Shoe Strings

by Christy Hayes

  Weren’t women, especially beautiful women, supposed to have terrible senses of direction? He thought they’d be much farther out of town before she figured out something wasn’t right. “I only do class two through four at my place. Since you insisted on class one, we’ve got to go do the Opachee.”

  “The Opachee? Where’s that?”

  “Just a few hours drive.” He watched the surprise on her face turn to anger.

  “Hours? I’ve got to ride in this open-air tin can for hours? How many hours?”

  “Two and a half, maybe three if they haven’t finished the construction between here and Marshall.”

  She scowled and furiously rummaged through her purse. Within minutes, she’d tied a scarf around her head. She should have looked ridiculous with her hair pulled back in a bright red scarf, but she managed to look sexy, like the retro movie stars Cal swooned over on late night TV.

  “What are you laughing at?” she screamed over the roar of the wind. Jesse foolishly thought she hadn’t seen him snicker.

  “Nothing. You’re beautiful when you’re angry.”

  “Then I must be damn near stunning. I thought the whole trip wouldn’t take more than an hour or two.”

  “You got a hot date you’re rushing back for?” He began to question whether or not she’d forgive him for the overnight stay he’d planned.

  She only rolled her eyes and slipped a pair of sunglasses on her face. Even with her eyes covered, he could tell she was fuming.

  “If you want to go back and do a class two, I’d be more than happy to turn around.” He knew that would shut her up.

  “No,” she said, a little too quickly to mask the fear that danced along her skin. “I have to assume I’m safer in this car than I would be in class two waves on a raft. Despite the fact that you can’t seem to drive the speed limit.”

  “Oh, please, you’re from Atlanta. No one there drives the speed limit.”

  They snaked along the curvy mountain roads silently enjoying the scenery. At least Jesse was. He could tell Angelita’s nerves were calming. Her hands rested comfortably in her lap and she’d relaxed her rigid back enough to sink slightly into the seat. Jesse wasn’t unnerved by her lack of conversation. In fact, he quite enjoyed a woman smart enough to live with her anger before letting it go.

  ***

  Lita had never seen anything like it. The soaring peaks, the breathtaking views around every corner. She couldn’t hold onto her anger at being manipulated by Jesse while surrounded by such astonishing beauty. It seemed every turn they made led them higher and deeper into the forest that engulfed them. The wind that wreaked havoc on her hair now felt like a caress against her skin, an invitation to experience the cool air and outrageous wonders of nature. She had to fight the urge to throw her hands in the air and laugh out loud.

  She’d wanted to get away from her life, her troubles, and the stress she faced every day back home at the boutique. Staring out at the landscape around her, she realized she’d fully succeeded. She stole a glance at Jesse. He’d turned his ball cap backwards and the ends of his hair curled around the bill. He’d shown up at her door, all smiles and smelling so good, freshly showered and gorgeously rumpled. Lord, it’d be a miracle if she could keep her hands to herself for the hours they’d spend together in the confines of a raft.

  Even as he’d told her they were headed hours away, she’d been secretly thrilled. The anger had been born of frustration at his easy announcement of a change in plans. She liked to know where she was headed at all times. There were never any detours in her life; her plans were always laid out and executed precisely as she’d arranged. That was part of the reason why her father’s threats had thrown her for such a loop. No matter what her decision, dealing with him in business had never been a part of her plan.

  Lita had just decided to break her silence and ask questions about the types of trees and terrain they’d traversed when Jesse slowed down around a sharp bend as they encountered a long line of cars. He turned the stereo down and looked over at her, a satisfied smirk on his face.

  “Looks like it’ll be more like three hours.” He let his eyes roll over her from head to toe. It wasn’t the rising sun that had her suddenly sweating and squirming in her seat. Damn him for using his easy charm on her. He had to know how vulnerable she was, especially after the other night. “I’ve got snacks in my bag if you’re hungry.” He jerked his head toward the back seat.

  Lita absently looked in the back. The bag he’d mentioned, the bag she’d assumed was the backpack she’d seen him sporting a time or two, turned out to be a huge duffle bag, stuffed to near overflowing. “What is all that stuff? Did you pack your own raft in there?”

  His eyes fluttered back and then returned to the road. He seemed engrossed in the infinitesimal progress they were making and the road construction a mile or so ahead. “This is worse than usual,” he said with a quick look out the side window. “Hope we don’t miss our put-in time.”

  His avoidance of her question made the hairs on the back of her neck stand at attention. “Jesse.” Lita waited until he’d turned to look at her, irritation clear on his face. “What’s in the bag?”

  “Stuff.” He shrugged. “You know, wet suits, helmets, gear.”

  “They won’t have that stuff when we get there?”

