Page 31 of Wild Rush Of Love
“Sorry. Sorry.” He got his mirth under control and said, “No. I doubt there are sharks in here.”
“Doubt?Doubt?” She glanced around, frantically searching the water’s surface for a big gray fin—and spotted a big gray runabout heading right for them at breakneck speed instead. “Oh my God, they’re going to hit us!”
Rush pulled her back against his chest. “It’s the guy from the hire place. He’ll stop before he hits us. He’s probably had to do this numerous times.”
Rush’s reassurances didn’t ease her mind. The only thing that would was getting out of this water.
“You folks all right? Nobody got any injuries I should know about?” the crusty old man who’d rented them the paddleboat called over the outboard motor noise.
“I thought you said these things were unsinkable,” Reena yelled.
The motor cut out and the old guy leaned over the side of his boat with a wide grin on his weathered face. “Well now, you aren’t exactly sunk there, are you? And they’re fine as long as you don’t crash them into a pylon.”
She spun around and glared at Rush. “I told you we shouldn’t get that close.”
Rush was trying to hold in more laughter, and in spite of the fear tangling her nerve endings, Reena suddenly saw the funny side of their impromptu swim.
Lowering her head, she hid her smile and muttered, “Idiot.”
“Come on.” Rush nudged her with his knee beneath the water, causing her to start and squeal. Chuckling, he bumped her again. “Just me. Let go of the boat and take the guy’s hand, Reena. He’ll haul you up out of the water.”
Turning, she found the old guy looking at her with mild concern. “Are you sure you’re all right, miss?”
“I’m fine,” she grumbled. “A little wet but fine.”
Grabbing the man’s hand, she kicked her legs to try to assist him. Except all that did was nail Rush in the chest with her heel, because in spite of the old guy’s frail appearance, he was as strong as an ox—and she flew up out of the water and into the runabout in less than a second.
“Whoa.” She grabbed the side of the boat for balance.
“There’s a blanket there you can wrap around you.” He indicated a pile of folded blankets and Reena wondered how many rescues he expected to do today.
By the time she’d wrapped a surprisingly warm and soft blanket around her, Rush and the paddleboat guy had tied their upturned vessel to the rear of the runabout.
Stepping back out of the way, she caught her foot in the blanket and wobbled before going down on her ass in the bottom of the boat.
Sighing, she closed her eyes. Today wasn’t going to plan at all.
She was soaking wet, would probably have a bruise from one side of her ass to the other, and Rush hadn’t given her more than a peck on the cheek all day.
“Hey.” Opening her eyes, she found Rush crouched in front of her. “Let’s get you on the seat.”
He helped her stand and guided her to the bench seat that ran across the back of the boat near the motor. The old guy went back to the controls, the motor fired up, and they were off. Rush’s arm around her back was the only thing that stopped her from tipping over and plunging headfirst into the rear compartment of the boat, where the fuel tank, battery, and motor were housed.
“Careful,” Rush murmured in her ear. “Wouldn’t want you to fall overboard again.”
She could hear the laughter in his voice, knew if she turned he’d be grinning at her. Tempted to shove him with her shoulder, she bit the inside of her cheek to distract herself. As much as she’d enjoy watching him fall over, possibly into the water, she wanted to get back on land more.
“I see that mind whirring away there.” His arm tightened around her. “I’m not letting go, so anything you’re planning will take two.”
Rolling her eyes, she elbowed him. “I’m not planning to do anything.”
“Ha. Don’t believe you.”
“I’m not going todoanything. Didn’t say I wasn’t thinking about it.” She grinned up at him.
He smiled and lowered his head until their lips were only a breath apart. “I’m thinkinganddoing,” he said, before he closed the distance between them and kissed her.
Chapter Sixteen
