The Broken Lake (The Pace Series, Book 2)

by Shelena Shorts

Opening the door for me now, he said, “I thought about that. Then realized I’d rather have this. It’s safer, and I have other ways to seek a thrill now. Don’t need a sports car.”

  I smiled at his sly grin in suggesting new thrills. I was all for that. “Does that mean you want to work on your clarity?”

  He shut the door without responding.

  “That was rude.” I accused, as he slid into his side.

  He leaned over and kissed me on the lips. “Sorry.”

  I pouted. “So what is this anyway?” All I knew was that it was another black, shiny vehicle with black leather seats and large tires.

  “Range Rover.”

  It was nice. I liked his taste, that was for sure. He knew how to look good, but classy, without blazin’ in someone’s face about it. We drove toward town and I wondered where we were headed. It turned out he needed to stop at the sporting goods store.

  “I don’t fish,” he said. “So we need to buy equipment and supplies. You’ll have to show me which ones.”

  “What? I can’t remember.” This was going to be the blind leading the blind.

  He wasn’t concerned. “We’ll ask someone, then.”

  And we did. Within twenty minutes, we had all the fishing supplies we needed. After seeing them, I remembered the basics enough to have a shot at actually catching something.

  We were about to check out when Wes asked if I had packed a swimsuit. What the heck would I need that for? The thought sounded so appropriate that I said it out loud.

  “To swim, Sophie. What do you think?”

  “Swim in what?” I asked, still not getting it.

  “In the lake.” He had a look on his face like he wanted to say “Hello?” after the comment.

  “You don’t swim in a lake.”

  “Sure, I do. I’ll swim anywhere there’s water.”

  Oh, geez. “Wes, I’ve fished in a lake, but never swam in one.”

  “Well, we’re supposed to be doing something different, right?” He put his hands on my shoulders and lowered his gaze to mine, holding back a smile. “Besides, you said you were outdoorsy.”

  I let out a low grumble. He might have been able to woo me with those dark brown eyes before, but not anymore. Okay, who was I kidding? Fine.

  I looked at the sales associate. “Where’s your swimsuit section?”

  Who was I to care about dirty, slimy lake water. I was with Wes, and we were going to have fun. And since that was the only way to make the most of what time we had, that’s what I was going to do—swim in the lake. Gross.

  Two hours later, we arrived at a wooded park area. A Fishing Docks Ahead sign blatantly beamed at us as we entered the parking lot. Wes’ GPS system told him to make a right onto a paved, narrow lane. Instead of following the pavement, Wes turned again onto a dirt road. The GPS lady didn’t like that. In a calm, stern voice, she told Wes to turn around in point three miles.

  “You’re making her mad.”

  “Oh, she’ll be fine.” He reached over and turned her off.

  “Where are you going anyway?”

  “There’s a more private water entry this way.”

  I noticed faint tire tracks, so I knew we weren’t the only people to upset their GPS lady. “How do you know what’s up here?”

  He looked at me as our bodies bounced around in our seats as we made progress over the rough terrain. “Research,” he said.

  “Research.”

  Turning his attention toward navigating our narrow, rocky path, he casually continued. “Yeah, I looked around for some good fishing places and this one had an aerial map, so I was able to see they had an off-road section.”

  “Uh-huh. I see.”

  After a few more minutes of bobbing up and down and left and right, we rolled to a stop just short of an embankment. I was impressed.

  “Wow, the view is perfect. Look at it.”

  It was amazing. The water was calm, and a dark blue-green color that reflected the sunlight beautifully. There was no one else in sight. Just us and trees everywhere—behind us, beside us, and surrounding the lake on all sides, at least as far as I could see.

  I waited for him to get out first, to check and make sure it was safe. For some reason, I was apprehensive. It could have been because swimming in a lake still didn’t sound all that appealing. Luckily, he got out and went straight to the back and pulled out all our fishing supplies.

  I carried the rods and tacklebox down to the water and he carried everything else, including a cooler I hadn’t seen before.

