by Jill Sanders
“I wish all life problems were as easy to solve,” she joked.
Rowan reached over and took her hand in his. “I’m sure there are magic words that can fix anything.”
She chuckled. “If only.”
“So,” Crystal broke in. “What are you plans for the day?”
Rowan dropped her hand and returned to eating. “It’s a surprise.” He smiled over at her and gave her a wink. “You’ll want to pack a swimsuit.”
Her eyebrows shot up. She was thankful she’d taken the extra time in the shower that morning to shave. Of course, with the possibilities for the evening, she’d taken her time on the task.
“I’ll head up and grab it.” She pushed her half-eaten food away.
“I’ve packed us lunch, but you’ll want to eat as much as you can. You’ll need the energy.” He nodded to her plate.
She pulled the plate back and took a sip of the hot tea. Instantly, her stomach felt better. She rolled her shoulders and picked up her fork again.
“Well, we are going to meet Serenity and Ben at the docks and catch the nine o’clock ferry to the island.” Crystal was talking to Connor, but Kayla was thankful for the play-by-play of the day she had planned with her son.
By the time Crystal was done talking, Connor and Kayla’s plates were empty.
Half an hour later, she watched her son walk out the front door for his very first night away from her, ever.
“He’ll be okay,” Rowan said, taking her hand in his.
“It’s not Connor I’m worried about.” She turned to him with a smile. “It’s your aunt.”
Rowan chuckled. “She’s loving this, you know.”
Kayla nodded. “She’s really great.”
“Yes, she was an amazing mother and aunt. She has her own unique way of doing things.”
“You were lucky to have her alongside your own parents.”
He bent down and picked up their bags and tossed her backpack over his shoulder as he opened the front door again. “It’s funny, Mother and Aunt Crystal are like night and day in most things.” She stepped out onto the front porch and enjoyed the sunlight that hit her. “But when it came to parenting, they were in agreement with almost everything.”
He turned to her and reached for her hand again.
“So, are you ready for our adventure?”
Her smile was quick and she realized her headache was completely gone. She was actually excited and eager to start the day.
“Lead the way.”
Rowan drove for almost an hour. They talked as the road twisted and turned before them. He took the back way, so she wouldn’t guess where he was taking her. Not that it would be much of a surprise once they reached the parking area, but until then, he liked seeing the wonder in her eyes.
“Are you going to tell me where you’re taking me?” she finally asked. They were less than ten miles from the destination. If he’d allowed her to pay attention to the road signs, she would have guessed it by now, but each time a sign came up, he talked so that she had turned her head towards him instead.
He smiled. “We’ll be there soon enough.”
Her eyes narrowed. “I should warn you, I don’t like surprises.”
He chuckled. “Yes, you do. I can tell.” He glanced over at her. “See, there’s that sparkle in your eyes that wasn’t there earlier.” He turned back to the road.
“What makes you think that sparkle isn’t because we’re heading to one of my favorite places?”
His eyes jerked towards her and narrowed. “How long have you known?”
She laughed. “Since the last turn. I remembered the old green barn back there.” She nodded as she leaned back in the seat further. “I haven’t been to Steep Falls since the summer before my senior year.”
“Your senior trip?” he asked. “Who did your class throw in the water?”
She laughed. “Mr. Lynn.”
He chuckled along with her. “I think every class tosses Mr. Lynn into the water. It’s like a requirement to push your principal in the falls.”
“It’s luck.”
“I figured we’d spend the day here and hit someplace along the way back for dinner.”
“Sounds wonderful.”
He pulled into the parking area. “Wow, looks like we’ll almost have the place to ourselves today.” There were only three other cars in the dirt lot.
“We’re early,” she suggested as she reached for her door handle.
He jumped out and grabbed the backpack he’d filled with everything they needed for their day hike.
“I thought we’d walk the river’s edge pathway to the falls. Then have our lunch there and cool off.”
“Sounds great.” She reached for his hand as they headed out.
He’d never enjoyed hiking with anyone as much as with Kayla. They talked about growing up in Silver Cove, about some of the changes over the years, about who had stuck around town and who had moved away.
She told him about everyone she’d seen come in the store, and he’d talked about who in town had married and had kids. Of course, being the town doctor, he knew a lot more than she did.
By the time they reached the falls, they were both covered in a layer of dust and were winded.
“You walk fast,” he said, setting the pack down on a flat rock.
“I haven’t gotten out on a walk in weeks. I used to try and take Connor on daily walks. I guess I’ve been too busy here to continue that.”
“You can start up again when things get settled,” he suggested. “Want to take a dip first or are you hungry?”
“Dip first.” She glanced around. “I’ll just go change behind that tree.” She nodded and bent down to get her swimsuit from the pack.
He nodded and started peeling off his shirt. She glanced up and watched him, causing him to smile.
“Hey, that’s not fair. I don’t think I’ll get a show, too.”
She blinked a few times and then quickly rushed behind the tree.
He continued to pull off his clothes until he stood at the water’s edge in his boxer briefs.