  “Well, yeah, but I like using my own gear.” He stuck his head out the window and inched the car toward the middle of the lane to see about the holdup. His answer made perfect sense, but the way he’d said it… something made her think there was more to it.

  They were back at top speed within ten minutes and pulling onto a gravel drive an hour later. Around another bend, one Jesse took at warp speed, Lita caught her first glimpse of the river. It appeared wider than the Powollachee and not as deep. True to his word, it meandered over small rocks instead of raging over gigantic boulders. She felt her chest expanding, her lungs filling in relief. After his whiplash driving, a lazy river float was all she could handle.

  They parked alongside an old van, the only other vehicle in the parking lot. Lita saw a small building she assumed was a restroom and felt thankful for modern conveniences. She’d had to pee for over an hour. Jesse hopped out of the Scout and dragged the bag out with a groan.

  “I’m going to use the restroom over there.” Jesse nodded and waved her on as he opened the zipper and delved into the bag. To Lita’s horror, the bathroom, while in a building, was nothing more than a dressed up port-o-potty. She rejoined Jesse in record time. He stood on the bank of the river, next to a small float and a man who hadn’t seen a razor, or possibly a mirror, in more than a few months. His stringy brown braid hung halfway down his back and his beard could have housed a small rodent. Next to the mountain man, the usually scruffy Jesse looked almost metrosexual.

  Lita approached cautiously, her nerves bouncing just under her skin. It wasn’t that she was afraid of rafting, but her experiences with water could be counted on one hand. Jesse turned and smiled as she approached. “Jerry,” he said to the other man, not taking his eyes off Lita. “This is Angelita Barros. She’s a newbie.”

  Jerry gave her an approving nod and turned back to Jesse. “A virgin. No wonder you’re messing with this stretch.”

  “It’s all I could talk her into, so far,” he added with a glint in his eyes.

  He looked so handsome, the way his hair fluttered in the breeze, the way his muscles bunched under his shirt as he packed equipment into the raft…Wait a minute, she thought. She didn’t know what they were going in, but it certainly didn’t look like a raft.

  “What is this thing?”

  “An inflatable kayak, otherwise known as a ducky.” He didn’t even look up at her. If he had, he’d have seen her scowling. Nothing about this trip had turned out as expected.

  “I thought you said we’d be in a raft?”

  “This is a raft.” He kicked the side with his foot and the sound it made, like a kid playing kickball at gym class, assured her it had be
en inflated. “It doesn’t look like the rafts I’ve seen on the Powollachee,” she said.

  “Those rafts are for larger groups, three minimum.” He gave her a devil’s smile as he stood. “It’s just you and me, kid.” He walked toward her, clasped her upper arms in his hands, and squeezed reassuringly. “Duckies are completely safe and very comfortable, I promise.”

  “Okay, you’re the expert.”

  “That’s right, I am.” He led her back to the car where he pulled out a wet suit and flotation device, both of which looked three sizes too small. “Now, I need you to put these on while I get the boat ready.”

  Lita held the suit over her arm and wondered where and how to start. “Do I wear my clothes under this?”

  “Just your bathing suit. We’ll leave your clothes in the car.”

  Lita wondered if she should try to squeeze into the suit back in the bathroom, the only available spot for privacy. But she knew she wouldn’t be able to handle the smell. With a huff of impatience, she lifted the tank off her body and rolled the shorts off her hips. She couldn’t have felt more exposed to Jesse if she’d been naked.

  When she set her clothes on the seat of the Scout, she saw him stand up slowly, his eyes on her. For the second time that day, she cursed not having a one-piece bathing suit. He didn’t move or speak, but stood watching as she inched the wet suit up the length of her body. It was a tight fit and took some serious muscle to get over her hips. She’d gotten both arms in the sleeves, but couldn’t get it up and over her shoulders. Jesse moved behind her and slowly, reverently, pulled the suit up and around her neck. He turned her in his arms and with sure, steady fingers, lifted the zipper. His eyes followed the path and then zeroed in on hers when he’d finished.

  “I feel like I’ve been shrink wrapped,” she said to lighten the mood that hung thickly in the air between them. “This thing is like a second skin.”

  “Nothing compares to your skin, Angelita.” Jesse’s voice sounded no more than a whisper as his fingers feathered under her jaw. “I’ve never seen skin so…shimmering. It looks like your coffee after you’ve swirled milk into it.”

  She nearly offered him a sip, just a taste to whet both their appetites.

  “Jess.” It was Jerry, calling from the shore, that broke the spell. Lita took a deep breath as Jesse stepped back reluctantly. She didn’t know what she was more afraid of at the moment, the water or the path she and Jesse were headed along that ended, she felt sure, in a plunge. There was no doubt, after the look he’d just given her and her still frantic heartbeat that they’d be sharing more than a raft very soon. Hell.

