Charming Hannah (Big Sky 1)

“She,” I reply.

“She?”

I point to the two cubs playing on the rocky beach and Hannah smiles.

“They’re adorable. And far away.”

I nod, proud of her for putting on a brave face. I can see her hands shaking, but she doesn’t immediately turn around or freak out. She’s breathing deeply, and keeping an eye on the wildlife on shore.

“How many bears do you think are in this park?” she asks.

“I don’t think we should talk numbers. I don’t want to freak you out.”

“Facts calm me,” she says and raises a brow at me. “How many do you think?”

“Three hundred, give or take,” I reply and watch her swallow hard. “But that’s over more than a million acres, Hannah. A million. The odds of having an encounter that’s anything other than what we just had are so slim.”

“I know.” She shrugs one shoulder. “Like I said, I can’t change it. She was beautiful, and her babies are adorable. I’m glad I saw her from a safe distance. And I don’t care if I never see another one.”

“You’re brave.”

She snorts and rests her oar on the kayak. “I’m not brave, Brad. But I’m enjoying this kayak ride. I’m so glad you brought me.”

“Me too. Are you ready to turn back?”

“Is that the other head of the lake?” she asks, pointing ahead of us.

“Yes.”

“Well, then I guess we should turn back, since there’s nowhere else to go.”

I show her how to turn around, and she’s mimicking my movements. But then a bee flies by her face, and she shakes her head, flailing with her hand, and rocks the kayak too hard to recover.

She falls into the water with a shriek, and before I can jump in and help her, she’s grabbed the side of the kayak and pulled herself out of the water, panting and laughing at the same time. She’s soaked through.

“Are you okay?” I’ve paddled over to her and am holding her kayak to mine. She’s started to laugh.

“Good God, that’s fucking cold!” Her nipples are pressed against her soaked tank top, and she’s shivering a bit, wringing her hair out. “No wonder fish don’t live there. Nothing could live there.”

“You’ll warm up quickly. It’s ninety today. Probably eighty on the lake.”

“Whew, I’m awake now,” she says and laughs again, turning her face to the sun, soaking in the warmth. “Beginner’s luck.”

“You’re stunning.”

“I’m a mess.” She turns that smile to me. “If I lean your way, can you kiss me without dumping us both back in this water?”

I don’t answer, I just lean toward her slowly and she follows, kissing me with not a little heat. Her lips are cold. She backs away and then her eyes widen in fear.

“Fuck! I lost the oar!”

“I saved it,” I assure her and pass it to her.

“You’re my hero.”

I laugh and tuck her wet hair behind her ear. “Are you ready to go back?”

“Yes. I have to paddle to get my body heat back up.”

“I should have brought a sweatshirt or something, just in case.”

“I don’t think we have the cargo space for that,” she says. “I’m fine. I might just paddle faster this time.”

Chapter Nine

~Hannah~

I’M NOT GOING IN that water. Not today, not ever.

I stare down into the lake, not even hearing the voices around me. It’s the Fourth of July, just three weeks after being on a different lake with Brad up in the park. But this is different. This lake killed a young boy this summer, and I will not touch the water.

We all gathered at Jacob and Grace’s house on the lake a few hours ago. And by we all, I mean Brad and me, Jenna, Max, along with Grace and Jacob of course.

And let’s not forget Brad’s parents.

They just arrived in town for the remainder of the summer, and I’m meeting them for the first time today, on a pontoon boat.

On killer water.

“I’ve heard a lot about you,” Mary Hull says with a smile and takes a sip of her cold can of Coke. “I’m so happy that we get to spend the day with you.”

I nod and force a smile, trying desperately to calm down. But some of our group is on a ski boat, tubing and water skiing, in the water, and I just can’t breathe.

I’m terrified.

Not that I’ll let anyone else here know that.

“Hannah?” Grace asks, frowning.

“I’m sorry, what?”

“I asked you what kind of medicine you practice, dear,” Mary says. “Are you okay?”

“I’m fine.” I clear my throat and try to focus, ignoring the fact that Brad is currently water skiing in the water. “I’m sorry, my mind wandered. I am an OB/GYN. I share a practice here in town.”

“How lovely,” Mary says with a smile. “It must be wonderful to deliver babies into the world.”

“It’s hard work, and sometimes sad, but I wouldn’t change it for the world.”