You Had Me at Cougar (Heart of the Cougar #9) - Terry Spear Page 0,11
never know the exact context. Like this. I saw my boat coming in first, but I didn’t see you in the boat with me.”
“Which is a surprise”—he flexed his broad, muscled shoulders—“since I would think it would be hard to miss seeing me.”
She laughed. “Your muscles are getting a good workout. What I saw was me getting out of the canoe and everyone cheering me.”
“So you didn’t see me at all? Maybe I fall overboard, and you made it to shore on your own.”
She chuckled. “I’m sure if you fell overboard, we wouldn’t win.”
“Maybe we do this another time.”
“We might, but the premonition was so clear that I’m sure it happens now. And from the looks of it, we’re way in the lead.” They turned the boat around and headed for shore.
Chase hollered, “Hurry, we can’t let them win.”
“Too late,” Chet shouted. “We’re on our way to first place.”
To begin with, Ava hadn’t even planned to paddle in the race. She had planned to swim. “So do you know what we’re going to win?” She hoped it was something they could split between the two of them—a cash prize would be nice.
“A weekend at one of the cabins, and breakfast at Mrs. Fritz’s bakery.”
Ava’s mouth dropped. Okay, that wasn’t what she had in mind when it came to sharing her prize with her partner.
“We’re going to win,” he said. “You were so right on your prediction.”
They reached the shore, and everyone was cheering them.
She was glad they’d won, if nothing else to prove her premonition was correct, though she still wished the prize had been something they could have divided up equally between them.
Chase and Shannon and the others finally made it to shore. “Hey, we couldn’t win because we own the resort, so we’re glad the two of you did.”
Maybe Chet could pay her for half his win, and he could find a friend he wanted to share the cabin with.
Tracey handed Ava the gift certificate. “You’re hanging onto it, right? Or is Chet going to?”
“She can hang onto it,” Chet said. “We’ll make plans later for our stay, when one of the cabins is available and we're both free to do it.”
Ava wanted to roll her eyes at him, but she curbed the inclination.
Some of the adults and kids were flying kites. Some of the little ones were taking well-deserved naps on quilts under shade trees.
“What are you going to do next?” Chet asked, as if he thought he should tag along with her the rest of the day, just because he was staying at her place for the next couple of nights.
“Swim.”
“You're not going to take part in the fishing contest?”
“Only if I got to do it as a cougar. I’m good at it, but not as a human.”
“I can teach you.”
“Are you lonely?” Did Chet think he had to keep her company because she was on her own? Or did he want to date her or something?
He chuckled. “I’m on my own. You’re on your own.”
“I’m going swimming.” She headed for her bag, left the gift certificate in it, then made her way to the water.
He didn’t follow her, but then said, “Do you want some company?”
She laughed, threw up her arms, and said, “Come on.” She swore that half of the cougars on the beach were watching them. It was a good thing she wasn’t thinking of dating some other guy she was interested in anytime soon.
Then Chet raced after her and she squealed. She was not a squealer, normally, but he just scared her in a fun way. She ran into the water and dove in. He ran through the shallow water, and where it dropped off, he dove for her.
They swam out to the floating dock and climbed onto it and sat down at the edge, kicking the water with their feet.
“I keep wondering if Jonathon has resolved the issue with the bear and his sister,” Ava said.
“Everyone seems to be on the beach. Otherwise, I’m sure there would be a number of us going out to help him. I’m sure he feels it’s a bear issue and a bear fighting a bear is a better match than some of us cougars.”
“A tranquilizer gun always works.” Ava noticed the kids were up from their naps and were building sandcastles.
“True, but sometimes the shifter kind have to take the rogue shifters to task using their animal instincts.”
“Do you often have to do that?” She didn't. Not while working in a bakery.