddenly the air in the car was stifling and I pressed my nails into my palm, the one that had held Ash’s.
“It’s okay to lack confidence and be shy, but most people aren’t paying attention. Theydon’t give a damn.”
“Says you.” I jerked my head at him. “You’re an expert kayaker.”
“Nah. Just been doing it since forever.” He leaned closer so I got a whiff of his cologne. Though I’d never spent time in the forest, that was what it reminded me of. It held a hint of the scent outside my room when I arrived, which had been more potent last night. He had to have been in the woods this morning.
He did lead groups of hikers so perhaps there was an early morning option. I wasn’t a morning person and hadn’t considered any lesson before ten AM. But maybe I’d reconsider.
“Don’t worry. We’re not conducting your lesson here.” He pointed to a bend in the lake. “That’s where we’re headed. I have a boat shed on the bank and the area is much more secluded.”
Awww he got me and understood I was insecure about being laughed at.
I heaved out a deep breath. “I’m so glad.” I returned his smile with a grin. His eyes lit up and those green irises appeared darker than they did when we met.
Grabbing my pack, I strutted along ‘cause I’d gained confidence since I entered the car, though that would ebb away once I got in the kayak.
I followed Ash away from the crowds along anarrow lakeside path until we rounded the bend. The water was just as placid, but the voices and squeals were in the distance as though someone had used the remote to turn down the volume.
“I like this better than back there.”
“Thought you might.”
The next two hours sped by faster than I had imagined. We carried the kayaks from the boat shed to the side of the lake and the lesson began. If we’d been close to a café, I would have suggested coffee or hot chocolate in order to put off the lesson. But Ash was so easy to be with that my fears evaporated.
He explained he preferred the sit on top kayaks to the sit inside ones for beginners. I had no idea there were two types until he pointed out the differences between the two we’d brought out of the shed.
“The sit on top is easier to get into and out of.”
“Good.” If there was less chance for me and the kayak to go ass up, I was all for it.
He demonstrated how to sit in the kayak and allowed me to do it. It was so easy on land. Next he showed me how to hold the paddle but my technique wasn’t right, so Ash sat behind me, with me holding the paddle and his hand over mine.
His voice faded and I didn’t hear a word he said, but my heart sped up and sweat trickled down my spine even though it was cool. Goosebumps sproutedon my skin and the sweat slithered between the spiky flesh.
Ash’s cologne was even more pronounced than in the car, though that didn’t seem possible. His warm breath on the back of my neck had me wanting to lean my head against him.
There were skills needed to go forward and back and to turn and stop. But Ash’s voice was silky smooth and, as it washed over me, it almost lulled me to sleep. When I got into the water, I’d be reversing instead of going straight and going around in circles rather than heading back to shore.
“I think you’ve got it.”
Shame. I didn’t want to. Instead, I wanted my technique to be so bad that we had to practice all morning. It was on the tip of my tongue to ask him to show me once more, but he grabbed what he referred to as PFD.
“Your personal floatation device must fit snugly.”
“Oh, yes.” I was thinking of something else that would be snug inside me.
