She sighed.“I’d love to have one myself.I love animals.My parents just never had the gene, I guess.”
“I always think there’s something wrong with anyone who doesn’t like dogs,” I replied honestly as she turned to face forward and Ranger made himself comfortable on the back seat.
“I think you might just be right,” she mused.“So, I have to tell you, I’m not experienced with boats.So in terms of being your first mate, you’re sort of up a creek.”
I chuckled.“We’ll manage.The lake is calm, and there’s a speed limit, so it’s a nice chill way to introduce you to boating.I brought a paddleboard too, if you feel like going out.”
She grinned over at me.“Sounds fun.I tried it once in Maui.”
“The ocean is much harder.This’ll be a piece of cake,” I assured her as we left town limits and began to ascend the mountain road that led to one of three lakes in the nearby area.This one had the easiest dock to unload on.
“This is beautiful,” she marveled as she gazed out the window at the craggy mountain range and aspen tree line that surrounded us.
I’d always thought so, but seeing it through her eyes, as though for the first time, I appreciated it in a new way.
“Wait ’til you see the water.”I grinned over at her, glad I could be the first to show her some of the best that Green River had to offer.
“Thanks for inviting me.I think it’s just what I needed,” she murmured, and I sensed there was more to that story but didn’t press.For now.
We drove in comfortable silence.I didn’t know her as well as I planned to, but she seemed particularly introspective this morning, and I left her to her thoughts as we neared the dock.
I backed in without a problem, and it wasn’t long before I was cutting the engine and we were hopping down from the truck.
She helped by carrying the paddle as I lifted the paddleboard and hitched it up to the back of the boat.I grabbed the cooler I’d packed in a rush and her tote, then helped her onto the boat as Ranger jumped on.
She laughed in delight as I turned on the motor and we made our way out onto the lake.
“This is awesome!”Her smile wide and her eyes bright, her joy hit me straight in the gut.
With her standing next to me at the helm, I navigated us around the lake, pointing out key landmarks along the way.“This is more of a local spot, so it tends to be less crowded,” I explained as I raised a hand in greeting to one of the few boats we’d passed.
“It’s beautiful.”She sighed, looking overhead at the pair of ospreys that circled.“How long have you had the boat?”
“A few years,” I replied.“We had one growing up, and some of my best memories were our days on the lake.But my dad got tired of keeping it up, and once we all got older, he sold it.It had been a dream of mine to get one of my own that I could share with my siblings.So, as soon as I started to see some success, this was my first big purchase.It’s technically mine, but my siblings borrow it whenever they want.And frankly, with my travel schedule the last few years, they’ve gotten more use out of it.”
She nodded thoughtfully.“Do you have a tour coming up?”She winced, her cheeks flushing.“Sorry if I should know that.”
I chuckled.“Somehow my ego will survive,” I assured her.“And no, no tour dates set yet.Gotta get the album out first.You want to get some rays for a bit and then maybe hit the paddleboard?”
At her nod, I dropped anchor, and she headed to the back of the boat, spreading out a towel.When she took off her shorts and tank, leaving her in a yellow bikini, I nearly swallowed my goddamned tongue.
The woman had an incredible body—long, lean legs, lush hips, full breasts—and when she turned around, I had to fight an audible groan.Her delicious ass would fit perfectly in my hands.
I gave myself a mental shake, knowing my swim trunks would do little to hide my body’s reaction if I didn’t get a handle on myself.Focusing on my own clothes, I whipped off my shirt and was gratified to see her fight her reaction to my bare torso.I’d never been so grateful that I kept myself in shape and logged so many hours in the gym.
She stretched out on her back, and I couldn’t resist letting my gaze sweep appreciatively over her gorgeous form.
“How’s that coming?The album, I mean.”She looked over at me as I sat beside her, elbows braced on my bent knees, Ranger lying alongside me.
“Well, up until a few days ago, very slowly.Then I met this absolutely captivating girl who gave me some inspiration.”I winked down at her.
“Glad to be of service, I guess?”She laughed, clearly uncomfortable with praise.
“Whoever was in your life before me had their head up their ass,” I muttered.
“Why do you say that?”She looked confused.
“Because as gorgeous as your blush is, it tells me no one’s spent the time they should telling you how amazing you are.”
