Jared let out a slow grin. “I have to admit, some of those differences I’m grateful for.”
She arched a brow at the teasing note in his voice. “Isn’t it time for you to go swimming?”
“As a matter of fact, it is.” Standing, he tossed his glasses to the grass and leapt into the water with an ease that told her he hadn’t been all work and no play, no matter what he’d said about himself.
And she had to admit that while he looked extremely fine in his extremely fine hiking gear, he looked even finer in far less.
She had no idea what it was about him, but the tougher the going got, the more alpha he became. And the more attractive.
And sexier…
Oh, boy. She was in deep trouble here.
Rose and Michelle stretched out on the shore and slathered each other in suntan lotion. As they watched the two women do each other’s backs, Rock’s and Jack’s tongues hung out as if they were watching a porno flick.
Jared appeared at Lily’s side, dripping wet, of course, and, hunkering down, smiled into her face. “Hey.”
“Hey back.”
“Sun feels good, huh?”
It did, but that wasn’t what went through her mind as she looked up at him. She’d managed to stay ahead of him most of the hike today, because she’d needed time to process.
But all she’d processed was this…she wanted another yummy kiss.
“Why don’t you go in for a swim?” he asked.
“I’m not quite ready-Hey!” was all she had time to squeak when he simply bent and hoisted her up in his arms, his wet arms, arms that were far stronger than she’d given him credit for.
From above, on the rocks, Michelle and Rose laughed. Jack and Rock yelled for Jared to dunk her.
“Jared, don’t be silly,” Lily said quickly. “Put me down.”
An evil grin flashed across his features. “Well, all right, if you say so.”
And the next thing she knew, she was flying into the air, then landing with a splash into the lake.
The water closed around her.
Going to kill him, she thought, breaking the surface, just as another huge splash had her treading water and closing her eyes to the wild cheers on the shore.
Jared surfaced next to her. He shook his head like a shaggy dog and grinned at her. “Well, hello.”
“I suppose you think you’re funny.”
“You screamed like a girl.”
“Did not.”
“Oh, yeah, you did,” Jack yelled helpfully from the shore.
Rock, grinning, nodded.
“Our fearless leader,” Jared laughed, and snagged her close. “Squealing for her life.”
“I did not squeal.”
“Want to bet?” His eyes turned daring. “Anything. You name it.”
She wouldn’t take that bet. She never took sucker bets.
The water was cool, but Jared’s body against hers brought a warmth that couldn’t entirely be attributed to sheer physics.
He grinned, waiting her out.
Oh boy. There was chemistry involved here, plenty, and for a long moment she let her body bump up against his, belly to belly, thigh to thigh…and everything in between.
Either he was carrying something in his pocket, or he’d gotten hard. And even as she thought it, his grin slowly faded, his eyes heated. Flamed.
An answering shiver came from deep inside her. It’d been so long since she’d experienced the feeling, it took a moment to recognize.
Sheer, sensual, earthy, sexual anticipation.
His hands went to her hips as he treaded water, keeping them both afloat with an ease that startled her. Where was her beta-electronic-city-boy geek? She needed him to make an appearance, damn it, so that she could come to her senses.
But he was nowhere to be found. In his place was a confident, strong, easygoing alpha male whom she was finding harder and harder to resist. And speaking of hard…she nudged up against him for the sheer pleasure of feeling him again. Oh boy. “Who are you?” she whispered.
“Just a guy, Lily. A guy who’s looking at you. Seeing you.”
“Jared.”
“Wanting you.”
“Please,” she whispered.
“Too much, too soon?”
“Yes.”
“Hmm. Well, that I can fix.” With a flashing grin that should have been her warning, he let go of her, put a hand on her head, and dunked her.
Okay, that was it, she thought, sputtering as he just cracked up. He was dead.
And thus began the wildest, most fun water fight she’d ever had.
By the time it was over, they were all in the water-well, except for Michelle, who’d remained sunning on her rock-all of them having the time of their lives.
Mission accomplished, Lily thought with a pleased weariness.
And finally they dragged themselves out of the lake and onto the shore, lying there gasping for breath, happily exhausted as two monarch butterflies fluttered through the air over them, alighting on the rocks, fanning their bright orange wings.
“Ah,” Rose said. “This is the life.”
Jared smiled at Lily, his eyes agreeing.
Lily herself had to admit, it was nice, very nice.
And then, far above, a head appeared over the ridge, and an arm waved.
Lily sat up. Their first drop of supplies had arrived, which had been expected.
What hadn’t been expected…it was Keith handling the delivery.
9
“YOU’RE LOOKING good.”
Lily looked up. Keith stood a few feet away. He’d helped her cook dinner-stir fry-charming the guests in his easy way, snubbing her idea of regular chocolate chip cookies for dessert, instead brandishing what he’d brought them…black forest mousse.
Everyone had dived right on that, and he’d sent Lily a knowing smile. He loved making his people happy, and he did consider the group his.
Including, she had the feeling, herself. He made sure to touch her, a lot. He followed her to the water when she went to clean the dishes, then took over the task himself, squatting his leanly muscled frame down, scrubbing a pan with ease.
Watching him, it all came back to her. Being eighteen and inexperienced, knowing only that she’d never been given a chance to please her father, and wanting desperately to please her first employer.
Keith had loved that need in her.
She’d come here lost, looking for herself, wondering if she could go back to that woman she’d been, and possibly pick up where they’d left off.
But she was coming to realize how much she’d changed. She was no longer a young, needy girl but her own woman, a woman who rarely, if ever, let anyone else run her world.
She knew now that it couldn’t work between her and Keith. What she felt for him was firmly rooted in her past, and much as she’d thought she’d wanted to, she couldn’t go back.
