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  She almost told him her opinion… that letting cancer dictate his future was like letting the disease win. But, she held her tongue. After all, she hadn’t walked in his shoes. And who was she to give advice about love and marriage?

  “See that black and white bird?” Happy to change the subject, she pointed at a bird, flying overhead, about the size of a hawk. “That’s a Swallow-tailed Kite. See that deep fork in his tail? He’s an endangered species.”

  “Cool bird. But how on earth do you know that?”

  “It’s embarrassing, really.” Why had she opened her big mouth? “My parents were birders. Every vacation we ever took involved walking around on trails with binoculars around your neck and your head craned up at the trees. I didn’t really want to learn about birds, but I couldn’t help it.”

  “You never fail to surprise me,” he said. “Okay, let’s test you. What’s that one over there? The red one?”

  “A cardinal. But surely you knew that.”

  He pointed to his right. “I think I know that yellow one, in that short tree. It’s a goldfinch, right?”

  “Actually, you won’t find a goldfinch in coastal Carolina in the summer. That’s probably a Pine Warbler.”

  For the next ten minutes, Gary played a game, his goal to find a bird she couldn’t identify. He finally stumped her with a small, olive-green bird, sitting on a dead tree branch.

  “I know it’s a flycatcher, but I can’t remember the name.”

  As he laughed at her frustration, she decided to give paddling another try.

  “I think I can do it,” she said. “I don’t feel shaky anymore.”

  “Okay, but take it easy, and don’t forget to drink your water.”

  “I will,” she agreed, somehow not irritated by his commands. “But you should know, I usually don’t like being bossed around, like a child.”

  “I don’t think that’s it. You know I’m only giving you good advice. I think you have a hidden competitive streak.”

  “No way! You’ve got me totally wrong. I’m the least competitive person you’ve ever met.”

  “I think you’re the most competitive person I’ve met. Hear me out,” he said, as she started to protest. “You said you pushed yourself, paddling the kayak, trying to prove you aren’t helpless and weak, but neither of us thought that about you.”

  “Maybe not exactly, but you thought I was weaker than you are.”

  “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.

  He’d thought it would be fun to have a quick vacation fling with Katie. But now that he’d heard her story, he didn’t want to bring any more tragedy into her life. After all, he had no intention of making this a serious relationship, no matter how good it had felt to hold her in his arms when he carried her up the river bank.

  “No, we’re only friends. But she paddled really hard today, and she deserves a treat. Besides, she’ll need something to do tomorrow, since we’ll be gone all day.

  “I’ll make sure she’s entertained,” said Zoe. “In fact, we’re having a Lunch and Limbo Mixer for our singles down at the beach tomorrow. She’ll love it.”

  “Great,” he said, his flat tone portraying just how excited he was about Katie at a single’s mixer. He could imagine her d
oing the limbo in her swimsuit while a bunch of guys stood around ogling her. His fingers curled and tightened into fists as he fought the urge to punch the wall.

  “My coach is asleep on the job.”

  From his comfortable place stretched out on the couch, Gary woke to find Steven peeling off his sweaty shirt while walking through the cottage living room.

  “How was your bike ride?” Gary yawned as he rubbed his eyes and blinked at the clock on the wall. “Two hours?”

  “Two hours, on the dot,” he said. “That’s what my coach has on my schedule for today.”

  “Good for you. And tomorrow is a rest day. Other than our dive trip, no exercise whatsoever.”

  “But I missed some days last month when I was traveling,” Steven said. “I’m behind I’m my training. I can’t afford a rest day.”

  “Rest is exactly what you need. You’re not behind on your training. You’re over-trained. Your body needs time to rest and recover.”

  “You do understand the goal is to win the overall title, right? I won’t be satisfied with anything less.”

  “Right now, our goal is to get your body in the best possible shape for the triathlon. Just follow my plan, and that will happen. As for winning,” Gary said, “we may have to hope some of those other guys don’t listen to their coaches.”

  “Right now, my goal is to take a shower and go eat. I’m starving,” said Steven. “What time are we going to dinner?”

  “We leave in forty minutes, but the plan is to walk into town.”

  Thirty-nine minutes and fourteen seconds later, by Steven’s timer, the two departed the cottage. As they made their way toward Katie’s cottage, Steven said, “I forgot to ask how Katie fared on the rest of the kayak trip. Was she able to paddle again?”

  “She paddled quite a bit.” Gary shook his head. “She sure is headstrong. The two of you must butt heads at the office.”

  “She’s not like that with me. She’s pretty easygoing.” Steven shrugged. “Maybe she respects me more because I don’t tease her.”

  “Or because you sign her paychecks.” Gary didn’t want to believe she got along better with Steven. “She probably doesn’t speak her mind around you.”

  “No. We just think alike. She loves that I’m uber-organized. But, she’ll let me know if I’m being short with her. It’s kind of a mutual respect.”

  “If you say so.”

  “Listen,” said Steven. “Are you thinking about dating Katie? Because I don’t think it’s a good idea.”

  Gary’s first impulse was to say the thought never crossed his mind, but Steven’s uninvited opinion irked him. “Maybe that should be Katie’s decision.”

  “I can only see this going one way,” Steven said. “You’ll do your usual thing and go out a few times and then break it off before you get too attached. Only, I think Katie will already be too attached. And I’ll be left with a broken-hearted PA who’ll look for another job because I’m best friends with her ex-boyfriend.”

  Since a short-term relationship was his goal, Gary didn’t try to deny the possibility. “Maybe Katie would enjoy a fun, no-strings-attached relationship.”

  “I’d rather you didn’t ruin my good thing for your temporary pleasure.”

  “Would you approve if we were dating seriously?”

  “Absolutely not!” said Steven. “Then the two of you would get married, and I’d still lose my PA.”

