By the time Sarah was finally ready to get back on dry land again, Chuck's arms were crying out for help. Despite their leisurely pace and 'more floating than rowing' attitude, he could still feel the burn in his muscles. There was no way he was going to say a thing about this to the beautiful woman with the balance of a dancer.

Chuck got out of his kayak first, but she was just a few seconds behind him. Standing on the beach, pulling his boat in, Chuck saw it happen as if in slow motion. Sarah was getting out of her kayak, but the ground under her feet wasn't merely sand. There was a rock she hadn't accounted for.

Reacting without thinking, Chuck moved forward. Just as she was about to fall and crack the back of her head open against his kayak, Chuck caught her.

For a moment neither of them moved. Chuck could feel her very solid and warm in his arms. He'd known he was attracted to her the moment he'd seen her, but this - the first time they'd touched - made him realize just how much he was into her.

He helped her back to her feet and then pulled away at once. "Sorry," he mumbled. Every part of him that had touched her - even through his clothes - seemed to be tingling as if she'd set his skin on fire.

"Sorry! What are you sorry for!?" Sarah exclaimed. "Thank you for saving me."

"Right, yeah, that makes more sense," Chuck said, feeling very flustered. "You're welcome."

"I think lunch is definitely in order," Sarah said with a smile.

"At this time?" Chuck countered. "It's more like early dinner."

"Dinner, then," Sarah agreed.

Chuck nodded. He hardly knew what to say. He couldn't really focus on talking while he was still all tingly.

Walking side by side with Sarah, Chuck felt an urge to reach out and hold her hand. The trouble was he just couldn't bring himself to do it. He'd never been so attracted to someone before and found it just a bit overwhelming. It was probably a good thing she wasn't staying in town long. Chuck wasn't sure how much of this he could take.

Until he stood outside the doors of the restaurant, Chuck hadn't realized where his legs had been taking him. Of course, while his brain was scrambled, he'd automatically gone here. This would be interesting.

"We could just go somewhere else," he said.

"Why?" Sarah asked, confused.

"Well my friend works here," Chuck explained. "And he might be… well, a lot when he sees me sitting next to… you."

Sarah just laughed as she walked into the restaurant, clearly unconcerned about the chances of Chuck's friend being hard to handle. Well, she couldn't say he hadn't warned her.

The atmosphere inside was rather cozy, the smell of the salty sea air was less prominent once the door closed behind them. Like so many other places, the decor had been inspired by the ocean.

They were seated in a quaint little booth by the window. The lovely view of the sun reflecting off the gentle waves was lost on Chuck since he was looking at Sarah, or at least he was trying to.

The table had a very large bouquet of white and pink flowers in a thin clear vase in the middle. There were small pebbles at the base and the only reason Chuck knew so much about the flowers was because the long stems were impeding his view of Sarah. Reaching out, Chuck moved the vase so it blocked the ocean rather than Sarah's face.

"They were obscuring my view," he explained. The sunlight coming in through the window was illuminating her face. Much better than flowers.

"More now than before," Sarah disagreed, but she was smiling. "Though I guess I can't blame you for being sick of the ocean views. You probably see enough of them living here."
"I am definitely not sick of the view," Chuck replied, speaking of a rather different view than the one she meant.

Having arrived before the dinner rush, the restaurant was quiet, but for the gentle background noise of clinking dishes and muffled voices. The perfect place to have a conversation.

"So when you aren't being a tour guide, what do you like to do for fun?" Sarah asked.

"I think we've already established that I am most definitely not a tour guide," Chuck said. "Tour guides know stuff about stuff. I just live here."

Sarah chuckled lightly. "Fair enough," she said. "Shall I rephrase, or rather shorten the question? What do you do for fun, Chuck?"

"Um, video games mostly," Chuck replied awkwardly. "What about you?"

Sarah seemed to take a minute to think before saying, "You know it's been a really long time since I thought about it?"

Chuck wasn't sure how to respond to that and was saved from having to try by the arrival of Morgan, Chuck's best friend with a majestic beard.

"Morgan," Chuck began the introduction. "This is Sarah. Sarah, this is Morgan."

"Nice to meet you," Sarah said.

"Wow, nice to meet you, too!" Then he turned to Chuck and added, "Where did you find her?!"

Thankfully Sarah laughed at that. Chuck had a sense this interaction was going to get more embarrassing before it got better.

"Sarah is vacationing here," Chuck said. "We met at the store."

