Lakeside Sweetheart

Rory laughed. “What you and Alec call chummy, I call being friendly.”

“Oh, okay. We’ll go with that then,” Blain said. “It’s nice to know you’re human after all. You could do worse. She’s cute, and Rikki says she’s nice, too.”

Rory rubbed a hand over his choppy hair. “Really? I hadn’t noticed.”

Blain shook his head. “Right. I’ll shut up now. Are we still on for pizza Thursday night?”

“As always.”

“And we are gathering at the camp house for my bachelor party in two weeks?”

“You better believe it. And I do have surprises lined up for you.”

“What? Choir rehearsal and memorizing Bible verses?”

“After we play a serious game of tic-tac-toe, yes.”

“Wild night. Love it.” Blain shook Rory’s hand and headed to the door. “Hey, Alec and I, we’ve been there. We should be the ones giving you advice these days.”

Rory finally caved. “I might take you up on that offer. I like her. A lot. But...she’s not returning that feeling.”

“Give her some time,” Blain suggested. “Like you said, she’s been through a lot. One thing I’ve learned, dealing with Rikki and her family, strong women don’t like to be messed with until they’re ready to be messed with.”

“Got it,” Rory said, grinning at Blain’s down-to-earth assessment. “I’m learning that, my friend.”

After Blain and Rikki left, he turned to Barbara. “Please tell me it’s quitting time.”

“It’s quitting time,” she said. “You know you officially have Mondays off, so why are you still here?”

He shrugged. “Habit.” Then he went back in his office and tidied up. “I think I’ve signed all the proper checks and documents so yes, I’m taking off early. I might take a run around the lake or maybe go kayaking.”

“Great idea,” his secretary called back. “Me, I’m going to go home and piddle in my garden.”

“Okay. See you tomorrow.”

Barbara left by the side door.

Rory locked up and was about to head to the garage underneath his apartment to get his kayak out when he saw Vanessa’s car moving up Lake Drive.

She was home.

* * *

He was standing by his garage apartment.

Glad she was wearing her shades, Vanessa noticed Rory out of the corner of her eye. She’d tried not to think about him, but he seemed to be front and center in her mind. Reminding herself that he did live and work right across the street, she chalked up this preoccupation with the cute preacher to being in such close proximity to him. Hard not to think about him when the pretty white church stood as a reminder every time she looked out the window.

So she pulled her car into the drive and geared up for a warm, soothing bath and a bowl of ice cream. Yes, she’d been craving ice cream all week. His fault, too. But she’d had a long day of talking to lawyers and discussing things on the phone with Realtors both here in Millbrook and at the various properties she now owned in Alabama.

Overwhelmed, she glanced back toward the church.

And saw Rory heading straight for her.

She almost ran into the house, but her heart stopped her. She couldn’t be rude to the man. He’d been nothing but kind to her. The least she could do was say hello to him.

Hello. And then on to ice cream.

“Hi,” he called when she turned and waved. Then he walked over. Did he seem relieved?

“Hello,” she replied, smiling. “How are you?”

“Good. I’m calling it a day,” he said. His dark blond hair was in a perpetual state of shagginess, but it suited him. “I’m going kayaking. Wanna come?”

Kayaking? The thought of putting on shorts and a sleeveless top made her cringe. The sun had not touched her legs all winter. Did she have the nerve to actually relax and go for a ride on the lake? With him?

He must have sensed her hesitation. “I’m sorry. You’re probably really busy.”

She glanced at the glistening water and then gazed at him. “I’ve been going nonstop all day dealing with my inheritance, but that water looks so tempting.”

And so did he. Not what you’d expect. Better than ice cream even.

“I have an extra kayak. It’s actually Alec’s, but he won’t mind if you want to use it. He stores it over here so some of the kids I mentor can borrow it.”

“You mentor kids?”

He nodded and looked sheepish. “Yes. Mostly teens. We have a get-together here at the church once a week. Anyone is invited, but some of the kids are in foster homes.”

“Wow.” She only wished she’d had a safe place to go when she was a teen. “That’s a good idea.”

He smiled at her comment. “They need someone to talk to at times. They come with their guardians or foster parents, but we team each kid up with a mentor. Supervised, of course.”

