Free Reluctant Date by Sheila Claydon Page A

taken it off and tossed it into the bottom of the boat where it
perched on a coil of ropes, next to several nets and a small rucksack.
    It took her a moment to push the fact she had been thinking
of him to the back of her mind and produce an answer.
    “Like a log, thank you.   And when I woke up and saw the view, well I just had to come out and be
part of it.   You didn’t tell me it was
going to be like this!”
    “Didn’t I?” His eyes twinkled as he looked up at her.   “Maybe I was afraid that if I made it sound
too idyllic you would come for all the wrong reasons. Besides it’s not always
like this.   Sometimes we have hurricanes.   In fact one of the first things you’re going
to have to learn about is the evacuation plan, and what to do if the siren
sounds.”
    Claire looked at him in horror. “Are you serious?”
    “’Fraid so.   But we’re
a long way off hurricane season so you don’t need to worry about it yet.”
    Thinking that the onset of the hurricane season might be yet
another good reason to return home when her six months were up, Claire dragged
her eyes away from Daniel’s upturned face, and particularly away from the
generous curves of his grinning mouth, and turned her gaze back towards the
beach.
    “I’m just off to take a look at the white pelicans.   Want to come with me?” The question was a
casual one as Daniel readied himself to start up the engine.
    Remembering the note from Beth she had found propped on the
kitchen counter, Claire shook her head. “Another time.   I need to unpack before Beth arrives.”
    He gave something that sounded like a snort or derision.
“That’s not any kind of an excuse.   Beth
won’t be with you until ten, and the trip out to the sandbar will only take
half-an-hour or so.   Come on Claire,
you’ve plenty of time. And early morning is the best part of the day to see
them, before the boat trips start.”
    Knowing he would think her foolish, maybe even pathetic,
Claire still searched for reasons why she couldn’t join him.   Her heart told her it was too soon.   Later, when she had settled into her job, it
would be fine.   He would just be
wallpaper by then.   Someone she was used
to being around.   Now though, the sight
of his laughing face and the curling ends of his dirt blond hair were causing
her actual physical pain.
    “I can’t.   I haven’t
even showered yet, and besides I haven’t had breakfast.”
    “I won’t tell if you don’t. And I have enough breakfast for
both of us.”   He nodded towards the
rucksack.   “Coffee, juice, fruit and
bread.”
    Out of excuses, and knowing when she was beaten, Claire made
her way to the ladder leading down to the mooring. By the time she reached the
lowest rung he was holding the boat steady and waiting to help her.   For once extremely grateful for her long
legs, she ignored his outstretched hand and jumped, landing gracefully in the
middle of the boat.
    “You’ve done that before,” he said with a nod of approval.
    “Mmm.   I spent a
summer on the canals with my parents,” she told him. “It was their maritime
period! Dad wore an old sailor’s cap all the time, and Mum dressed like a
pirate, right down to the red bandana and striped T-shirt! Not exactly the open
sea, of course, but it was the best they could manage. I had to secure the
ropes at every lock, so I became quite good at jumping on and off moving
boats.”
    “Sounds fun.   Surely
you enjoyed some of it.”   He had heard
the disparagement in her voice and his face was serious as he untied the
painter and pushed them clear of the pier.
    The memories came flooding back as she heard the waves
slapping against the prow.   It was years
since she had been in any sort of boat. Suddenly she remembered the freedom of
that hot summer when her bare feet had become so tough she had been able to
climb trees and walk across rough stones without flinching.   It had been a summer when she had had only
the most cursory