"Nice!" Morgan said. "High five, my friend."

"I will absolutely not high five you for this," Chuck told Morgan.

"Later," Morgan whispered as he left without taking their drink order.

"Sorry," Chuck groaned, but Sarah was laughing.

"It's okay," she said.

"Morgan and I go way back," Chuck explained. "We were friends in elementary school."

"That's amazing," Sarah replied. "I wish I had a friendship like that."

"It's kinda nice, yeah," Chuck said. "But he isn't always the best waiter. I think it will be a while before he notices that he forgot to get our drink order."

"Well, I'm not in a rush," Sarah said. "Unless you are."

"No, no rush," Chuck added quickly. He could feel himself getting flustered again and held up the menu in front of his face to give himself a minute.

He ended up actually looking at the menu, and by the time Morgan returned, Chuck had picked something to order.

"I totally got distracted meeting Sarah," Morgan said. "Drinks?"

"Strawberry milkshake," Chuck said.

"Coffee, please," Sarah added. Morgan wrote it down and then ran off again.

"He seems nice," Sarah said. "Easily distracted but nice."

"That's Morgan for ya," Chuck replied. "Do you know what you want to eat yet?"

"I'm thinking, the chicken salad," Sarah answered.

"All that cardio and you want salad!" Chuck explained. "I'm gonna devour a burger, fries and the milkshake."

Sarah laughed. "I don't remember the last time I had a burger or fries!"

"How come?" he asked.

She gave him a look that told Chuck he knew nothing about women. It was a similar look his sister gave him sometimes, but he still didn't know what it meant.

"Live a little," Chuck said. "Get the fries."

"You know, maybe I will," Sarah said, defiantly. Chuck wasn't sure who or what she was defying, but he was happy to see her smile.

When Morgan returned with their drinks a few minutes later, he was staring at Sarah in a strange way that Chuck couldn't figure out.

"You alright, buddy?" Chuck asked his friend.

"What, huh, oh yeah, fine," Morgan said with a shake of his head. "Here's your milkshake." And Morgan set the tall glass topped with whipped cream and extra tumbler in front of Chuck. They always served you the last little bit of milkshake that didn't fit in the glass in the cold metal cup it was blended in.

"Thanks!" Chuck said, accepting it and taking a huge gulp from the glass right away. He was so hungry which was good since this milkshake looked too thick to be of any use if he was thirsty.

"And your coffee," Morgan said, placing it down in front of Sarah.

"Thank you," Sarah said.

Morgan was still staring at Sarah like he was trying to figure out a puzzle. The problem was that now Sarah was staring back at him like she was checking for something. Whatever it was, she seemed to find it. She leaned in closer to him, and for a moment Chuck felt sure they were whispering.

"Are you two in some kind of secret club I know nothing about?" Chuck asked with a nervous laugh. It would be just his luck if Sarah ended up liking Morgan more than him.

"Nope," Morgan said. "Just want to make sure her intentions are honourable."

Chuck almost spat out his milkshake.

"What are you, my mother?" Chuck shot at his friend.

Morgan held up his hands in surrender. "I'll be back with your food." And with that he left again.

"Did we tell him what we wanted to order?" Sarah asked.

"No, no we did not," Chuck said. He buried his face in his arms. "I'm sorry he's acting so weird," Chuck moaned.

"There's really no need to be sorry," Sarah told him. "It's lovely that you have so many people in your life that care so much about you."

Chuck lifted his head to look at her as he answered. "Well yeah, doesn't everyone have a family like that?"

"They most definitely do not," Sarah said with a sad smile.

"Your parents?"

"Died when I was a teenager," Sarah said.

"I'm sorry," Chuck said genuinely.

"It's okay," Sarah said. "It was ten years ago now."

"Who raised you?"

"I was old enough that I managed to get emancipated after they died," Sarah explained. "So I guess I raised myself."

"That sucks, sorry," Chuck said. There was silence for a moment. Chuck drank more of his milkshake and Sarah had a sip of her coffee. He did some quick mental math based on the numbers she'd given him. If he'd done the math correctly Sarah was twenty six, or five years older than him.

"So anything else you like to do, apart from video games?" Sarah asked. Chuck suspected she wanted to change the topic and he couldn't blame her.

"Maybe programming. I've been working on teaching myself as best I can in my free time. It's quite interesting. Most people think it's a lame, useless hobby."

"I do confess I have no idea what the real life applications of video games are," Sarah began. "But computer programming is a highly valuable skill. Have you ever thought about getting a computer science degree?"

