He lifted his head for a moment, and then began kissing her neck. “I’m packing, don’t worry,” he said, moaning in her ear. “We won’t make that mistake again.”
That was all she needed to hear. She sat up and stripped off her jacket and shirt, watching as he pulled his green woven-knit shirt off over his head. Then she reached behind her to unfasten her bra.
She was tired of dreaming of Sam. She wanted the real thing.
***
Brandon Stewart had just made another pass by Jenna’s house, able to see lights on there from the end of the driveway when the call came through – finally. He’d given his father’s PA, a man who knew how to get things done, the license plate number of the green pickup he’d kept seeing at Jenna’s house. Now he knew who he was dealing with. Sam Strickland. He knew that name, Strickland. Vaguely, he remembered a few of them from high school. They were nobodies. Just poor white trash. Big, dumb, hillbillies. Probably willing to do anything for a buck. Jenna had hired one of them to scare him off? He wondered where she’d found the money even for that. He knew she barely had enough money to pay her electric bill, let alone hire a bodyguard.
She was probably whoring herself out in payment, being a Morgan through-and-through. Her family was no better than the scum she was now associating with. In fact, he wasn’t surprised at all she’d even known a Strickland to set up this arrangement.
But if she thought he’d be intimidated by hillbilly trash, she had another think coming.
The Stricklands had brawn, but the Stewarts had brains. And brains always beat brawn.
***
Jenna stretched her arms over her head, enjoying the feel of cool air and light sprays of water on her naked body, and Sam’s hand lazily stroking her chest and stomach. She’d never felt this good in her life. Or, this relaxed.
Or, so free.
She couldn’t even bring herself to worry about what would happen after this night. She wanted to stay in the moment, in this magical place, where worry and fear didn’t exist. And be young again. She hadn’t felt young in a very long time.
“
That was amazing,” Sam said, lying naked on his back beside her, his fingers still trailing over her.
She turned onto her side, barely able to see him anymore. Night had set in, enclosing them in a dark, private space. She ran her hand over his chest, stroking the light hair there. She slid up close to snuggle against him. He draped his arm around her, weakly, as if he’d used up all his strength.
“
Let’s stay here forever,” she said. “Right here on this blanket forever. And never leave.”
He chuckled silently, but she felt the rumble in his chest. “No, let’s have more fun.”
He sat up and she rolled onto her back with a moan of anticipation, expecting him to lie over her again.
But he stood instead and pulled her to her feet by both arms. “Can you swim?”
“
Yeah. Why?”
“
How brave are you?” he asked, stepping them forward into the sprays, toward the ledge. “It’s deep down there. Just run and jump.”
The cold water soaked her now and she couldn’t really see. A tingle of fear returned and she took a half step back.
But Sam held on. “Just hold my hand and go for it. I’ve done it a thousand times. I dare you.”
“
Oh, you
dare
me?” she said and stepped up again.
“
Ready?” he said then didn’t wait for an answer.
She ran with him and the waterfall hit her hard, but then they broke through into the night and fell. She lost his hand as she hit the water – water so freezing cold she lost her breath as she sank into the depths. Her body slowed just as the tips of her toes touched the bottom and she swam back to the surface.
Enough light remained in the open for her to see Sam now, wading with his dark hair slicked back. Smiling in triumph. She splashed him and looked back up at the waterfall.
“
Fun, right?” he said, splashing her back. “I didn’t think you’d do it.”
“
Oh, I did it, all right.” It felt good to swim again – something she hadn’t done in years. Not since the night she’d swum with Sam in his brother’s pond. Not since the last time she and Sam had made love. She kicked her legs up and leaned back to float. The water began to warm as her body adjusted. “And I’m doing it again. In a minute.”
She and Bri had begged their father for a pool, summer after summer, but he’d always refused. Pools weren’t practical. She now knew he hadn’t had the money. But none of that seemed to matter anymore.
Somehow, this day had turned out to be one of the best of her life and she wasn’t going to waste it. Even if it meant dragging herself into work in the morning like a zombie.
Sam swam around her then caught her suddenly when she almost floated into the rocks. He pulled her to him, his body warm against her even though she could feel his muscles shivering. They were in shallower waters now and he stood solidly on his feet.
She wrapped her legs around his waist and leaned back to float as he slowly turned her in circles through the water.
“
You’re just like I remembered,” he said. “Just like you used to be.”
“
How was that?”
“
Fun and brave and… glowing with life.”
She ran her hand up his arm, enjoying the strength of his forearm and the swell of muscle at his biceps. “You and your romantic words. I didn’t stand a chance.”
He only laughed.
“
Why didn’t you bring me here that night?” she asked.
“
What night?”
“
You know.
The
night.”
“
Ah. Because during the day, this is a place for kids to play, but at night it’s all for adults. I wasn’t really planning anything that night. It just happened. We were taking our time.”
She stroked the surface of the water with the palms of her hands. The sky was blue, quickly turning black. Soon the stars would come out and the moon would rise. Everything was beautiful. Everything in the world seemed beautiful. “You waited a whole month. I’d heard all about you. All about your conquests. You must have liked me.”
“
I loved you,” he said. “I still do.”
She quickly righted herself and steadied herself holding onto his shoulders. “You do? I still love you.”
He pulled her in tight against him. “Marry me. Let’s just stop all this nonsense and get married.”
“
All right.”
“
Yes?”
She laughed. “Yes.”
