“We’ll be there soon,” he said, turning and heading on again.
When they reached the pool, Angelica almost suggested they follow his original idea and plunge in. She was hot and out of breath. The water looked cool and inviting. The waterfall was a three-foot-tall curtain spilling over a wide lip of rock. She’d love to swim beneath it and have it rain down on her.
“Is it deep?” she asked.
The water was so clear she could see the rocky bottom. It didn’t look deep.
“About four or five feet. Very deep when one is Sam’s age. Not so much now. But it’s refreshing.”
He stopped by the edge and trailed his hands in it. Then he flicked her with water.
Surprised, she leaned over and slapped a wave of water at him. Only a little reached her target. She danced away when he splashed her again. Laughing, she wished she could douse him.
He cupped water in his hands and started for her, devilment in his eyes. Angelica shrieked and turned to run. A second later her entire back was wet. She laughed again and turned.
“No fair, you have the advantage,” she said, when he turned to get more water. She didn’t have clear access to the pond. Darting to the left, she tried to go wide, but he turned and threw water at her again.
Laughing so hard she almost fell, she reached the edge of the water. Ignoring her shoes, she waded in and began splashing water at him. He joined in and before five minutes passed they were both soaked.
Angelica plopped down at the edge of the water and just let Kirk’s attack wash over her. She felt deliciously cool in the hot afternoon. She’d squish all the way home, but for now it felt marvelous.
A minute later another wave of water washed over her as he sat right down beside her on her left.
His dark hair glistened with water. Drops clung to his eyelashes.
“Now do you want to go skinny-dipping?”
“No need, I’m soaked.” She glanced at him. “Next time I’ll bring a bathing suit.”
She’d have to buy one as she hadn’t brought one. Did the local store carry any? Maybe she’d need a ride to Bryceville.
“Spoilsport,” he said easily.
“You must have had a great childhood,” she said looking around and imagining Kirk and his friends roaming wherever they wished, safe and happy and free.
“Sure did.”
“Are you an only child?”
“Only child of an only child of an only child,” he said.
“So no cousins to play with.”
“Plenty of others around.”
“Do your parents live in Smoky Hollow?”
“There’s only my granddad. He’s still here. He raised me.”
Angelica swished her hands through the water, letting the cool liquid drip when she raised her palms. She remembered that’s what the store owner had said.
“I should get home. I’ll need to change before Sam comes,” she said slowly.
She looked at Kirk. “Thanks for the picnic and bringing me here. This is such a lovely place.”
He nodded in acknowledgment, then leaned over and brushed his lips against hers. It was a momentary touch which was over far, far too soon in Angelica’s opinion. She felt an explosion of feelings, indescribably exquisite, with merely that brief contact.
Without a word, he rose and offered his hand to pull her up. His touch seemed electric. Water streamed from them both as she snatched her hand back and looked everywhere except at him.
