Page 30 of One Night

I gestured toward my board. “This one should be big enough to hold us both, but we can also get you standing up on yourown.” She smiled as I closed up the dry bag. “It’ll be fun, I promise.”

I reached down and scooped up the life jacket I had picked up for her.

Her eyes flicked between the vest and me. “You brought me a life jacket?”

I shrugged. “It was no big deal.”

It was actually a pretty big fucking deal because after I got a narrow-eyed look from the curious checkout clerk, I’d had to lie to the old woman’s face and tell her it was for my sister.

Sylvie slipped it on, and I helped her adjust the straps so that it fit her properly. I patted her side, letting my pinkie graze the sliver of bare skin at her waist. “Perfect fit.”

She hummed in agreement and fiddled with the straps again as I slipped on my own vest and tossed the cross-body dry bag around my shoulder.

Sylvie pulled on the small whistle attached to her vest by a stretchy cord. “A whistle?”

“Well, I can’t go losing you out there.”

She lifted one sculpted eyebrow. “Well, I’m not planning to go far from you, so hopefully I won’t need to use it.”

I’m not planning to go far from you.

I liked that.

I liked that too much.

She followed as I waded into the crisp Lake Michigan waters. After we got past the first few rocky feet of the shoreline, the lake bottom transformed into soft sand. My toes curled into it.

Once we were knee-deep, I stopped and positioned the paddleboard between us. From the end of the paddleboard, I ran my hand down the rope leash until I got to the ankle strap. “This is what keeps the board close to you if you fall off.” I tapped my fingers on the top of the paddleboard. “Prop your leg up here.”

Her eyes held mine, but she did exactly as she was told. I watched as water ran in rivulets down her calf and pooled beneath her feet.

Jesus Christ, it’s just an ankle.

I steadied my breathing as I opened the ankle strap and wound it around her, securing it in place. I flipped the rope end over the board, and Sylvie slipped her leg back into the water.

Her eyes looked a bit worried. “Is it hard?”

As a fucking rock.

I tipped my head to the side in a shrug. “It’s not easy, but I’m here to help you. I’ll hold it steady while you work your way onto the top.”

I held the board by the edges and guided it so that the center point of the board was in front of her. “You’re going to want to keep your hands on the side of the board to stabilize it, but I’ll help hold it steady. Work your way onto the board so you’re kneeling.”

A determined line formed between Sylvie’s eyebrows as she nodded once. As I steadied the board, she did exactly as I’d instructed her. Her right hand came between mine, and her left gripped on the opposite side. Carefully she maneuvered herself onto the board until she was kneeling.

She let out a satisfied huff.

“That was perfect. Now keep your hands on the sides and slowly move one foot at a time. You’re not going to just pop up right away. You’re gonna start by keeping your knees bent—almost in a squat—until you feel steady.”

“Like this?” Sylvie slowly raised one knee as I struggled to keep respectful eye contact. The muscles in her legs worked as she wobbled, and she let out a small squeak.

“Don’t worry. I’ve got you.”

She released a shaky breath as she attempted to move her other leg until she was in a squat.

Keeping my voice calm, I continued my instructions. “Now when you’re ready, slowly stand up.”

Sylvie started to rise, and as she released her hands, she began to wobble. Instinctively, one hand shot out, gripping Sylvie’s leg around the lower part of her calf. Her smooth skin was like a brand on my palm as my thumb stroked her. “I’ve got you, you’re all right. Slow and steady.”

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