Ryan looked down and found Amaya next to him, her arms crossed over her chest. “What’s wrong?”
"I want to get better at skiing, but I also don't want to waste our time since we're only here for a few days."
"Four more days." Ryan held up his fingers. "We don't have to leave until Sunday."
Amaya's face brightened. "True."
Aelin glanced up at him from across the boat. A small smile had played on her lips all morning, and Ryan practically salivated at the realization that he’d put it there. What they’d done the night before had felt right. It hadn’t been lust, though that had certainly been there on the porch in the rain. He wasn’t craving some quick fix or release. Though again . . . he wasn’t not craving it.
But the order of things seemed to matter.
He watched Aelin’s parents, her mom’s hand on her dad’s knee each time she leaned in and yelled something over the roar of the engine. The way he looked at her every time he made a joke, hoping for her approval.
Marriage had never been just a piece of paper to him. Even ifKara didn’t understand the commitments they’d made anymore, he did. He wanted Aelin to know that he did.
"Kneeboard?" Amaya yelled across the boat to Bailey.
She gave her a thumbs up.
They played on the water until noon, then took the boat in to switch out drivers and riders. Ryan thanked Molly and Dave for chauffeuring them around, then helped set the life jackets out to dry on the dock.
“You better be careful,” Aelin said next to him. He looked up, worried he was doing something wrong. She laughed. “You’re being too helpful. They’re going to fall in love with you.”
Aelin held his eyes for one moment more, then turned and followed the girls down the dock.
Ryan stood, stripped off his shirt, and ran past her, dodging in front of her and launching himself off the dock with a yell.
The girls squealed with delight and jumped in after him. He surfaced and shook his hair out of his eyes. Bailey and Amaya chased after him in the water, and he took off toward the beach.
"You coming?" he yelled back at Aelin.
She huffed, then stripped off her shirt and shorts and dived in after them.
_____
Ryan held her that night. And the night after that. They never did more than map each other's skin and breathe together until they fell asleep.
They spent the mornings on the boat and the afternoons exploring the town and surrounding area. On Saturday they were tasked with finding wild huckleberries for pies. Aelin’s dad had made it sound like a treasure hunt, and the girls were instantly sold.
“There’s a trail on the other side of the house that sounds promising.” Aelin slipped on her hiking shoes, and they all filed out the door.
Amaya and Bailey ran ahead, and Ryan and Aelin fell into step next to each other on the narrow path that led from their back door through the woods.
Ryan glanced back at the porch.
Aelin noticed, and her cheeks flushed. “I think this is my favourite time I’ve ever come to the lake.”
“Hmm. Because Bailey’s older?” He tried to keep a straight face, but he cracked when she elbowed his ribs.
He didn’t have anything to compare it to, but the week had been the best one he could remember in years. The realization that it was Saturday, that the next day they’d be turning their phones on and driving back to Calgary, sent ice sliding down his spine.
They followed the trail until Amaya and Bailey stopped in front of them. Amaya turned, putting a finger to her lips.
Ryan and Aelin walked closer. A family of deer stood in a small clearing, their velvety noses twitching as they grazed on the foliage.
Ryan didn't move, the hairs on his arm lifting as Aelin’s skin brushed his. He’d touched her there.He’d touched her almost everywhere.
After a few seconds, the deer lifted their heads and looked directly at them. Ryan held his breath, waiting for them to bolt, but instead, they just regarded them with calm curiosity.Seems like you’re not alone.