“That’s good. That they’re able to talk to someone and that it’s supervised.”

He went quiet for a couple of moments. “Listen, if you don’t want to go—”

He was talking about kayaking, but he must have seen the darkness in her eyes. Pushing aside the flare of distant painful memories, she gave him a weak smile.

“Let me get inside and change,” she said, making a snap decision she hoped she wouldn’t regret. “I haven’t been kayaking in a while so I might slow you down, but yes, I’d like to take a ride around the lake.”

“Good. I’ll go get the kayaks ready. You can meet me at the boat landing.”

“Okay.” Vanessa hurried into the house, her mind buzzing with good and bad thoughts. She didn’t want to group Rory in the same category as her mother’s ex-husband, but how could she not think about it? She’d been a troubled teen, and her so-called stepfather had pretended to be her mentor.

And yet he’d betrayed her in the worst way.

Would Rory do that?

No. Because for one thing, Vanessa was a grown woman now. Stronger and more assertive. No longer afraid to stand up to people.

Rory Sanderson wasn’t anything like Gregory Pardue. Not at all. Thank goodness.

And yet when she came back outside, Vanessa felt a shiver moving down her spine. Was she making a mistake, getting to know the preacher?

She looked up at the sky and for the first time in years, she asked God to protect her heart. Because she didn’t want to be wrong about Rory.

Chapter Six

She’d found a pair of old cutoff jeans and rolled them up over her knees. A sleeveless cotton blouse covered the shorts. Swallowing her trepidations, Vanessa walked the short distance to the lake’s boat landing near the marina and boardwalk. The sun felt good on her skin, and the sound of seagulls flying overhead reminded her that summer was coming.

She saw Rory waiting with the two kayaks. He waved and she waved back. He had on shorts and an old T-shirt. He was much darker than her, which showed he got outside more than she did.

Not the pasty-skinned pallor she considered more minister type. But then, Rory shattered all of her notions regarding preachers. He looked as if he belonged on a California beach instead of here, standing by two kayaks and waiting on her.

“You ready for this?” he asked, sincerity in his blue eyes.

“Yes. I’ll probably regret it tomorrow—sore muscles—but I need to get out and get some exercise. Moving boxes and going through closets and cabinets doesn’t count as a fun way to get in shape.”

He gave her a quick once-over. “You know how to kayak, right?”

She thought she remembered. “Yes. Love it.”

He motioned her to where he had the kayaks pulled up in the shallow water by the concrete landing. “We can do this at the dock or I’ll hold yours while you get in.”

“I can get in here,” she said, glancing around to make sure no one would see her if she fell headfirst into the shallow water. “Or at least I’m going to try.”

Rory took her hand while he held the bright blue kayak steady with his foot. “Okay, sit and turn.”

Vanessa tried to ignore the warmth of his fingers holding hers. He had a strong, secure grip. “Like a lady getting into a car,” she said on a nervous laugh.

“Sorta.” He grinned and held on to her while she plopped down into the low, narrow watercraft. “See, you’re in.”

“Yes, now I have to get my legs in, too.” She turned forward, her water shoes intact.

Once she was settled, he handed her the paddle. Vanessa wondered how he’d manage getting inside his red kayak, but he slid in with the ease of someone who was a born athlete. She noticed his muscular arms and broad shoulders. What else would she notice about this man?

Too many things, she decided.

As they glided out onto the lake, Vanessa worked to keep up with Rory, having no doubt that he was purposely going slow to stay with her. But they laughed and talked as they paddled around the big oval body of water. The ducks and geese squawked and fussed as they glided by. People waved from the shore, some of them calling out to Rory.

Spring was in full bloom, showing off in the dappled sunlight. Azaleas lush with pink-and-white flowers clustered underneath the tall pines and old oaks. Crape myrtles along the streets were bursting with tiny blossoms that were beginning to bud in hot pink and deep purple. The old magnolias hung heavy with huge white petals. The green fronds on tall palms danced in the wind, the sound of their frenzy sending out a steady swish, swish. The whole lake smelled like a fragrant, earthy garden.

With the wind in her face and the sun warm on her skin, Vanessa relaxed and remembered the short time she’d spent here in Millbrook Lake so many years ago. Her last couple of years of high school had been spent here. Marla had been one of her friends back then.

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