Page 36 of An Irish Kiss
She shrugged into the jacket as she hurried to the boathouse, thankful she was wearing trainers and not heels, then paused as a couple drew close, holding a paddle.
“We found this on the shore.”
One guess who that belonged to.“Thanks.I’m going to find him now.”
Irritation battled fear.Seriously—what special kind of arrogance made an inexperienced tourist head off in a kayak without telling anyone?
She snatched the keys and undid the ropes that secured the speedboat kept for emergencies like this.They had all learned how to drive it, even if it had been a while since she’d taken it out.Where to start… She checked the fuel gauge, the anchor, then turned the ignition.A few seconds to warm, then she slowly increased the throttle, the wind whipping her hair.She shoved it out of her eyes.She hoped he could swim.But he was Australian, and all Aussies could swim, couldn’t they?
“Lord, keep him safe.Help me get there in time.”
Once clear of the rocks she negotiated the channel and powered the boat through to where the kayak was flailing, the current chugging it along, water slapping the sides, drenching the occupant.Aidan lifted his hand and waved, and for a second she was tempted to pretend she hadn’t seen him and leave him floundering.
“Come on, you’re bigger than that,” she muttered.
She slowed the boat, nearing the stricken kayak with the extremely embarrassed looking kayaker, who was now full body shivering as she cut the engine and grabbed a rope.Good.Maybe he’d learn to not arrogantly go full steam ahead.Guilt panged.God, I need more of Your grace.
Aidan met her gaze.“Th-thank you.Thank you so much.”
Okay, gratitude she could work with.She held up the rope.“Are you able to tie this to the metal ring on the bow?”
“The bow?”
She suppressed an eye-roll and pointed to the kayak’s front.“The front.”
“Uh, I’ll see.”He glanced at her.“I’m so sorry.”
Remorse she could work with too.“We’ll get you back soon, but first we need you to tie it up.”
“I lost the paddle.”
“I know.”
He peered at her.“How—?”
“Could you please just concentrate on tying it up?We can talk about what happened—and what should’ve happened—later.”
He looked chagrined at this, and despite his fumbles finally managed to tie it, while she double-checked she’d secured the knot on the boat.
“Uh, do you want me to stay in the k-kayak?”
She couldn’t restrain an eye-roll at that.“And what—have me drag you behind?What do you take me for?”
Judging from that expression he gave her, maybe she didn’t want to know.
Fine.She extended the metal ladder.“Can you make it up or do you need a hand?”
Was it bad that she was kind of enjoying this?Probably.But considering all he’d put her and her family through in recent days, she didn’t mind.Too much.
He grasped the metal ladder, and whether it was his shivers or something else he slipped.She flung her hand out, grasped his flailing one.Gritted her teeth as his weight slammed her against the handrail lining the edge.“Ow.”
“I’m really sorry.”
“Stop being so sorry and just get in.”
“I’m t-t-trying.”
“I thought you were tougher than this.”