“It’s easier for guys,” she said.
He turned and watched her walk towards him. His mouth watered when he saw all that perfect skin of hers. She dropped her clothes onto the pack and walked over to stop next to him.
“All you have to do is strip and walk around in your underwear.” She nodded to his boxers.
“You could have done the same.” He made a show of glancing around the vast empty space. “No one here but us.”
She smiled, then slowly reached her arms up as if she was going to wrap them around him. Instead, she turned her palms forward and gave him a big push, causing him to fall back into the chilly water.
When he surfaced, he was laughing as she tucked her legs tight to her chest and pulled off one of the sexiest cannonballs he’d ever seen.
Water splashed him and he had to admit, she had style. When she surfaced, he swam over and pulled her into his arms.
“Wow, this feels great,” she said, pushing her hair out of her face.
He kicked a few times to keep them afloat. “You feel great.” His hands ran up and down her sides.
“So do you.” She played her hands over his chest and arms. “I like these.” Her fingers trailed over his pecs. “I didn’t get to enjoy them last night.
“They’re all yours today,” he joked as his hands found her hips and pulled her closer to him.
Her eyebrows shot up when she felt him, hard against her.
“How…” She shook her head. “This water is freezing.”
He smiled. “Yeah, but you’re hot.” He wiggled his eyebrows and she laughed.
He covered the sound up with his lips and enjoyed the feeling of her body melting against his. She shocked him by reaching down, pulling his boxers aside, and wrapping her hand around his length.
He almost caused them to drown when he forgot to kick and keep them afloat.
They both came up sputt
ering and laughing.
“Okay, now we know why it’s not a good idea to do that in deep water,” he joked. Then he took her hand and kicked off towards the shallow shore to the left of where they had left their things.
When his feet could touch the rocks and soft sand, he pulled her close again. “Now, where were we?”
Instead of letting her reach for him, he pulled her close until her legs straddled his hips. They were core to core and he did everything in his power to hold still because it felt like heaven.
Then she started moving against him, rotating those hips as his fingers dug into her softness.
“You’re killing me,” she said against his lips.
“Ditto.” He rolled his eyes as she moved against him. “Do you think it’s possible…” He glanced around, then thought of the condoms in the back pocket of his jeans, more than twenty feet away. “Never mind.” The desire to have her for the first time in a soft bed, all night long, flashed in his mind and he growled out.
She chuckled. “Still, just like last night, I bet we could find a way.” Her hand found him again and this time the growl was lower and he found her lips as she moved her hand over him.
Chapter 13
“See, I knew we would come up with something.” She’d enjoyed watching him explode. Just like he’d made her do two times last night. “Now, we’re even,” she joked as they pulled themselves out of the water.
His eyes laughed back at her and she could tell he was already wanting her again.
“I’m starving,” he said when he sat down next to the bag. “Let me set everything up.” He handed her a towel. “Why don’t you lay out and enjoy some sun while I get everything ready?”
She found a large flat rock and laid the towel down. She faced the sun and enjoyed the warm rays as she heard Rowan moving around.
This place was one of her favorites for a reason. There were no bad views. The large lake was further downstream. She’d gone boating and fishing there as a kid before her father had left. The stream held some of the best kayaking and swimming around. There were several waterfalls that she’d always enjoyed hiking too.
This place, where they had stopped, was called Falling Rock. The large rock they sat on could safely be jumped from and was the most popular spot along the trails.
She’d made up her mind to take things slow with him. After all, Connor was her highest priority in life. But after what he’d done to her and what she’d just done to him, her body was wanting to proceed full steam ahead.
Now she knew exactly what he’d meant last night when he’d said he’d gotten as much pleasure as she had.
Her body was actually vibrating now, much like it had after he’d pleased her last night.
She rolled her head and watched him lay out a blanket and carefully set out the lunch he’d brought.
He was still in his wet boxers and the sun was playing over his exposed skin. He was beautiful. More so than any other man she’d ever been with.
He obviously worked out. He was lean and had one of those perfect bodies that she’d seen on the sports channel. Her mind played over every muscle and wondered how it would feel being with him.
“It’s ready.” His soft voice was right beside her and she realized she’d been so lost in her daydreams that she’d fallen asleep.
When she opened her eyes, she looked up into his blue ones. He moved his hand to her face and leaned down to place a soft kiss on her lips. “You needed the sleep, but my stomach needs the food.” He smiled down at her.
She stretched her arms over her head. “It felt so good.” She sat up and rolled her shoulders. “I haven’t taken a nap outside since I was a kid.”
“You know, I’ve often thought about prescribing a nap outside to a few of my patients. Sleeping outside is actually better for you.” He helped her up. “Especially after a long hike and a nice crisp swim.”
She sat down on the blanket and admired the spread of food he’d packed.
“Here.” He handed her a bottled water. “Hydration is also important.”
She smiled. “Yes, doctor.”
“I’m not your doctor.” His eyebrows wiggled. “Yet.”
