Capri shook her head, a faint smile playing on her lips. “I’ve got it under control. Just a little touch-up, really. But I appreciate the offer.”
He leaned against the side of the building, crossing his arms. “Have it your way, boss.”
Capri focused on smoothing out the last bit of mortar, feeling a sense of satisfaction as the crack disappeared beneath her careful work. “Sometimes it’s just easier to fix things yourself,” she said, her voice steady.
Bodhi tilted his head, studying her for a moment. “You know, it’s okay to let others lend a hand—it doesn’t make you any less capable.”
Capri looked up, meeting his gaze with a thoughtful expression. “I’ll keep that in mind,” she replied, her tone softening. “But for now, I think I’ve got this one covered.”
With the crack filled and the wall looking as good as new, Capri stood up, brushing the dust off her hands. Bodhi gave her an approving nod, his grin widening. “Looks solid. You did good, Capri.”
“Thanks,” she said, feeling a quiet sense of accomplishment. “One less thing to worry about.”
As Bodhi pushed off the wall and turned to leave, he glanced back with a grin. “Don’t go hogging all the fun—leave some work for the rest of us.”
Capri watched him walk away, a small smile lingering on her lips. Maybe he was right—there was no harm in accepting help now and then. But for now, she was content knowing she was a strong woman fully capable of handling things on her own.
17
Capri tightened the last strap on the raft, giving it a firm tug before stepping back to survey her work. The sun was already high, casting long shadows from the towering pine trees that surrounded the transport vehicle. The sound of the river in the distance was a constant reminder of the day ahead, filled with eager tourists looking for adventure.
“Bodhi!” she called out, her voice cutting through the morning air. “Make sure you keep an eye on those new rock croppings around the bend after the second set of rapids. The earthquake shifted things a bit, and I don’t want anyone getting caught off guard.”
Bodhi nodded, his long hair falling into his face as he slung a coil of rope over his shoulder. “Got it, Cap. I’ll take it slow around that section.”
“Good,” Capri said, wiping her hands on her jeans. She tilted her head in the direction of the passengers standing several yards away. “Remember, safety first. If anything feels off, pull back and reassess. We don’t need any heroics out there.”
“Got it,” he said, the look he gave her a silent reminder of the run they’d made together—where Capri had pushed the limits a bit. He started to open his mouth to say more when she interrupted. “Let’s not go there,” she warned.
Bodhi responded with a simple grin as he moved to finish loading the rest of the gear, while Capri checked her clipboard, mentally ticking off the list of tasks still to be done. She walked over to the trailer, checking the oars, life vests, and helmets, ensuring everything was in place.
Just as she bent down to double-check the first aid kit, her phone buzzed in her back pocket. She pulled it out, seeing Jake Carrington’s name on the screen. Her heart did a small flip before she could stop it.
“Secured some supplies,” the text read. “They won’t be in for a couple of days, but I’ve drawn up some preliminary plans. Would like to review them with you.”
Capri stared at the screen, a rush of elation threatening to break through her carefully constructed defenses.
“Sounds good,” she quickly typed back. “Let’s meet out at the cabin later this afternoon. Say, four o’clock?”
A thumbs-up icon appeared.
She slipped the phone back into her pocket, her fingers lingering on it for just a moment longer than necessary. Taking a deep breath, Capri turned her attention back to the tasks at hand, her mind already beginning to plan out the rest of her day.
“Alright, Bodhi,” she called out, her voice steady and authoritative. “Let’s get this show on the road.”
Just like that, the summer rafting season began.
After a whirlwind day filled with activity, Capri returned to her cabin, the noise of the day still echoing in her mind. She stood on the porch, the late afternoon sun casting long shadows across the yard as she watched Jake’s truck rumble up the gravel drive, a small cloud of dust trailing behind.
The place felt different now, quieter since her mother had moved out. While the looming renovations created a level of excitement, she admitted to herself she had mixed feelings. The prospect of changes to the home she’d always known left a knot of uncertainty in her stomach.
Jake parked and stepped out, a stack of rolled-up blueprints under one arm. He offered her a nod, his calm demeanor in place as if they were about to discuss something as mundane as the weather. Part of her appreciated that steadiness, even if it annoyed her at the same time.
“Afternoon,” he greeted, making his way up the steps to the porch.
“Hey,” she replied, folding her arms as she leaned against the porch railing. “So, let’s see what you came up with.”
Jake didn’t seem fazed by her brusque tone. He simply unrolled the first blueprint on the small outdoor table, using a couple of rocks to hold down the corners. “After our initial talk, I’ve got a few ideas for you,” he began, spreading out the rest of the plans so she could see.
