Have you kayaked before?” Shawn had called Morgan after the breakfast rush, but the prospect of seeing Morgan later had her so excited she’d forgotten her telephone manners.
“Excuse me?”
“I’m sorry. Hi, Morgan, it’s Shawn. How would you like to go kayaking when I get off work today?”
The soft laugh that came over the line did things to Shawn’s insides. Good, wonderful, wild things, and she couldn’t remember when she’d been so affected by another woman. Which was crazy since she hardly knew Morgan, but there was something about her that made Shawn want to know more. She really needed to talk to Paige because while she and Morgan were just becoming friends, it wasn’t right to string Paige along. Even if romance didn’t come with Morgan, she knew that she didn’t have feelings for Paige. She’d never had the reaction with Paige that she’d had when she’d held Morgan’s hand yesterday on their hike. She made a mental note to call Paige that night and talk to her.
“Uh, isn’t it a little too cold to be out on the water?”
“Heck, no. It’s gorgeous out today. We should enjoy the sunny weather while we can because we’re expecting snow in a few days.”
“Yes, I’d heard that. Sure, let’s go kayaking, but you should know that I’ve never done it before. Is it difficult?”
“No, it’s easy. I have a tandem kayak so we can ride together. I’ll load it up when I get home, then swing by your place around three thirty. Would that be okay?”
“Yes, and, Shawn? Thank you. I’m looking forward to this.”
“Me too. See you soon.”
Shawn returned to the register after she hung up with Morgan.
“Hey, boss. What’s got you showing your teeth?”
Shawn hadn’t realized she’d been smiling when she came out front, but Kerrie, one of her servers who had been with her for the past three years, stood before her with her hands on her hips, daring Shawn to lie.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about, Kerrie. I’m just happy. Is that a crime?”
“You’re always in a good mood, but there’s something different, a lightness to you. Is it Paige?”
“Uh.” Shit. Everybody who worked in the diner knew Shawn and Paige had been seeing each other, so how was she going to explain this without looking like a player? Marcy was really the only person in her life who knew of Shawn’s flings in the past. That wasn’t something she wanted the townspeople to know about her, so she was always discreet when she fooled around. No PDAs, no romantic dates. “Not exactly. A friend and I are going kayaking today after work.” That’s it. Keep it simple. She wasn’t doing anything wrong. She was just hanging out with a friend. A new friend. A beautiful new friend who made her insides quiver.
“There’s more. What aren’t you telling me?”
“Nothing. Okay, maybe something. There’s a woman who is staying in the cabin around the corner from my house and we’re going kayaking.”
“Shawn, what are you doing?”
Shawn looked around, hoping she’d get out of this conversation by helping customers, but there were only a few tables that were taken, and the people were in the middle of eating. She lowered her voice.
“I’m not doing anything wrong. Morgan is here alone, and she looks like she could use a friend. Look, don’t say anything because I don’t want it getting back to Paige before I talk to her, but I’m going to break up with her. She’s a nice lady, but I’m not feeling any connection with her. I kept wanting to, I swear I did. I haven’t broken up yet because I don’t want to hurt her, but I know I’m not doing her any favors by staying with her.”
“And you’re feeling a connection with Morgan?”
“I don’t know. We’ve only met four days ago, but that’s beside the point. Even if Morgan wasn’t here, I’d still break up with Paige. Like I said, I like her, and I’m hoping we can remain friends, but the romantic feelings aren’t there. Believe me, I’ve tried.”
“You be careful, Shawn. I don’t want you getting hurt or getting too far ahead of yourself with this other woman.”
Shawn would be offended if she didn’t like Kerrie so much, and she knew she was just looking out for her. Kerrie was about twenty years older than Shawn and acted more like a mother figure, or older aunt, so Shawn couldn’t be upset with her.
“It’s not like that. I know she’s not sticking around, but she seems kind of lost and sad, and I’m only offering her friendship.” Shawn held up her hand to quiet Kerrie’s next remark. “Just my friendship. You don’t need to worry about me.”
Kerrie softly patted Shawn’s cheek. “I’ll always worry about you, Shawn. All of us here,” she swept her hand around the diner, “we’re all family, so that’s what we do.”
“Thanks. Now get back to work and stop wasting time.” Shawn smiled to let Kerrie know she was kidding, and she rang up the customers who had saved her from further discussion.
* * *
Shawn raced home after work and got everything loaded up for her date with Morgan. Wait. It wasn’t a date. Shawn was just trying to be Morgan’s friend while she was in town. It wasn’t like she was taking her out to dinner or hoping for a good night kiss. Even if it was offered, Shawn wouldn’t allow it while she was still dating Paige. She’d never been a cheater and she wasn’t about to start now. Going kayaking with Morgan was all about showing her the beauty of her town and how to relax. Shawn loved kayaking because it enabled her to forget everything while she rhythmically paddled and glided across the water. There was no better place to do that than on Lake Tahoe.
Morgan opened the door and Shawn’s mind went numb. Morgan stood before her wearing a green-and-blue bikini top with matching boardshorts that came to mid-thigh. Her hair was up in a bun, exposing her slender neck that made Shawn’s mouth water just with the thought of tasting her skin.
