by Cathie Linz
Jake took the turnoff.
“What are you doing?”
“You said I should visit the falls. No time like the present.”
She’d had just enough champagne that she couldn’t find a logical argument to his comment.
Or maybe she just didn’t feel like voicing a protest. Twenty minutes later he stopped the Jeep inches from the chain barricading the entrance. Jake hopped out and undid the chain with the confidence of a man who’d done this before.
“The park is closed,” Emma said.
“Not anymore.”
He parked the Jeep in the space closest to the falls and the river it tumbled into.
“I haven’t been up here in years.” Emma knew she was breaking the rules. But what harm could be done by a quick midnight visit to one of her favorite old haunts? After all, skinny-dipping was hardly one of the approved uses for this area. So she already had a track record here. Her dyed-to-match pumps sank into the grass as she walked downriver to an area where a section of the water pooled off to the side creating a cool invitation on a hot night.
“I used to dive in right here. It’s deep enough with a sandy bottom.”
Emma looked over her shoulder, hard to do with the huge bulbous sleeves on her bridesmaid’s dress, to see if Jake had followed her. Not only had he done so, but he was also taking off his tie and then his shirt.
“What are you doing?”
“Getting ready to skinny-dip,” he said.
“Now?”
“Right now.” He kicked off his shoes and unbuttoned his pants.
She should have looked away. She really should have. A wiser woman would have.
But apparently Emma wasn’t as smart as she thought, because she didn’t turn away.
Of course it was dark and he was a few feet away. Not far enough, however, that she couldn’t see how incredibly well-built he was. She’d already seen him across the narrow alley, but this was much more intimate. She tried to keep her eyes on his face or the waterfall in the distance, but that took more willpower than she possessed because her wayward eyes kept wandering back to his muscular chest and narrow waist and . . .
Her gaze skittered way down. He had nice feet. His body wasn’t too hairy, which was a good thing. Okay, every inch of him was a good thing. Great, in fact. Awesome.
Worrisome. Troublesome.
Jake was deliberately trying to get to her and he was succeeding.
“Enjoying the show?” he asked as he had before on her fire escape. He had his fingers hooked in his black briefs, ready to peel them off.
Emma’s mouth went dry. Did she want him to stop or continue? While she was silently pondering that question, Jake went ahead and stripped before turning his back on her and diving into the water. She couldn’t help but appreciate his fine backside. Which was how she got soaked with the splash he made when he hit the water.
“Come on in, the water’s fine,” he said. “Come on, I dare you.”
She really shouldn’t have had that third glass of champagne. Or was it her fourth? Because it gave her just enough Dutch courage to take him up on his dare. She stood behind a large bush nearby, kicked off her shoes, rolled off her pantyhose, and removed the horrible dress.
Should she keep her bra and panties on? Absolutely. She slipped into the water several feet away from him, partially protected by the branches of the greenery. She prayed she hadn’t come into contact with any poison ivy.
Instead she came into contact with Jake. A naked Jake. Up close and very personal. He was treading water with the devil in his eyes. She was treading water in every way possible.
When he moved closer she lost her concentration and went under. He pulled her back up.
Somehow her hands were gripping his shoulders and her legs were wrapped around his waist.
Which put her into direct contact with his naked private parts. Her silky wet underwear provided little protection.
She instantly released him and went under again.
Again he pulled her back up. “I thought you said you skinny-dipped here before?”
“Not with a naked man.”
He was pleased with this news. “So I’m your first, huh?”
“Is that a gun in your pocket or are you just glad to see me?”
“Oh, I’m very glad to see you.” He moved closer to shore so he could stand on the sandy river bottom. “Can’t you tell?” He rocked against her.
Emma tried to stand on her own, but he was taller than she was so the water here was still too deep for her. Which he knew. He studied her closely. “Scared?”
“I should be,” she muttered.
“I’m not going to mug you.”
“I know that.”
“I might seduce you, though.”
“You can try,” she countered, aggravated by his confidence. Of course, she was hanging on to him like a limpet. A limpet ready to mate. Did limpets mate? “You can let me go now.
I’m ready.
Ready to get out, I mean.”
“I like you this way. I like the nude you.”
“I’m not nude.”
“Honey, trust me, you’re as good as nude.”
“You can’t see me. It’s too dark.”
“I have excellent night vision.”
“You do?” Glancing down, she realized the water had made her bra transparent. She broke away from him and swam closer to the shore.
Jake followed her.
“You stay right there,” she ordered. “I’m getting out now and I need you to look away.”
“Why would I want to do that?”
“Because I asked you to.”
“And?”
“And it’s the polite thing to do.”
“Honey, I’ve never been known for being polite.”
Okay, he was getting that dangerous look again. Not I’m-gonna-hurt-you dangerous.
Temptation dangerous. We’re-gonna-have-sex dangerous. And it’s going to rock your world. Set it on fire.
Light up the sky . . .
Wait. The sky really did light up. Lightning. “There’s a storm coming,” she said.
