Page 13 of Finding Love

“I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be,” he said. “We weren’t all that close.”

She wondered if she’d misjudged him. After all, even though her family and friends liked to shelter her, she knew they were just trying to keep her safe. As much as it annoyed her, she still loved each and every one of them. The thought of losing them stung. Yet, Ryder seemed unfazed about losing his family.

“Do you have any siblings?” she asked, trying to understand him a little more.

“Nope. You?”

She shook her head. “No, not from the lack of my parents trying. Or so they’ve told me. They finally ended up giving up after my mother needed surgery.” She shrugged. “She’d lost a baby and… I won’t bore you with the details. Anyway, I’m an only child. I have two cousins. Nick and Kate. We’re as close as siblings.”

“The cop and the dancer?” he asked.

“Yes.”

“And the dancer is marrying a cop?”

She smiled. “Yes, Nick’s partner.”

“Right.” He nodded.

Just then Tom’s sailboat came into view. It was much larger than her own, and it sat anchored just at the entrance to the private cove.

“We’re here,” she said, motioning towards the larger sailboat.

Ryder glanced to where she was pointing.

“Looks like a party,” he said.

“Yup,” she answered, lowering the sails. The small boat came to rest next to the larger one.

She could see everyone on the beach, enjoying themselves. When they were spotted, several people shouted and waved at them.

After putting down both anchors, she pulled out the inflatable dinghy. She’d purchased the same model Tom had when she’d gotten the Calypso.

“Need any help?” Ryder asked.

“Do you know how to work the air pump?” she asked.

“Yeah.” He took it from her and while inflated the dinghy that would take them to shore, she grabbed the cooler and basket holding their food.

“We could always get some exercise and swim in?” Ryder suggested as he lowered the dingy into the water.

“The currents between the two rock shears are very strong if the tide is going out.” She pointed to the two tall walls on either side of the inlet. “It’s why I purchased this with the sailboat.” She put the cooler and basket into the dinghy. “Come on.” She climbed off the back of the sailboat into the dinghy.

He carefully picked up Willy and then handed the dog to her.

She waited until he sat down in the dinghy and then handed him the paddle.

“If you want the exercise, you can row us to shore,” she said with a smile.

He took the paddles and pushed them away from the sailboat, and they started heading towards shore.

She watched his strong arms work with each stroke and felt herself melting. Even though he was a mystery and a total beach bum, with probably not a dime to his name, there was something that drew her to him. Something she couldn’t quite put her finger on.

The way he’d looked when he’d talked to her about not being affected by his parents being out of his life. What would it be like to go your entire life and not feel the love she had growing up?

As much as he tried to seem nonchalant, she could see the hurt and pain clearly behind those sexy sea green eyes.

Maybe that was what pulled at her? She had always been a sucker for a wounded soul. Obviously, her small problems paled in comparison to his.

She’d grown up with so much love, she’d never questioned it.

As the dinghy hit the soft sand and Nick and Tom rushed to help them and carry their gear to where everyone else was set up, she realized that maybe this was why she’d invited Ryder. To show him that he wasn’t alone. That there might just be something better than being a loner.