"Yep, definitely thought about it," Chuck replied. "I even applied but I didn't qualify for the scholarship."

"That sucks," Sarah offered. "Did they tell you why?"

"Something about missing requirements," Chuck said. "My small town high school didn't exactly offer a wide range of classes, but I did get in. Just got to pay for it myself so I'm stuck at home saving for now."

"Ah yes, that whole money issue," she said. "I remember it well."

"You must be doing alright for yourself," Chuck observed. "Staying at the Wickaninnish Inn and all."

"I do okay," Sarah said with a coy smile.

"I can't believe I haven't asked yet," Chuck said, kicking himself. "What do you do for a living?"

"Music," Sarah said.

"Like writing music?" Chuck asked.

"Writing music troubles is kind of why I took this vacation. I'm trying to get over some major writer's block. I haven't been able to write anything decent for ages."

"Writer's block isn't forever," Chuck told her cheerfully. "I am sure you will be writing again soon."
"Thanks," Sarah smiled. "But I also just really needed a vacation, so it's a bit of both really."

"Do you want some of my milkshake?" Chuck asked, after a pause long enough to feel like they needed a new topic.

"Oh, it's been a long time since I had a milkshake," Sarah explained.

Chuck pushed his extra tumbler towards her. "You know you want it," he told her, teasingly.

"I don't need the milkshake," Sarah argued as if trying to convince herself.

"If life was only about what we needed, it would be very boring," Chuck disagreed. He pushed the tumbler just another half-inch towards her and after a moment's hesitation, Sarah took it. She opened the rolled napkin beside that contained her cutlery.

"Mmmm," Sarah sighed as she put a spoonful into her mouth.

"Good, isn't it?" Chuck grinned. Sarah couldn't keep a grin off her face as she kept eating it. Chuck decided a spoon was a wise choice and ditched his straw for one as he got down to the bottom of his milkshake.

"Should have started with the spoon," Chuck stated. "This is more ice cream than milk."

Sarah laughed lightly, but the smile didn't leave her face. Chuck liked to think this meant she was having a good time. He hoped at the very least she wasn't having a horrible time.

For a moment, they both focused on eating their delicious milkshake. It was lovely sitting here with Sarah, even in silence. Somehow during the span of just a single day, Sarah had captivated him. He knew she was a tourist. She could literally vanish at any moment and he'd have no way of finding her. He knew he shouldn't get attached, but he had a feeling that it was going to be difficult the more time he spent with her. She was stunningly beautiful, but it was more than that. Chuck couldn't quite put his finger on what exactly it was, but that didn't stop his mind from going round and round thinking about it.

"Chuck?" Sarah's voice broke through his daze. He blinked. Sarah was waving her hand in front of his face. "Hello?"

"Sorry," Chuck apologized, shaking his head to try and bring himself back to the present. "Spacing out."

"What were you thinking about?" she asked.

"I was thinking about you," Chuck admitted.

"Hmm, Ignoring me to think about me," Sarah mused. "I've never heard that one before."
"I try to keep it interesting," Chuck replied casually, trying not to show how embarrassed he was.

"Okay so they haven't made your food, because it seemed I forgot to ask," Morgan addressed Sarah when he suddenly appeared at their table.

"Chicken salad, please," Sarah said. "But with a side of fries."

Chuck didn't bother ordering. He just handed Morgan his menu and nodded.

"Coming right up," Morgan said, taking their menus and vanishing once more.

"Come here often?" Sarah asked.

"Not really," Chuck said. "Saving money tends to mean not eating out."

"How else does one order without ordering?"

"Oh, that's just our telepathy," Chuck replied. "Or so my sister has called it all my life."

"Well aren't you full of surprises," Sarah chuckled. "Superpowers now?"

Chuck rolled his eyes. "Obviously we can't actually read each other's minds, but we've spent basically our entire lives together. Morgan may in fact know me better than I know myself."

"I have to admit I kinda envy that," Sarah replied after a moment's thought. "It's a rare thing, a friend like that."

"Yeah I guess," Chuck said. "I honestly haven't thought about it before."

"And why would you, when you've never been without it," Sarah smiled.

He wanted to ask her more about her life, her family and friends specifically, but she didn't seem keen to continue the topic. Chuck worried it would feel like prying so he chose a lighter one.

"Where do you live when you aren't on vacation?" Chuck asked, starting up a new conversation.