  “What’s in that?”

  “You’ll have to wait and see.”

  “Oh, come on, Wes, you know I don’t have patience for secrets or surprises. What’s in it?”

  “Just drinks, lunch. Stuff.” He set everything down without looking at me.

  I put down my load and smiled. “Aw, you packed us a picnic? That is so romantic.”

  His shyness was surprising, and I was getting a kick out of it. I stepped over to him and turned his face to me by holding his cheeks. I gave them a slight squeeze.

  “You are so sweet. I just want to kiss you all over.”

  He smiled and pulled his head back just far enough that I couldn’t reach it anymore. I jumped up, and he turned away, laughing. I wasn’t ready to give up, so the chase was on. He started to run and I jumped on his back, wrapping my arms around his neck. He placed his hands under my legs to hold me up.

  I was doing some sort of embarrassing laugh by then. I’m not sure why, other than this was a lot of fun. At least it was until he headed toward the water and then it registered. I tried to put my legs down, but he held me to him even tighter.

  “Wes! What are you doing? Stop.” Now he was the one laughing. “It’s not funny, Wes. Don’t go in there. I have my clothes on!”

  Somehow, he pulled me around to his front, so he was carrying me. I was wriggling, but he was winning. Once we got to the edge, he held me out over the water.

  “Wes, I swear. Please!” He moved as if to toss me. “My clothes!” I yelled.

  He tossed and I closed my eyes, screaming. I braced for the impact, but there wasn’t one, only the sounds of him cracking up. I opened my eyes and he still had hold of me. I smacked his chest and wriggled my way down.

  “That’s not funny.” But I couldn’t contain a smile, even though I was trying very hard.

  “I don’t understand why you’re so concerned about your clothes.”

  “Because they’re all I brought. What? Am I going to go home naked?”

  He raised his eyebrows and shrugged. “You could.”

  “Yeah, right.” I was still smiling, but I brushed past him in an effort to get away from the water before he changed his mind.

  He followed after me. “What? You’re the one who said you wanted to kiss me all over.”

  I smiled, but kept walking. Once we got back to our little spot, we unpacked the supplies.

  He leaned toward me, all puppy-dog-eyed. “You don’t want to kiss me anymore?”

  “Nope.”

  “No? Why not?”

  The truth was, I did. Really bad, but I was hoping that playing hard to get would spark him to kiss me.

  “Because, I just don’t,” I answered, not sure if my face was serious enough.

  “Okay.”

  I knew him well enough to know that he had called my bluff, but I wasn’t going to cave. Acting satisfied with his giving up, I situated myself with the fishing supplies. I remembered a lot from the times with my dad. I baited the hook and everything. Even Wes watched me so he could learn.

  “I’m impressed,” he said.

  “Why?” I asked, casting out.

  “It’s nice to watch you do something I’ve never seen before.”

  “There are a lot of things you’ve never seen before.” I wanted to smile when I said that, but I remained serious.

  “Is that so?” He cast his line into the water with ease.

  “Uh-huh.”

  “Li
ke?”

  I was holding my rod steady and looking out over the water. “Well, let’s just say you’d need to have a clear head before I showed you.” I was cracking up inside.

  “Is that right?”

  I nodded.

  “Well, I have a clear head now,” he said, still calling my bluff.

  My next move would be pivotal, so I had to think. I knew my hormones were bottled up, and he was just messing with me. Or maybe he wasn’t. Either way, he had given me a chance to drive the train.

  “That’s good.” I said, reeling in my line. “Because I’d like to show you. In fact, I’m ready for a swim. How about a change of clothes right now?” I started to take off my shirt.

  “Whoa.” He frowned. “What are you doing?”

  “Showing you something you haven’t seen before.”

  He jumped up. “Okay, okay. I get it. Ha-ha. You win. Keep your clothes on, Sophie.”

  “What? I’m just changing. Where’s my swimsuit anyway?”

  “It’s in the truck. I’ll get it.” He turned away nervously, before I could stand up to take off my pants too.

