parallel.
He started paddling again and she sat back to enjoy the sight. “You said you found the beach the other day. What were you doing over here?” They were coming up even with Vince’s cottage.
“I was checking with a fellow I know over at Water Lily Bay resort. He fixes all the boat motors in the area and I was hoping to get a part for one of our outboards.”
“Was he able to help you?”
“No, but I got it running until I can get the part from town.” He pointed ahead. “Now there’s the nicest place on the lake.”
Amanda composed her face before she looked.
“Yes, it’s lovely.” Vince had done one thing right; he’d built the cottage to blend in with the trees. Floor to ceiling windows glinted through the trees and a broad patio ran across the front, featuring massive planters and comfortable seating areas.
“I hear it’s owned by someone from Vancouver. He rarely uses it.”
Amanda smiled sadly. “Probably has deep pockets. If it was mine, I’d be up here all the time.”
His expression altered as he looked at the cottage. The change lasted only a moment and then he steered away, toward the opposite shore. “Well then, I’m glad it’s not yours. Because then I wouldn’t have met you.”
The call of a loon floated across the lake, answered a moment later by its mate.
“That’s a beautiful sound.”
“I love that sound.”
They both spoke at once.
Jackson stopped paddling and rested the paddle horizontally across the gunwales. Water dripped from the end like a string of crystal pearls. “Have you noticed how much we think alike?” he asked softly. The loon warbled again.
She nodded. He was breaking her heart, looking at her like that. She forced herself to maintain eye contact. “This wasn’t such a good idea.”
“You’re right” he said, “even though it’s what we both want.”
“Yes.” Her voice was little more than a whisper.
He picked up the paddle. “Well I for one am not going to waste this perfectly good evening. Besides, I’m hungry.” He eyed the picnic hamper. “What did you bring?”
This was a subject she could converse about. “Not much. Fried chicken, coleslaw, potato salad and sliced tomatoes.”
“What? No dessert?” His eyes drifted down her body for a moment, then he seemed to catch himself. “Not that it matters.”
“I brought some fresh peaches and some chocolate chip cookies.”
“Aha. You know the way to a man’s heart.” He looked ahead. “There it is.”
Moments later the canoe hissed up onto the sand. Jackson jumped out into the shallow water and steadied it. It was the first time she’d noticed that he was in bare feet.
“Where are your shoes?”
“Back at the resort. I figured I didn’t need them here.” He offered her his hand and she climbed out.
“Here. You take the blankets and the cushions. I’ll get the rest of the stuff.”
It took them no time at all to get settled.
“Do you mind if we eat?” he said. “I wasn’t kidding when I said I was hungry.” He gave her a sharp look. “I hope you’ll eat something too. You seem thinner in the past couple of days.”
“Are you trying to flatter me?” She fluttered her eyelashes, but ended up laughing.
He smiled. “No, seriously. I don’t want you to get sick.”
She stopped pretending. “I’ve been worried about Gran. I phone every day and they say she’s fine, but I worry about being here.”
He took a bite of chicken and groaned with pleasure. It was good to see him eat with such enthusiasm. “Did I see your car being towed today?”
“Yes, it was leaking oil. Good thing I looked.”
He put a piece of chicken and some salad on a plate and handed it to her. “Here, eat.”
“Okay.” It was good. They ate quietly for a few minutes.
Amanda wiped her fingers on a napkin. “Can I ask you something?”
He was still eating. “Fire away,” he said between bites.
“Why are you up here taking care of boats for Dave and Kathy? You
He started paddling again and she sat back to enjoy the sight. “You said you found the beach the other day. What were you doing over here?” They were coming up even with Vince’s cottage.
“I was checking with a fellow I know over at Water Lily Bay resort. He fixes all the boat motors in the area and I was hoping to get a part for one of our outboards.”
“Was he able to help you?”
“No, but I got it running until I can get the part from town.” He pointed ahead. “Now there’s the nicest place on the lake.”
Amanda composed her face before she looked.
“Yes, it’s lovely.” Vince had done one thing right; he’d built the cottage to blend in with the trees. Floor to ceiling windows glinted through the trees and a broad patio ran across the front, featuring massive planters and comfortable seating areas.
“I hear it’s owned by someone from Vancouver. He rarely uses it.”
Amanda smiled sadly. “Probably has deep pockets. If it was mine, I’d be up here all the time.”
His expression altered as he looked at the cottage. The change lasted only a moment and then he steered away, toward the opposite shore. “Well then, I’m glad it’s not yours. Because then I wouldn’t have met you.”
The call of a loon floated across the lake, answered a moment later by its mate.
“That’s a beautiful sound.”
“I love that sound.”
They both spoke at once.
Jackson stopped paddling and rested the paddle horizontally across the gunwales. Water dripped from the end like a string of crystal pearls. “Have you noticed how much we think alike?” he asked softly. The loon warbled again.
She nodded. He was breaking her heart, looking at her like that. She forced herself to maintain eye contact. “This wasn’t such a good idea.”
“You’re right” he said, “even though it’s what we both want.”
“Yes.” Her voice was little more than a whisper.
He picked up the paddle. “Well I for one am not going to waste this perfectly good evening. Besides, I’m hungry.” He eyed the picnic hamper. “What did you bring?”
This was a subject she could converse about. “Not much. Fried chicken, coleslaw, potato salad and sliced tomatoes.”
“What? No dessert?” His eyes drifted down her body for a moment, then he seemed to catch himself. “Not that it matters.”
“I brought some fresh peaches and some chocolate chip cookies.”
“Aha. You know the way to a man’s heart.” He looked ahead. “There it is.”
Moments later the canoe hissed up onto the sand. Jackson jumped out into the shallow water and steadied it. It was the first time she’d noticed that he was in bare feet.
“Where are your shoes?”
“Back at the resort. I figured I didn’t need them here.” He offered her his hand and she climbed out.
“Here. You take the blankets and the cushions. I’ll get the rest of the stuff.”
It took them no time at all to get settled.
“Do you mind if we eat?” he said. “I wasn’t kidding when I said I was hungry.” He gave her a sharp look. “I hope you’ll eat something too. You seem thinner in the past couple of days.”
“Are you trying to flatter me?” She fluttered her eyelashes, but ended up laughing.
He smiled. “No, seriously. I don’t want you to get sick.”
She stopped pretending. “I’ve been worried about Gran. I phone every day and they say she’s fine, but I worry about being here.”
He took a bite of chicken and groaned with pleasure. It was good to see him eat with such enthusiasm. “Did I see your car being towed today?”
“Yes, it was leaking oil. Good thing I looked.”
He put a piece of chicken and some salad on a plate and handed it to her. “Here, eat.”
“Okay.” It was good. They ate quietly for a few minutes.
Amanda wiped her fingers on a napkin. “Can I ask you something?”
He was still eating. “Fire away,” he said between bites.
“Why are you up here taking care of boats for Dave and Kathy? You
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