Page 36 of Bargain With the Boss

She laughed. “You just get to be passenger princess today. I’ll do all the work.”

And she did. She ran around the boat playing with ropes and cranks and suddenly the light rocking became a weightless glide as we left the slip.

As we left the boathouse, a ridiculously handsome man straightened from a car in the shade. “Claire, where are you going?” He smiled widely. “And who’s your friend?”

Claire waved. “None of your business. Shouldn’t you be working?”

“I would say the same,” he called out.

She cupped her hand around her. “Sorry, can’t hear you.”

He shook his head and went back to his car. He tossed me a flirty smile before ducking back under the hood.

“Should you be working?”

Claire moved to the back of the boat and started cranking up a sail. “Nope. I help my mother out with some of the charityorganizations she runs in town.” She seemed to think for a moment. “Can I tell you a secret?”

“You don’t really know me.”

“I know, which is why it’s kind of perfect.” She was small but surprisingly strong as the white sail unfurled. The boat suddenly picked up speed as we headed into the center of the lake.

I held on, dropping into a seat along the side of the boat.

Claire lifted her face to the sun for a moment, the breeze blowing pieces of hair out of her braid. Then she quickly moved around the boat tightening ropes then steering until we leaned into the wind.

The speed shocked me.

But I found myself lifting my face to do the same. God, the freedom of it made me feel a million pounds lighter. I left the worry from my mother’s scheme behind me in that boathouse.

Out here there was nothing but water and sun and wind.

And the only secret that mattered was Claire’s.

Once we got out a ways, Claire adjusted the sail then tossed me the sunblock. “It feels good until you get back and you’re a lobster.”

“Thanks.”

We passed it between us then I pulled on my hat. The curse of a redhead meant sunblock wasn’t enough.

“So, I have been secretly going to school.”

“Why secret?”

“I got my business degree like my parents wanted, but I also double majored in sustainable housing.”

“Wow.”

“I know. My father is all about these big, sprawling businesses. And they’re all well and good, but what about using what we already have? Or even building things that won’t hurt the lake.”

“I agree.”

“I’m all about giving to charity, but I am so tired of the meetings.”

I laughed. “Now that I definitely can get behind.”

“Tell me about this sustainable housing.”

Claire sat across from me and pulled out the picnic basket. “Prepare for me to bore you.”