  I have no idea how I was able to take off my clothes so freely. I was so not a flamboyant person, and in truth, I was completely nervous at the idea of Wes seeing me naked. But I knew it would freak him out, so for some reason, that made it easier for me. Maybe if he was hawking me like a pervert, I might have been less open to it.

  He brought my suit back just as I was pulling off the last undergarment. Although he now appeared much calmer with my nudity, he kept his eyes from wandering below my chin.

  As I finished putting on my bathing suit, he went back to the truck and changed into his at the tailgate end, as far away from me as possible. By the time we were suited up and he was making his way to me, I felt I had lost the upper hand. For crying out loud, I thought.

  Having had enough, I walked up to him, cutting short his approach. “Would you just kiss me alrea—?”

  He grabbed the back of my neck and pressed his lips to mine before I could finish my sentence. My eyes closed instantly as the familiar fire spread through my body. I locked my arms around his neck and my mouth opened hungrily, allowing his tongue to meet mine in a long-overdue encounter.

  With one smooth motion, he picked me up. I felt secure with his arms under my bottom. What I did with my legs is a mystery, because the only part of my body I felt at that moment was my brain burning in complete bliss.

  I gasped as I felt a built-up flame explode from within. He kissed me over and over. Eventually, a cool sensation overtook the fire running from my toes. By the time the coolness reached my back, I realized it was water and opened my eyes.

  “Water,” I squealed.

  He kept kissing me.

  “Green water,” I croaked between breaths.

  “Sorry,” he said, shrugging, “I was about to lose time.”

  “Ah.” That was part of his clarity issue.

  We had been in a zone where neither of us was thinking about time, and he needed to cool off. Literally. I understood and wasn’t going to press him. We were both still breathing heavily, but a calm sensation was returning.

  I looked around the lake for something else to focus on. “See? I am outdoorsy.”

  He smiled. “Yeah. You are. I like it.” He turned us around, giving me the better view of the entire lake.

  “Why is that?” I felt him pulling me farther into the water, so I kept the cast on my arm raised.

  “I don’t know. I think it’s because I honestly never knew that about you. It’s like I’m meeting you for the first time, and I like it. It makes me feel…”

  I knew what he meant. Even though he couldn’t find the right word, I understood. If he was getting to know me for the first time, then maybe things could be different. He was still searching for the word when I filled it in.

  “Hopeful. You feel hopeful that things are new and different between us.”

  “Yeah. I think so.”

  An idea popped into my head. “You know what? I think we should make it a point to be different.”

  “How?”

  “Well, let’s not fall into the trap of history. Let’s make a new beginning for Sophie and Wes.”

  “And how do you propose we do that?”

  “I think we should keep doing different things. Let’s not give fate the weapon of routine. Let’s make it a point to deviate from what is anticipated. Like this. You didn’t expect me to like fishing. And look how much fun we’re having.”

  His face was starting to harden. “I don’t think we can trick fate, Sophie.”

  “I don’t want to trick anything. I just don’t want to walk right into it. What do we have to lose? Maybe we can take the long way around.”

  He kissed me again, but differently. It was more of a comforting kiss. “You’re right. It’s worth a try. Sophie and Weston—outrunning themselves.” He rolled his eyes.

  “Hey.” I scrunched up my brows.

  “I’m just joking. I like the idea as long as I get to spend time with you. Which reminds me. If you’re finished with your theories, I’d like to spend time with my new girlfriend.”

  I obliged and kissed him again. He asked me if I was hungry, and I wasn’t, so I passed. But I was curious. I got him to tell me what was in the cooler. Ham-and-Swiss sandwiches, chips, strawberries, and sparkling cider. The sound of it all was making me hungry, but I preferred the closeness I had with him at the moment, so I chose to stay in the water a little longer.

  “Do you mind if I float?” he asked.

  “No, of course not. But can I touch the bottom? I can’t float with my arm.”

  “I’m not going to let go of you. I just want us to float.”