"Hamilton, Ontario," Sarah answered. "But I travel a lot for work. I don't think I've been back there for… oh maybe a year or so. At least ten months. I've kinda lost track."
"I can't imagine that," Chuck replied. "Moving around all the time. Don't you ever want to settle down?"

"Sometimes," Sarah said. "But I have never met someone worth settling down for."

"Would that make such a difference?" Chuck asked.

"To me it would," Sarah replied. "But even on my own, I have always wondered what it's like to stay in one place. To not be thinking about what flight I need to be on next."

Her answer was so exactly what he wanted to hear. Despite his attempts to keep himself from getting invested, Chuck couldn't help but wonder if there could be a future here.

"How long is your vacation?" Chuck asked next.

"Not sure yet," Sarah replied. "As long as it takes me to get over this writer's block I suppose."

"You don't have a set date when you have to go back to work?"

"I haven't turned on my phone in days," Sarah said. "Even if they want me back, they can't reach me." She was grinning like she was getting away with something.

"Oh wow, that's a level of self control I could never reach," Chuck marveled. "I get anxious when my phone isn't on my person, like when I leave it downstairs or in the bathroom."

"Ah, you are one of those phone addicts I've heard so much about," Sarah replied.

"Phone, laptop, smart watch," Chuck added. "I've basically got it all."

"And you said you were saving for school," Sarah teased him.

"I am!" Chuck defended himself. "Some of them were gifts."

"Uh huh," Sarah replied, but she was giggling so Chuck figured she was teasing him.

Just then, the food arrived and they were both so hungry, eating took priority over talking. Chuck's burger was excellent, but not as good as the fries. There was just something about deep frying a potato that made it impossible to beat.

"I feel so much better," Chuck sighed, pushing away his empty plate. "All that kayaking really worked up an appetite."

"Same," Sarah agreed. She'd finished her food, too.

With his stomach finally full, Chuck was just now realizing he'd been so hungry he'd forgotten about the bill. He knew he shouldn't really be spending his school savings, but he wasn't about to regret this day with Sarah either. A little indulgence every now and then wouldn't slow down his plans too much.

When the check came, Chuck was entirely prepared to pay it and even tip Morgan. To his great surprise, this didn't happen.

As Morgan was trying to hand him the check, Sarah snatched it clear out of the air.

"That's mine," she stated firmly. "I don't just play the check dance, I win the check dance."

"Are you really gonna buy dinner?" Chuck asked, stunned. "Isn't that supposed to be my job?" She dismissed his sexist assumption with a wave of her hand.

"It's my treat," she explained. "Thanks for the kayak lesson and for saving me when I fell. Besides, you are saving for school."

"Maybe we should split it," Chuck offered. He was feeling a little bit like he'd messed up somehow if he let her pay for dinner.

"Why don't we go get dessert next," Sarah said. "You can treat me to ice cream."

"That hardly seems even," Chuck replied. "But okay, deal."

Once the bill was paid they made their way outside and Chuck led the way to his favourite frozen yogurt place.

"I wonder sometimes if these stores aren't secretly a front for something?" Chuck mused as they walked side by side with their yogurts.

"Like a legal front to a gambling back room?" Sarah asked.

"Maybe, but wouldn't it be more fun if it was a front for a secret underground spy facility?"

Sarah laughed. "I think you've seen too many movies, Chuck." she said.

Chuck laughed along with her. "Maybe," he agreed.

They walked along the boardwalk chatting about nothing in particular while they finished their dessert.

As the light slowly dimmed, Chuck realized he'd basically spent the entire day with Sarah. Where had the time gone?

"The sun seemed to be setting," he said.

"Yeah I noticed," Sarah replied. "I'm not sure how that happened."

"It seemed to have sneaked up on us, for sure," Chuck agreed.

"I suppose I should be heading back," Sarah added.

"At least let me walk you to your hotel," Chuck offered.

"I'd love that," Sarah agreed.

As they walked, Chuck was very aware of his right hand. Sarah's left hand was only a few inches from his. He thought about reaching out and taking her hand in his, but he wasn't sure if she wanted that.

The closer they got to her hotel the more Chuck thought about catching her when she'd fallen. He couldn't believe how intense the feeling had been. It seemed ridiculous for such a small interaction. He must just be really lonely or something.

Sarah stopped walking and Chuck realized they were standing in front of her hotel. So lost in his thoughts he hadn't even realized they'd arrived at their destination.

"This is me," Sarah said, turning to face him.

