I sucked in my breath from the shock of cold water on my sun-warmed skin.
Where did that come from? The lake is so calm.
And yet it was all over me—my arms, my hair, my face.
“Look at you,” said Jack, when I joined him and Bahati. The kids had gone back inside and the two of them were waiting for me. “You look like you just took a glitter bath.”
“A glitter—” I stopped short and held my arms out. Beads of water clung to my skin like little sparkles of silver. “Oh, my God.” I laughed. Joy bubbled in my heart as I glanced back at the water.
“What is it?” asked Jack.
“My sister. She filled a balloon with glitter and left it in my closet. It popped and I looked like a disco ball for days. I think she just said goodbye.”
Jack and Bahati exchanged a puzzled look.
“Never mind.” I grinned. “I’m happy! I’m so happy I could squish you both.” I kissed them each on the cheek.
“I don’t think so.” Jack growled and pulled me back, claiming my lips. My senses whirled and skidded. My arms went around his neck as he lifted me into the cradle of his arms.
“Oh,” said Bahati, pointing at me, then pointing at Jack. “Ohhh.” He backed off with a big smirk on his face.
“I think we’ve rendered Bahati speechless,” said Jack, when he was gone.
“Let me down, Jack.” My feet were still dangling off the ground.
“No.”
“No?”
“You need to be punished for teasing me through that group picture.”
“Jack, no!” I shrieked as he tossed me over his shoulder. “I’ll bite! I’ll bite your injured arm!”
“Oh, baby.” He laughed. “I love it when you talk dirty.”
ISTEPPED INTOthe shower and closed my eyes as the water poured over me. Steamy rivulets cascaded down my face, my hair, my back, dissolving the dirt and grime of the last few days. I inhaled deeply, breathing in the scent of the thin, white bar of hotel soap. I was never going to take the little luxuries of life for granted again.
A puff of cold air hit me as the shower stall opened.
“You’re back.” I smiled as Jack stood there, gazing at me, his eyes running over my naked body like a warm caress.
“You started without me.” He stepped into the shower, completely disregarding the fact that he was fully clothed. One very large, male arm wrapped around my waist as he kissed me, lifting me off the tiled floor.
Hot water, soap, and Jack’s special brand of kisses—the ones that sweep you off your feet. Literally.
I could spend my whole day right here.
“Your clothes are all wet,” I said, when he set me down.
“I don’t plan on putting them on again.” He shrugged out of his dusty, tattered T-shirt and trousers, and kicked his briefs to the corner.
The sight of him standing there in all his naked glory gave me a heady rush, until I noticed the purple welts on his body.
“Oh God.” I traced the one running down his chest.
“It’s nothing,” he said. “It looks worse than it feels.” He stepped closer, keeping his arm angled away from the water. “They told me to keep it dry.” He gestured to the white gauze around the cut.
“And that’s it? The rest of you is okay?”
