Reluctant Rescue

by Cami Checketts

  “Somebody tackled me from behind.”

  She laughed, but then the moment went all slow and sticky as she stared into his eyes. Levi found himself tugging her closer as she gave him a smile that said she probably wouldn’t slap him if he kissed her. He leaned in, willing to take the risk of being slapped and the even heavier risk of losing his heart to a woman who wouldn’t reciprocate.

  “You two okay?” Cam’s deep voice came from right below them.

  Levi released Caylee and pushed to his feet, offering her a hand up. Disappointment rippled through him.

  “Thanks,” Caylee said, her voice as breathless as his felt. Hiking a six-hundred-foot sand hill didn’t get him out of breath, but she sure did.

  He released her hand because Cam was giving him another one of those looks. They hadn’t talked again last night after his failed attempt to apologize to Caylee. Cam obviously didn’t understand what was going on between the two of them.

  Join the club.

  Caylee turned and started up the hill again. Levi made the mistake of letting his eyes skim over her body. His mouth went dry. Her legs were smooth muscle and even smoother tanned skin. She was obviously in amazing shape. He wiped some sweat from his forehead and more sand brushed off.

  “How are we going to go down the first time?” Caylee asked of everyone, bouncing up the steep incline. Levi loved her energy almost as much as her legs. Her happiness was contagious.

  “First time?” Cam grunted. “One time up this hill is enough for me.”

  “Loser,” Caylee said. “Stop acting like an old man.”

  Sage chuckled. “Seriously.”

  Cam lifted Sage’s hand to his lips and kissed it. “If you want to keep climbing this miserable, hot hill, I’ll do it all day.”

  “Thank you, love.” Sage leaned close and kissed him.

  Levi rolled his eyes, but then caught Caylee watching the couple wistfully. Why was she so opposed to relationships? She seemed so great and the way she was watching Cam and Sage … it was almost jealousy, but yet not, she was obviously happy for them. They finally stopped kissing and realized that they weren’t on their private happy island.

  “I’m going to run and jump as far as I can first, then I’m going to roll down it,” Caylee said, smiling at Levi.

  “Let’s go,” he said, feeling like a little kid.

  Caylee grabbed his hand again and they jogged together to the top where they caught their breath for a few seconds then sprinted downhill together about ten steps before she screamed, “Jump!” They leapt together and it felt like they were flying. They hit the sand and slid down the hill, unable to stop. It was like snow sledding, minus the snow and the sled.

  Levi’s stomach was swooping, Caylee was cheering and laughing, and he couldn’t help but laugh out loud too. They slid all the way to the bottom then ran and plunged in the lake, washing off the gritty sand, the water a cool drink on their sensitive skin.

  Levi looked over at Caylee. Her hair was wet and slicked back from her head instead of all crazy curly like normal. He loved it both ways, but right now he could see the fine bone structure of her face better, her smooth skin, and especially those sparkling blue eyes. She made life sparkle and shine for him. He was going to get her alone tonight and somehow get her to talk seriously. So they both had issues. There had to be a way they could work through them together.

  Caylee thought the day was just about perfect. She’d shoved her concerns and worries into a box, something she was an absolute expert at doing, and simply played with Levi. He’d overcome his fun-sucker tendencies nicely and the fact that he also looked nice and acted nice didn’t escape her. Yep, nice was the word of the day, but she would keep things light and superficial this week if it killed her.

  After dinner, she noticed Levi giving her these looks that were completely unnerving. They screamed serious talk. She realized when Cam and Sage escaped for some romantic walk that she was in huge danger. Levi watched her with much too serious of eyes from where he lounged on the couch.

  Caylee jumped to her feet and declared, “Excuse me. I’ve got to … use the restroom.”

  Levi simply nodded and watched her go. She scurried down the short hallway and into the bathroom. The bathroom had a door into the hallway and a door onto the back deck. She closed the one in the hallway loudly, but the one to the outside, she opened and then shut carefully. Then she slipped off her tank top and shorts and slid off the back platform and into the warm water. Using quiet breast strokes, she swam away from their boat, around the corner, and toward the lights coming from the neighboring houseboat, the occupants of which she’d gone to dance with a couple nights ago. The other direction was a vertical cliff or she would’ve taken it.

