Lakeside Love (A Mill Creek Crossing Romance) (5 page)

“I could drive you, but it would be much faster going back across the lake,” he said standing up.

“Across the lake? At night?” she asked, terrified by the experience earlier in the evening. Sensing her fear, he put his hand on her shoulder.

“Listen, I know you don’t know me very well yet, but I wouldn’t suggest it if I didn’t think it was safe. I looked at the weather on my phone, and that storm is long gone. But we don’t have to if you…”

“No, it’s okay. I trust you,” she said without thinking. How could she trust a man she just met? It dawned on her she’d never said those words to Max. It was almost like she always knew, at some level, that she didn’t trust Max.

“You do?” he asked cocking his head.

“Yes. Why? Are you saying I shouldn’t trust you, Dylan?” she asked smiling as she stood up and hobbled toward the back door.

“Of course not,” he said in a sinister voice as he laughed maniacally. His dramatics had her in hysterics again as they made their way onto his screened porch and down the four steps leading into the backyard. Thankfully, his outdoor lighting lit up a path straight to the lake.

“Hey, where’s the kayak?” she asked once they reached the shore.

“That’s a good question,” he asked with a hand on his hip as he scanned the lake. The bright moonlight had replaced the storms from earlier, and she could see his beautiful blue eyes sparkling.

Trying to occupy her wandering mind, she looked across the lake too and finally saw the kayak bobbing up and down in the middle. She couldn’t contain her laugher anymore as she saw the irony of the situation they were in. Here he had saved her from being stranded in the middle of the lake, and now his poor kayak was bobbing around in the middle.

“Oh, you think this is funny, huh?” he said bumping her shoulder with his. The touch was enough to send tingles down her spine. What was this man doing to her?

“Kind of,” she admitted.

“You’re a little sadistic, aren’t you?” he said laughing.

“Not normally, but it’s been a rough week. I’m so sorry this happened to you…” she said feeling terribly bad her afternoon canoe excursion had caused such strife in his world.

“Well, there’s only one thing to do now,” he said as he quickly took his shirt off. Before she knew it, he was standing beside her, muscles and six pack abs lit up by the bright moon. He didn’t have the typical “city boy” body that Max did. No, he had a rugged, masculine body that only came with country boys.

“What are you doing?” she yelped as she stepped back and almost fell over a rock. Falling forward, he caught her against his chest. For a brief moment, she could smell his cologne and wanted to kiss those rock hard chest muscles. What was wrong with her?

“Are you okay?” he asked softly as he helped her get back to an upright position.

“Yeah. Sorry. I tripped over a rock…” she stammered, trying in vain to take her eyes off his chiseled chest. Max didn’t have a chest like that, she thought. She wondered what it might be light to run her hands over the curves of his muscles, but then she mentally smacked herself across the face.

“Careful. I don’t have anymore bandages,” he said. Before she knew it, he slipped out of his jeans leaving him standing there in tight gray boxer briefs.

Erica covered her eyes like she was eight years old. “Oh my goodness…” she muttered as she secretly peeked between her fingers. His physique was amazing, and she wanted to pinch that tight butt of his, but figured that might be inappropriate given the situation.

“You were engaged, right?” he asked.

“Yes. Why?” she asked removing her hands but looking at the ground.

“You act like you’ve never seen a man before,” he said laughing.

“Not one like you,” she said without thinking.

“Why thank you,” he replied smiling proudly. “I do work hard,” he said flexing his muscles like he was Mr. Universe.

“I meant I hadn’t seen a stranger just remove his clothes in front of someone he only just met…”

“I’ve saved your life several times today. I don’t think we’re strangers now.”

“Here we go again with that saving my life business,” she said rolling her eyes. “It was just a storm. And a cut on my leg. And falling over a rock…”

“Difficult woman,” he said. “Here. Hold these, okay?” Handing her his jeans and shirt, he waded out into the dark water.

“Be careful!” she called, worried some night time lake monster might get him.

“That’s so sweet. You’re worried about me!” he called back laughing.

“I’m just worried I won’t have a ride home!” she called back to him. The truth of the matter was she was worried about him, and she had no idea why. She just knew she wanted to spend more time with him during her stay.

As she watched him swim adeptly out into the middle of the lake, she marveled at his strength. He did it like it was nothing at all, and she was appreciative he was going to such great lengths to get her home. Of course, maybe he just wanted to get rid of her so he could get on with his quiet life.

He swam back to shore, pulling the big kayak behind him. As she tried to help him pull it in, he told her to stay back. “You don’t need to hurt that leg.” His concern over her leg was sweet, she thought.

“You’re drenched,” she said.

“I’ll dry. It’s just a little water.” The moon danced off the water cascading in pellets down his chest. Her heart was pounding, and she didn’t know how she would ever focus on the kayak ride with him looking so immensely hot. “Madam, your chariot awaits,” he said pointing to the kayak. As she approached it, he took her arm and carefully helped her into the seat.

