CHAPTER 30

DAY 62

Saturday

AN: What do you think of Oz and Stephanie's developing friendship? Leave a review and let me know your thoughts.

"Hurry up, we're burning daylight," a booming voice penetrated my sleep-fogged brain. I shrieked and sat straight up in bed, only to find Oz's head poking through the bedroom door.

Finn grunted and looked down at my hand resting on his stomach, supporting my weight.

"Sorry." I lifted my hand so he could breathe and pulled the sheet up higher. Luckily, it had been a little cool last night, so I'd put my nightshirt back on and wasn't giving Oz a free show.

"Breakfast is getting cold," Oz said.

Finn glanced at the digital clock on his bedside table and groaned. It was 5 a.m., and we usually got up at 6 a.m. "I'm sorry I invited you up here. I rescind your invitation," he yelled at Oz. "Now get out!"

"I'm not a vampire. That doesn't work on me." We could hear him laughing all the way down the hall.

I bit my lip to keep from laughing. "Is he always this obnoxious?"

"Not always." Finn pulled me back down against him and palmed my breast. "I was hoping to use my time management skills by warming our bodies up for our morning workout while we were still in bed."

"Smart." I wiggled against him, feeling him harden against my thigh. "I like a man who can multitask."

Exactly forty-five minutes later, we stepped out of the bedroom and into a cloud of mouthwatering aroma. Like one of Pavlov's dogs, I left Finn in my dust as I made tracks to the kitchen, where I found Oz at the stove, stirring the contents of a cast-iron skillet. I must have had a dreamy expression as I took in the island, stacked with plates of fluffy biscuits, blueberry muffins, and pancakes. "Mmmm. It smells amazing!"

"I'm making my granny's biscuit gravy. Get a plate." He didn't have to tell me twice. As I pulled three plates from the cabinet beside him, he leaned close and pointed at the pantry. "I brought some contraband with me. Check it out." His wicked smirk told me whatever he put in there was probably filled with sugar, carbs, and fat.

Three cases of beer, two huge bags of BBQ chips, and three family-sized packages of double-stuffed Oreos sat on the pantry shelf. He had good taste. I gave him an appreciative nod and whispered, "We should hide this stuff before Finn sees it."

I heard someone clearing their throat behind me. I quickly closed the pantry door as if I wasn't now a co-conspirator hiding Oz's contraband. I put on my best disarming smile and turned to find Finn with his arms crossed over his chest, shaking his head, and looking at a bag on the counter. "Is that white flour?"

"I'm on vacation," Oz said as he continued to stir the gravy. "Cut me some slack."

Finn winked at me, letting me know he was busting Oz's chops. Watching them interact was fascinating. I was learning more about Finn, and it only added to everything I already liked.

"What's with the wake-up call?" Finn asked.

"I was looking for Stephanie to talk business, and when I found her bedroom door wide open and her bed unslept in, I got worried." Oz poured the gravy into a bowl and placed it on the island. "You didn't tell me you were having a sleepover in your room. It's like fifth grade all over again. You pee the bed one time at a sleepover, and no one invites you again."

His pitiful expression had me biting my lip to keep from laughing. Oz was an outlandish character. I was right in my earlier assessment that he reminded me of an older version of Lester. His stay with us was going to be interesting.

Unimpressed with Oz's childhood trauma, Finn examined the impressive food layout. "You may be on vacation, but Stephanie's in training, so no more of this." Inwardly, I sighed, but Finn was right. I was serious about my training, and this was a temptation I didn't need.

"Message received," Oz said. "We'll eat like healthy rabbits from now on."

Sensing my conflict, Finn said, "Go ahead and get what you want. This once."

With all the restraint I could muster, I selected a portion of scrambled eggs, a muffin, a biscuit, a small amount of gravy, and a handful of blueberries. As soon as we were seated at the table, Oz shoved a forkful of pancakes, dripping syrup, into his mouth before asking, "So, what's on tap for today?"

