Haley’s dad gave MacKenzie her check Saturday morning before she left to open the store. “You been kissing that boy of mine?” he asked.

MacKenzie’s eyes widened and she gripped the check tightly. “Maybe.”

“Ha! I thought I saw some smooching on the porch.” He leaned closer to her. “Well, don’t give in too easily. Make that punk work for it.”

“You can count on me, sir.” She mock saluted him.

He nodded. “I always liked you.”

MacKenzie laughed and almost skipped to her old car, singing as she drove into town. Isaac’s dad was a tease and she liked laughing with him.

She found a friendly cashier at Clark’s Market who knew Haley and was willing to cash the check, not even asking for i.d. MacKenzie was thrilled to have almost a thousand dollars cash. She could escape. Then she thought of Isaac. He’d rescued her last night and then kissed the bejeebees out of her. How could she leave him or leave Haley’s store unattended after all her friend had done for her? Did she really have to go tonight? A few more days couldn’t hurt. She’d keep watching the news and pray for Squire’s capture. It was rumored he was back in the country, but there had been no indication that anyone knew where she was. Maybe if she just kept laying low it would be okay. She couldn’t miss that date with Isaac tonight.

He texted her on the phone Haley had given her.

Meet you at your front porch at 6:30?

I’ll be there.

Wear a swimsuit.

Were they going back to that beautiful lake to swim again? That’d been fun. She hurried home after work and changed into one of Haley’s swimsuits. Thank heavens they were close to the same size and Haley had told her to use anything of hers until MacKenzie’s luggage came. She claimed it’d gotten lost on the flight.

She waited on the front porch, nervous and excited. Isaac strode up, wearing a t-shirt and board shorts. The striations in his arms and calves had her checking him out time and time again. My, oh, my, he was fit.

“Hey, Mac,” he called out. “You ready?”

“Ready and waiting.” She was so grateful he’d let them slip back into the comfortable relationship they’d been developing before she flipped out and yelled at him the other night. If he tried to press her about why she’d been scared, she didn’t know what she’d do, but for now she was going to enjoy this easy friendship. Or maybe it was more than friendship. She’d told him she didn’t kiss her friends.

Isaac helped her into his truck, which had two large paddle boards sticking out of the back. They drove a little ways east of town and parked next to a walking bridge and a slow-moving river. After unloading the paddle boards onto the riverbank, he pulled out some sub sandwiches, a small veggie platter, and water bottles. They sat on his tailgate to eat.

“Someday soon I’d like to take you out to a real restaurant.” He studied her as if gauging her response. “Tomorrow night?” His voice pitched up hopefully.

MacKenzie grinned as she reached for a carrot and plunged it in ranch. “Maybe. Depends how tonight goes.”

Isaac winked. “I’ll try to be on my best behavior.”

They ate the simple dinner, sharing stories about each of their childhoods. It made MacKenzie miss her parents and sisters, but being here with Isaac was definitely helping avert any homesickness. They cleaned up their food and Isaac carried one of the paddle boards into the river. He helped MacKenzie up onto the board, his hands at her waist to steady her. MacKenzie thrilled at his touch and the timbre of his voice, hardly listening to his instructions. He handed her the paddle. “You feel okay?”

“Sure. This should be easy.” She tossed her hair and tried to look overconfident. “I’m a Spartan racer, remember?”

He chuckled. “Good point.”

“Plus, this river’s like half a foot deep and hardly any current.”

“Right here it is.”

He maneuvered his board into the water. MacKenzie used her paddle to push off, enjoying the slow-moving current and the crystal clear water flowing below her. There was a bike trail off to their side and she could hear the bikers talking as they sped past. The wildflowers next to the river and stands of pine trees were beautiful. Isaac stayed behind her and she paddled to make her board move faster with the current.

“You doing okay?” Isaac asked.

“Great.” MacKenzie turned her torso to give him a smile, but threw herself off balance. Before she could recover, she’d toppled off the side of her board into the knee-deep water. She caught herself before falling all the way in, so she didn’t get too wet. The water was bracingly cold like the snow had just melted off the mountain and rolled down this path. She barely held in a gasp of shock.

“You all right?” Isaac asked anxiously. “Can you get back on?”

“I’m fine. Thanks.” After all her bragging about being a Spartan. She’d been joking, but this was just plain embarrassing. She climbed back onto her board as Isaac maneuvered closer. She must’ve not been centered because the board flipped out from under her and she flung backwards, knocking into Isaac. He gave a surprised grunt as he fell into the water, MacKenzie sprawled next to him, dunking herself completely.

MacKenzie pushed her wet hair out of the way and laughed. Isaac joined in. He helped her to her feet. They were both wet and their boards were floating away.

“Sorry. I should’ve taught you better,” he said. “Were you paying attention to my instructions about balancing your weight evenly as you get on?”

MacKenzie glanced down and bit her lip. “I was distracted.”

“By what?”

She bravely lifted her gaze, took his hands in hers and placed them on her waist like they’d been when he instructed her. “You touching me.”

Isaac’s eyes widened. He pulled her in closer. “Oh?”

“Maybe you should instruct me again.”

“Maybe later,” he murmured, lowering his head and kissing her.

It was much, much later when they were able to catch up to their paddleboards and continue the journey down the river.