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Delia snorted.
“We’ve been over this. You and Cody weren’t working out, and now Olivia’s the one getting married. It just made sense. It’s all been paid for.”
“By Dad and myself,” Mary pointed out. “I’m essentially paying for Olivia to get married.”
“And that’s your wedding gift to her. It’s the least you can do.” Her mother huffed. “Stop stalling and get your life preserve on. Olivia’s excited to do this, and I don’t want you lowering the mood.”
The thought of going on the water, much less with people who clearly disliked her, was terrifying. Mary could feel herself beginning to panic. She swallowed and shook her head.
“I can’t do it.”
“Nonsense! Of course you can!”
“You know my feelings about water.”
Delia rolled her eyes.
“Honestly, so much fuss over water. You should have carried on your lessons when you were little.”
“You know the reason why I didn’t.”
“Stop being such a baby and get that thing on. You’re holding us up.”
“Is there something wrong?”
Mary turned at the sound of a deep voice, and her mouth fell open seeing the tall black instructor walking towards them. She had spied him by a little hut when she had come down, but he was now closer, and she could feel her heart forgetting how to beat properly.
Damn, he was certainly fine to look at. Muscular and trim, his bald head as smooth as his jawline with eyes that didn’t seem to leave her face. There was an intensity from him that left her mouth going dry. Mary’s legs were feeling weak, and it wasn’t from the fear of going onto the water.
Delia gave a frustrated sigh.
“That’s nothing wrong. My daughter’s just being difficult. She gets like this.”
“Mom!”
“We haven’t got time for you to throw a tantrum and ruin Olivia’s time. Get that thing on.”
The instructor gave Delia a frown before turning to Mary. His expression softened, his eyes searching her face.
“Is there something can help you with? Do you want a moment alone?”
“She doesn’t want a moment alone! She needs to stop acting like a child!”
He ignored Delia, focusing on Mary. Mary felt a tingling through her body, and her nipples tightened. She kept the life preserve clutched to her chest; in the t-shirt she was wearing, it would be obvious what was going on.
“I’m scared of the water,” she whispered.
“You’re scared of the water?”
Mary nodded. His brow furrowing, the instructor looked at Delia.
“Why are you forcing your daughter to go out onto the lake when she’s scared of the water?”
Delia huffed.
“She’s not scared! She’s just putting an act on.”
“Ma’am, whether she’s putting an act on or not, I won’t be forcing someone out onto the water.” He held up a hand as Delia started to protest. “The rest of you can go out, and Chris can look after you, but I won’t make anyone who doesn’t want to go get into a canoe. If something happened, we will be liable, and you would be getting into trouble.”