"Today is a half day of training, and tomorrow is a free day, so I thought we'd hit the lake after lunch. If you don't mind, on Monday, we could begin training her on what to do when attacked by more than one person."

"Basic sparring or with knives?"

"Both."

My mouth fell open, and I'm sure I was bug-eyed. Two attackers? Knives? How long was Oz staying?

"Don't look so concerned," Oz said. "Between us, you'll be getting top-notch training."

"Oz knows a lot of underhanded tactics he can share with you."

Oz shrugged. "Whatever gets me out of a situation alive."

I nodded. Alive sounded good.

Choosing to focus on our afternoon plans instead of the ass-whipping I would get next week, I asked Finn, "You said you'd teach me to water ski?"

"I think the water's warm enough, so why not."

"Oh, man, she doesn't know how to ski! This is gonna be fun."

I used the last of my biscuit to sop up the remaining gravy on my plate. "This is amazing. Your grandma's an excellent cook," I told Oz as I got up to take my plate to the dishwasher and clean up the kitchen.

"Was."

I stopped in my tracks and turned around. "Oh, I'm sorry."

"She died a while ago, but hearing your compliment would've pleased her greatly."

Finn and I cleaned the kitchen while our food digested and then hit the basement for a half day of training.

As we wrapped up this morning's training, Oz came into the basement carrying three large fish. He beamed as he dangled them in my face. "Caught these beauties near that outcropping of rocks on the other side of the lake."

I shook my head vigorously. "Uh, nope. You're on your own with those. Finn said I only had to fillet what—I—catch."

I wasn't dumb enough to stick around. I slipped past Oz and was halfway to the woods when Finn called after me.

"Stephanie, wait." I braced myself as I turned around, arms crossed, foot practically tapping.

"I'm not cleaning them, Finn." He knew I hated getting fish guts on my hands.

"No offense," Oz said, "but it takes a particular skill to fillet them the way I like." On his way to the fish stand on the dock, Oz stopped to call over his shoulder, "How about we pack some sandwiches and get out on the lake?"

While Oz filleted the fish, Finn and I packed the cooler. I added plenty of water, a few beers, and baggies of cookies and chips for Oz from his stash. "Where's the sunscreen?" I asked.

"On the table by the door," Finn said as he hefted the cooler and went outside. We passed Oz coming up the deck stairs with the fillets.

"I'll put these in the fridge to grill later and meet you at the boat."

We'd just finished loading the boat when Oz came walking down the dock, Hawaiian shirt unbuttoned and flapping in the wind. For a man in his fifties, he was in good shape. Except for the puckered scar on his lower left side and another one on his back. Bullet holes. He caught me staring. "It was a through and through. Barely felt it."

"You live an exciting life," I said.

"Because I've been shot?"

"Um, no. I've been shot three times, once in the butt, and twice the bullets grazed my arms, so I know it hurts like hell. I've also been shot at more times than I can count. I meant your life must be exciting because you've gone to many exotic places."

"I have, but the ironic part is I never took a moment to enjoy the scenery. Too busy trying to stay alive."

"Now that you're semi-retired, will you travel and enjoy life more?"

"Hah," Finn interjected. "This is about as relaxed as Oz can manage."

Oz shrugged and took a drink of beer.

"You're up." Finn placed a pair of skis on the dock. "It'll be easier to start on the dock than pulling yourself up in the water."

I looked at the skis and then at him in trepidation. "Maybe I should watch."

"It'll take a little trial and error, but you'll get the hang of it." Finn helped me get the skis on and told me to squat down with the rope between my knees. "Now, hold on and just slide right into the water."

Oz gave the boat some gas. It yanked me right out of my skis, and I belly-flopped onto the water. I sputtered and flailed as the boat circled around and came back. After Oz cut the engine, I heard him laughing. And not just a small laugh, either. He was flat out, holding his belly and bending over.

"Did he do that on purpose?" I asked Finn.

