Peyton rolled onto her stomach and began a lazy crawl back to shore. She had just hoisted herself onto the dock and stood up, water dripping from her body, when Dix came out of the cottage. He just stood there for a long moment, watching her. She did her best to ignore him as she dried off then headed back to the chair where she'd left her tablet. Dix didn't move or say a word, just watched her with eyes that seemed to see beneath her skin, until she was lying down again. Even though she couldn't see him anymore, she could feel his eyes on her like twin lasers.
Should she close her eyes and pretend she was going to sleep? Turn on her tablet and pretend to read? Whatever she did, it would be just that - pretend - because she was too acutely aware of his presence.
"I'm thinking of taking the boat out for a little spin around the lake." He laughed, a rusty sound. "Little being the operative word. That's a trolling motor, and I'm sure won't go past five miles an hour."