Page 3 of Muskoka Blue
The boat’s motor throbbed as it quietly cruised the short distance to the dock. He pulled up, killed the engine, tossed a rope around a pole. The boat rocked as he hoisted himself out onto the dock, then he turned back to her, a hand outstretched. “M’lady.”
Was he still making fun of her? She stood, carefully folded the towel, and left it on the spare padded seat in the back, moving gingerly as the boat dipped and swayed.
“Here, take my hand.”
She grasped his hand and clambered onto the dock, wincing as her hip protested the sharp movement.
He glanced down at her leg, eyes widening as he saw her scars.
Humiliation flowed, lava-hot. Why hadn’t she worn board shorts today? She backed away, turning to hide her degradation. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” His smile made her heart quiver.
Stop.She had no right to find another man attractive. She forced herself to walk slowly away and not scamper like she wanted.Don’t look back, don’t look back—
“See you around.”
She glanced back to where he stood, hands on hips, mouth still tilted on one side. “I doubt it.” She tossed her hair and veered off onto a stone-strewn path that led to the cottage. And tripped.
Scrambling to her feet, she swiped hair from her hot cheeks, ignoring his yelled, “You okay?”
She picked up pace, heedless of the small bushes slapping her legs.
Forget trying to be brave.
Now was the perfect time to run away.
* * *
“Look who I found!”
Dan swallowed a smile as the woman in the hammock jerked, blinking, her eyes widening as she peered from her aunt to him. Yep. He’d felt much the same when Angela had called earlier—his melted muscles protesting, brain rebooting too slowly after his nap to make sense of her invitation at first.
“Dan, this is my niece, Sarah Maguire.” Ange’s fine features melded into a slight frown. “Sarah, you remember me telling you about Daniel Walton, don’t you?”
“Um, no.” Sarah’s gaze flicked from her aunt to him. “Hi.”
“Hey.” He dipped his chin. “So, you’re not ‘Sorry’ after all.”
Her lips twitched, then her gaze skimmed away, back to her book.
He turned to her aunt. “We met yesterday and had a slight miscommunication over boys and buoys.”
Ange’s eyebrows rose, and she stared at Sarah, blue eyes wide.
Sarah shrugged. “I didn’t think it worth mentioning.”
She didn’t, huh? His lips notched up another degree. “Ange invited me to dinner.”
Ange nodded, the June sun bouncing off her wavy auburn hair. “Dan is staying next door. No doubt you’ll come across each other occasionally.”
“Next door?” Sarah squeaked.
He nodded.That’s right, Princess. Trying to bluff your way onto my dock, saying that’s where you belong.He knew a moment’s satisfaction to see her so disconcerted, followed by a ping of relief that she wasn’t some crazed stalker fan, as some of his teammates had occasionally dealt with. Muskoka was for relaxing, not wondering about who might be out to find him.
He rolled his eyes at himself. Please. Like he was any real celebrity.
Movement behind him signaled John’s arrival. “Dan. Good to see you, my friend.”