  Chapter 18

  Kerri Ann couldn’t remember the last time she’d slept until nine or the last time she’d woken with a man’s arms around her. She felt ambivalent about the time and…edgy about the man. She didn’t want to move, or breathe too hard and wake him. She’d kept him up half the night as it was.

  Oh, how she wanted to stretch her body in joyous relief. She and Bryce were lovers, of that she was now certain. There’d be no going back to just friends after the tender and excitingly wild love they’d made. She hadn’t known she had it in her to be so…uninhibited in bed. And Bryce, by God, the man was a genius. Her body felt more alive, more human, than it’d ever felt before.

  She felt him stir beside her and her pulse jack hammered in response. Would he want her again in the light of day or would there be an awkward embarrassment between them? She didn’t have long to fret over how it might be. His arm tightened around her and she found her back against his chest. “Good morning,” he whispered in her ear and nuzzled her neck. The feel of his lips on her skin sent shivers over her body. “I had the best dream.” His hands shifted to her breasts and began kneading.

  “Did you now?” It was all she could do not to tremble. Where had this undeniable need come from? She turned to face him, had to see how gorgeous he looked in her bed with the light streaming through the open windows. They’d been in too big a hurry to shut them the night before.

  “Ummm.” He took her mouth in a kiss so hot it could have set the sheets on fire. “I see it’s not over.” He pulled back and stroked his hand through her hair and looked at her, just studied her face. “This is real, Kerri Ann.”

  Suddenly close to tears, she nodded. It was real. Bryce Jenson, in her bed, making love to her, was reality, not some fantasy in her mind. Overwhelmed by emotion, she answered him the only way she knew how, with her body and her soul.

  Past ten, struggling not to fall asleep atop Bryce with the sheets tangled around their feet, Kerri Ann thought of Ty. She needed to pick him up from Cal’s. She wondered how she’d feel around him, how to act with Bryce now so much more a part of their lives, at least for a little while.

  “What are you thinking about?” Bryce asked. His eyes were still closed and his hand made lazy circles over the small of her back.

  “Ty. I need to go get him soon.”

  He opened his eyes. “I guess I’ll have to get dressed then?”

  She smiled and felt an almost physical disappointment at the thought of him leaving. She’d waited so long to be with him, she didn’t want it to end.

  “Why so sad?” he asked.

  “I’m not sad. I just wish we could stay here like this all day.” She sat up and braced her arm on his chest. It felt amazing to be this comfortable with him, so free of her usual insecurities about her body. He’d spent most of the night telling her how much he craved it.

  “You’re worried about him. How he’ll feel about this…about us.”

  She nodded. As usual, he’d read her mood almost before she had.

  “I’m not sneaking around with you, Kerri Ann. There’s nothing shameful about us being together. Either you tell him or I will.”

  The serious tone of his voice made her shiver. She felt like he’d pledged to do a gun battle over her. “I’m going to tell him, Bryce. I never considered otherwise.” She got up and started dressing. “It won’t be the most comfortable conversation in the world, but I won’t lie to him.” She moved around to where he sat on the edge of the bed, ran her hand through his disheveled hair. “And I won’t ask you to sneak around, either. We’ll figure it out--all of us.”

  ***

  Cal heard the car door slam and came out of the storage shed to see who’d arrived. He figured it was Kerri Ann, but since the last time he’d checked on Ty he’d been sound asleep, a little pool of drool collecting on Ellie’s needlepoint pillow, he figured he’d spare the kid a few minutes more rest. He came around the corner of the cabin just as Kerri Ann got out of her car. He felt a stab of disappointment. He’d hoped Ty could spend the day with him, help him with some chores and maybe catch a TV movie in the afternoon. Anything but sitting alone wondering how bad he’d messed things up with Jesse.

  “Hey there, girl.” She’d started along the path to his house and spun around when she heard his greeting. The smile she gave him lit up her whole face and his.

  “Hey, yourself. Heard you’ve got a loafer around here somewhere.” She held her hand over her head. “Five-six, about a hundred fifty pounds, not a morning person? Sound familiar?”

  “I think I’ve got what you came for. Although, he was still asleep last time I checked.”

  “Figures.” He met Kerri Ann at the entrance to the walkway and they both swung their arms around each other as they headed for Cal’s. Her presence and their easy camaraderie calmed him. It always did. “How’s my favorite father-in-law?”

  “Ready for spring. How about my favorite daughter-in-law?” He held her at arm’s length before they stepped onto the porch. The haircut she’d gotten with Lita flattered her strong face and she looked happy. “You’re looking good.”

  “I’m feeling pretty good, too.” Cal could have sworn she blushed. She hopped on the porch and peeked her head in the screen door. “Still sound asleep. I swear, that boy could sleep through an earthquake.”