Pushing off, they floated onto the lake. As Dylan sat in front of her, rowing, she watched the movement of his expert arms and the tightening of his abs. She also took a moment to thank God for a moonlit night because the view of Dylan working to take her home was amazing.

“It’s beautiful out here tonight,” she said staring up at the starry sky. It was hard to believe a horrible storm had ravaged the area just a couple of hours before.

“Yes, it is. Sometimes I come out here at night and just row around the lake. It’s so quiet up here,” he said. His voice had a hint of sadness in it that she couldn’t place, but it melted her heart a bit. Why was this man living alone and rowing out into the lake at night? Any woman in town would have wanted to be his one and only.

When they reached her shore, Dylan started to laugh. “Hey, look over there.” He pointed to her sad little canoe broken in half by the tree in the cabin’s backyard.

“Ooops,” she said joining in his laughter. “That was some storm.”

“Yes, it was. I’ll have to check my place for damage tomorrow.”

He pulled the kayak onto shore and extended a hand to her. She took his hand, which felt like electricity to her. As he pulled her up, she slipped again and almost landed face first on the ground.

“Let me help you inside,” he said. Realizing he was still just in his boxers, she handed him his clothes. He slipped into his jeans and hung the t-shirt around his neck. Grabbing her arm, he led her up the gentle slope of the backyard to the steps off the deck. She was limping more now because of her two slips and the pain of the gash.

“Thanks,” she whispered as they reached the top of the deck stairs. Her gratitude to him was almost more than she could allow herself to feel. For once in her life, she felt taken care of by someone who had nothing to gain from it.

“My pleasure,” he whispered back as he opened the door to the cabin. In the remote area, most people didn’t even lock their doors, and Erica was thankful since she’d forgotten to bring her keys anyway. She couldn’t believe how klutzy and forgetful she’d become since the breakup with Max, but she had read depression could cause that to come about.

He helped her into the living room, and she sat down in the overstuffed chair. With a sigh, she leaned her head back and closed her eyes for a moment. He slipped his shirt back on as he walked toward the back door.

“Good night, Erica. It was nice to meet you,” he said softly.

“Wait. Dylan, I…”

“What?” he said as he walked closer. She wanted to ask if she could see him again. If she was honest, she didn’t want the night to end. She couldn’t remember a time she felt more in tune and close to a man… even Max.

“Um… Are you hungry? I mean, it just occurred to me we missed dinner.”

“We drank wine for dinner,” he said laughing at the absurdity of it.

“I went into town earlier today, so I have some supplies to make omelets or hamburgers…”

“Hmmm… Omelets or hamburgers? Quite a choice,” he said grinning. “You should never open a restaurant.”

“What can I say? I’m a complicated woman,” she said starting to get up.

“No, no, no… You sit. I’ll take care of it.”

“What? A man who cooks?” she said with her eyes wide.

“Of course. A man has never cooked for you?”

“Nope. Not ever,” she admitted sadly.

“Jeez, where did you find your boyfriends? You don’t have good taste in men, do you?”

“Apparently not.”

“Well, please let me change your opinion of my gender’s culinary skills.”

“Can I at least sit in the kitchen and keep you company?” she asked smiling. He walked over and picked her up without warning. Her face nestled close to his neck was almost too much to handle. Warmth shot up her body from her toes to her head. He carefully sat her on a bar stool before heading to the refrigerator to assess the ingredient situation.

She watched as he moved about in the kitchen laughing and telling stories. He talked about home renovations gone wrong, where he grew up, his brothers and sister. He never talked about being married, dating or anything about his love life. She wondered about it, but didn’t want to push.

Erica had never felt so connected to someone in such a short time, and it felt good. It felt new and fresh and hopeful. For the first time in days, she saw a future. Maybe not with Dylan, but with someone. She saw possibilities again.

“This is fantastic!” she gushed as she ate the omelet he made her.

“Thanks. I told you some men can cook,” he said wiping his mouth with a napkin. As they sat outside on the deck under the stars, she was peaceful for the first time since being left at the altar.

“Can I say something serious now?” he asked taking a sip of his wine.

“Sure.”

“This guy who stood you up…”

“Max.”

“Good Lord, that sounds like a dog’s name.”

Erica spat out her wine across the table, just missing Dylan’s face. “I’m so sorry!” she yelped as she reached over to wipe up the mess. “You make me laugh…”

“I can see that!”

“He never made me laugh much, so I guess I’m not good at it,” she said shaking her head.

“You’re doing just fine, Erica. This Max fellow seems to have shaken your confidence.”

“I guess so. What is a girl to think when the man she’s dated for years leaves her standing at the altar?”

“That it’s his loss.”

“Maybe I will get there one day.”

“You need to understand something, Erica. Women like you don’t come along everyday. Trust me. I’ve been single a long time. You’re a special one, and if he couldn’t see that, then he’s a fool.” His words cut her to the core. No one had ever spoken to her like that, and she didn’t know what to say.