Page 5 of Summer Breeze
“You were taking first aid and…” he asked, waiting.
“Graphic design.”
He smiled. “Okay.”
“First aid is just the refresher course I take each year. I get my CPR and CERT trainings out of the way. I started taking the classes when Elle said the camp would pay for the training for any employee who wanted it.”
“Yeah, I take it too. It’s always good to know what to do in case of an emergency.” He frowned slightly. “Your dad is a fireman, right?”
She nodded. “Retired. He still volunteers every now and then when needed.”
He nodded. “Your mother? What did she do?”
“School nurse. Still is at the high school. She keeps threatening to retire but says she wouldn’t know what to do with her time.”
“Cool.” He nodded. “And the graphic design classes?”
“I wanted to see if I could help out a little more around the camp. I figured that if I knew a little bit about design work then I could lend a hand with some basic marketing,” she answered. “I helped create last year’s flyer and had fun doing so. I wanted to be able to learn how to do more with the design programs they have. Plus, it helps fill the downtime I have sitting behind the desk,” she added with a shrug.
“That’s cool,” he said, but his eyes returned to the dark water beyond. “From what I’ve seen, you’ve always been very busy.”
She was boring him. Oh god. This was worse than the nightmares she’d had of their first date together, where she’d opened the door wearing her softest and most comfortable pajamas, the ones with the pink stars and purple moons on them. She’d also been wearing the retainer she’d worn in high school and her glasses instead of her contact lenses.
Being dubbed the ugly duckling of the school had left her marked for life and with extremely low self-esteem. She’d spent most of her adult life trying to push beyond it.
This job here at the camp had helped her achieve that. Until Damion had started flirting with her. Then everything had changed.
“Oh, normally I am. But there are slow times. I’m sure you have a lot of downtime too,” she answered.
He smiled. “Not as much as I’d hoped.”
“Still, our jobs aren’t as difficult as some. Before working here, I was an office assistant at a chiropractic place in Destin.” She rolled her eyes. “Worst job ever.”
He nodded and was quiet for a moment. “Yeah, I don’t know what I would have done if this hadn’t opened up for me.”
“It must be amazing to get to go on sails whenever you want.” She sighed. She’d gotten to go on one a few months ago during the slow season. It had been cool, since it was in the middle of winter, but it had been amazing.
“You seemed to enjoy it last time you went out,” he said.
The fact that he’d taken note of her and remembered that she’d enjoyed herself back then made her smile.
“I love sailing,” she admitted. “I don’t get to go as often as I want.”
“Have you thought about coming with me in a week?” he asked.
“I… have.” She nodded. She had done nothing but think about it. She did love sailing, but she’d only been on short trips. The longest she’d been out on the water had been for that sunset tour.
The thought of sailing down the coast to St. George had her scared. Not that she didn’t trust Damion. She did without a doubt. Over the past five years, she knew for a fact that he’d taken the same trip at least three times a year.
She knew that he had a place down there that was owned by his family or something. She didn’t know the details, but he often talked about staying at the house when he sailed there.
“In truth,” she said, feeling stupid but knowing she had to give him an answer, “I’ve never sailed that far.”
“Afraid?” he asked, and she knew he was teasing.
“Yes.” She laughed. “Weren’t you the first time you sailed alone?”
“You won’t be alone,” he said calmly.
