“Come in here and find out.” He trod water, watching her. She was certainly easy on the eyes, especially in those running shorts.
“I’m not a teenager. That kind of talk doesn’t work with me.”
“Sure it does. You’re horny just like me. I can see it in your body.” He laughed as she looked at her nipples, which were hard and showing through her top.
“Teenagers get horny, big boy. Adults,”—she tapped her chest—“which I happen to be, feel lust.”
“I’ve got lust, Rosebud, right between my legs, and if you’d don’t get in here soon, I’m coming after you.”
“Shouldn’t you be—” Her hands flapped about before she bent to pull off her shoes. “—deflated from the cold.”
“Just a quick lesson from theMen’s 101 Handbook, sweetheart. We never want to hear the word deflated in relation to our most prized possession.”
Her giggle was a sweet sound. Jake watched as she tucked her socks neatly inside her shoes. Then, to his surprise, she dropped her shorts, pulled off her top, and dove in. He had a flash of small, white, cotton panties and a sports bra in pale blue. She hit the water with a loud splash, belly first. Surfacing, she spluttered and started flapping her arms around. She went under before he could reach her, but he hauled her up, and she threw her arms around his neck and wrapped her legs around his waist.
“You weren’t kidding about the swimming then?”
“Lust made me do it. Now I want to get out, because I’m cold and no longer horny.”
“Teenagers get horny, not adults.”
“Take me back to the bank, Jake.”
“I got you.” He used his arms and legs to keep them afloat while she clung to him. “Try and relax.”
“What’s under us?”
“Water.”
“What else?”
“More water, then maybe some dirt and a lake monster or two. But the last time it ate anyone was back in 2000, so we’re sweet.”
“Funny guy.”
He felt her start to relax as he moved around slowly. He loved it here; no houses were visible, although a few were tucked up driveways like his. It was peaceful for the most part, and a reserve was situated further down the road, so he didn’t hear the noise when someone took their kids there to play. Not that he minded, he liked children, although until lately he’d never thought about having any of his own.
“This is nice now. I could almost fall asleep.”
“That’s because I’m doing all the work.”
“I have to go to the Book Club tomorrow night, Jake.”
“Ah, so you’re the one. The town’s been a hotbed of speculation, wondering who Georgie had selected.”
“Mrs. Heath dropped off the paperwork this morning.”
“Paperwork?”
“I can’t tell because all members are sworn to secrecy.”
“You’re not serious?”
“Totally, it’s written on the top of the first page. Supposedly, I have to take an envelope with me tomorrow night with the name inside of the person I choose to take my place when I retire from the Book Club or die.”
“Who you going to choose?” Jake asked.
“I can’t tell you that.”