“I’m ready!” Morgan’s smile was so bright, it added to her beauty.
Oh, God. I’m so not ready to look at the back of her for the next couple of hours. Shawn took a deep breath to calm her racing heart. “You look great.” Shawn looked Morgan over, and she felt her heart race faster. So much for taking the deep breath. A lot of good that did. Shawn quickly considered diving in the cold lake just to cool down her overheated body. “Okay, let’s go. Do you have on sunscreen? It doesn’t take long to get sunburned up here.”
“I brought it with me. I applied it to most of my body, but I’ll need you to put it on my back.”
Shawn gulped loudly. She’d considered telling her she wouldn’t need it on her back due to the life vest, but that would have been stupid on her part. Besides, better safe than sorry. She agreed to the arduous task. Difficult work, but someone had to do it. Her fingers twitched at the idea of rubbing lotion into Morgan’s smooth skin. Jesus. Morgan wasn’t making things easy for Shawn, although why would she? She had no idea of the affect she had on Shawn or that she was dating someone for the time being.
“Look how cute you are, Jameson, with your own life vest.” Jameson wagged his tail and tried to get in the front seat with Morgan before Shawn told him to get back. “I can’t believe he’s going with us.”
“He loves it, actually. He sits in front of me and he stays completely still.”
“I’ve been looking forward to this all day.” Morgan reached over and placed her hand on Shawn’s arm, making the skin beneath tingle. “And you were right. The weather is perfect.”
Shawn lifted her chin and pulled her shoulders back, quite pleased with herself for suggesting this outing to Morgan. They arrived at her private dock, and Morgan helped her get the kayak off the roof rack. Morgan handed Shawn the bottle of sunscreen and turned her back to her. Good Lord in heaven, this was going to be torture. Morgan had no idea of the thoughts running through Shawn’s head as she rubbed the sunscreen into Morgan’s smooth white skin that was splattered with freckles and a faint tan line that looked to be from a one-piece. She cleared her throat and was grateful for the sunglasses that covered her eyes. They didn’t hide her face, but at least Shawn could keep her eyes on Morgan without making it look too obvious.
“Normally, I take this to the end of the dock, but I think it’ll be easier for you to get in if we’re on the beach.” Shawn quickly instructed Morgan on how to paddle and where she would sit. Her tandem kayak was a sit-on-top so Jameson could come with her. There was a flat area between the front and back seat where Jameson would sit, and once Morgan got in place, Shawn laid a towel down where Jameson would stay. She pushed them out in the water, then got in, careful not to capsize them.
“Okay, you ready?”
Morgan looked over her shoulder back at Shawn. “As I’ll ever be.”
“Okay, start paddling.”
They started off slow, letting Morgan get the hang of paddling and get into a rhythm, which she quickly did. The small waves in the water added a little rocking to the kayak, but the farther out from shore they got the water became smoother, like glass. They veered right and paddled along the shore, Shawn pointing out to Morgan places of interest. During the paddle, Shawn gave Morgan a brief history of Lake Tahoe, stories she’d learned from her grandad when they’d take his rowboat out on the lake to go fishing.
The stories about the discoverer, the Washoe and Paiute Indian tribes that had settled there before any white man, the Donner Party, and even Tahoe Tessie, the lake monster that resembled the Loch Ness Monster according to folklore. Grandad would tell her those stories while their lines were in the water. One outing, Shawn had paid such rapt attention that she lost her pole when she hadn’t noticed she’d had a bite on the line. Shawn had been around ten years old, and Grandad joked that maybe it was Tessie who’d taken her rod. The kayak had rocked side to side with Morgan’s laughter.
“I can just picture you at that age, eyes wide and mouth open when your grandad told you it might have been Tahoe Tessie that stole your fishing pole.”
“That sounds about right. I think I scooted closer to him so he could protect me from her. At the same time, I was afraid that he’d be mad that I lost the pole.”
“Was he?”
“Nah. The next day when he came home from the diner, he presented me with a new one, then we went out fishing again. That time, I made sure to keep a strong hold on it. I ended up catching three trout that day, big enough to bring home to Grandma to cook for dinner.”
“It sounds like you two were really close.”
“Yeah, we were. I’ll have to tell you more stories about him later.” Shawn could now talk about her grandad without getting tears in her eyes, but that wasn’t the case for about the first two years after he died. Now, it just reminded Shawn that she was keeping his memory alive when she retold his stories.
They paddled into shore and disembarked. Morgan had a little trouble getting out so Shawn came to her rescue. She grabbed Morgan’s hands and pulled her up. Morgan had lost her balance with the force and landed pressed up against Shawn’s body. She gripped Morgan’s waist to keep her upright. Thank Tahoe Tessie they’d had their life vests on. The thought of Morgan’s breasts pressed up against hers made Shawn’s nipples hard and wetness pool in her lower region.
“I’m sorry—”
“Are you—”
They both spoke at the same time, and Morgan stepped back and stuttered as she apologized.
