Page 45 of Whispers of Redemption

Finally, she slowed down to what he considered a more reasonable pace and he felt his heart rate begin to beat normally again as they glided toward the shore. She cut the throttle, then the engine, as they coasted gently to the drop-off point.

The moment she hit sand, Wade hopped off, and she followed him.

“Are you okay?” she said, handing her life jacket to the attendant. “You look pale?”

In truth, he felt a little seasick. But no way was he going to admit that to her. “I’m fine,” he said. “So, do you always ride like that?”

“Like what?” she looked confused.

“Like a demon possessed!” he said.

“Oh puh-leeeze!” she said with a laugh and toss of her head. “That was nothing.”

“Nothing!” he said. In a sudden move, he picked her up, threw her over his shoulder, and began wading back into the water.

“What are you doing?” she shouted. “Put me down!”

“You want me to put you down?” he said, striding deeper into the waves.

“Yes!”

Splash!

He’d switched his hold on her to cradle her against his chest for a second before tossing her high in the air and letting her fall backside first into the water. She came up sputtering, wet strands of her dark red hair plastered over her face. She parted it to peer at him with a look of pure astonishment. “I can’t believe you just did that.”

“Well, I can’t believe you drive Jet Skis like that. Fair’s fair.” As he spoke the last words, she dove beneath the waves. He felt her hands grip his ankles, yanking his feet out from under him. Water went up his nose and he came up snorting.

She was laughing until she saw the look in his eyes. Then she was off, paddling hard to get away from him. But he caught up to her in a few powerful strokes, grabbing her around the waist.

Now, she was laughing again and so was he. She fought to get away, but he held her firmly around the middle until she finally gave up and went limp in his arms. He turned her to face him, and their laughter died as they looked at each other, bobbing gently up and down with the waves, now chest-deep in the water. Heat welled up deep inside Wade, as he felt once again that magnetic pull toward her. He had an overwhelming desire to wrap his arms around her, pull her close so that he could feel her body pressed against his. Just at that moment, he wanted more than anything to kiss those invitingly full lips.

Suddenly, out of the corner of his eye, he saw a frisbee flying straight toward their heads and automatically reached up his hand to snatch it out of the air.

“Hey, can you toss it back, Wade!” Patricio called from the shore.

Wade tossed it back then turned to face her again, feeling suddenly shy but determined. “So, I’ve been meaning to ask you something.”

“Okay...” she said, watching him with an unreadable expression.

“Would you like to go out to dinner with me?”

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