Always By My Side by Goulton Iola

Author:Goulton, Iola
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781738585908
Publisher: Iola Goulton
Published: 2023-05-30T00:00:00+00:00

“One, two, three, four.” Tabby counted the cups of flour out loud so she didn’t ruin the recipe by adding too few cups, or too many—both mistakes she’d made over the years when baking large batches. Both mistakes she was more likely to make when she was distracted … and distracted didn’t even begin to describe how she felt this morning after yesterday’s trip to the boatshed and last night’s cuddling on the back veranda. She could barely breathe around Logan, let alone think.

“It’s starting to feel like summer is on the way.” Logan sat at the kitchen counter and took a mouthful of the ham and mushroom omelet she’d just made him. “We should take advantage of the weather and go out on the lake.”

“Not today. I need to bake a batch of cookies for the young mother’s group at church and I’m working at Hannah’s at noon.” She’d much rather spend time with Logan, but she’d promised Rhonda, and she refused to be one of those women who reneged on their responsibilities because of a man.

“I didn’t say when.”

“I figured you meant today.”

“I was thinking of tomorrow. Saturday’s your day off from the rowing club, isn’t it?”

Was Logan suggesting a date?

“So let’s go kayaking on Saturday. If it’s not raining, of course.”

“No, thank you.” She’d love to go on a date with Logan, but kayaking? She’d rather clean Trent’s bathroom with a toothbrush.

“You’re always working. You need to give yourself a few hours off. Give yourself time to relax, to rest.” With me. He didn’t say the words, but she could hear them in his tone, see them in the way he looked at her. But kayaking …

“I don’t kayak.” Kayaking was scary and stressful, not relaxing or romantic.

“What about rowing or paddleboarding or sailing?”

“I don’t row or paddleboard or sail either.” She tried to modulate her tone to indicate she was interested in doing something social with Logan … as long as that something social had nothing to do with water.

“Do you waterski? Swim? You live beside a lake. You must do something aquatic.”

“I can swim.” She turned away from the kitchen island, back to the sink. Did he have any suggestions that weren’t water based?

“If you don’t kayak or paddleboard or row or sail, then it’s time you learned.”

“I didn’t say I couldn’t. I said I don’t.” Her heart beat faster at the thought.

“Why not?”

“I don’t like the water. People drown.”

“I’m a qualified lifeguard, a qualified first aider, a qualified sports and outdoors expert. There’s nothing to be afraid of.”

“It’s not about being afraid. It’s about being safe. Sensible. Having a healthy respect for water.”

“I have a healthy respect for water. And I raft and kayak and swim.” Logan crossed his arms across his chest.

Tabitha turned away and washed her hands. They didn’t need washing, but she needed to not look at Logan. Otherwise, he’d convince her to do something stupid, like go kayaking on Lake Wainscott.

“Okay. You’re not afraid of water. You have a ‘healthy respect’ for water.

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