Contemporary Romance: Passage of Arms - A Military Romance Novel (Romance, Contemporary Romance, Military Romance, Romance Novel Book 1) (9 page)

She read his last two sentences again, moving her lips silently as she breathed the words together. Was he planning on returning in a week to see her or did he have to come back in a week for business?

Sarah bit her lip and pondered the question. It had been a few years since she had seen Bruce. Well, more than just a few. The last time she had seen him was at Adam’s funeral. She didn’t look at him then. She didn’t look at anyone. He had tried to talk to her, but she remembered how cold and indifferent she was to him.
“Please, Bruce, just give me some space,”
she had told him. He didn’t respond to her, and he simply let her go.

She couldn’t forget the type of man he was though: a bachelor, through and through; but, with the type of body he had, it was actually kind of expected. Just what was he expecting when he thought about riding into town? Was he really just wanting to catch up? Or was he hoping to have someone familiar to keep him company for the few nights he was planning on being in town?

Closing out of the mail app, Sarah lowered her eyes and sighed. Two days ago she wasn’t even worried about dates and men.
It’s probably nothing.

“Um, Sarah?”

Standing tall, Sarah slipped the phone into her purse and turned towards the voice. It was higher pitched than Dave’s deep, smooth rumble. She met Alex’s eyes and smiled.

“Is everything ready?” She asked. Alex nodded and motioned for her to follow him. She did so quietly. Outside, the bystanders watched her as she followed Alex from the office towards the boat ramp. Dave was already there, a foot on the dock and another on the bottom step into the boat. He grinned at her.

“You’re going to love it,” he encouraged, taking Sarah’s hard.  He gripped her arm firmly, meeting Sarah’s blue dusty eyes. She forced a smile and let Dave help her steady her footing on the boat.

It seemed even larger now that she was inside of it. Much too big for two people. They entered at the rear, where two power lounge seats were built onto either side of the boat with a drink stand in between them. Just in front of the seat on the right was the steering and captain’s seat. In front of that console was wrap-around seating with another full table. On the left side of the boat across from the steering appeared to be a refrigerator and minibar.

Sarah’s mouth fell as she took in the features of the boat. From the dock, Alex placed a foot on the edge of the boat and pushed. The large boat creaked against the wood and inched forward slowly. Alex pushed again until the motor was good to be lowered into the water. Dave did the lowering, and Sarah watched his muscles twitch and work with the effort. He was truly a gorgeous man, but she was almost certain his muscles didn’t come from putting boats in the lake all day.

After pumping the fuel bulb a few times, Dave stepped away from the motor and grinned at Sarah.

“Are you ready?” He grinned and pointed towards the steering. “You can watch me start it from here.” Dave moved to the captain’s seat and released the throttle. He pushed it forward and then reached for the key, pushing it in before turning to the right.

“This is the choke,” Dave explained as the motor roared to life, causing small vibrations in the boat. Sarah reached for the console to keep herself steady. Watching her closely, Dave smiled.

“You’re going to be okay,” he paused, “You can swim, right?”

“Yes, I can swim,” Sarah answered with irritation. Dave only laughed at her.

“I’m going to let it warm up for a little and then we can set off. I’ll start off slow since you seem a little concerned. Do you want to look around the boat?”

Sarah didn’t move and kept her hand on the console. She turned her head to look about the boat, causing Dave to laugh again.

“I mean, you can check out the front or something. There’s water in the cooler, if you want.”

“I think I’m good right here,” Sarah replied quickly. She tightened her grip on the console as Dave touched the throttle and nudged it up. The motor revved and grew in decibel, but the boat didn’t move.

“You feel that power?” Dave grinned, he pulled the gear shift back into neutral, “That’s 30 horse power, right there. You want to test it out when we get far enough from shore?”

Sarah chuckled sheepishly and found herself shaking her head before he even finished speaking. Dave laughed lightly, and turned towards the steering will.