“That’s one way to put it.” He snared her in his arms.
“No, really. Look.” She pointed, which lifted one breast from beneath the water.
“I’m looking,” he assured her.
The heat in his voice let her know he wasn’t staring at the impending storm.
Growling her impatience, she dunked him and then stalked out of the water. Okay, maybe it was more like scrambling, but she grabbed her dress and shoes and hightailed it back to the Jeep as thunder shook the vehicle’s windows.
This is where planning ahead would have been a good thing. Her dress was wet and putting it back on would be difficult at best. And what was Jake going to wear? He wasn’t going to drive the Jeep in the nude was he? He certainly was still naked as he confidently strode toward her, holding his clothes on his lap once he hopped into the Jeep.
“That was fun,” he said, shaking his wet hair like a puppy.
“What now?” she asked.
A flash of lightning lit his wickedly wolfish grin.
“That’s not what I meant,” she said.
“What? I didn’t say a word.”
“You didn’t have to. Your look said it all.”
“Oh yeah?” He leaned closer. “What did it say?”
Instead of answering she reminded him, “I was asking about dry clothes.”
“I probably have something in the back.” He reached around, nearly dislodging the clothes hiding his privates from her view. “Here.” He tossed a T-shirt at her. At her distrustful look, he added,
“It’s clean. Pretty much.”
Emma didn’t have much choice here. She tugged the T-shirt over her head, hiding her wet bra.
“Stop looking at me as if you’re judging me in a wet T-shirt contest.”
“I’ve judged more than my fair share of those contests.”
“I’m sure
you have,” she muttered.
“And you’d do quite well in that department. Just something to keep in mind in case this sociology gig doesn’t work out for you.”
“How reassuring. I’ll be sure to keep that in mind as an optional career choice,” she said tartly. “I think you need to get dressed and we should leave before you say something else that will get you in trouble and before this storm gets even worse.”
Before Jake could reply, a bolt of lightning struck a huge oak tree nearby—severing it in half amid a fiery shower of sparks. The ground shook as part of the tree fell to the ground, blocking their exit from the parking lot.
Chapter Ten
“See? That’s what happens when you break the rules.” Emma’s voice was shaky. “You almost get struck by lightning.”
Jake couldn’t hear her because of the deafening noise of hailstones hitting the roof. Instead of looking concerned, he looked excited.
“Cool, huh?” he shouted over the din.
“Just peachy.”
“What did you say?”
“Did you know that PA leads the U.S. in lightning damage?” Emma recited useless trivia in times of extreme stress.
Jake showed no such stress. “Awesome.”
“How are we going to get out of here?” she yelled.
“Doesn’t look like we are. At least not until daylight.”
“No, that’s not acceptable.”
“Mother Nature says otherwise. No worries. I’ve got a sleeping bag in the back, and there’s enough room to lie down.”
“No worries?” The hail didn’t let up so Emma raised her voice even louder. “No worries?!”
“You’re not afraid of storms, are you?”
The hail stopped as suddenly as it started. “Not unless I’m out in one and almost hit by lightning.”
“Come on, that’s an exaggeration. It wasn’t that close.”
“That’s as close as I care to get.”
Jake reached out to trace one finger over her mouth. “Are you sure about that? Getting closer sounds like a good idea. You seemed to enjoy our . . . closeness when we were skinny-dipping.”
“That was an error in judgment.”
“Have a lot of those, do you?”
“Very rarely.”
“Yeah, I had that feeling.”
The hail was replaced by a heavy downpour that beat almost as loudly on the roof. Leaning forward, she peered through the windshield. A flash of lightning revealed the thrashing branches as the wind picked up, forcing the rain sideways.
“Hey.” Jake tapped her gently before slinging an arm around her shoulders. “Are you having fun yet?”
She remained silent.
“Maybe we need some music.” He hit a button and the song “Over My Head” by the Fray blasted through the Jeep’s interior. Emma had always liked the song and had it on her iPod, so she instinctively started swaying to the song and mouthing the words as she did when listening alone.
Next up was “Is It Any Wonder?” by Keane.
Before Emma knew it she was jiving with Jake as they sat in their seats and moved to the music, singing along and grinning at each other like a pair of idiots. Which she supposed they must be to be acting like this.
But oh what fun it was—despite the storm raging around them, despite everything. Emma’s damp hair slapped against her cheek as she rocked back and forth to Keane’s sharp guitar riff. In her own version of do-it-yourself karaoke, she sang into her clenched fist as if it were a microphone.
Jake leaned closer, singing into her fist along with her.
Suddenly she was aware of his lips moving over her hand as he sang. She felt goose bumps rise on the entire length of her arm. The music stopped just as she pulled her hand away from the temptation of his mouth and dislodged his arm from her shoulders.
Jake laughed. “You look so cute when you’re getting down with your bad self.”
“Are you making fun of me?”
“I’m complimenting you.”
Which made her uncomfortable because she found it hard to really believe him. Men usually complimented her on her brains not on her looks or on the fact that her breasts would win a wet T-shirt contest.
