Free Love Shadows by Catherine Lanigan Page B

she didn’t understand was the happiness that overwhelmed her, just seeing him. Sarah’s heart skipped a beat and she felt a flush fill her cheeks. Why was he here? Had he been watching her? His eyes were steady, measuring her movements as she walked up to him. She couldn’t help wondering what was running through his mind. And why, oh why, did his resolute gaze elicit such a thrill?
    “Sarah,” he said, unlocking the boathouse doors and opening them wide. He walked over to the boat where the other three women were watching him with skeptical expressions.
    Maddie was the first to speak. “Luke. What are you doing here?”
    “My kids are enrolled in Red’s summer camp. He was too busy to help you with the boat. He enlisted me.”
    Maddie nodded. “He’s good at that.”
    Sarah stood next to tall, willowy Liz with the mane of honey-blond hair. “This is Liz Crenshaw,” Sarah said. “Liz, meet Luke Bosworth.”
    “My pleasure,” she said, holding her oars in her left arm and extending her right hand to shake his.
    “And this is Isabelle Hawks. We all went to high school together,” Sarah explained.
    “Nice to meet you, too, Isabelle,” Luke said. “And did you all row back then?”
    “We did.” Maddie grinned. “Sarah was our fearless leader, then and now. She rides us all the time to improve our skills.”
    “Yeah,” Liz added. “We could probably win the Olympics. She’s that good.”
    Sarah shook her head and laughed. “Kidders. They’re always like that,” she told Luke as they picked up the boat and carried it into the boathouse.
    Luke helped hoist the boat onto the rack where it would stay dry and protected.
    “Thanks for the help, Luke,” Maddie said. “I have to run. I have to make a hundred cupcakes for a wedding anniversary party I’m catering tonight.” She elbowed Isabelle, who was gawking at Luke.
    Isabelle jumped at the jab to her ribs. “Right. I gotta get to the Lodge. Edgar will have a fit if I’m not there for breakfast seating.”
    “You work at the Lodges?” Luke asked.
    “I’m the bookkeeper, actually.”
    Sarah chuckled and looked up at Luke. “She’s being modest. She does everything there. She’s Edgar’s right arm, but he doesn’t give her enough credit.”
    “I’m off, as well,” Liz said. “Nice weather like this brings out the tourists for wine tastings.”
    Sarah waved to her friends as they quickly scooted off to their respective cars.
    Luke locked up the boathouse doors. Sarah walked back with him toward the marina.
    “Luke, I want you to know that I meant it about paying for your kids’ clothes. Beau...”
    “Forget it,” he said sharply.
    Sarah was taken aback by his terse reply. She wasn’t sure if he was embarrassed because they’d been at a counseling session together and she knew some personal details about his life with Jenny, or if maybe he just didn’t like her.
    “It’s just that I feel awful and I wanted to apologize.”
    “Sarah,” Luke said, stopping. “I was a jerk to you, okay? I’d like to forget it. Can we just put that behind us?”
    “Sure.” She smiled up at him.
    “Good,” he answered and began walking again.
    “Well, I hope your kids like Red’s summer camp. I did when I was a kid. Of course, I was older than they are. You know, Red was my trainer for sculling. He coached me all through high school. He’s really great with kids. Plus, he has a built-in audience for all his stories.”
    “I’m not worried about Annie fitting in. She loves everybody. If I know my daughter, she’ll have the entire camp reorganized by next week.” He laughed.
    “She likes things orderly?”
    “She’s compulsive. She’s the first one up. Annie insists on making all our lunches. I can’t talk her out of it. She even counts out milk money for her brother. She has lists everywhere. It could make you nuts.”
    “Sounds like my kind of girl,” Sarah said. “I can’t live without my lists—both on paper and