by Jen Talty
Josh pointed out various tourist spots and other landmarks on their twenty-minute ride. They approached a group of islands, and he slowed down, pointing to each one, naming it and telling a short story. She listened intently, focusing on the timbre of his husky voice, not remembering anything he said about the landmarks.
“Are we going to one of these islands?” she asked, sending her heart fluttering, wondering if he intended to spend the night at one.
“Nope,” he said, pushing the throttle down again as they reached another open area of the lake. “Our final destination is West Dollar Island. It’s for picnics.”
“We’re not going to a restaurant on the lake?”
“We’re going to have a nice picnic over there.” He pointed. “Hold on.”
“Why?” She watched him push the throttle down, and the boat sped up, forcing her to grab the dashboard again.
“I’ve gotten her up to about fifty,” he said. “In flat waters like this, it’s a nice ride.”
“The subway is a nice ride,” she mumbled.
The next five minutes, all she could feel was the wind slapping against her face with the occasional wet spray from the boat. There was something dangerously exhilarating about the way the vessel rocketed across the surface. Being on this boat, in this place, with a man she’d just met, excited her in a way she didn’t think possible.
She forced a smile as he slowed the boat between the shoreline and an island. Laughing, followed by loud splashes, stole her attention. The water swirled as two or three girls emerged from the lake at the base of the island’s cliffs.
“Oh, my,” she whispered.
More laughing, and someone yelling at the girls to get out of the way. Delaney looked up, seeing two girls, hand-in-hand, leaping from the cliffs above, and a few seconds later, crashing into the water. “That’s crazy.”
“It’s fun.” With ease, he docked the boat, jumped off, then secured the ropes to the posts. She thought about offering to help, but she wouldn’t know what to do.
“Hand me your bag,” he said.
He took the bag, offering his hand, then hoisting her to the dock before he jumped back in the boat.
“What are you doing?” Her voice trembled.
“Getting our lunch and my bag.”
“Oh.”
His biceps flexed as he carried a small cooler from the boat to shore, where she followed him up a steep trail. She’d never seen so much lush greenery in once place before. The tall trees shaded most of the island, but the way the sun rays danced between the branches took her breath away.
“After lunch, we can jump into the water.”
“I’m not jumping off that cliff.”
“You can swim, can’t you?”
All she had to do was sleep with him, and then she could go back to her normal little life that didn’t include men with hot bodies who happened to be gentlemen. “Not the point.”
“Let’s eat first. Then we can talk about it.” He found an empty picnic table amongst the families, teenagers, young lovers, and set the cooler on the ground. “I packed lots to eat,” he said, pulling out a couple of large food containers and a huge bowl of salad.
“You made all this?” She perched herself on the bench across from him.
“I live above a restaurant.” He chuckled. “I just had them make what you ordered last night for dinner and a couple of club sandwiches.”
“That salad was fabulous.” Her stomach growled, remembering she’d been too nervous to eat last night. The same this morning. “Are we splitting?”
“You can have the entire salad,” he said. “Water. Diet Coke. Or Fresca.”
“Fresca.”
She dug into her chicken Caesar salad, forcing herself to glance around to keep from staring at into his bright green eyes. No matter how hard she tried, when she caught their gaze, she couldn’t let go, even when that pang of guilt seeped in.
Families sat together laughing, mostly enjoying each other. She chose to watch a toddler throwing a temper tantrum rather than gawk at the young couple sitting on the same side of the table, occasionally shoving their tongues down each other’s throats.
“What does your brother do?” Josh asked out of the blue.
Trying not to choke on the piece of chicken in her mouth, she covered her lips with her hand and swallowed. “He works for my ex-boyfriend.”
“That’s got to be awkward,” Josh said. “Are you and your brother close?”
She dropped her plastic fork in the empty salad bowl, wishing she hadn’t eaten the entire thing. “Not really, but we’re all each other has since our parents died about five years ago.” She took a napkin, toying with it under the table. The sudden interest in her brother sent a prickle against her skin. Best to deflect the conversation back to him. “What about you? Do you have any siblings?”
He shook his head as his gaze dropped to the ground. “Only child.”
“Sometimes I wish I had been an only child,” she said. “What about your parents?”
“I was raised by a single mother. She passed away a little over two years ago.” The way his mouth pulled into a straight line gave away a vulnerability she hadn’t expected from him.
“I’m sorry. What happened?” Delaney wanted to reach across the table and take his hand, but she couldn’t bring herself to do it. Everything about this situation was fake, except him, and to offer comfort and solace over the death of his mother would add a new layer of deception.
“She had a heart attack. I didn’t see it coming. She was the picture of health.”
“What about your dad?”
“Never met him,” he said. “He was killed in the line of duty right before I was born.”
“Jesus,” she whispered. “I don’t know what to say. That just sucks.”
“It does, but my mom was pretty spectacular.” The life quickly came back to Josh’s eyes, and he smiled. “She was forty-two when she had me. They’d tried for years to have a baby, but it seemed it wasn’t in the cards for them, so they gave up. She always called me her miracle super boy, and she had a way of making my father seem like he was always part of my life. It might sound weird, but, I feel like I had it better than every other kid I know.”