“Alright,” Dave commented lazily, “I’m going to put it in gear and we’re going to move straight ahead, okay?” He glanced towards Sarah. “Are you ready?” Sarah placed two hands on the console and nodded. She was beginning to get annoyed at Dave’s persistent smirk. When she met his eyes, he turned and pressed his lips together, saying nothing more.

Dave pushed the safety button in again and put the boat into gear, pushing the shift up. This time, the boat began to pull away from the dock, but it was smoother than Sarah anticipated. In fact, there was no jerking at all. It seemed like they were only floating away. As they pulled further from shore, Dave increased the power and the Sarah felt the boat floor rumble and hum, but it was still smooth.

With raised eyebrows, she released the console and looked around the boat with renewed interest.

“Not as bad as you were expecting, huh?” Dave questioned. When Sarah turned to him, he wore a smug expression.

“I guess not,” Sarah lowered the purse from her shoulder and pulled it into her hands. She thought briefly about Bruce’s message and wondered if she should send him a text.

“Let me know when you get hungry,” Dave said, eyeing the waters in front of him as he increased the speed. “There’s a great dinner for two I’ve got that I can heat up over the grill.”

“The boat has a grill?”

Dave turned towards her and pointed across the length of the boat to the opposing wall. “Sure does. No one wants cold food for dinner,” he grinned. “I have to tell you though. I don’t own this boat. It’s our most expensive one. Very few rent it, but when they do, they’re never disappointed.”

Sarah nodded and walked towards the front of the boat. She helped herself to one of the lounge seats and sat down timidly. They moved forward at an easy pace, but she could still feel the dips and divots on the lake surface. At the front of the boat, a thin mist hit her face. It was cool and refreshing.

She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Dave had picked up the speed yet again, but she didn’t feel the need to grab on to anything. The length of the boat definitely took away any sudden movements she was expecting to feel. The boat was wide too, which made walking in while in motion a breeze, but she wasn’t going to try it as she felt Dave pushing the speed even more.

The wind started to pick up and push her hair back. She wondered if she would gain the wild, tousled look and smiled at the giddiness she felt rising within her again. Grabbing a few strands of hair that had come across her face, Sarah tucked them behind her ear. She turned to look behind her, towards Dave. He stared over the console and towards the horizon. After a few seconds, his eyes darted to her, and he grinned. The boat motor sounds disappeared a second later and the boat was left to drift forward. Sarah frowned and mouthed to Dave, “What are you doing?”

He pointed to his ears, and motioned for her to come near. Leaving her purse on the chair, Sarah stood and moved towards the console.

“I asked what you were doing.”

“I know,” Dave grinned. “I just wanted you to come a little closer,” he stood and reached for her waist and pulled her near him, but Sarah stiffened. He stopped and nodded towards the console. “I want you to drive it for a bit.”

Sarah shook her head quickly. “Oh no,” she said, trying to back up, but Dave already had her around her back. He inched her towards the captain’s chair and placed her in front of it as he stood behind her. “You’re going to do great okay? What are you afraid of?”

“I’m not a driver. I don’t do the boat thing,” she was running out of excuses and things to say. “What if we capsize?” She tried to turn and look towards Dave, but he had stepped to the right of her. He laughed at her objection and placed his hand over Sarah’s as he lifted it to the throttle. His touch made Sarah smile. He was warm, his skin smooth. Dave paused, and ran a thumb more slowly over the joints of her right hand.

“Wow, those are really big,” he commented, wiggling the rings on Sarah’s right hand. Sarah yanked her hand from his grasped and stepped back, cradling her hand at her stomach. She didn’t think she had to tell him who’s rings they were. They belonged to her. Adam’s was there too. It was among some of the gear they had been able to salvage after the attack. Five years and she had never stopped wearing them.

Dave watched her solemnly, but then smiled and motioned for her to step closer. Sarah didn’t move.

