“Ah-ha! You see? You made the comparison between us. When you compare, you’re competing. You weren’t trying to prove you weren’t weak. You were trying to prove you were as strong as I am.”
She rested her paddle, twisting to scowl at him. “I know I’m not as strong as you are.”
“Then why did you do it?”
“I don’t know.” She was suddenly confused. “But I can’t be competitive. I don’t play a single competitive sport. In fact, one of the reasons I like swimming is there’s never anyone else in the pool.”
“That makes perfect sense. You don’t compete, because you don’t like to lose. You probably hate working out on the machines in the gym because you feel like you have to run faster and lift more weight than the person next to you.”
Katie couldn’t reply. She was in shock. How had Gary, in a couple of days, come to understand her better than she understood herself?
“Hey, Katie?” Gary’s voice broke into her reverie, back to his teasing tone. “I just wanted you to know I think competitive girls are the sexiest.”
Hating the way he made her blush at will, she decided she’d better learn how to disregard his mocking banter and pay him back in kind. After all, since it turned out she was ultra-competitive, she had to beat him at his own game, didn’t she?
8
“Hi, Zoe,” said Gary as he strolled into the resort office. “I just came by to double-check on our scuba trip, tomorrow.”
“As a matter of fact, I’ve got a packet for you, right here.” She slid a thick manila envelope across the desk. “Confirmation, directions, vouchers, plus a bunch of flyers with pictures. There’s a link to the website, so you can check it out online. But you have a private charter for the whole day, and Barrett is an excellent divemaster.”
“Do you dive?” he asked.
“I used to go a lot.” She blew a loose strand of hair out of her face. “These days, I’m so busy I don’t have time for anything fun. We have events booked every weekend through the end of summer and most of fall. And right now, I don’t have anyone to help me.”
“Be careful you don’t get burned out,” Gary advised.
“You’re right. I need to take a day or two off and have some fun,” she said. “Unfortunately, I don’t see that happening any time soon.”
“Thanks for arranging the kayak trip this morning.”
“How did it go? Are you glad you went on your own instead of using a tour guide?”
“Turns out we had a tour guide of sorts along with us. Our female companion identified every bird on the entire river.”
Though he’d teased her about it, Gary had been blown away by her hidden talent. He was also amazed at how he was able to open up to her about his cancer and how it changed his life. Instead of pity, she’d shown real empathy. Most people became uncomfortable when he brought it up.
“Gary?” Zoe’s voice brought him back to the present.
“I’m sorry. What did you say?”
“I asked if you were talking about Katie. Because I met her yesterday. I hope she didn’t get eaten by an alligator, since I advised her not to worry about them.”
“I dropped her off at her cottage before lunch. You’ll be glad to know she has no missing body parts.” To his disappointment, Katie had expressed her plans to take a shower and then relax and read until dinner. He’d hoped he might entice her to do something with him after lunch… perhaps a walk on the beach. But he knew she needed to rest after her strenuous morning. “Speaking of Katie, do you think I could book her a massage tomorrow? I’m betting she could really use it.”
“A massage! You sure know the way to a girl’s heart. Let me see what I can do for you…” She tapped on the computer keyboard. “Looks like we have a ten o’clock opening with Marissa and a two o’clock with James.”
“Put her down for ten a.m.” He surely wasn’t going to pay to let some guy rub his hands all over her. “I want to take care of the charges ahead of time—the tip and everything. Can I do that?”
“I never turn down a chance to take someone’s money,” said Zoe, with a wink. She ran his credit card through the card reader. “Okay, it’s done. Can you give me her cell number? I’ll send her a text reminder.”
“Uhmm… actually, I don’t have her in my contacts. But I’ll get it to you.” It would be a good excuse to acquire her number.
“Oh? I assumed you were dating, since you’re buying a massage for her.”
His heartbeat sped up, but he wasn’t sure why. He and Katie were squarely in the friend zone, weren’t they? On the other hand, she had criticized his girlfriend for deserting him, and her voice had held a fair amount of outrage. Was it possible she was beginning to feel something more than friendship?
I shouldn’t let this go any farther.