Passion Key (A Romance & Suspense Series) Read Online Free PDF Page B

into the wind, and dug into the paddling, setting his teeth on edge and paddling with strength, precision, and a blazing speed that he knew he could only keep up for a short time.
    When he’d first come here, he’d done every kind of water sport.  Fishing, jet skiing, power boating, sailing, kite boarding, and he loved all of them.  But the kayak had become one of his most treasured companions.
    As the water spit over the front of the vessel, he tasted the salt water on his lips, and relished the feel of the wind on his face.  This is what Passion Key was all about.
    Archer continued to push the kayak directly out to the sea.  The swells became bigger and it always felt to him like you were riding a bucking horse that was going in slow motion.  The rhythm was comforting to him, and he loved tearing into the water with the paddle, felt the burning of his arms, chest and shoulders, even his core as he ripped the kayak along.
    Oh, he worked out frequently in traditional ways with weights, a treadmill or elliptical and jogging.  But when it was combined in a way that let you do something you love, well, he could kayak every day, all day.
    When he was at least a mile from shore, he made an abrupt turn, strapped the paddle into the nylon holder that pinned it lengthwise against the hull and freed his fishing pole from the rubber clips that held it in place.
    He had on a deep diving lure that he essentially used to troll as he paddled as fast as he could.  That way, he combined exercise, kayaking and fishing all into one.  It was his favorite way to multitask.
    He cast the lure out as far as it would go, put the butt of the fishing rod into the built-in rod holder, picked up his paddle, and started back toward Passion Key at an angle so he could draw out the trip a little longer.  He also had a theory that baitfish rarely swam straight to and from shore.
    With the sprint from shore now over, and his breathing back to somewhat normal levels, he pondered why he suddenly threw the kayak into the water and took off.  It wasn’t uncommon for him. 
    But why today?
    He knew the answer to that, too.  He now freely admitted that he’d been surprised by how powerful his attraction was to Justine Beaudry.  Frankly, he’d been hot and bothered and wanted to blow off the steam somehow and going for a quick kayak trip seemed a lot more enjoyable than a cold shower.
    What was it about this woman?  It wasn’t just her beauty.  Beautiful women were a dime a dozen in the Keys.  No, it was her honesty.  Her honesty, combined with something that seemed either flawed or hidden.
    He thought back to his sudden urge to kiss her.
    Where had that come from?
    Well, there was no doubt he had to keep that in check. Besides, he didn’t know diddly squat about the woman. She had just come down here, no one seemed to know much about her and everyone had been just as surprised as he had that the Passion Key Resort had a new owner nobody had even seen looking at the place.
    The fact was, Passion Key was a small town.  Just about everyone knew everyone.  But still, it was Florida.  And a lot of people who lived in Florida weren’t originally from the state, so there was always an influx of new people.
    Perhaps that was simply what it was all about.
    Justine Beaudry was gorgeous and mysterious.
    Maybe that was why he couldn’t stop thinking about her.
    Just then, his fishing pole bent in half and he heard the line start to fly off the reel with incredible speed.
    He slid his paddle onto the kayak, grabbed the rod and set the hook.
    As he felt the fish struggle against the sudden feeling of being hooked, he smiled.
    I know the feeling, buddy.

 
     
     
     
     
    12.
     
    The morning sun woke Justine slowly as it poured into the room via windows whose blinds she had forgotten to close.
    Justine wasn’t about to blame herself, though.  She’d taken more over the counter medicine for the effects of the jellyfish sting, along with a hot