You’ve made it this far, and now you’re nearly at the finish line. All you have to do is exactly what he said. Steer the boat into the wave and paddle slowly.
Yet receiving the instructions remained a completely different matter than executing them. If she stayed floating aimlessly at sea, would one of the members of staff come and get her? Sabrina squinted toward the shore, then back to her paddle.
Just try to imitate what he did. He said it was easy.
“On the count of five, you’re going to be brave and literally go with the flow,” she muttered.
Sabrina counted down aloud and willed herself to move, her muscles rigid and tense. The water transitioned from calm to choppy. Second-guessing herself, Sabrina’s strokes grew increasingly sloppy and frantic. The kayak began to rock violently from side to side. One moment she was right side up, and the next thing she knew, the boat had tipped upside down. Her body was thrown from the kayak.
She could feel the force of the water moving around her as she was caught in the surf. Her chest heaved and burned. She needed air. Flailing, Sabrina kicked and reached the surface, gasping. Saltwater entered her mouth, stinging her eyes. The yellow life jacket she wore kept her buoyant.
Yet as the next set of waves moved in, she was once again pulled back under the water. Her head bobbed up and down, and she greedily took in air where she could. She needed to get out of the surf. Adrenaline pumping, Sabrina used every ounce of strength she could muster and forced herself to start swimming.
Suddenly, the muffled voice of a man yelled, “Raise your arms up. I have you.”
Exhausted, she lifted her left arm and was unceremoniously yanked from the water into the back seat of a longer, higher-end two-person kayak. Her pulse pounded. Her ears were filled with water. Her eyes stung. Every muscle in her body twitched from exertion. She started coughing as the man rowed the boat with surprising speed and agility out from the danger zone to a calmer area of water.
“Thank?.?.?. you?.?.?. for?.?.?. the?.?.?. rescue,” she wheezed, leaning over and resting her hands on her knees, catching her breath. “Have. To. Get. Kayak.”
A water bottle was placed in her hands. The voice instructed her to drink it slowly. Sabrina tipped her head back and let the cool liquid soothe her cracked lips and parched throat.
“Sabrina, the runaway kayak is only a few feet from the beach. If it does float away before the touring company has collected it, I’ll happily go and collect it on your behalf.”
That voice! Lorenzo! Oh no! Did he just see me make a fool of myself?
She jerked her body upright. “Lorenzo?”
“In the flesh.” The sun reflected off his brown locks, turning them a golden shade. He wore mirrored sunglasses and a short-sleeved black wet suit with a blue life jacket. “Easy now.”
My life is turning into a real-life Austen novel. Bleak financial situation? Check. Introduced to a member of the upper classes? Check. Rescued by said gentleman? Check. What’s next?
“I didn’t recognize you.”
“Understandable. You flipped your kayak over and your focus was elsewhere. You were doing well until you panicked,” he said.
“How did you know it was me?” Sabrina wrung some of the water out of her ponytail.
“I didn’t until I pulled you from the water. I was watching your group attempt sea kayaking.”
“I was the worst one in the group.” Sabrina hunched. “I had hoped I might be competent enough after today’s lesson to try making it to some of the caves by Monterosso al Mare on my own, but now I don’t know.”
“Don’t let your first experience with kayaking put you off. Everyone has to start somewhere. You will be able to make it to the caves. I’ll even take you there myself.”
Sabrina looked up at Lorenzo through her eyelashes. “Do you often go kayaking?”
“I find that it is one of the best ways to clear my mind. Paddling is like a form of meditation.” Lorenzo accepted the empty water bottle from Sabrina and placed it on the floor.
“Did you row all the way here from Isola Nostrum?”
“Not today. I sailed into the harbor, then took my kayak out. Our conversation three days ago motivated me to take it out on the water. We’re fortunate I opted for the two-person kayak. My younger sister Lucia was supposed to meet me, but she canceled on me last minute.” Lorenzo raised his sunglasses. “I’m going to bring us in before the condition of the water grows worse. The tide is creeping in. I’m going to need you to trust me and sit tall and relaxed. I’ve done this many times.”
Without waiting for a reply, Lorenzo maneuvered the boat into the waves. Under his command, the boat skimmed atop the water effortlessly. Sabrina likened it to being a dolphin gliding through the water. He was a master. The ripped muscles in his arms bulged with every stroke he took with the paddle. Sabrina held herself rigid until the boat gently entered the shallower water. Only then did she feel it was safe to move.
“Here we are.” Lorenzo jumped out and guided the kayak onto the sand. For the first time, she could see his powerful, massive quad muscles and sculpted calves.
From all the kayaking, swimming, and whatever other sports he participates in, I bet.
She climbed out of the boat and stepped onto the sharp, rocky sand. She babied her steps, as if the rocks were hot lava.
