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So why was he eyeing me with so much fury right now? What did I do?
Before I could give it more thought, the scowl marring his face morphed into sheer terror, and he set off at a run. An instant later, there was a loud splash from the back of the boat.
I spun at the sound, and my stomach bottomed out. The spot where I had left my son was empty, except for his discarded Puddle Jumper.
“Teddy—” Stomach dropping, I bolted toward where I’d left him.
The world around me slowed to an excruciating pace. Kyle ran down the decking past the boat and dove into the water. He disappeared, and all I could do was watch helplessly. I dug my fingers into the cushions as I leaned over the back of the boat, searching the surface of the water.
I didn’t even have a second to truly panic before he popped up with my son tucked into his right side. Teddy was coughing and sputtering but seemingly okay.
Without even glancing in my direction, Kyle swam toward the rocky shore. Pushing his thick blond hair out of his face, he hoisted Teddy up onto the grass, then stood and climbed out of the water.
“Come on, Callie.” I helped my daughter off the boat, and we hurried down the pier. “Oh my God. Thank?—”
Kyle, gray T-shirt plastered to his heaving chest, spun to face me, his eyes narrowing and his lips tightening into a scowl.
“What the hell?” He shifted my son in his arms, and with a wince, readjusted so he was holding him on his right side.
I didn’t understand what his issue was, and I wasn’t sure I cared as I closed the distance between us. I was trying to thank the man for his help, and here he was, acting like I’d done something wrong.
Maybe I wasn’t winning a mother of the year award, but I was only one person, and I was doing the best I could.
Chapter Two
KYLE
I couldn’t save Hughes.I’d tried, and I’d almost succeeded. But I’d fucked it up. And then it was too late. Like hell would I let his kid drown. I’d successfully avoided introducing myself to Tina since she’d moved to my hometown. Because, like everyone else in Half Moon Lake, she’d ask if I knew her husband, Levi. Although I hadn’t met him before the day he died in my arms, I wasn’t ready for that conversation with her yet. Or maybe ever.
“Why weren’t you watching him?” I spit out through gritted teeth. “You’re lucky I saw him take off his life vest.”
I wanted so badly to yell. Ask her what the fuck she was thinking.But her next words were like a slap in the face, a reminder of what she’d lost. What my failure cost her.
Tina’s wide-eyed expression quickly narrowed, and she blanched. “I’m only one person. He was wearing his Puddle Jumper. I never thought he would take it off.”
“I sorry I take it off.” Teddy bowed his head, sniffling and clinging to my shirt.
Tina’s hair whipped around her face as she moved toward me, arms extended. I hated when anyone crowded my space, and usually, my natural reaction was to back up, but her bourbon-colored eyes held me in place as she took her son from me.
“You know the rules. You’re not allowed to take that off. Only Mommy can,” she murmured once she’d pulled Teddy to her chest.
“I know. I sorry,” he wailed. “I wanted to see duckies.”
I huffed as the image of him toppling into the water flashed through my mind.
“If you plan to take your kids out on the lake, you should make sure they understand the importance of water safety.” I took a step back but kept my focus fixed on her. “And properly know how to swim.” I waved a hand at her son. “He panicked and went right under.”
“He’s four.”
Even more reason to teach this stuff now—the younger they are, the quicker they learn.
“Yep, and I could swim by the time I was three. So could all my siblings.”
“Good for you.” She pinched her eyes closed and pressed her lips to her little boy’s head. “Thanks again for your help.” She nodded, grasping Callie by the hand, and turned toward the parking lot of The Dock.
I glared at the restaurant and marina, the family business I’d been stuck helping with since I’d been medically discharged from the Army nine months ago.
“Tina.” I winced the second her name left my lips. Shit. If she asked, I’d have to play it off like I knew the names of all of The Dock’s clients.
