Page 2 of Kayak Girl

Chapter 3

ELLE

Iwas muttering under my breath at a stubborn cam strap when I heard a male voice to my left.

“Hey, do you need some help?”

My first instinct was to refuse. Having grown up with only a sister for a sibling, and an absent father, I was accustomed to getting things done without the help of a man. I mean, I had done this by myself countless times. But today, I was in a bit of a rush. I was eager to hit the water, and the eight cam straps I’d meticulously fastened this morning weren’t going to remove themselves.

“Sure, if you know what you’re doing,” I said. “Could you handle the straps on that side? There’s like a million of them. I’ve got these.” I didn’t even glance his way. The sticky cam strap had all my focus.

“Gotcha,” he replied with a chuckle. “A million, huh? Preparing for a hurricane, were we?”

I couldn’t help but laugh. “Well, you know what they say, better safe than sorry.”

I heard him moving along the van, the sound of straps being loosened, and the occasional grunt of effort. Curiosity got the better of me and I peeked over the roof. Disheveled caramel-colored hair and the top of a tanned forehead greeted me. Every few seconds, his hands and muscular forearms would make an appearance as he worked. When I noticed he was already loosening his third cam strap, I got my butt into gear and focused on my task again.

“All done, this side. Need help with that one?” he asked.

I peeked over the van again, but this time, a pair of light blue, almost gray eyes took me off guard as they peered back. He seemed to stand on his toes to survey my progress. A blush bloomed on my cheeks.

“Um, no thanks, I got it,” I said. I was acutely aware of my red face and tried to explain it away. “Thanks for the help, though. It’s just so sweltering today, and I’m really looking forward to hitting the water.” I fumbled slightly with the last of the straps, my movements betraying my flustered state. “This is clearly not your first rodeo with cam straps. Do you kayak?”

“Yup. I enjoy any water sport, really. Are you planning to head out alone? Is that safe?” he asked, as we rolled the kayak off the roof together.

“I’ve been kayaking for four years, and I recently renewed my ACA accreditation, so I’m good,” I said defensively. “Plus, I’ll give my paddle details to the lifeguard.”

“Okay, I didn’t mean to imply you weren’t capable,” he quickly clarified, his eyes softening. “I just have a healthy respect for the ocean.” He paused and then nodded toward my vehicle. “Interesting van. Is it custom made?”

I grinned. “Nope. Factory standard. You must have seen them around?”

He chuckled. “Okay, point taken. Silly question.”

“No harm done,” I assured him. “Mabel won’t take offense.”

He frowned. “Who’s Mabel?”

“My van,” I explained, laughing softly. “She’s got a personality of her own.”

“Ah, I see.” A smile lingered in his eyes, making the air around us lighter, easier.

My new assistant supported the kayak while I stashed the ladder and ropes in the van. I threw on my life vest and dropped my keys into my waterproof backpack. As I fumbled with my gear, he watched, a hint of amusement in his eyes. “You sure you’ve got enough sunscreen on?”

I rolled my eyes, a playful smirk on my face. “You know what they say,” I said with a shrug.

“Well, you definitely won’t be sorry,” he said with a laugh.

Then I shifted to position my shoulder on the inside of the cockpit. Tall and handsome just stared down at me and didn’t release the kayak, so I pulled it out of his hands and onto my shoulder.

“Thanks for the help,” I said, as I moved toward the ocean without glancing back. Eek! I didn’t mean to come off rude, but I wasn’t here for him. I was here to paddle. Random guys would not be making it onto my priority list this year, no matter how good looking they were. Don’t get me wrong, I dearly wanted to get married someday; I just didn’t have the capacity right now.

Halfway to the ocean, I found the lifeguard and handed him a slip of paper. “Hey there, I’m Elle. Here’s my contact details, my intended route, and the duration of my paddle. I’ll retrieve this from you when I return, if that’s okay?”

“Sure thing,” he replied with a nod.

With that, I spun on my heel and moved toward the beckoning waves. I checked my watch. 9:11 am. Not bad. A satisfied smile stretched across my face as I half walked, half ran into the water.

And just like that, I was in heaven. Heaven—that’s exactly what being on this bay felt like. I’d mapped out my route the previous night, but everything had exceeded my expectations. With every stroke of my paddle, I drew closer to the famed spot where dolphins were said to dance with the waves. The journey was long, but my anticipation built with each passing minute. I had to hold in a squeal when I finally caught sight of a pod of dolphins twirling through the water. The harmonious movements of these majestic creatures, so in tune with the ocean’s sway, stole my breath away. At that moment, my worries faded into the background.

---