Page 6 of Wrong Turn, Right Bear
“Sorry?” He raised one brow in a perfect arch, a skill I didn’t possess.
I cleared my throat. “Yes, safety is important.”
Ash gave me a look I couldn’t decipher as he handed me the PFD. I put it on and he adjusted the straps, his fingers brushing over my water proof clothing. I shivered, which could have been because thewind had picked up. But I was convinced there was magic in those fingers.
There were stories from the past of healers who lived in the forest and created potions from herbs and other plants. Maybe Ash’s family had that skill.
He gave instructions on what to do if I fell off. “Hold the kayak and float.”
We placed my kayak half in the water and Ash steadied it while I sat in it. He handed me the paddle and said he’d be right beside me. With a push, my kayak was skimming over the surface of the water. There was no need to look for Ash because he was right there, offering words of encouragement.
“Your kayak is your friend, not an enemy. You don’t have to conquer or capture it.”
There was a moment I almost dropped the paddle, but Ash’s reflexes were so speedy, he caught it before it hit the water.
The kayak might not have been my friend yet, but the lake was. It was so smooth, not a ripple, allowing me to skim over it while Ash talked me through the different routines.
“Relax, Theo. You’re so tense. It’s okay.” His reassuring smile had the tension leave my shoulders and my grip on the paddle lessened a tad.
“You’re doing great.”
Ash pointed out land on the far side of the lake thatsome of his extended family owned. I wondered what they did to earn a living. Other than tourism and perhaps logging, I didn’t see how people could sustain themselves and their families.
“I think we’d better turn back.”
“What? So soon?”
“It’s been over an hour and your nose is a little pink. You don’t want to be holed up inside for the rest of your holiday.”
Damn, I hadn’t put on enough sunscreen.
With help from Ash, I turned the kayak by paddling on one side. Go me!
“That was fun.”
We stood on the shore after dragging the kayaks into the shed. I should have booked another lesson for this afternoon, but I’d arranged to go on a hike. It was with Ash’s company, but I doubted I’d be lucky enough to snag him as the tour leader.
“I’ll see you later. We have a small group today.” His offhand comment as he dropped me at the hotel brought about a mixture of emotions. I was just another client, and he was doing his job. But I’d get to see him again, though I wouldn’t have his undivided attention.
“Can I book another kayaking session tomorrow?”
He nodded. “I’m glad you’re so eager.” His broad smile reached his eyes, and his eyes were darkersomehow. It had to be the light. Eye color didn’t change.
Eager. Yeah, I was. But while I was proud of the skills I’d learned, I wanted to be with Ash again. And that was silly because I was only here for a week.
What could happen in seven days?
FOUR
ASH
I tossed down leftovers from last night and checked my watch. It was an hour before the hikes were scheduled to start.
There was no need for me to arrive early, just fifteen minutes ahead of time to ensure everyone was dressed appropriately. I once had a woman turn up in high heels who insisted she didn’t need boots, only to have her heel break ten minutes into the hike.
But today I was anxious to catch a glimpse of Theo, maybe at lunch or having a coffee on the terrace. It occurred to me this morning’s lesson may have tired him out, and he fell asleep. I could hardly bang on his door, insisting he paid for the hike so he better do it. I wasn’t his dad.
I pulled into the parking lot and waved to Chuck,the head gardener. He was a wolf shifter, and we often met in the woods after taking our fur.
