Chapter 2

Addie sat watching Blake, Kodi on the couch next to her. Last night, their first night spent together, they'd decided to share a bed. She'd laughed at Blake who'd placed pillows down the middle of the bed. It was the line, she's said, all serious. Blake had glared at her when Addie told her that it must be because she had no self-control because there was no way Addie would need the pillow line to stay on her side. Blake had mumbled something and turned on her side, seemingly falling asleep straight away. Kodi was the only one that seemed to think the pillow line was not for her, since she hopped on the bed, climbed on the pillows, turned in circles, and settled, her butt on Addie's side her head resting on Blake's shoulder. Now she sat watching Blake struggle to write, she'd been trying for two hours. Addie knew she was only trying because the screen was still blank.

"Come on." Addie stood, startling Blake. "Sorry, I didn't mean to scare you. It's a gorgeous day, let's go for a ride." 

"What?" Blake blinked, she'd been staring at the screen for too long. "A ride where?" 

"Just around the island, there are a few bike trails, and you need a break." 

"I don't need a break." Blake protested, but she had to admit, getting out was appealing. 

"Come on, it's supposed to be a vacation, and I can't go riding on my own, we're here together, remember." Addie stood, hands on hips, watching her, waiting patiently. 

"Fine, fine, but I don't know how much fun I'm going to be, I haven't been on a bike in years." 

"That's fine, we'll take one of the shorter trails, and we'll go slow, that way Kodi can keep up too." Addie rubbed a hand over Kodi's head. "We'll meet you at reception, I'll organize the bike for us." 

"Bikes, you mean bikes." 

"Yes, bikes, that's what I said." 

"Why can't I just go with you?" Blake asked. 

"Because you need to change, and we'll get going as soon as you get there." 

"Change?" Blake looked down at herself and let out a laugh. "Ah, great." She was still in her pajamas and slippers.  

Addie and Kodi stood waiting at reception when Blake finally met up with them, she'd found herself debating on what to wear, then finally decided it was stupid to worry about that, she was going on a bike ride with Addie, that's all.

"You made it," Addie said. There was a grin on her face and Kodi was sitting as usual patiently next to her. 

"I did. Where are the bikes?" 

"This way," Addie said and led the way to the front of the small hotel. "I had to get Kodi a basket, to go with us." 

"Okay." Blake looked around but only saw a scooter standing a few feet away. "Tell me you don't mean for us to go around the island on that?" \

"It'll be fun, come on." Addie didn't allow her to pull back, she took Blakes's hand and pulled her to the scooter. 

"Do I at least get a helmet?" 

"No, you'll just have to trust my driving." 

"I don't even know you!" 

"We shared a bed, my dog likes you. And you ate breakfast, I made this morning." Addie grinned. "That's enough trust for me." 

"You have a strange mind, Addie. But fine, you can drive there, I'll drive back." Blake said. "Where is there any way?" 

"Where ever the road takes us this morning." 

"We have to be back by lunchtime." 

"Yes, I know, the lunch on the dingy." 

"It's a yacht." 

"Nah, I looked at the photos in the brochure, and it's dingy." She got on the scooter, helped Kodi settle in the basket, and then turned to Blake. "Hop on." 

"This is crazy," Blake whispered. But she found she felt an excitement bubble in her stomach. Carefully she got on behind Addie, careful not to sit too close, her butt almost hanging off the back. 

"That's not going to work, scoot closer, put your hands on my shoulders, we'll be off-balance if you sit like that." Addie tried to hide a smile as Blake moved another inch forward, and lightly set her hands on Addie's shoulders. She started the scooter up and let out a laugh as Blake's hands tightened on her shoulders. "We'll start off slow, just let me know if you want to stop." Blake didn't say anything, so Addie pulled off, slow and steady. As they went, she felt Blake relax, even pointing out cows, and sheep to her. Her hands had moved to Addie's hips as she relaxed and forgot herself. An hour into their ride, Addie pulled off the road, she waited for Blake to hop off before setting the scooter on its stand, then she lifted Kodi off who went to relieve herself, before sniffing the grass area where they'd stopped. There was no one else around and the morning was so quiet, they could hear the ocean way down the mountain. Addie lifted the seat and pulled out a bag, she pulled out two cold drinks, one for her and one for Blake, and then poured water into a bowl for Kodi. 

"This view is amazing," Blake said. Addie just nodded. "I used to be inspired by views like this, then I got stuck behind my computer and now I can't even get a word written down." 

"Maybe you just need the right inspiration to strike," Addie said. "It could be that you find that here." 

"Maybe." She took in a sharp breath as an eagle soared low over their heads. "Wow!" 

"Yeah, she must have a nest nearby," Addie said, checking where Kodi was, and calling her closer. "We don't want you to be her supper, bud." 

Blake let out a horrified squeal. "It would eat Kodi?" 

"Anything small enough for her to pick up in her claws, yes." Addie laughed when Blake moved closer to Kodi, shielding her. "This was nice," Addie said. 

"Yes, thank you. I needed the fresh air, I didn't know just how much." Blake said with a smile. "I tend to forget to eat, sleep, shower when I get into a good storyline." 

"So you have an idea?" 

"God, I wish, I keep thinking I do, and then I sit down and I'm blank. I feel like I want to start typing, and sometimes I even do, but it's nothing good." She shot a glance at Addie. "And if that get's out, I'll know it was you." 

"Hey, your secret is safe with me." Addie held up her hands in defense. "Maybe you'll let me read one of those starts before you delete it?" 

"No, definitely not!" 

"Why?" 

"If it was good enough to let you read it, then I wouldn't delete it, and if I don't delete it, then you wouldn't be allowed to read it anyway, not until it's done." 

"Ah, so you're one of those, your own worst critic." Addie nodded. "I feel like that when I write a song." Addie frowned, wondering where that had come from, she hardly ever spoke about her writing.

"You're a songwriter?" Blake asked real interest in her tone. 

"I dabble a bit," Addie said, not really wanting to talk about that. Blake realized it and kept quiet. Both of them just looking out at the view. "Sorry," Addie said. 

"No, it's okay, I was just curious, but I understand." 

"Yes, I think you do," Addie said. "But, you told me about your block. I just don't like talking about what I do. It tends to make people think I'm not smart." Addie admitted telling Blake some of the truth. 

"Surely that's not true, I can't think that writing down lyrics and getting music to fit the words is easy." 

"It's not, and it takes time and long hours." Addie shrugged. Not at all comfortable talking about her work. 

"So is there anything I might know?" 

"You mean that I wrote?" Addie shook her head. "No." She said a note of anger in her voice. "But maybe one day, I'll play you something." 

"That would be great," Blake said. She could only imagine how nice any song would be, with Addie's husky voice.

"Come on, let's get going. We don't want to be late for lunch, Donna would kill us." She stood and threw their things back under the seat, before closing it. She picked Kodi up and settled her after she straddled the scooter. 

"Sure," Blake said, knowing the conversation was over. She felt a little disappointed that they were heading back, she'd really enjoyed the ride and the company. They were almost back at the hotel before she realized how smoothly Addie had taken the wheel, so to speak, again.