Both Riley and Kyle twisted to look behind them at the man they’d been discussing. Riley couldn’t see Justin’s eyes behind his dark sunglasses, but his smile was wide. She imagined his eyes were twinkling with mirth.
He’d stayed at the back the entire trip so far, saying he preferred to be where he could see all the kids and make sure no one got left behind or had any issues. The guide stayed in the front, leading their way down this somewhat shallow section of the Congaree River. Riley stayed near the back too, and Stan, the dad of a boy named Stephen, paddled in the middle of their small group.
Although Justin had said he needed her there, Riley wasn’t so sure. One adult per three kids seemed a good enough ratio, although admittedly one adult to just over two kids was better. Not that she’d done anything other than help apply sunscreen to little faces and ears, and supervised as they’d applied it to other exposed body parts.
Honestly, after the length of time Justin had had to spend getting her and Daisy settled securely into their kayak, she was probably more of a hindrance than a help.
“Aye-aye, Captain!” Kyle called. “I’m questioning her.”
“That he is!” Riley tried to hold in her laughter at Kyle’s salute to Justin.
Kyle let go of her kayak and their boats separated. She expected him to row ahead. Instead he stuck close, pointing out a turtle sunning itself on the bank and talking to her about everything from baseball to his favorite video game.
When they reached the place where the guide had stopped, ready for their lunch break, Riley stayed back until Justin had gotten out of his kayak, then watched him he
lp a few of the boys pull their kayaks up on the bank so they wouldn’t go floating away. She wasn’t exactly sure how to get out of hers without tipping the kayak over—which she’d rather not do.
“I’ll take Daisy,” Kyle offered, wading out in the water to where Riley was trying to watch how the others were getting out of their kayaks. “That way she won’t be scared of falling in when you get out.”
“Good idea,” Riley agreed, and unhooked Daisy’s lifejacket from hers, and handed the dog to Kyle. At least if she tipped the kayak Daisy wouldn’t get dumped into the water.
Once Kyle had Daisy, Riley contemplated again how to get out of the kayak. The kids had made it look easy enough, but every time she shifted her weight the boat tilted.
“Need a hand?” Justin offered, smiling down at her.
“Or two or three hands,” she admitted, taking his outstretched one to balance herself as she attempted to get out of the kayak.
With him steadying her, she managed to land with her feet in the water rather than her rear-end.
“Oh, that’s cold!” she exclaimed as the calf-deep water soaked her tennis shoes. Justin had told her to wear swimming shoes, but she didn’t own a pair. These old tennis shoes had had to suffice.
“Feels good,” Justin claimed, holding her hand and keeping the other on the rope attached to her kayak to keep it from floating away.
The sun was shining down hot on them, but goosebumps prickled Riley’s skin as she climbed ashore to join the others. From the cold water or from where Justin held her hand?
“Feels good if you’re a polar bear,” she mumbled as she carefully made her way through the river to the bank. “Thank you,” she added, once they were on dry land.
Letting go of her hand to pull her kayak up on the shoreline, next to the others, he grinned. “You’re welcome. Can’t have my favorite girl taking a swim before the designated time. I’d have a revolt, with lots of boys diving in under the pretext of rescuing you.”
Rather than answer she just smiled, and made her way over to where Kyle was cuddling Daisy. Once there, she glanced back toward where Stan and the guide had begun unloading the things bungee-strapped to their kayaks.
Justin’s arms and face glistened in the sunlight with a deepening tan, and memories of his bare chest flashed through her mind. She didn’t recall any tan lines on his arms, but there must have been. Next time she’d look closer...
Next time?
There would be no next time.
Justin laughed at something the guide had said and Riley’s heart missed a beat. Face on fire, she dragged her gaze away from Justin’s muscular arms and ordered her brain to never, ever go again where it had just been.
Fortunately Kyle, still holding a wiggling Daisy, wanted her attention.
“She wants to get down, Miss Riley, but I wasn’t sure if I should let her,” he told her, keeping a tight grip on the dog, who was doing her best to wrangle her way free.
Poor Kyle. Riley was impressed that he continued to hold on to Daisy, despite her escape attempts. Although only six pounds, Daisy could be a handful.
“It’s probably best if we put on her leash since we’re in a place that’s strange for her,” Riley told him.
She’d left the short cord that had attached their lifejackets to each other back in the kayak, but she had brought Daisy’s leash with her in the fanny pack she’d filled with treats, her phone inside a sealed plastic bag, a small bottle of sunscreen, and a protective lip balm. Being careful not to dislodge any of the other items, she pulled out Daisy’s leash.