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Now, I know I'm supposed to be studying his paddleboard technique. But when he slides his body, stomach down, on the board, it's difficult to not stare at his leg muscles. Or his shoulder muscles. Or his butt. He paddles around with his hands.
"Stop staring at my ass," he calls out.
I dissolve in giggles.
"So check this," he hollers. "You're going to hoist yourself to your knees."
With the precision and grace of a dancer, he goes from lying flat to kneeling. The board barely shifts.
"Yeah, sure I am," I mutter.
He bobs in the water while on his knees, then slowly climbs to his feet, smiling. "See? It's easy."
I rake my bottom lip through my teeth and watch him balance for a minute. Then he kneels, sprawls flat and paddles into shallow water. He slides off the board and walks it into shore.
"You ready to give it a try?"
"Sure. I think so." Realistically, even if I manage to paddle in any direction, there's a beach. Paradise Beach is a barrier island, which means it's separated from the mainland by a bridge and a narrow, shallow channel of water. I'm not taking the stand-up paddleboard across the Gulf of Mexico, for God's sakes.
First, he makes me put on a life vest. "I wanted to show off my cute red bikini," I say.
"Your bikini is indeed cute. But this is less of a distraction. And safer." He does up my buckles.
Probably he doubts my swimming ability. Still, I feel more secure in the vest and at least I won't drown. Thwacking myself on the head with the paddle is still a possibility, though.
For the next several minutes he holds the board while I slide on, belly down.
"I feel a little like a sea lion on a rock."
"You're doing great. Now try paddling with your hands."
Surprisingly, I'm able to do that. I float and paddle, the sun on my back. I turn my head to see Damien grinning. I paddle back to him, and he stops my board.
"Okay, now try kneeling while I'm holding on."
With a grunt, I carefully lift myself to hands and knees. Not too bad.
"Good," he says. "Now all the way."
Muscles trembling, I rest on my knees.
"See? Now practice that."
I do, until I feel as confident as I'm going to in the water. As I kneel, he hands me a paddle, then hoists himself onto his board.
"Okay, hold the paddle in the middle and dip it in the water. We'll move around like this for a while."
Since I have been kayaking and canoeing before, this is a more familiar maneuver. Although it does make my armmuscles burn. Running has given me strength in my legs, but my arms are weak as hell.
We glide for a while, then put the oars in the water to slow and finally stop.
"Ready to try standing?"
I nod, raking my bottom lip through my teeth. Showtime.
First, he stands on his board and takes my paddle. Then he patiently walks me through every step.
"I'm standing! Oh my God. I'm upright!" I cry out, not daring to turn my head to look at Damien, who is about three feet away.
