matter to you?”
“Because, well, it’s my responsibility.” Her cheeks were growing pinker. “Chris is my brother. My dad left it to me to set things right.”
That seemed like a pretty big burden for one person. Sam’s jaw clenched, but he reminded himself Dana’s family dynamics were none of his business. Still, his sympathies were with Chris. “Why you? If he really wanted to patch up things with Chris, he could have come himself, not sent you after he died. It seems to me he took the coward’s way out.”
She narrowed her eyes and sat up straighter. “You didn’t even know him.”
“You’re right.” Sam held up his hand. “I’m sorry. I mean no disrespect. I’m sure your father was a fine man.”
She raised her chin. “He was.”
“I believe you. He raised my best friend, so he can’t be all bad.”
The corners of her bow-shaped mouth quirked upward. “Your best friend, huh?”
“Absolutely. Chris is the closest thing I have to a brother.”
She gave a little laugh. “So, if my brother is like your brother, does that make me your sister?”
The idea of Dana as a sister didn’t appeal to Sam. Maybe it was because of the way her eyes softened when she talked about Alaska. Or because of that cute mouth of hers that seemed to naturally curve into the shape of a kiss. Not that he had any intention of following through on any impulse to kiss Chris’s sister. That would be a bad idea for so many reasons. Although he couldn’t think of any at that precise moment.
Instead of answering, he rose and carried his dishes to the sink. “That was a wonderful meal, Dana. Since you cooked, I’ll clean up.” He glanced out the living room window at the mountains. “Then what do you say we get outside? It’s an exceptionally beautiful day. Would you like to go kayaking?”
“Kayaking?”
“You can use Chris’s boat. He won’t mind.”
“I’ve never been kayaking.” Her voice sounded doubtful, but her eyes sparkled.
“They’re small lake kayaks. It’s easy. Go change into some pants or shorts while I take care of the dishes and then we’ll go.”
She caught the edge of her lip between her teeth. “You don’t have to entertain me. I don’t want to be any trouble.”
Sam shrugged. “I’m going kayaking. You can come or not. It doesn’t matter to me.” But to his surprise, it did. He needed to get outside, to loosen up the kinks, but he didn’t want to just leave her alone. Besides, he wanted to show her his favorite lake, a jewel of nature tucked away in a city neighborhood.
Her face cleared. “Okay, if you’re sure. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. Go get ready.” Sam smiled to himself as he loaded the bowls into the dishwasher. The sun was shining and he was going kayaking. It was good to be home.
* * *
SAM HAD PULLED his truck from the garage and loaded two plastic boats onto the roof rack by the time Dana got changed. She climbed into the truck, and he backed out of the driveway. When they reached the speed bump, Sam slowed but still had to grab his coffee cup before it spilled. He muttered something under his breath that sounded like “Reynolds.”
“Who’s Reynolds?”
Sam grimaced. “Martin Reynolds. City assemblyman. He lives at the back of this neighborhood.” They reached the corner of the cul-de-sac and Sam stopped, waiting for a car to pass. “The couple in that house—” he nodded toward the corner lot “—were concerned that people drove too fast through the neighborhood, so they complained to Reynolds. He got a speed bump installed, but instead of putting it on the main street, where there’s actually a problem, he put it in the middle of our cul-de-sac. That way he wouldn’t have to go over it on his way home.”
Dana laughed. “Your government in action.”
“Exactly.”
He drove from the neighborhood and down a couple of main streets before turning into another neighborhood and pulling into a parking lot near a playground. Only then did Dana notice the small lake behind a row of town houses. Still water reflected the mixed greens of spruce and birch around most of the perimeter, except for a grassy area at one end with a dock.
It only took seconds before Sam was out of the truck, reaching up to remove a kayak from the roof rack. Dana tried to help, but she couldn’t reach that high. Sam lifted the second one down and then effortlessly picked up a boat in each hand and started toward the dock.
Dana followed. “I can carry one.”
“I’ve got them. If you want to grab the paddles and the PFDs from the back, that would help.”
“PFD?”
“Personal Flotation Device. Life jackets.”
“Oh.” She gathered the equipment and hurried after him. Before they got to the dock, they reached a low, muddy spot. Sam walked through it without hesitation, but Dana carefully picked her way around.
Sam dropped the boats on the dock and looked back to see her circling. Laugh lines gathered at the corners of his eyes. “A little mud won’t hurt you.”
Dana shrugged. “I should have worn my other sneakers.”
“I thought Kansas was farm country. Aren’t you used to mud?”
“I live in town. Streets, sidewalks, grass. Minimal mud.”
When they reached the dock, a group of mallards followed by rows of ducklings cut vees through the water, racing each other toward the dock.
Dana smiled at the fuzzy babies. “Cute. But they’re not very wild, are they?”
“No. City ducks. They’re used to people.” He dropped a boat into the water next to the dock with a splash. The ducks quacked in protest and swam farther away. Sam tied a rope from the boat to a post on the dock. “Put your life jacket on and I’ll help you in.”
Dana buckled the jacket in place, but it hung loose around her body. Sam shook his head. “You need to adjust the size. Unbuckle and turn around.” He tugged on something on the back of the life jacket and then reached around her to snap the buckles closed. His breath stirred the hair on top of her head.
He was close enough for her to detect the scent of his bodywash, mingling pleasantly with the underlying scent of man. She closed her eyes for a moment before she realized what she was doing and stepped away. “I can get it now. Thanks.”
He nodded, pulled on his own PFD and stepped closer to the edge of the dock. “Ready?”
“Sure.” The small boat didn’t look too intimidating. She put one foot into the well in the center and the kayak rocked. She would have fallen if Sam hadn’t grasped her arm.
“Easy.” He squatted down to hold the boat with his free hand without letting go. She managed