  Scurrying up onto the sandy shore, the surface changed to slick rock quickly. She avoided the lights of the other houseboat, not sure where she was going to go. If she quietly climbed to the top of the rise, she could watch for Cam and Sage to return to the houseboat then she could swim back and pretend she’d had bathroom issues. Embarrassing, but better than allowing Levi to get serious and possibly penetrate her wall. If there was ever a man who could do it, it would be Levi. He just appealed to her too much and had that same aura as her brother—calming and protective.

  She was climbing the short hill when an arm wrapped around her waist.

  “Hey! You came to find me again.”

  Caylee froze. She could smell the alcohol on his breath and she could see how this would look to him as if she had come looking for him. He didn’t know how wrong he was and she had to stifle the urge to fight and scream. He hadn’t done anything to her, yet.

  “No. Excuse me, just out for a night swim.” She tried to pull from his arm, but he turned and yanked her closer.

  “It’s me, Drew. Remember?” The guy grinned, reminding her of Heath Ledger as the Joker in Batman.

  She forced a smile though her insides trembled. Please no. People were close by. He wouldn’t hurt her. If he tried, she’d use some of the self-defense moves she’d learned through different classes throughout the years. Her brain seemed to freeze and she couldn’t remember any of the moves. “I’ve got to go. My boyfriend will be looking for me.”

  Drew’s mouth turned down. “He’s not anywhere around right now. Seems to me you came looking for a little Drew attention.”

  “Nope. Definitely didn’t.” Where were Levi, Cam, or Sage? Why had she thought her stupid plan to evade Levi was smart? She didn’t even know what Levi wanted to say to her, he might’ve wanted to discuss Cam and Sage’s wedding plans or talk about the 49ers. She’d made a dumb decision and now she was so scared she could hardly think straight. Why did she always freeze and forget self-defense when she needed it most?

  “Look at you—all wet and hot-looking in your suit. None of the guys will mind if I bring you back to the boat.”

  Caylee wondered if any of the guys on his boat would help her if he tried that. He’d said most of them were married. Surely they wouldn’t condone her being forced against her will.

  “You need to let me go—now.” She used her firm principal voice.

  Drew laughed and yanked her against him, wrapping his arms tight around her like a steel vice. “You came to me, girl. Don’t go acting all stern and uninterested now.” He bent close, his breath blasting into her ear. She tried to squirm away, but he held her fast. “I’ve been daydreaming about you all day.”

  The only move she could remember was to bring her knee up. She lifted it quickly but he was in the wrong position and all she did was knock against his leg. He laughed at her failure and held her so tightly she grunted in pain. What was she supposed to do? Please help.

  “Look, dude, I recognize you’re drunk and stupid, so I’ll make this easy on you. I have a boyfriend who is going to pound you into this rock and hide your body in a crevice.” She prayed hard that her threat would work. That he would simply release her and walk away.

  The guy’s eyes narrowed. “He’s not
here now.”

  “You saw him before though. Do you really want to mess with him?”

  A tense second passed. Please help me, Caylee screamed to a Father in Heaven she’d rarely talked to in the past few years. Sweat trickled down her back. Her stomach plummeted.

  The guy released her and pushed away. He didn’t say a thing as he stumbled back toward his houseboat. Caylee could hardly believe it had been that easy. Her prayers had actually worked. A man had her cornered and alone, and she had failed to react like her self-defense teachers had tried to drill into her head. It hit her that she hadn’t even tried to scream. How dumb. Surely someone would’ve come if she screamed for help. Yet the guy had still walked away. Thank you, Lord.

  Still trembling from the encounter, she scurried up the hill and saw the welcoming lights of their boat down below.

  A plop of rain touched her nose. She glanced up in surprise. There hadn’t been clouds in the sky today, but she’d heard rainstorms could come through Lake Powell quickly, but she’d hoped they wouldn’t have one this week.

