There’s no way I’m getting in that canoe.
“There’s a life jacket at the front of the boat for you. If that’s what you’re worried about.”
“I don’t see how you get the canoe in the water if I’m sitting in it.”
Bennett chuckles. “Is that what you’re worried about? Flour, you weigh like a buck ten. I’ve got this.”
My mouth drops open in annoyance. I do not weigh a “buck ten.” I weigh at least a hundred and thirty-seven last time I stepped on a scale. When I can go more than a few days without sampling my own products, it’s one thirty-five. Regardless, now I’m stuck between a rock and a hard place.
I can’t argue with him about weighing more because…well then he’d know I weigh more. And no woman in the history of womanhood has ever admitted to a man she weighs more than whatever number he guessed. If I did, someone would be sure to revoke my woman card.
Actually, do women even have women cards? I don’t think so.
I’m about to argue, no longer fearful of getting in trouble for my actions, when Bennett pushes the canoe a little farther into the water with his foot. “There, now hop in.”
I don’t necessarily hop in anywhere. Me getting into Bennett’s canoe is about as graceful as a drunk water skier. The ugly brown life jacket snaps around my chest and I tighten the straps so well I lose the ability to breathe deeply. Bennett, with a giant heave, pushes the canoe into the water. My hands scramble to find the edges and I hold on with a death grip as he runs toward the water and then jumps into the boat while it rocks back and forth. A little water spills over the edge on one tip and I silently pray we’re in a sea-worthy vessel.
I squeal but try and keep any threats against his life to myself as the boat dips in and out of the water. Bennett takes his time and settles in, fastening his own life jacket, obviously unconcerned with tipping over.
The boat finally stops bobbing and I release my grip, but only by a small amount. There’s no way I’m letting go. “Are we canoeing somewhere?”
Bennett points to some spot directly behind me. “See that little area back there?”
I twist around as slowly as possible so I don’t move the boat too far to one side. A mile or so behind me — I’ve never been great with judging distance — looks to be a small island. Green trees or other shrubs mark out a small section in the horizon. “Yeah.”
“That’s where we’re going.” Bennett resumes paddling with the oars he brought along.
“That’s it?” He won’t give me another hint. An island?
He shakes his head laughing. “Fine, you made it this far. That tiny island is called Fort Gorges. Back in the 1800s the military built a fort on the lands. It boasted top-of-the-line technology, but then somebody went and designed a long-range gun and made the forts obsolete. It was never used.”
“Great example of government overspending,” I murmur under my breath and twist back around to keep my eye on the green island as we get closer.
“Fort Gorges is a prime example of how our government works,” Bennett laughs and splashes the paddle deep into the water. “Now, it’s a park. I figured we’d have a picnic.”
I whip my head back around. “You packed a picnic for me?”
“Yup. Liam helped, so some of our choices are rather interesting.”
“If this is a park, why did I need hiking boots?” I wait for Bennett to answer and slide back around to face him. I’d rather watch him paddle us to his little island than the beautiful view behind me.
“Well… I said it was a park. I didn’t say anyone mowed it.”
That sounds scary and like he’s hiding something, but I’m already in the boat and wearing the boots so there’s not much I can do about it now. I’m at his mercy out here. He could tell me the island is infested with man-eating clowns and there wouldn’t be much I could do to get away.
“Have you been here before?” I ask.
He hesitates with his answer and I immediately start thinking he has been here but he doesn’t want to admit it because he was here with a girl. And then my mind goes really crazy and starts picturing this girl. Was it Liam’s mother? Bennett has a picture of a blonde-haired woman holding Liam in front of a birthday cake, a big number two candle on top. Bennett stands behind her looking down at the two of them with a smile. Even though they were never a traditional family, they all look so happy. I tried my best to put the picture out of my mind, but at this particular moment the fact Liam’s mom was gorgeous is not lost on me.
Which then makes me feel about two inches tall because who gets jealous over what Bennett did in the past? Especially when Liam lost his mom. Thank goodness my grandma isn’t here to hear my thoughts. She’d be pulling out her rosary.
Bennett paddles more to the left turning us in a direction to the far part of the island. “Yeah, we used to do special nighttime training in the park after they’d closed down for the night.”
See Anessa? You’re crazy.
He goes back to paddling, none the wiser he’s sitting in a canoe with a crazy person. I laugh in my own head to deal with my shame. I’ve never been a particularly jealous person, but I also don’t want Bennett to have dated anyone else before me. Especially someone pretty.
A few minutes pass as Bennett continues the battle against the waves, and I attempt to stare at him without being caught. I’m in the midst of comparing his bright green eyes to the color of spring grass when he jerks. His hand points out to the island.