"With Oz, you never know."

"Payback will be swift and harsh." I don't know what I expected from my little threat, but Oz laughed harder. It was on.

"Let's try it a different way." Finn got into the water with me, supporting me from behind. "Hold your arms straight and let the boat pull you up, okay?"

"Got it." I nodded. Oz gave the boat some throttle. My skis started cutting through the water, and then I fell forward. I was disappointed, but it wasn't as bad as being yanked off the dock onto my belly. Dang, that had hurt.

"Let's try it again." Finn rounded up the rope, and we got back into position. After a few more failed starts, I finally stayed upright. I glided across the water for what seemed like a long time, but it was probably only a few seconds. Then I fell. Oz came around, and I handed him the skis before he pulled me into the boat. He drove us back to the dock where Finn was sitting.

"Did you see that? I was flying." I shook water out of my ears, so proud of myself.

"You did great," Finn said, but I saw them looking at each other, smiling.

"How fast was I going?"

"Pretty fast," Finn said, earnestly nodding his head. "You did really well."

"Heck yeah, I did." I was pumped. "I want to go again."

"Look what you did," Oz said to Finn good-naturedly. "Now, we'll never get a turn."

I lightly hit Oz on the shoulder. "Teach me how to drive this thing, and I'll pull you boys around all day long."

He looked at Finn and shrugged. "You're already wet, so go first while I teach her how to drive." Finn got into the water and put the skis on. Oz made sure I watched everything he did as we set off across the lake. I looked down at the speedometer, 35mph. No wonder they'd laughed at my comment about flying. I couldn't have been going faster than 10-12mph. Watching Finn jump the waves from the boat's wake was mesmerizing. Whatever I'd been doing probably wasn't skiing. I had to laugh at myself. Oh well, I was learning.

When it was Oz's turn, he opted for only one ski. Show off.

"Having fun?" Finn asked me as we sat around on the boat, drinking beer.

"Yes!"

His gaze landed on my shoulders. "We better get sunscreen on those. They're getting pretty red." I wore a modest tankini, which was basically a tank top and boy shorts. I'd have worn my bikini if it had been just me and Finn, but I wasn't ready for anyone else to see my scars.

After Finn applied sunscreen to my shoulders, Oz sat down beside me as if he were next in line. "Be careful. I have delicate skin."

Finn ignored him and capped the bottle. I took it from him and motioned for Oz to sit where I'd been sitting. "I should let both of you get burned. It'd give me an advantage during Monday's training."

They looked at each other. "She's a little devious," Oz said.

"I'm a lot devious. Remember that." They sat silently while I slathered sunscreen on their shoulders and backs. When Oz got up, I pushed him with all my weight. He tumbled overboard.

The last thing we heard before he hit the water was him yelling, "My hat!"

"Payback's a bitch," I yelled over the side.

Oz swam to the back of the boat and pulled himself up. He had a look in his eyes that promised retaliation. My heart was beating overtime as I backed up, stepping on his hat that had fallen off his head before he went over. When it'd been his turn on the skis, he'd gotten into the water so quickly that I hadn't gotten a good look at him without his ubiquitous hat, and as soon as he got back on the boat, he'd put it right back on.

My eyes cut to Finn, who was laughing more than I'd ever seen. I liked it… a lot. But he wasn't the one facing potential death. I knelt, picked up the hat, and held it out to Oz as a peace offering. He came closer, and I could see a bald spot on top of his head. I don't know what came over me. I reached for the sunscreen. "Looks like I missed a spot."

Finn laughed so hard I thought he was going to fall overboard.

Oz stepped closer to me and took the hat. His face split into the biggest grin, which was more unsettling than I wanted to admit. A quick glance out of the corner of my eye told me I could probably make it to the shore before my arms gave out. Show no fear, I told myself and held my ground, barely.

"I deserved that." He put his hat on and finished his beer, seemingly pleased I'd launched a counterattack.

Men. Go, figure.