  On shaky legs, she descended the hill. She could see Cam and Sage through the sliding glass door, but Levi was on the patio.

  “Levi,” her voice caught. He was here now, and even if she’d lied to that guy about Levi being her boyfriend, she knew he wouldn’t let somebody hurt her.

  “Caylee?” he called out to her uncertainly.

  Levi hurried down the boat ramp and ran to her. Caylee stopped in her tracks. Her eyes widened as he reached her, swept her off her feet and into his arms. It was a complete contrast to a few minutes ago when the alcohol-smelling idiot had held her close. Levi smelled like clean laundry and that unique citrusy scent. His broad chest pressed against her elicited all kinds of excitement and desire. He set her on her feet, pulled back, and studied her. “Where’d you go? Why are you wet? Cam and Sage just got back. I thought you were in the bathroom.”

  “I, um, went for a swim.”

  Levi’s arms dropped from around her and he took a step back. “A swim? Why?”

  “I was hot and …” She dropped her head. How could she tell him she knew he wanted to talk and she couldn’t face it?

  “I wanted to talk to you.”

  Caylee glanced back up and could hardly take the hurt in his blue eyes. “I’m sorry, Levi. I didn’t want to talk, so I ran away, then that guy over there grabbed me.” She shuddered and wrapped her arms around herself, unable to finish the story.

  Levi’s eyes flashed. “That guy? From last night? You wanted to avoid talking to me so you went back to see that idiot?”

  Caylee shook her head. A few more raindrops touched her face and she brushed them away. “No. I wouldn’t—”

  “Why would I ever think there was a chance for us?” He threw his hands in the air.

  She didn’t know what to say because there wasn’t an us or a chance for an us. It would never help to tell Levi it wasn’t him, it was her. Guys hated that line.

  “It’s all about Caylee and her fun.”

  Caylee’s head whipped up. “That’s not fair.”

  “Not fair?” Levi looked intimidating as he took a step closer. “What’s not fair is how you’ve wrapped me into this Caylee obsession and you don’t give a flying leap about me.”

  Caylee wanted to protest, she definitely cared too much about him, but he didn’t give her a chance to say anything. Wrapping his hands around her lower back he pulled her against his chest and kissed her before she could do much more than gasp in surprise. His lips were warm, demanding, and the most delicious things she’d ever tasted in her life. Caylee’s stomach took flight as her arms wound around his neck and she lifted herself up closer to him.

  Levi released her lips and murmured in an anguished hush, “Oh, Caylee, why?” Then he was kissing her again and Caylee knew she would never stop the motion if she had the choice.

  The raindrops increased, but didn’t cool the feelings Levi was arousing in her. His hands urged her closer and she didn’t complain for one second as his mouth erased any logical thoughts from her mind.

  Finally, Levi pulled back, muttering, “We should go inside.” The hungry look in his eyes sent a quiver through Caylee.

  “In a minute,” she whispered back.

  Levi’s lips turned up in a smile then he captured her lips again. His hands wrapped around her face and the intimacy of the moment transmitted a tremor of pleasure through her. His tongue tentatively touched hers. Caylee kind of jerked in surprise. Levi pulled back, his eyes questioning her—cautious, hopeful. Caylee placed her hands on his shoulders and jumped, wrapping her legs around his waist. He chuckled and cradled her against him, returning to the kiss and deepening it in ways she’d never imagined.

  They were in their own world when Cam’s voice carried through the rainy night. “Caylee! Levi!”

  Levi broke the kiss and gently set her on her feet. “Coming,” he called back to her brother. He took her hand and led her toward the houseboat. Before they reached it, he pulled her to a stop and looked down at her, raindrops dripping off his handsome face. “I don’t care what you say, Caylee. We need to have a serious talk.”

  Caylee’s heart seemed to stop and her hands turned clammy. Kissing Levi had been amazing and she would do it again any minute of the day, but he was not going to pin her down for some serious talk.