Feeling awkward, she tried to change the subject to something less personal. “So what do you think about the waterfall? I’m sure you’ve seen bigger and more impressive ones, right?”
“Are we just talking about the falls now? This isn’t some code for your breasts, is it? That I’ve seen bigger and more impressive ones?”
“No, it’s not code and forget I asked.” So much for finding a less personal topic of conversation.
“The falls have made quite an impression on me.”
“They have?”
Jake nodded. “The entire area has. You’ve gotta love a place with names like Goblers Knob.”
“And Gobsmacked Knob.”
“You made that up.”
She laughed. “No really, it’s just south of Rock Creek and about a thousand feet up. But then you’ve seen the most famous mountains in the world, right?”
“Right.”
“Which are your favorites?”
“Well, I’ve got a log cabin up in Stanley, Idaho, with a rip-pin’ view of the Sawtooth Mountains. Stanley—now there’s a small town. The year-round population is only about a hundred people.”
“That makes Rock Creek sound like a big place.”
“Last time I visited Stanley, there was no Thai restaurant.”
“The last time I visited Rock Creek, there was no Thai restaurant here either. But I’m glad it’s here now. I think I’m getting addicted to their spring rolls.”
“Another addiction to go along with your Dr Pepper and Cheetos, huh?”
“I don’t eat junk food all the time. I’ll have you know that I eat a healthy breakfast of yogurt, almonds, and fresh fruit most days.”
“So the Cheetos are your walk on the wild side?” he mocked her.
“I’ve also been known to eat M&Ms accompanied by a nice Merlot,” she confessed.
“I’m seeing an entirely new side of you tonight.”
“I’m sure you are.” She tried to tug the T-shirt further down around her thighs. “You were watching me when you shouldn’t have. A gentleman would have looked away.”
“I never claimed to be gentleman so you shouldn’t have been surprised.”
Emma saw the conversation heading onto dangerous ground and knew it was time to change the subject. She was stuck in the storm with him, which made it the perfect time . . .
to have sex with him.
Whoa! That was hardly a change of subject. Had she lost control of her own thoughts? Had her rational self left the building entirely? Had the champagne turned her into mush?
No, she refused to believe that. She could be rational. And her rational self said this was the perfect time for Jake to tell her more about himself. Maybe that would prevent him from seducing her.
“What do extreme sports guys actually do?” she said.
“Besides make out with hot babes in Jeeps?”
“Yes, besides that.”
“I tend the bar at Nick’s Tavern.”
“I mean before you came to Rock Creek.”
“You were there. You heard what Lulu said in the comic-book store. That I’m an extreme sports guy who’s lost my nerve.”
“I find that hard to believe. But if you don’t want to talk about your work, that’s fine.”
“It’s not work. It’s more like . . . I don’t know. What I was born to do. Like a calling. Or an addiction.”
“Sounds like it could be a dangerous addiction.”
“If you don’t know what you’re doing, maybe. But I do know what I’m doing, and I’ve been doing it most of my life. I started out on a snowboard when I was four and my parents were still alive.
Snowboarding is where I first made a name for myself when I was older. Then I did some mountain biking and became a crossover athlete in all kin
ds of mountain adventures—
everything from climbing to hang gliding to heli-skiing.”
“Is that where you helicopter into a pristine area and then ski?”
“That’s right. What can I say? I’m a sucker for pristine areas.” He trailed his finger around the neckline of her, formerly his, T-shirt.
She tugged his hand away before she became too tempted to let him continue his seductive teasing.
“Why is it so hard for you to be serious?” she said in exasperation.
“If you don’t think I’m serious, I must be doing something wrong,” he drawled in that darkly hot way of his.
“You’re not doing anything wrong—” Emma snapped her mouth shut.
“That’s always good to hear.” She couldn’t see his smile in the dark, but she could hear it.
“Right. Like you don’t already know what a hottie you are.” Damn, there was another mistake she was going to blame on the champagne.
“A hottie, huh?”
“Puh-lease. Don’t act surprised. You already know you’re sexy.”
“So you think I’m sexy?”
“Everyone thinks you’re sexy.”
“I’m only interested in you.”
“At this second maybe. But how long would that last?”
“Would what last?”
“You being interested in me.”
“Why do you find that so hard to believe?”
“Because you’re you and I’m me.”
“And?”
“And you like traveling at warp speed and I prefer a slower pace.”
“Warp speed? You make me sound like some kind of Star Wars geek.”
“Hey, a lot of the guys I know are Star Wars geeks.”
“Then it’s definitely time to move outside your comfort zone and try something different.”
“I’m not into different.”
“How about trying something better?” He started nibbling on her neck, working his way to her parted lips. They were only parted because she was about to tell him off.
Instead she kissed him back, which showed a lack of self-discipline on her part that she was sure to find appalling by morning. But for now she allowed herself to enjoy the feel of his mouth covering hers, of his hands covering her breasts . . . hold on a second. How had he gotten his hands under her T-shirt so fast?