She laughed.
They ate mini sandwiches he’d made on fresh rolls, some fresh fruit, and chips, then finished it off with some of his aunt’s chocolate caramel brownies.
Everything was perfect.
After eating, they moved back over to the rock and lay out in the sun as they talked.
She’d never talked so much to a man before in her life. Not even her brother.
JT was six years older than her and a world apart since Lori’s death.
She’d always felt comfortable around Rowan. Even when she’d first started crushing on him shortly before he and Lori had started dating.
She often thought that her sister had started showing interest in Rowan because she’d confided in her that she liked him. Her sister had been known for taking what others wanted.
Lori had two best friends in school, one of whom had confided in Kayla after Lori’s death that she had only liked her because she was the most popular girl in class.
“What was my sister like? As a girlfriend?” she asked, rolling over and looking at Rowan.
His eyebrows shot up and she could tell she’d thrown him off with the change of subject.
“She was… well…” His eyes scanned the beautiful scene in front of them. She could tell he was searching for the right words.
“Be honest.”
“Truthfully?” he asked. She nodded in agreement. “She was my first and I didn’t know any better. But, after some experience, I realized she was selfish.”
Kayla shifted. “You’re first, first?”
He chuckled and nodded. “Yeah, and since I told you mine…” He waited.
“Roger McGillan,” she said quickly.
“Rog…” He dropped off and his eyes narrowed. “Isn’t he like two years older than me?”
She chuckled. “Yup.”
“How old were you?”
“Almost sixteen.”
Rowan sat up. “That would have made him… That’s illegal.”
She laughed. “Relax. If it had been you, it would have been illegal too.” She lay back down. “Was there any other reason you broke up with her?” she asked, changing the subject, since she could tell he wasn’t going to drop the Roger issue.
He shook his head. “No, other than she was cheating on me.”
She glanced over. “When did you find out?”
“The night of my birthday party.” He was silent for a while. “Wait.” He sat up. “Why do I get the hint that you know something that I don’t.”
She sat up and turned towards him. “You two started dating in April.” He nodded. “Your birthday is January twenty-first.” He nodded again. She took a deep breath. “In that year, that I know of, she slept with at least five other guys.”
He was silent for a while. “Why didn’t you…”
“What?” She hugged her knees to her chest. “Tell you?” Her chuckle echoed across the water. “Because my sister was a very good blackmailer. Besides, what would you have done if your girlfriend’s little sister showed up and told you her sister was cheating?”
“I would have believed you.”
She turned towards him and shook her head. “Not if my sister had told you what she knew.”
“What was that?”
“That I had a major crush on you.” She watched that knowledge sink in.
“Back then?” he asked.
She nodded. “Yup. I often wonder if Lori showed interest in you because I had confided in her that I liked you.” She brought her knees closer and rested her chin on top of them. “I ran into you a few times during the town’s Christmas play. You were playing Scrooge that year. I was Tiny Tim.” She laughed. “They used to really hurt for volunteers back then.”
“I remember. You made a very cute boy.” He brushed a hand over her hair.
&
nbsp; She shook her head and glanced at him again. “Anyway, shortly after, she started pursuing you.”
He was silent for a while. “Who?”
She shifted and shook her head. “Who, what?”
“I know she fooled around with Owen Bernard and Mason Holt, but who else?”
Kayla sighed loudly. “Really?” she asked.
He shrugged. “Why not? It’s not as if I can change it, but I’d like to know.”
She thought about it and nodded. “Fair enough. Luke Stevens, Jeff Miller, and one other with the initials CT. I never found out who that was, though.”
Rowan tried to hide his temper. Jeff Miller and Luke Stevens were two of his best friends from school. They had betrayed him with his girlfriend. He actually still thought of Luke as one of his close friends.
The man had never said a word to him about Lori. Even after her death, the two of them had kept their secret from him.
“Hey.” Kayla’s hand on his arm broke him from the trance. “I didn’t tell you so you could come up with a million ways to retaliate. It’s in the past. It’s long gone.”
He took several cleansing breaths and took her hand in his. “You’re right.” He pulled her hand up to his lips and kissed it. “I’m sorry.”
“Lori had a way of getting to you.” She shrugged. “She knew how to make people not trust her.”
“What was she like as a sister?” he asked after a moment. He’d often wondered if she was nice to Kayla or if she’d been unkind to her younger sister.
“Lori was…” She stood and walked to the edge of the water and wrapped her arms around herself. He watched her from his spot. “She was selfish. I can’t ever remember her doing anything sisterly or kind. She was like a spoiled child who wanted what everyone else had and when she got it, she would discard it or toss it away. She wasn’t a good daughter, sister, or friend.” She stilled. Her back turned to him for a moment as she looked out over the water, then she turned towards him. “Her death broke my family, but honestly, she’d broken us long before she left us.”
He walked over to her and wrapped his arms around her and held on. When a chill in the air hit them, they dressed again and gathered everything. The hike back down to the car was slower as they walked hand in hand.