  She didn’t answer him, but hurried toward the houseboat and the safety of her brother and Sage. Cam looked pointedly at their joined hands. Caylee pulled her hand from Levi’s grasp and rushed past Cam. If Levi didn’t get her alone, he couldn’t get her to talk. Sadly, that meant she might not get to kiss him again. No matter how much she craved his kiss, she wasn’t going to risk the talk.

  Chapter Twelve

  The rain got worse throughout the night, slashing down sideways as the wind howled and disturbed their sleeping spots with angry raindrops. They had to turn on the air conditioner and sleep inside in the bedrooms. The wind and rain were too strong to even open the windows. Levi and Cam were in bunks in their bedroom. Cam’s breathing was even and deep, but of course Levi couldn’t sleep. He’d remember this week as the trip he fell in love with Caylee, was confused about her responses to everything he did, and never got any sleep.

  The air conditioner must’ve frozen up like the guy warned them. Levi couldn’t remember the last shot of cool air he’d felt and the heat became stifling. Levi slipped from the top bunk, hoping he wouldn’t awaken Cam. If anybody could sleep through this, they were very lucky.

  He eased his way out the door and into the main area. It wasn’t quite as hot because it was more open than the bedrooms and the air conditioner must’ve been more effective out here. Levi shut off the air conditioner, hoping if he gave it some time, the rain would wash it off and unfreeze it and he could start it again.

  He heard soft, quick pants from the couch. Creeping closer, he saw Caylee. Her arms were wrapped tightly around her legs so she was curled in a ball. She looked like a little child. Glancing up, her eyes widened. “Oh, hey,” she muttered.

  Lightning flashed outside and lit up her beautiful face. It was streaked with tears. She pressed her finger to her nose and sniffled.

  “Need some company?” he asked.

  “No.” She didn’t move. “I’m fine.”

  Levi sat down next to her. She jumped then curled in tighter on herself.

  “You don’t look fine,” he whispered.

  She drew in a ragged breath and shook her head. “It’s no big deal.”

  Levi closed his eyes. Why wouldn’t she let him in? She’d kissed him like the world was going to end, but it was obvious after that magical moment, she’d worked studiously to avoid him the rest of the night. He kept hoping and praying she’d give him a chance, but he was beginning to doubt she would ever have a desire to be serious with him or anybody else. Her continued insistence that she “wasn’t available” churned through his gut like a bullet.

  Thunder rumbled outside then the lightnin
g cracked again. Caylee jumped and her body was trembling. Levi couldn’t resist as he wrapped an arm around her shoulder. “It’s okay. I’m here.”

  Caylee released her arms from around her legs and scrambled onto his lap. Levi hoped he hid his shock. She rested her head against his bare chest, wrapped her arms around his abdomen and begged, “Hold me, please.”

  Levi complied quickly, securing one arm around her back and the other over her thighs. His heart soared to have her in his arms, but something was very wrong with her right now. She was acting the way he’d felt so many times in Afghanistan, certain his end was near and wanting to be a kid again and crawl onto his dad’s lap and feel safe again.

  “It’s okay. I’ve got you,” he said.

  Caylee whimpered and burrowed in. Levi glanced down at this beautiful and obviously terrified woman. What had happened to her? He knew about her parents’ deaths. Was this all associated with that? Why had the storm brought it all out? He didn’t complain or ask any questions as he held her against his chest. It was heaven to have her close.

  Her body stopped shaking and she relaxed against him. Levi was certain she’d fallen asleep until she turned her face up to look at him. “Thank you.”

  “Anytime.” He meant it. He wanted to hold her any day and every day. Could he break through her walls?

  She lifted her face closer and softly kissed his cheek. Levi loved the simplicity and innocence of it. He wanted to capture her mouth with his own again, but this wasn’t that moment. He feathered his fingers down her smooth cheek then kissed her softly on the forehead. Caylee smiled tremulously at him.

  They sat there in silence for about as long as he could take, probably five or six seconds, then he had to ask, “Can you tell me about it?”

  Another shudder passed through her. She broke his gaze and leaned her head against his shoulder. Levi didn’t mind, as long as she didn’t try to escape from his arms. Several long minutes passed before she said, “Cam probably told you why I can’t ever commit to anyone.”