She wrapped her arms around his neck, knowing somewhere in the back of her mind she might regret such an impulsive decision later. But on a night like this, she couldn’t bring herself to care. She only wanted to run and jump.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Jenna’s hair was still damp when they returned to the house, and her suit would have to go directly to the cleaners in the morning if she hoped to save it. But happy as she was, even if she had to throw the suit in the trash, she didn’t care.
Brianna was in the den watching one of her movies. Ethan was crashed out on the sofa beside her. She jumped up guiltily when they came through the door.
“
I was about to put him to bed,” she said. “I gave him a bath.”
Jenna patted her sister’s arm and went to get her son. “Don’t worry about it. Thanks for watching him.”
Bri gave her a curious and doubtful once-over. “Are you wet? Where have you been? Is it raining?” She trotted over to the window to look out.
Jenna wasn’t going to share her evening with her sister, not the intimate details, ever, and not even the innocent parts, yet. Especially in front of Sam who stepped up beside her to look down at Ethan.
She lifted Ethan and handed him to Sam, surprising him. “Let’s carry him up.”
He shifted the sleeping toddler in his arms and nodded, but waited for her to lead the way. They’d started a conversation just as they’d arrived at the house and hadn’t quite finished it. She needed to speak to him alone.
He wanted to stay at the house, while he was in town, to be around Ethan more, and her. He wanted to stay in her room, not on the couch. Jenna wanted him to stay, but wasn’t sure she should let him, with Brianna in the house. She didn’t think Bri would mind, but Jenna didn’t want to set a bad example for her sister. Brianna had dated some, but never seriously, and she was still innocent and impressionable. At least Jenna hoped she was still innocent.
“
Just so you know,” Bri said as they were about to head upstairs, “Ally Stewart’s telling everybody that you did something bad with Mr. O’Hara to get your promotion. Something nasty in his office.”
Jenna glanced at Sam who instantly frowned. “No one would ever believe that,” she told them both.
Bri held up the phone. “You know Brandon told her to say that. He’s trying to mess up your life. To get back at you.”
Jenna did know that. But she didn’t want him to succeed in upsetting her family. “Don’t listen to that gossip. Forget about him. I already have.”
But Bri took a step forward before they could leave. “She’s also telling people you asked Brandon to marry you and he turned
you
down and now you’re threatening to kill yourself if he won’t marry you.”
Oh, good grief
. “Just ignore it.”
Jenna gave Sam a nudge to go ahead and take the baby upstairs, wishing Bri hadn’t said anything in front of him.
But her sister wouldn’t let them go. “I found those on the porch earlier. For you.” She pointed to a basket of colorful flowers on the entry table. Jenna must have been too distracted to notice as they’d come in.
She lifted the card sticking out among the flowers.
We’re not done.
The card wasn’t signed, but she knew who they were from. Brandon Stewart had said those very words to her earlier.
“
From my mom?” Sam asked.
“
From the office,” she told him, stuffing the card back in among the flowers. “About my promotion.”
“
Nice,” he said.
She nodded and forced a smile. She hated lying, but couldn’t see the point in upsetting everyone even more.
Bri raised an eyebrow at her, having obviously read the card, and Jenna gave her sister a look warning her to keep quiet.
They put Ethan to bed then Sam followed Jenna into her room where he shut the door. “What’s going on with this Stewart guy?”
Jenna blew out a breath. She’d hoped he’d forget about that, but had known he probably wouldn’t. “He tried to get me fired. It’s not a big deal. He didn’t succeed.”
“
Yeah, well,” he said, a wild glint in his eyes, “he’s really starting to get my attention.”
“
My boss and his grandfather are old friends. I have a feeling Brandon got a talking to. Spreading gossip is the only weapon he has left.” And sending creepy notes in flowers. She draped her arms around his neck. “I don’t want to think about any of that tonight.”
Sam pulled her close and began swaying with her in his arms. “Let’s get in bed.”
She wanted to, wanted more of what they’d shared at the waterfall, twice, but it seemed so wrong, in her father’s house, with her sister and son nearby.
Sam groaned in anticipation of her refusal. “We’re engaged. It’s no big deal.”
She laughed suddenly, from the sheer surprise of hearing those words. She was engaged. To Sam Strickland. The only man she’d ever loved, and knew she ever would love.
Hearing him say it aloud suddenly made it seem real. She would one day be married to this gorgeous, amazing man in her arms.
He started swaying again, and smiled. “Your sister’s a big girl. She can deal.”
“
I should at least tell her.”
“
About what?” He lifted her hand and kissed her ring finger. “About this?” He grabbed her bottom and squeezed. “Or about that?”
She pushed his hand off her, but only to make a point. “Get serious.”
He let her go and stepped back, groaning again. “How about this. You tell her while I go get my bag from my brother’s house.” He pulled her close again. “When I get back - you and me, in that bed, all warm and cozy.”
And then all hot and sweaty? “Okay,” she decided. She’d already had a baby out of wedlock. It seemed silly to start acting like a prude now.
“
Good. Half an hour.” He gave her a swat on the bottom as he aimed for the door.
When he was gone, she quickly went into the closet to change clothes. She was tired of feeling damp and decided to wait till morning to shower. She had no doubt by then she’d need another one, anyway. She’d already had three showers jumping through the waterfall.
Bri was still in the den when Jenna returned downstairs. The TV was on but her sister was listening to her iPod and texting.
Jenna sat down and waited for her to finish, glad for a moment to sort out a way to tell her.