“Sometimes I don’t know my own strength. You sure you’re okay?”
“Yes. Thank you so much for today. It was so fun hearing your stories, and I’d like to hear more. Are you available to have dinner with me tonight?”
Now it was Shawn’s turn to stutter. “Uh, no. I already have plans, but I appreciate the offer. Maybe another time?”
“Of course. Let me know when you’re free.”
Shawn would be free after she talked to Paige and broke it off with her. It wasn’t a conversation she looked forward to having, but she’d put it off long enough. It was time to cut the line. They loaded up the kayak after putting Jameson in the car, and they drove the two minutes up the road to Morgan’s cabin. She placed her hand on Shawn’s forearm, and her muscles twitched under Morgan’s fingers.
“Thanks again, Shawn. See you soon?”
“Yep. I’ll call you. Have a good night.”
Shawn pulled away when Morgan went inside. “Well, doggo, I’m in a world of trouble with that one. There’s something about her that gets my insides all jumbled. I guess I can’t put off talking to Paige any longer, huh, buddy?”
Jameson licked her cheek, and she wiped his slobber off. “I love you too, buddy.”
❖
After Shawn showered and redressed, she texted Paige to see if they could get together later. Paige had texted back and said she was free after she closed her ice cream shop at nine p.m. Great, Shawn had a few hours to kill before she’d go break it off with Paige. She went over in her head about what she’d say tonight. Neither one had discussed their feelings for each other, but Shawn had enjoyed hanging out with Paige, and she’d hoped they could remain friends. The town was too small not to run into each other on occasion. Shawn had been lucky that she and Marcy were able to remain friends after they broke up, and now Marcy was her best friend. Maybe she and Paige could go that route.
Shawn had jumped in her truck about twenty minutes prior to Paige closing. Shawn paced the sidewalk near the shop, her heart racing and her nerves frazzled. She didn’t have a lot of experience breaking up with women, and the thought of hurting Paige in the process made her feel like an asshole.
The lights went off and Paige stepped out then locked the door behind her. She smiled when she turned around and saw Shawn.
“Hey, you. You’re a sight for sore eyes.” She stepped forward and kissed Shawn quickly on the lips. “You want to take a walk?”
“Sure.” Shawn offered her arm and Paige wrapped her hand around Shawn’s biceps. No muscle twitching like she’d had with Morgan just a few hours earlier. They walked down to the lake, the pathway lit by gas lamps, a million twinkling stars, and the full moon.
“How was your day?”
“Not bad. Worked then kayaked. How about you?”
“Pretty slow today. I wish I could’ve gone out on the lake with you today.”
Shawn never even considered inviting Paige, and that spoke volumes about her feelings for her. All she’d been thinking about lately was the stunning woman who was staying up the street from her.
“So, what did you want to talk about?”
Shawn took a deep breath and let it out before facing Paige and looking into her eyes. At that moment, that might have been the bravest thing Shawn had ever done. “I think we should stop seeing each other.”
Paige’s mouth dropped open, shock overcoming her face. She took a step back and looked away. Shawn had remained quiet, letting Paige process her words. Paige turned back to Shawn with tears in her eyes.
“That was not what I was expecting. I thought we liked each other, maybe more than liked. I know for myself, I could’ve fallen in love with you.”
That statement didn’t surprise Shawn, but she felt a lump in her throat that was hard to swallow around when Paige actually said those words out loud. Shawn had discovered over their time together that Paige was an excitable woman, and Shawn had witnessed that intensity when they were having sex, but that certainly wasn’t enough to keep them together as a couple. And even though Shawn liked Paige, there was something about her she just couldn’t put her finger on. Something that didn’t sit right in Shawn’s sixth sense.
“I’m sorry, Paige. I like you and we have fun together, but I just don’t feel like we have a love connection.”
“I see.” Paige covered her face with her hands, then wiped away her tears. She moved closer and reached for Shawn’s hands. “Are you sure about this?”
Shawn frowned. “I am. If you’re up for it, I’m hoping we can stay friends. Like I said, I really like you.”
“Just not enough to love me though, right?”
Shawn squeezed Paige’s hands and slightly shook her head.
Paige kissed Shawn on her cheek and backed away. “Take care, Shawn. I hope you find what you’re looking for.”
Shawn stood and watched Paige walk away. While the conversation wasn’t easy, she’d expected maybe a little drama, but that didn’t happen, and Shawn felt the heavy weight lifted off her shoulders. Paige had been fairly calm. Maybe a little too calm for her normal behavior that made Shawn wonder if there would be a future explosion. She hoped that one day they could be friends. Shawn turned and watched the moonlight reflect off the water, and when she looked to the sky, a shooting star flew above her. She closed her eyes and quickly made a wish, just as her grandad taught her.
Shawny, whenever you see a shooting star, make a wish. But don’t tell anyone or it won’t come true.
All Shawn wished for was to find a woman she could connect with, one who would produce the fireworks in her soul that were as spectacular as the ones that lit the sky on the Fourth of July. Someone she wanted to spend the rest of her life with. Shawn was ready for her true love.