Lakeside

The Daisy Mae

"Thanks again for this."

Ryan was ready and waiting on the deck up by the house in a lounge chair when he turned into the cove. He'd tried not to watch her descend the stairs – helpful that he had to focus a bit on not running into the Johnson's dock and make more work for himself – but that didn't stop him from stealing glances as he tied the boat off.

Situational awareness. That's all it is. Making sure he knows where everyone is at all times. Boating safety 101.

"It's no problem. Really. Tori was more than happy to man the counter today." Which is true. Suspiciously true. She had basically shoved him out the door, down the pier, and onto his boat.

Ryan shakes her head, looking down at her feet and then at him again. "Still. I wasn't even successful in getting your money back..."

Tom holds out his hand to help steady her as she boards the boat. Probably not necessary but he found himself holding out his hand in offering, twitching his fingers to indicate intent. When she moved to accept his hand? Reach out and touch him? Well, no going back after that.

He releases her once she's on board, closing his fingers to briefly form a fist before unclenching his hand again. Now what. Now what? He pats his pocket, thrumming his fingers over his thigh before lifting his hand to run his fingers through his hair. "So, um." He motions towards one of the running benches, "Life jackets are, um, just there. And you can, you can stow your stuff under there, too, if you want?"

She has a bag with her. What he presumes to be sunscreen and whatever else it is that women decide they need to carry around with them at all times. Sunscreen. The corner of his mouth twitches and he suddenly needs to look elsewhere or risk his eyes drifting over her in a way that would definitely derail the day.

He turns to the side, not fully away, giving himself a mental shake. "As for the money, the bet...." Tom shrugs, "Honestly shoulda expected it."

She's laughing again. With him, or at him – doesn't matter. "Mmm. So learning experience? To make you more careful with your money in the future?"

"More careful with my bets. Probably. Maybe. But, right, you're an..." Deciding it's safe again, Tom turns back to continue the conversation, surprised at what he finds. She's halfway into a lifejacket. "Accountan....t. Need a little help?"

It's a relief, sort of, that she hadn't been watching him stand there awkwardly staring out at the old Johnson place. No, she had been focused on something else: putting on the life preserver she's currently halfway-in, halfway-out of. At his tone, she quickly looks up at him to see his smile. She abandons her attempts, letting the lifejacket hang from her shoulder. "You were telling me where they were, just in case. Weren't you."

He allows himself a short laugh as he nods, "Yup. Unless you feel more comfortable with it on. Scout's honor I know what I'm doing. You won't go in the water unless you want to."

Ryan returns to the running bench and lifts up the seat to expose the storage hidden beneath, the other life vests and assorted items one may or may not need aboard a boat. She lets the jacket slip down her arm, looking at him sidelong as she returns it to it's proper place. "Ok, then. On your word we won't go swimming till we can't stand the heat of the day anymore."

"I promise on Daisy Mae. And that's a serious thing." He backsteps to be able to touch the back of the seat facing the driving console, resting his hand on the white leather of the seatback. "She's the best boat out here..." Tom pauses, inclining his head in question, "Ready to get going? Don't want to eat up too much of your morning just sitting here."

He's fishing, clumsily, to see how long they've got. Will there be time to really let her get the full experience? Puttering around closer to the old Johnson place isn't really getting the full effect of all that Daisy Mae can do, not to mention the beauty of the area, but if she's got other plans...