“I just meant that they tugged at my hand is all, come on,” he waved his hand towards her. Hesitantly, Sarah stepped back towards the console and pressed the steering wheel into her gut as she leaned forward. Dave didn’t place his hand over Sarah’s again. Instead, he placed it just beneath her palm on the throttle.

“Alright,” Dave commented from behind Sarah. She could feel his heat, but not his body. His breath made her hair wave. She glanced behind herself and met his eyes briefly. “All you have to do is ease it up,” he took her face in quietly. She noticed his eyes dart momentarily towards her lips. “Are you ready?”

Sarah turned and took a deep breath. “Just inch it forward?”

“Yep, just a little bit,” Dave pushed against her hand with his own, touching the bottom of Sarah’s palm to help her move the throttle forward. She pushed up and the engine began to purr. The more she nudged the throttle forward, the faster the boat began to move.

“Now you can turn the wheel too, if you want,” Dave said behind her. Sarah felt him as he moved closer to her. She tried to think of which way to go, but her mind was blank. She could only think about how close Dave was to her.

“Where should I go?” Sarah breathed softly.

“Forward,” Dave chuckled. Sarah felt him by her ear and looked down. She glanced behind her again and caught Dave’s eyes.

“Not left or right?”

He smiled. She watched as his eyes drift to her lips again. The second time made her smile. She wondered if he found her attractive.

“You’re in control now,” he said softly. “You choose.”

A giggle caught in Sarah’s throat and she turned to face the steering wheel. She took a step back to grip it properly and felt Dave this time, his chest against her back. He chuckled and moved away.

“Sorry,” he mumbled.

“It’s okay,” Sarah answered back. She looked over the lake, and still hesitated. On a road, there were signs. Streets and directions and order. As she looked over the pristine rippling lake that reflected the lovely blue sky sprinkled with clouds, Sarah saw nothing. No directions or tips and suggestions. It was nothing. Just emptiness. She could go anywhere.

Over a 100 yards away was another passing boat. It was the older couple that had lowered their fishing boat into the lake when they first arrived. They weren’t fishing though. They had an umbrella and a cooler, and they were just relaxing on opposite ends of the boat.

The silence of the lake settled around them and Sarah became aware of Dave still waiting behind her. She glanced behind herself and met his eyes. A weak chuckled slipped from her lips.

“This isn’t a test,” Dave spoke lowly.

Sarah laughed and turned to face the steering wheel again. “I don’t do well with all this freedom.”

“No?” Dave laughed. “I think I can help. Close your eyes.”

“What?”

Dave stepped forward and she felt his chest on her back. He didn’t move away, and she didn’t pull forward either. Her heart skipped and jumped, catching in her throat.

“I’ll help you,” Dave commented. He lifted his hand, trailing it over Sarah’s resting palm on the throttle. “Close your eyes,” he repeated.

Sarah wrinkled her nose, but did as he said. In an instant, she was surrounded by darkness. It was a light type of darkness though. She felt Dave behind her, his breath just behind her ear. It was calm and soothing. After a moment, she felt herself trying to match his even-paced breathing. It helped steady her heart, but a little while longer and she opened one eye.

“What are you waiting on?” She tried to turn around but Dave’s deep voice stopped her.

“You.”

“What?” She laughed.

“I’m waiting for you to calm down. Relax,” he chuckled, the sound plucked the strings of her heart and reverberated deep in her soul. “I’m not a serial killer, remember? You can relax around me.”

Sarah laughed. “Okay. Got it, not a serial killer,” she said with a chuckle.

“You’re just this nervous around all men?” She felt Dave shift his weight behind her and could feel the top of his palm pushing against her skin.

“Well, I wasn’t always,” the truth came too easily. Sarah bit her lip, and then opened her eyes. She tried to turn, but she caught Dave shaking his head.

“No, keep them closed. I’m going to help you, remember?”

Sarah felt Dave move his hand over the back of her palm. He covered it completely this time with his hands covering her rings. He pushed the throttle forward and she felt the boat blink awake and trudge forward. The wind kissed her face and played with her hair.