Perfectly Able by Suzannah Daniels Read Free Book Online Page B

reserved to dry off with and the towel that I’d been using as cover, I waited while Ridge stood.
    “Let me grab a towel, and we’ll hit the lake,” he said as he turned to go back in the cabin. A moment later he returned, and we made our way down the short set of steps that led from the deck to the yard.
    Once we reached the shoreline, I spread a towel out on the grassy embankment and sat down on it. “You can go ahead,” I motioned to him. “I’m just going to take my leg off before getting in the water.”
    “I’ll wait on you,” he said as he slid his flip-flops off beside the towel . “I imagine you might need some help getting to the water, won’t you?”
    “I can assure you that I’m perfectly able to get in the water by myself,” I said with a little more defiance in my voice than I meant . In reality, I could do it. Although in all honesty, I wasn’t sure how graceful it’d be.
    “I know you can,” he said easily, unpert urbed by my stubbornness, “but since I’m here, I figure I may as well offer my favorite pirate wench a hand.”
    He was so nonchalant that it was difficult to refuse him.
    “Fine,” I reluctantly agreed. He stood patiently, soaking in the peacefulness of our environment. Water lapped gently against the shore as I pulled the soc k and shoe off of my right foot. Then, I removed my prosthesis.
    Ridge held his hand out to me, but I pushed to my good foot on my own accord before taking it. After a couple of hops, we were at the water’s edge.
    “I could pick you up if it would be easier,” he offered.
    “It’s not necessary,” I insisted, taking another hop and splashing water and mud all over both of us.
    He shot me a grin.
    “Oh, all right,” I finally agreed, prepared to die from the awkwardness of him actually having to lift me. If I had to find a bright side, it would be that I’d only had coffee for breakfast, so hopefully, I wouldn’t be too heavy.
    In one quick mot ion, he scooped me up, both of my knees folded over his arm.
    “Isn’t this better?” he asked, smiling as he watched for my reaction. “Not that mud baths aren’t beneficial.”
    “ Yes, I admit that this is easier, but it’s also much more awkward.” My arm rested on his shoulders.
    “More or less awkward than giving a public speech?” he asked.
    “More,” I answered without hesitation. As a realtor, I was used to talking to strangers and delivering sales pitches. Public speaking was not my enemy.
    “More or less awkward than walking out of the bathroom with tissue paper stuck to the bottom of your shoe?”
    “More.”
    He shifted his head, looking toward the sky as if in thought.
    “More or less awkward than gossiping about someone when they walk up behind you?”
    “I try not to gossip, although I’m not always successful. More.”
    “More or less awkward than trying to pay for a buggy full of groceries and your credit card gets declined?”
    I wrinkled my nose . “Less.”
    “More or less awkward than accidentally sending a text message to your parents that you meant to send to your boyfriend?”
    “Definitely less.”
    “ More or less awkward than farting in a car full of strangers?” he asked.
    I gasped . “You’re such a guy. I can’t believe you just asked me that.”
    An endearing grin shot across his face, and my heart flipped in my chest.
    “ Well, I’m trying to make you feel better by establishing that there are plenty of situations that are much more awkward than this one,” he said as he continued to walk into the water.
    My butt hit the cold water of the lake, and I shrieked as I tried to lift out of the water. He tightened his hold on me and waded in deeper.
    “That is so cold,” I whispered with my teeth clenched.
    “You’ll get used to it.”
    I found myself leanin g into the warmth of his chest as the water covered my belly, and once I realized it, I nearly leapt from his arms. “You can put me down now.”
    He released my legs, but held tightly to