First Time in Forever (Puffin Island 1)

Emily glanced up at him in surprise. “You’re leaving?” Her disappointment was so obvious he almost changed his mind.

And then he saw his sister’s eyes narrow and knew he was in trouble.

“I’ll be back.” He stumbled and planted his foot on a shell, earning his sister’s wrath.

“Ryan! Get your great big feet off the blanket. Ugh. You have no idea how many of my paintings he ruined when I was little.”

He turned his back on seashells, children and Emily’s curves and walked across the beach.

Alec was deep in conversation with a couple of marine biologists, and Kirsti was dancing with one of the instructors from the kayak school.

Across the sand he saw Jared end a conversation with a couple of lobstermen and glance toward Rachel.

Ryan ground his teeth and carried on walking.

His sister was right, her life was her business.

He had his own problems.

His problem caught up with him as he reached the edge of the beach.

“Ryan!” She sounded breathless, and he clenched his jaw and turned.

“What?”

“I thought you were going to talk to Anton?”

“He’s busy.” The truth was he’d forgotten about Anton; he’d been so intent on giving himself some space.

“Is everything all right? Lizzy was all over you. I hope she didn’t make you feel uncomfortable. Or irritated.”

Uncomfortable, he could have handled. Irritated, he could have handled. What he couldn’t handle was the fact he’d found her adorable. “She was great. Every kid loves the beach.” Too late, he remembered that she hated it. “Listen, Emily—”

“It’s fine. You don’t have to walk on eggshells—or maybe I should say seashells.” A dimple appeared at the corner of her mouth. “Can I walk with you for a minute? I could use five minutes of adult time.”

Unable to find a response that wouldn’t seem rude, he nodded. “Are you cold? Do you need a wrap or something?”

“I’m fine.”

It was a good job one of them was, he thought dourly, fixing his gaze on the rocks ahead. “When the tide is out you can walk right around to the next beach.”

“It’s pretty. I was thinking about what you said the other day,” she said quickly, “about teaching me to swim. If you meant it, then I’d like to.”

“You want to swim?”

She pulled a face. “No, but I think I should. It’s important for Lizzy. I’m sending the message that water is scary and to be avoided, and that’s not only unfair, it’s dangerous. She needs to learn how to swim, and once she’s learned, I need to be able to take her.”

“What changed your mind?”

“Watching the kids in the water. They were having so much fun. And listening to Rachel and Lisa talking about all the summer activities they have planned at Camp Puffin. Beach camp, kayaking, sailing. I want her to be able to do those things one day. I thought maybe Agnes would be willing to watch Lizzy for an hour while you teach me. Would you do it?”

He wanted to refuse. “Are you sure you want to do this?”

Say no.

“I’m sure. What would I need to bring?”

His mouth was dry. “Just yourself and a bathing suit. But if you don’t have a suit, then—”