  I couldn’t figure out how he was going to accomplish that with me, but I trusted him enough to know he would keep me and my cast above water.

  “Put your legs down,” he instructed.

  “Huh? Oh, sorry.” I realized I still had them clamped around his waist. I slowly let them drop, and once my body was vertical to his, he pressed me up against him and tilted himself backward.

  Slowly, I felt myself rise out of the water until I was lying on him. “Whoa.”

  “I’ve got you.”

  Once I relaxed, I felt weightless. He was floating on his back effortlessly and I was lying on top of him like he was a raft. I propped myself up on my forearms and studied his calm, perfect face in the sunlight. His eyes were closed and I could see that he was completely comfortable and relaxed. I looked around the panoramic view of the lake and couldn’t help but feel relaxed too.

  It was perfect. Absolutely perfect. I was floating in a beautiful lake with the only person in the world that I wanted to be with. My soul mate, my love, my everything. There was nothing else I wanted in the entire universe. What I wanted, what I needed, was right there with me.

  I rested my head on his chest and closed my eyes, feeling the sun on my back. I felt us rock ever so slightly and sway back and forth with the gentle current, listening to the slow, steady beats of his heart.

  That lake had no doubt become one of my new favorite places. Not Amelia’s, not Lenny’s, but Sophie’s new place. My place. No, not just mine. It was our place—our lake. Our lake of complete happiness.

  Chapter 8

  IN WITH THE NEW

  I could’ve stayed on that lake all day, but the temperature wasn’t warm enough for Wes. It was okay for a short time, but then I felt his body getting cooler.

  “I’m okay, Sophie.” He kept saying, and he was for a while.

  But I wasn’t oblivious to the coolness beneath me, so I ordered him to float us on in. It was almost invigorating. I felt in charge, guiding and leading my ship to the dock. In command of my vessel. A very cute one. I smiled the whole way, wishing we could stay connected like this forever.

  After drying off, Wes began unpacking our picnic. I laughed as he unfolded a red-and-white checked blanket. “Wes. You’ve been watching way too muc
h TV.”

  He smiled without commenting and organized everything in a neat display of fine dining by the lake. Opening a bottle of sparkling cider, he poured us each a glass. He handed mine over as I watched the fizz settle, trying to determine if the glass was half full or half empty.

  It bothered me momentarily that I hesitated before committing to my normal optimism that it was indeed half full. Shaking away negative thoughts, I smiled, touched my glass to his, and took a sip. He was less conservative with his, downing it in one gulp.

  “Thirsty?”

  He poured himself another glass. “Yes. And hungry.”

  Watching him eat had become a common thing for me. We had been dating long enough that I wasn’t nervous eating around him, but for some reason, I was never really thinking about food when we were together. There was a different kind of fullness within me whenever he was near, so I usually found myself content with nibbling.

  He, on the other hand, usually ate all his food. I couldn’t help but become curious. “How do you eat?” I asked.

  Taking a bite of his sandwich, he looked at me with a raised brow. “Is this a trick question?”

  “No, silly. I mean, what is food to you? Do you need it? Is it just habit?”

  Figuring out what I was dancing around, he smiled. “You mean, do I hibernate and go without food for long periods of time?”

  I shrugged a little. “Yeah, I guess.”

  “Sophie, I do believe you read too much of that book.”

  He was referring to something I had read a few weeks earlier on understanding the cold-blooded creature, not that I thought he was a creature. I was just frustrated that he had broken up with me without an explanation, and I was coming up short with every other attempt at finding answers, so I thought that might work. Stupid, I know. And he wasted no time laughing at me when he found out. Whatever.

  “No, I did not read too much. I was just wondering. You say your metabolism has slowed down so much that you don’t age. So it just occurred to me that you may not need to eat very often.”

  Taking another bite, he said, “I do need to eat. A lot. It’s sort of like you people.”

  I scrunched up my eyebrows at the reference to my being a “you people,” even though being a “you people” is normal. I just didn’t like the designation.