“No,” she says through her teeth, keeping the can of leeches at arm’s length toward me. “Please, Adam. Can you—”
I wade into the shallow, warm water flowing around the rock she’s standing on, grinning up at her. I’m filled with a rare type of lightness. We’re just a city girl grossed out by every crawler on earth and a country boy who can be her hero.
“Relax, I’ve got it.” Rigging the hook, I hand her back the rod. When our fingers brush, it’s like touching a live wire, sending prickles down my back.
To no one’s surprise, she’s holding it like it’s a vaulting pole, and I have to bite back a laugh.
“You know which end goes into the water, right?”
“I’m not that ignorant,” Jackie splutters, then mutters under her breath. “Smart ass.”
She shifts on her feet a couple of times, holding the rod upright until the leech on the hook starts spinning around on the line toward her.
Jackie shrieks. “The other way, worm!”
I swipe a hand over my mouth to smooth out my amusement and wait her out. “Any time now, Jackie.”
“It keeps coming at me,” she whines, gritting her teeth.
The frustration in her voice melts my resolve, and I give in, hauling myself onto the boulder behind her. One hand gripping the rod firmly so it stops twirling the poor creature, one on her elbow, keeping her still.
Jackie freezes in my hold as I focus on adjusting her grip, threading my fingers over hers. “Spread your hand here. You’ll have more control like this.”
A breathless OK is carried away with the breeze flowing around us.
I gently push the tip of the rod toward a good spot in the water. “See that rock with the calmer water on the right side? That’s your target.”
Her back nudges my chest with each inhale. I’m so caught off guard by the need to press myself against her more that I barely catch her quiet reply. “Yeah. Isn’t it too far?”
I thought I could handle having her so close, but my body has other ideas. “You’ve got this.”
Sliding my palm down her arm, her shiver nearly undoes me. I show her the fluid movement needed for casting, cupping her elbow. Once she repeats it on her own, I can’t help myself and move to her shoulder to adjust her posture.
“Ready? Now, cast.”
She pulls back and manages not to jerk the rod. On her forward arch, I push gently on her arm. The line sails out and drops exactly where I pointed.
“That was great!”
She looks over her shoulder at me, pride and excitement making her glow, and my chest tightens.
“You’re a great teacher,” she says.
“You’re lucky,” I chuckle. “You’re my favorite student,” I add without thinking. Joking around with her like we used to comes so naturally that I forget myself.
Instead of scowling or biting back, she fucking blushes, and her eyes dip to my mouth. I don’t pull away but let my hands fall onto her waist.
Blonde strands fly around her face, one getting stuck between her lips, dragging my gaze to that soft spot in the corner of her mouth. My hand moves by itself. I crook my finger and hook it free, my knuckles grazing her jaw.
Her lips part on a shuddered exhale and—
We both feel the sharp tug and watch the line dart sideways.
“Something’s happening,” Jackie squeaks, panicked. The rod is swaying, her hands clasped in a death grip on the handle.
“That’s your guy! Give it a sharp flick!”
She yanks too hard and stumbles into me, almost dropping the handle.
