My fingers drum against the worn wood of the dock railing as scenarios spiral through my mind, each worse than the last. There’s no way this ends well. Koko will have to fire me, and I’ll be banished from Lublin Harbor.
I check my watch for what feels like the thousandth time. She’s late. The woman I’m supposed to be guiding – Rose, I think Koko said – should have been here ten minutes ago. Part of me hopes she won’t show up at all, sparing us both the awkwardness that’s sure to ensue. But another part, a part I’m trying hard to ignore, is eager to see her up close.
When I saw her yesterday, she was on the deck of Koko’s houseboat talking on her phone, laughing joyously. The sound had carried across the water, stopping me in my tracks. Even from a distance, I could see she was beautiful – short and curvy, with a smile that lit up her whole face. The sun had caught in her dark hair, revealing subtle auburn highlights. Just thinking about the vision she made makes my palms sweat.
A flash of movement catches my eye, and I spot her walking towards me, looking a bit lost. Her big brown eyes dart around, taking in the surroundings before landing on me. A smile breaks across her face, and she waves hesitantly. As she waves, the sleeve of her shirt slides down to reveal a glimpse of a couple of intricate tattoos.
“Are you Levi?” she calls out as she approaches. She’s wearing weathered cutoff jean shorts and a dark green t-shirt from the Albuquerque Rattlesnake Museum, decorated with a coiled snake poised to strike. Her hair is pulled back into a ponytail that swings as she walks towards me. A waterproof bag is slung over one shoulder.
I clear my throat, trying to find my voice. “You’re late,” I say, then immediately want to kick myself. Why did I lead with that?
Her smile falters and I feel like the world’s biggest jerk. “I’m sorry,” she starts to explain, her voice tinged with embarrassment. “I couldn’t find the harbormaster’s office. I accidentally went to the maintenance building first and?—”
“It’s fine,” I cut her off, wincing internally at how gruff I sound. “We should get started.”
By Thalassor’s Might, what is wrong with me? I take a deep breath, forcing myself to soften my tone. “I’m sorry,” I say, meeting her eyes. “Let’s start over. I’m Levi, and yes, I’ll be your guide today.”
Relief floods her face, and I feel some of the tension dissipate. “I’m Rose Ashford,” she says, extending her hand. “It’s nice to meet you, Levi.”
I shake her hand, trying not to focus on her soft skin against my calloused palm. “Before we begin, I need to ask about your swimming ability. It’s important for safety reasons.”
Rose nods, her expression turning serious. “I’m a decent swimmer. Not Olympic level or anything, but I can hold my own.”
“Good to know,” I say, leading her toward a nearby storage shed. “We’ll still need to get you fitted with a life vest. Safety first.”
As I help Rose into a life jacket, adjusting the straps to ensure a snug fit, I explain the plan for the day. “I thought we’d start with an easy kayaking tour along the coastline. It’ll give you a good overview of the area and its history. After that, we’ll stop for a picnic lunch that Koko prepared. How does that sound?”
Rose’s eyes light up with excitement. “That sounds perfect! I saw the kayak on the houseboat and am excited to get a chance to use it.”
Her enthusiasm is contagious, and some of my nervousness starts to fade. Maybe this won’t be so bad after all.
I lead Rose to the bottom of the boat ramp, where two kayaks are waiting. I help her into hers, steadying the boat as she settles in. “Have you kayaked before?” I ask, handing her a paddle.
She nods, gripping the paddle with confident hands. “A few times, but it’s been a while. I might be a bit rusty.”
“Don’t worry,” I assure her. “We’ll take it slow, and I’ll be beside you the whole time.”
I push off from the shore and guide us out of the marina. The rhythmic sound of our paddles cutting through the water is soothing, and I start to relax for the first time since I woke up this morning.
Rose trails her fingers through the water as we paddle. “This is warmer than I expected for Maine,” she says, surprise evident in her voice.
“The way the harbor’s situated creates a pocket of warmer water,” I explain, the lie coming easily. In truth, I know it’s Koko’s doing – she loves swimming in the ocean, and some time since founding Lublin Harbor, she’d gradually warmed the waters within her territory to a more comfortable temperature. Just one of the many ways she’d shaped this place to suit her needs.
We paddle in comfortable silence for a while, allowing Rose to get her bearings and find her rhythm. I steal glances at her when she’s not looking, admiring the determined set of her jaw and the way the sunlight plays off her hair.
As we round the first bend of the coastline, leaving the harbor behind, I clear my throat. “So, uh, what brings you to Lublin Harbor?” I wince internally at how awkward I sound, but Rose doesn’t seem to notice.
She smiles, her eyes scanning the shoreline as she speaks. “I’m an artist. I came here looking for inspiration and a change of scenery. Koko’s vacation rental package seemed perfect.”
An artist. That explains the way she’s been studying everything so intently. “What kind of art do you do?” I ask, genuinely curious.
“I’m a graphic artist, so I do a lot of commissioned work – whatever the client wants. But for fun, I mostly like watercolor paintings and sketches,” she replies. “I love capturing landscapes and seascapes. This place is like a dream come true for that.”
I nod, understanding completely. “It is pretty special here. Wait until you see what’s coming up around the next bend.”
As if on cue, we round the corner, and I hear Rose gasp. The coastline opens before us, revealing a stunning vista of rocky cliffs interspersed with small, hidden beaches. The water here is a deep navy blue, and a lighthouse stands sentinel in the distance on a jutting peninsula.
“Oh, wow,” Rose gasps, her paddle forgotten as she takes in the view. “It’s magnificent. Is that the Cape Vesna lighthouse?”