  “Not that it’s ever going to happen, but why would you lose Katie if we got married?”

  “Because right now, she’s loyal to me. If she gets married, she’ll be loyal to her husband. Let’s face it… no guy is going to want his wife working that closely with me every day. Not even you.”

  Especially not me.

  “So you want Katie to be single for the rest of her life, just so she can keep working for you?”

  They turned up the path toward the cottage.

  “I’m not wishing a lonely life for her. But she told me she’s had one long-term relationship, and it turned sour.”

  Steven had surprised Gary with this tidbit, but he didn’t let on. “She’s bound to meet the right guy eventually.”

  “But for the time being, she’s determined to stay single. As long as that’s her plan, she’s the ideal PA for me. And who knows… if she changes her mind about being married, I might change mine, too.”

  In one fell swoop, Steven had set a boundary and claimed Katie for himself. But for the first time, Gary felt inclined to challenge the man who’d become his best friend after saving his life. Maybe it was because Steven seemed to discuss Katie as if she were a business asset, rather than a woman with thoughts and feelings.

  Of course, Gary knew better. Steven was the most generous and caring person he’d ever met, but he kept his feelings behind a mask of steel. The only time the man ever softened was around his grandmother, Gram, the ninety-plus-year-old on a mission to end her grandson’s bachelorhood.

  Even though Steven probably cared a great deal for Katie, Gary couldn’t help feeling defensive of her. “I’m your friend, Steven, and I want your business to run smoothly. I want you to have a great personal assistant, like Katie. But I’m not convinced that staying with you is her best long-term option. She’s going to run herself ragged trying to keep pace with you. She needs someone who appreciates her for who she is, not what she does.”

  From the look on Steven’s face, he was struggling to keep his temper. “And that man is you?”

  “I’m not sure,” Gary said. “I’ve only known her for a few days.”

  “Exactly,” said Steven. “I think I have a better idea what she needs.”

  “Can we agree that both of us want Katie to be happy?”

  Steven’s mouth opened and closed a few times, as if he were carefully considering his response. “I not only want her to be happy, but I’ve made certain she is.”

  “How? By giving her a generous salary?”

  “As a matter of fact, yes. And I also tell her what a great job she’s doing. She knows how pleased I am.”

  They climbed the steps to the cottage porch.

  “Wow.” Gary iced his words with sarcasm. “Every woman’s dream.”

  Steven blinked confusion, uncertainty flitting across his face. “Why wouldn’t it be?”

  “Let me give you some advice… If you really care about a woman, you have to let her see what’s going on in here.” Gary stabbed his finger into Steven’s chest with a little more force than was necessary.

  “Thanks for the advice.” As he lifted his hand to knock on Katie’s door, Steven’s mouth stretched into something between a grimace and a smile. “Maybe I’ll do just that.”

  “I love this place.” With her fork poised in front of her mouth, Katie paused to glance around the quaint café. “It reminds me of this cute restaurant in Allentown.”

  “Allentown?” Gary asked. “Is that where you’re from?”

  “She was born and raised there.” Steven intercepted the question before she could answer, as he’d done several times previously during dinner.

  “I’ve never been,” Gary said. “Wasn’t there a song about Allentown?”

  “Yes,” said Katie. “A Billie Joel song.”

  “Cool.” Gary caught her gaze and held it, as if he were trying to send a secret message. “I’d like to visit sometime. Maybe you could show me around.”

  Steven cleared his throat several times until he got their attention. “Katie, have you recovered from the kayak trip this morning?”

  “Sure. I had a long nap and I feel great.” She wasn’t about to admit that she hurt all over. Even her hair ached. But she’d taken some ibuprofen and forced herself to walk to town without limping.

  “I bet you’ll feel even better after your massage, tomorrow,” Gary said.

  “Oh, I’m sure I will.” Guilt flooded her. She shouldn’t accept gifts from him, even if he was only offering as a friend. “Thanks so much for booking it for me. But I really want to pay
you back.”

  “No, it’s my treat.” Gary touched her hand as she reached for her glass. “I owe you, since I’m the one who talked you into going.”

  “No one talks me into anything. I made that decision myself.” Katie pointed to her chest. “And I’m glad I went.”

  “You’re getting a massage tomorrow?” Steven interrupted, wearing a smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes.

  She’d forgotten tomorrow was Monday. He’d be expecting her to work.

  “It’s only for an hour. I promise I’ll have plenty of time to get some work done.”

  “No, no. I want you to relax. You deserve it!” Steven said. “You should get your hair and nails done, too. On me. Whatever you like. Even if you want to get some fancy stuff done to your hair.”

  Katie fumbled her fork, and it clattered to the table. “Oh, I couldn’t let you do that, Mr. Gherring.” He paid her a generous salary, but he’d never given her a gift of any sort. It couldn’t be proper, could it?

  “You’re supposed to call me Steven, remember?” His brows skulked over his eyes, and she knew she’d offended him.

  “It’s hard to call someone by their first name when they’re so intimidating, isn’t it?” Gary laughed, unapologetically, and Steven glowered even more.

  Gary really ought to take his teasing down a notch.

  She hurried to pacify her boss. “I’m sorry, Mr. Gher—… I mean, Steven. I’ll try to do better.”

  “Just let me do this one thing for you,” said Steven. “I don’t think you realize how important you are to me, Katie, and this is a way for me to show it.”

  Was it her imagination, or did Steven just make a face at Gary? What was going on with those two? Before she could figure it out, the restaurant owner approached.

  “Did you enjoy your dinners?” asked Caroline, a willowy woman who appeared to be in her fifties. She’d given them plenty of personal attention, something Steven was probably accustomed to, though he was as gracious as ever.