“That’s got to be the sweetest thing I’ve ever heard.” She bit her lip. These were the little details she didn’t want to know. “I’m sure your parents are looking down, smiling, quite proud.”
“I hope so,” he said. “Ready?”
She titled her head. “For...?”
He pointed toward the cliff where, one by one, kids, parents, and teenagers jumped, some screaming, some laughing, all ending with a big splash.
“No…no…no,” she whispered, shaking her head. “I don’t do things like that.”
“Things like what?”
“Dangerous, daring, thrill-seeking things that have the potential to cause me bodily harm.”
He laughed. “That is none of those things. Let’s go put our suits on, and then we can sit and watch others for a while so you can see it’s no big deal.”
“That’s not going to change my mind,” she said, helping him put the leftovers from their lunch in the cooler before heading down a narrow path.
His strong hand looped over her shoulder, squeezing, then slid slowly down her shoulder and across her spine. She arched.
“Ticklish?”
“Not at all.”
He laughed. “This is a good spot.”
They’d stopped in a small grouping of trees not far from the picnic area. “Good for what?”
“To change.”
“What!?” Turning in a circle, she noted they weren’t far from the path as four people walked right past them. Not to mention the boatloads of people just below them, frolicking in the lake. “I think that might be considered indecent exposure.”
“I’ve always found that an odd term. I personally find the human body—well, a woman’s body—to be the most beautiful, naked.” He held up his s
wim trunks while he undid the top of his jeans.
“No.” She quickly turned away, her heart pounding against her ribcage, wondering how she could record this encounter, and if it would be enough.
His fingers curled around her arm. “I’m not going to strip,” he said softly. “You’ve never changed under a towel?”
“Can’t say that I’ve ever had any reason to learn.”
“My mother taught me when I was a little boy, and I use it now and again when necessary,” he said. “Watch.”
“I don’t think so.” But she turned and stared, intrigued by how was going to pull this off.
“First, you wrap the towel around you, securing it like this.”
She couldn’t believe where she currently gwaked, but she watched intently as he reached under his towel, and seconds later, he held his denim shorts in his hand, and a huge grin across his boyish face.
“Then you just pull up your suit.”
“I have two pieces,” she said, watching the towel drop to the ground, his swim trunks hanging low on his hips and riding just above his knees.
“I’m looking forward to seeing you in those two pieces.”
She bit her lower lip.
“I’ll help you.” Before she could protest, he held up her bathing suit. “This will be a bit more challenging than I thought.” He tilted his head, looking over the length of her body. “Okay, so the bottoms will be easy. Let’s start there.” He wrapped the towel around her waist, securing it tightly. “I can remove your shorts if you want.”
“Not going to happen on the first date.”
“Second date, but who’s counting?”
She pursed her lips, taking in a quick, calming breath, shaking out her hands. “Turn around.”
“You’re covered with a…”
She glared at him, and he turned. Quickly, she removed her shorts and thong, stuffing them in her bag, then she hiked up her bottoms, making sure they were secure, covering her ass. “Okay. Now what?”
When he turned around, he paused, staring at her legs. “Wow,” he whispered. “Nice.”
“Thanks. So, that part worked,” she admitted, “but I don’t see how I’m going to get this on without you having to arrest me for flashing everyone on this island.” She blinked a few times, shocked by the things coming out of her mouth. She never behaved this way in front of men. Ever.
He took the bathing suit top in his hand and studied it. “We need to get your bra off.”
“And here I thought you were a gentleman.”
She held her breath when he stepped behind her, wrapping the towel around her upper body. “If you remove your bra, then put your suit over—where it needs to go—I can tie it for you.”
“With my luck,” she said, desperately trying to keep her voice steady, “you’ll tie it in such a way that it will fall off as soon as I get in the water.”
His warm breath tickled her ear as he leaned in. “As much as I’d like to see your breasts, I sure don’t want anyone on this island to see them, so I’ll double knot it, just to make sure.” Heat trickled across her skin as his full lips pressed against her ear lobe. A quiet moan escaped her lips.
“I’m not wearing a bra,” she said.
He dropped his forehead to her shoulder. “How did I not notice that?”
“It’s a shelf bra. It’s built into the tank top.”
His lips brushed against her shoulder a few times. “You’re killing me.” He held up her top.
She wiggled behind the towel as his strong arms held the terrycloth across her body, and she slid the two small triangles over her breasts, looping the straps over her shoulders. “You need to tie the bottom first.”
“Hold the towel.” His hands found their way under the thin fabric of her tank top. She tried to keep her breath even, but it came in short, shallow pants, as his fingers gently brushed against her skin. “Tight enough?”
She nodded as his fingers ran across her neck, pulling the top straps tight.
“You can take off your shirt now,” he whispered, but didn’t give her a chance as he lifted the cotton fabric up over her head.
Looking down, she quickly made sure the bathing suit covered everything it should before turning to face him. Every inch of her skin screamed for his deft, soft fingers and warm, luscious lips. She lifted her head to see him standing there, lips slightly parted, and his gaze went from her toes to her head at least three times. “Is something wrong?”
