Page 6 of Finding Love

Another bolt of lightning had her clenching her back teeth.

“You’re not going to make it to your car before the storm hits. Grab your board and follow me.” She waved at him and then started making her way quickly back towards her place. If the guy was smart, he’d follow her, if not… he was on his own. If he left, she’d call it in, and he’d be someone else’s problem.

When she reached her porch, however, she noticed the man was carrying the surfboard and the dog across the sand towards her cottage. Apparently, he felt well enough. The long board must have been heavy and awkward to carry that far with the dog.

Still, when he set the board down next to her own surfboard and kayak, he wasn’t even winded. He did sit down on the cushioned sofa she had on the porch, putting the little dog next to him.

“How are you feeling?” she asked, running her eyes over him.

The lightning and thunder were almost deafening. Rain had started falling just before they’d made it to the porch and now it was coming down sideways. Good thing her porch was almost as big as the rest of her house. It was one of her favorite spots to sit and watch storms.

“Like I got hit in the head with a surfboard,” he said as he grabbed his head with both hands. “Can I trouble you for some water?”

Without saying anything, she walked inside and grabbed a glass of water and the bowl of water that she kept for her parents’ dogs and brought it all outside.

She set the bowl for the little dog down on the seat first, then she handed the man the glass.

“Thanks.” He proceeded to drink the entire thing in one large gulp.

When she’d first spotted him, she’d assumed that he was just another surfer, a beach bum that had wandered up from California in hopes of some bigger more private waves. No doubt he’d known there was a storm coming and hoped to enjoy the massive waves it brought in. If that was the case, he was an idiot. Especially since he’d taken the little dog out on the water with him.

She was thankful that the dog had a life vest on. Sure, she could tell they were both skilled, since the dog obviously knew what to do on the surfboard. Actually, they had looked really good out there. Until they hadn’t. Until the weather had been too much for them. Too much for most.

“Are you always this reckless?” she asked, sitting down in the chair across from him. She leaned down and turned on the gas firepit. Even though it was in the sixties still, the rain and wind had brought cooler air. Then she leaned back and propped her feet up on the firepit, enjoying the warmth.

He didn’t answer, but just kept rubbing his forehead.

“You know that you could have killed your dog.” She motioned to the little dog, who had finished lapping up the water and was now happily snoring on the pillow next to him.

“Willy,” he said.

“Well, Willy, you’re very lucky—”

His chuckle stopped her.

“My name is Ryder, that’s Willy.” He motioned to the dog.

“Right, well, Ryder…” She narrowed her eyes. Maybe he was an idiot? “You appear to be good enough on that”—she motioned to the surfboard—“to know better than to be out in something like that.” She motioned towards the storm, which had only grown in the past few moments.

Still, Ryder didn’t seem fazed by the dark clouds or the booming thunder. Even Willy seemed at peace during the storm. She could tell that it wasn’t the first one the pair had waited out.

“It was our last ride,” he said, and coughed.

She thought to get up and get him some more water, but he leaned back and closed his eyes. “I hadn’t planned on staying away this long,” he said softly.

Brook watched his chest rise and fall and noticed when it slowed. His tight wet suit showcased the muscles of his arms and chest. His breathing slowed even more and she grew worried, until she realized that he was asleep.

What kind of man could fall asleep that quickly? Should she be concerned that he had a bump to his head?

She should call her father or, better yet, Dr. Stevens to come check up on him. Instead, she sat there listening to the storm, the crackle of the fire, and Ryder and Willy happily snoring together.

She lost track of time, listening to the hypnotic rhythms, as she was deep in her own thoughts.

Thoughts about her life. How she’d ended up here, living in a small cottage along a lone stretch of beach. She liked her solitude. Liked living alone. Sure, she loved her family and the town of Pride, but there was just something about being… alone.

For as long as she could remember, she’d wanted nothing more than to be in nature.

Her mother had been from Pride. After leaving for school and returning to open Sara’s Nook, Pride’s very own bakery, she’d met and had fallen in love with Brook’s father, Allen Masters.