And then Chuck was lost for a whole different reason.

She was looking up at him with that smile on her face again. What did she expect? Did she want him to ask her out again? Was there something specific he was supposed to do here?

"Thank you for today," Sarah told him. "I had a really nice time."

"If anyone should be thanking anyone it's me thanking you," Chuck said. "You bought me dinner."

"I was happy to do it," she replied.

Chuck really didn't know what to say. She was just looking at him and he found himself staring back at her. He wanted to memorise her face so he could remember this day years to come. It didn't quite feel real. Maybe it was all just a dream and eventually the dream bubble would burst and he'd remember that women like this didn't go for guys like him.

Right now though all he could see was Sarah. Her eyes were lovely, blue but not simply blue. There was a hint of grey in them. You wouldn't think grey as a colour could add so much, but on her it somehow did. When she smiled - like she was doing now - it somehow reached her eyes. Chuck felt like he would have been able to tell her lips were smiling even if he could only see her eyes.

Without really meaning to, Chuck's gaze moved down and focused on her mouth.

A suddenly and almost overwhelming desire to kiss her flooded him. He couldn't take his eyes off her lips. He was frozen between actions. Pulling away meant giving up on the kiss and saying goodnight, but moving forward meant going for it, risking rejection.

As if she could read his mind, Sarah moved closer. She grabbed his face with both her hands and kissed him full on the mouth.

The rush of emotion, adrenaline and desire that hit him was like nothing he'd ever experienced before. Chuck took a second to react, but once he was sure she was indeed kissing him and he wasn't just imagining it, he reacted.

Reaching out with both arms, he wrapped them around her, pulling her in. If he'd been on fire before. it was nothing to how he felt now. His heart was racing so fast he felt for sure it would beat clean out of his chest.

Her hands were in his hair as the kiss continued. Chuck wasn't sure if he ever wanted to come up for air. His hands moved up to gently cradle her face even as her hands moved down to press against his lower back.

Chuck felt an involuntary moan escape his throat, just as she ended the kiss.

"Goodnight, Chuck," Sarah said. She was grinning at him, her eyes lit up like fairy lights. Did this mean he'd done the kiss right?

"Um, yes, it was a good night, I mean I had a good time and, um, well," Chuck stopped talking. He hated how he babbled like this when he was nervous. Why couldn't he just control his nerves?

"You're cute when you babble," Sarah told him. She was smiling again. Smiling at him. She'd kissed him. Despite his being involved in all these events a part of him still couldn't quite believe it.

He didn't know what to say so he just looked at her, taking in the angles of her face and shape of her eyes. Chuck wanted to remember this moment for as long as he lived.

"What are your plans for tomorrow?" she asked.

"I have to work," Chuck replied, automatically.

"Well then maybe I'll stop in and say hi," Sarah smiled.

"That would be lovely," Chuck said.

"See you tomorrow then," Sarah said. Her voice was warm and soft. Chuck hoped she was excited for tomorrow. He certainly was.

After she was back inside the hotel, he just stood there for a moment. Half in shock and half in awe. When he finally moved, it was like he was running on automatic.

Chuck's legs knew the way home. Without really thinking he started walking. His mind was all in a whirl, but also stunned into silence.

The consistent movement of his legs, one foot in front of the other, slowly got his brain going again.

By the time he got home, Chuck had come to a realization. Sarah must have paid for the kayak rentals as well as dinner. He was such an idiot! Weren't guys supposed to pay for things? What kind of a lame date was he? If that had even been a date? It definitely had felt like a date. A very long date and that kiss at the end had very much felt like the end of a date, but they hadn't used the word date once all day.

Ignoring his nosey family, Chuck went straight up to his room and collapsed onto his bed. As tired as he was, he knew he wasn't going to get any sleep tonight, not with the rather extraordinary events of the day going around and around in his head.

Sorry guys. This has been done for a while and Nevr even finished editing it days ago. I just got so busy I totally spaced and forgot to upload. Where did this week go I'm telling ya!

Anyway what did you think of this chapter? Morgan had a moment here that Chuck didn't quite pick up on. It's his POV so the question is did you pick up on it? ^_^

Due to some changes in childcare options for our family, my 'four hours of dedicated writing time a week' plan may not go quite as well as I hoped. Even if I'm tired, I'm going to try to write in the evenings more and see if I can keep the update speed I've had so far going. Wish me luck! I've always preferred morning writing, but my tiny humans are against this idea. They wake up and demand Mommy!