He stood up, and as he raised his shirt, she realized his shorts were swimming trunks. He slipped his T-shirt over his head, and she quickly turned to look out at the water, although her eyes slid back over to him as if they were under some sort of magnetic pull. Every muscle was perfectly shaped, his wide chest tapering to a fit waist. She took in the curve of his biceps, the flawless square of his shoulders, the ripple of muscle along his stomach.
“Hop up! The water is considerably refreshing when you get out this far. It’s a great escape from this North Carolina heat.”
She’d never been so glad that Casey was below deck. There was no way she wanted to stand next to her sister, wearing a bikini. She got up slowly, shimmied off her shorts and suddenly felt nervous standing in front of him in her swimsuit. It was the new one she’d bought before the trip—a black two-piece that tied at the hips. He was taking her in, and it made her feel nervous. She turned around and set the shorts down, checking under her shirt quickly to ensure that everything was where it should be. She adjusted her top. Then, there was nothing else to do but take her shirt off. As she put her shirt beside her shorts, she surveyed the deck floor. She didn’t want to look up for some reason. She was right at the edge of the boat, and he was now behind her on deck. She could see him in her peripheral vision if she turned her head just slightly.
She didn’t stand there long before there was an enormous splash, water spraying up against her skin. She spun around to find a gurgling circular spray of bubbles, and then Jake’s head popped up in the center of it.
“Come in!” He flicked water up in her direction and she dodged it. He was smiling, baiting her. “Come in or I’ll come get you,” he teased. He didn’t stop his eyes this time from moving along her body. The way he was looking at her took away any remaining self-consciousness. She felt pretty. “Stand on the edge right there,” he lifted a dripping finger toward the back corner of the boat.
Carefully, Faith stepped over the railing until she was standing precariously on the edge of the boat. “How cold is the water?” she called down to him.
He went under and back up, shaking the water from his hair. “It’s perfect.”
She debated how to jump in. Feet first? That might take her top off. Should she dive? What if she belly-flopped? That would hardly be the picture of elegance she wanted to paint. Who knew it could be so difficult just getting in the water!
“If you jump, I’ll catch you,” he called up.
His offer tempted her enough that, without thinking any further, she jumped. The water was startlingly cold as it hit her skin, her whole body sailing right under the water, but almost immediately, she felt the strong warmth of Jake’s arms around her. It took what little breath she’d stored in her lungs right away. When she surfaced, she was face to face with him, her body up next to his. They were tangled together, their arms and legs moving to keep them afloat, bumping into each other, their skin touching in all kinds of places. He still had one arm wrapped around her as he looked straight at her, barely blinking. Her wet hair had wrapped around her neck like seaweed and he reached up and slid it over her shoulder, exposing her bare neck. Her skin tingled from his touch. His eyes moved across the surface of her shoulder, up her neck, and to her face, finally meeting her eyes again. Was he going to kiss her?
“How’s the water?” she heard from behind her. Faith lurched away from Jake like a teenager caught in a compromising position. She turned around, shielding her eyes with one hand and keeping herself afloat with the other. Casey and her mom were standing at the edge, Isabella already stripping off her cover-up and unbuckling her sandals.
“It’s great!” Jake called up to them.
Faith could feel the irritation slithering around inside her. Casey had ruined the moment. Faith knew that Casey had no idea, but it didn’t do anything to ease the feeling. She watched as her sister stripped off her clothes confidently, revealing her toned body and shimmery bikini. She swung her long leg over the boat and dipped her toe in the water. “It is nice,” she said. Faith kept her eyes on her sister. She didn’t dare look at Jake. She didn’t want to see him looking at Casey the way he’d looked at her, because with Casey’s figure, he certainly would be. Faith wanted that look to be hers only. With a little hop, Casey dove into the water without a splash, her thin body gliding effortlessly below the surface. Faith finally turned to look at Jake but he, too, was underwater, swimming away from them. She couldn’t help but feel relieved.
Her mom helped Isabella put her floats on, and with some hesitancy, she jumped in. “Are there any sharks?” she asked, quickly paddling over to her mother.
“You’ve scared them away,” Jake said with a smile. He’d made his way back to them and took Isabella’s hands. Kicking his legs, he began to spin her, dragging her little body in circles like a whirlpool. She giggled uncontrollably, and, whenever he stopped, she asked him to do it again. Casey offered to take turns, and Faith had to look away so as not to allow the feelings of annoyance to return, looking at the three of them as they laughed and played together.
When they’d gotten tired of swimming, everyone settled down at the back of the boat on their towels to rest, but Faith sat at the ladder, her legs dangling down over the edge. Jake was still in the water, holding on to the handrail. She slid down a step to lower her legs down beside him.
“The water feels like bathwater now,” she said.
Jake nodded. “I’m glad you came,” he said almost a little too quickly.
“Me too.” And she meant it.
“How’s your stomach? All better?”
“Yes.” But being in close proximity to him in just a swimsuit was making it do somersaults.
He pulled his weight up using the handrail and Faith had to scoot backwards to allow him some space. He was standing on the bottom step, his arms on either side of her, looking down at her. “Hungry?” he asked.
“Actually, now that you say so, I am.”
“Let’s grab a towel and get a bite to eat then.”
The cabin was cool down below deck as Faith shivered in her towel. Without her asking, Jake took a large beach towel from the shelf and switched it out for her damp one. It was shockingly warm against her skin. As he rummaged around in the small fridge, Faith thought about how well he must know Rich. He seemed so relaxed on Rich’s boat, and Rich let him have free rein. But then again, it was typical of the relaxed way of life at the coast. She liked how quickly they had befriended Jake, but his relaxed demeanor and friendly nature made it so easy.
He put out crackers and cheese, fruit, and a small platter of assorted vegetables. It all looked delicious after swimming and being in the sun. She felt like she could eat the whole bowl of fruit herself.
“So, your mother had mentioned something about teaching,” he said, slicing the leaves off the strawberries and filling a plate. “Is that what you do for a living?”
“Yes. I teach kindergarten.”
He grinned.
“What?”