He cleared his throat. “I had a picture in my head of what you’d look like in a bikini. Not even close to the real thing.” He closed the gap between them, pressing his hands against her hips, his thumbs rubbing against her bare skin. “I want to cover you back up so no one else can see how beautiful you are.”
“I want to you to take off your shirt so every female on the island will be jealous of me.” Had that just come out of her mouth? The desire to have her body pressed against his, feeling his hard muscles mold to hers as she shoved her tongue deep inside his mouth, had gotten the better of her.
He smiled. “Good line.”
“I’ve been taking lessons from you.” It was way too easy to flirt with him. It felt natural. Real. Something she couldn’t allow this to be. She tugged at the hem of his shirt, but didn’t have to do anything further as he tore it over his head. Taking a step back, she licked her lips, soaking in his six-pack abs until she got to a small, circular scar…and then another one…and more on his arm. She ran a finger over the rippled skin on his shoulder, then the one on his biceps, before gently touching the two on the right side of his abdomen. His stomach twitched as he sucked in a breath.
She snapped her hand back. “Sorry,” she said.
“Don’t be.” He took her hand then placed it on his shoulder, covering a couple of the scars. “Sometimes these come with the job.”
“What happened?”
“I was shot.”
“Who?” Her hand trembled. “Why?”
Cupping her chin with his thumb and forefinger, he kissed her lips gently. “It doesn’t matter. I survived. The person who shot me didn’t.”
Her chest heaved in deep breaths against his strong frame. He held her gaze in a warm, exotic dance.
“Let’s go dive off that cliff before I ravish you right here.”
“I’m not jumping,” she said, grateful he broke their trance, but deep down the idea of taking that leap with him sent her pulse soaring, much like when he’d kissed her earlobe. When she was with him, she wanted to do things she’d never done before. Take risks. Be wild. Do everything she’d ever dreamed of, but had been too scared to ruin her carefully crafted, safe life.
He spread out one of their towels on a rock near the area everyone jumped from. She settled herself between his legs, leaning her back against his strong chest, her arms draped over his powerful thighs. The hardest part about this entire situation was she was honestly attracted to Josh. There was a comfort level with him she hadn’t had with anyone in a long time, if ever.
But Liam was blood, and while her brother could be a bit of an asshole, he didn’t deserve to be beaten up, held at gun point, or to die.
“Look.” Josh pointed to a family standing at the edge of the cliff. “That little girl can’t be more than ten. If she can do it, so can you.” He kissed her cheek.
“It does sort of look like fun,” she said, enjoying the lingering warmth his lips left on her body.
“So?”
She nodded. “What the hell? You only live once.” She lept to her feet, pulling him up with her. “You’re jumping with me, right?”
“I won’t leave your side.”
Her pulse echoed between her ears as they stood in a short line, Josh whispering in her ear about the best way to plummet from the cliffs.
She swallowed, easing her toes to the very edge of the rocks, staring down at the water where the sun rays tore through it, piercing at least twenty feet down, and she still couldn’t see the bottom. That had to be a good thin
g. “Did I mention I’m afraid of heights?” She held his hand in a death grip. “On three?” she asked.
“You’re trembling,” he said. “We don’t have to, if you really don’t want to.”
“I’m not backing out now.” Closing her eyes, she took in a deep breath. “One…two…three…” Her feet left the cold rock, running in midair as she opened her eyes. She screamed, turning to look at Josh, who smiled at her, squeezing her hand. Seconds before her feet hit the water, he winked.
The cool water roared in her ears as her body catapulted down while bubbles rose up. She kicked her legs frantically, wanting to surface, panic about to set in. Josh’s strong hands wrapped around her waist as he pulled her to the top.
She gasped, sucking in as much air as she could when her head surfaced.
“You okay?” he asked, brushing her hair from her face as he pulled her toward the docks.
“That was amazing.”
“Want to do it again?”
“God, no. Once is enough.”
He held her with one arm around her waist, caressing her skin under the water. The other hand held onto the ladder at the end of the dock.
Without thinking, she melded her lips against his, darting her tongue inside his mouth. Her heart beat so fast, he had to feel it against his chest. Her body still trembled from the excitement of the jump. Her skin warmed with the thrill of life.
“Slow down,” he whispered, cupping her face. He kissed her nose, then patted her bottom, encouraging her to climb the ladder. She did so, reluctantly, her mind and body still reeling from the thrill of conquering the cliffs and the agony of his kiss. She’d been so demanding of him, controlling the kiss, something she’d never done before, always following the lead of the few boyfriends she’d had.
“Why don’t you take a seat in the boat while I go collect our stuff?” he asked.
“I can help.”
He looped his arms around her waist, running his callused hands up and down her back as he pulled her tight against his body. “I don't want you to.” His lips brushed hers. “So beautiful,” he murmured. “Wait for me in the boat.”
She watched him for a few moments as he hiked back up the trail to the picnic area before she laid down on the back cushion, soaking in the sun as she took in slow, shallow breaths, desperately trying to calm her breathing.
