Page 70 of Places I've Never Been

She pointed at it. “What’s that? Is there something up there?”

Adam looked where she indicated. “What?”

“There was something shiny.” She squinted at the spot, but it was all trees and rock. “Never mind. It’s gone.”

“It might be minerals in the rock. They reflect sometimes.”

“Maybe.”

None of the other rocks had done that. What else could make that kind of shine? Something metal? Was someone up there? Unease flickered through her, but she brushed it aside. It had been a long, long day. First, the Jet Skis, then the song, and that kiss. She shivered as the memory of his lips on hers heated her insides.

Adam smiled down at her, a little wrinkle of confusion between his eyes. “Are you okay?”

She looked up at him. His face was close enough she could kiss him again if she wanted.

“I’m fine.”

He looked doubtful. “What’s going through your mind?”

Her thoughts sifted through a dozen versions of the kiss. Salt water dripped from her hair into her mouth, and she grimaced. “I was just thinking it’s getting dark, and I’m hungry. Race you back?”

His smile was wicked. “Last one back gets a massage.”

He pushed off from the boulder, and the waves carried him faster than he could have managed alone. He was at the shore before she even gotten started.

There was no way she could catch him, so she took her time and floated back.

Adam stood on the sand and tapped his foot. “Slow poke. You didn’t even try.”

“Nope.” Mattie ducked her head under the water then flung her hair back off her face. “It’s been a long day, and I’m too tired to chase after you. Plus, I could use a massage.”

She stepped the rest of the way out of the surf.

Adam did a double take. “I was teasing. You don’t have to…I can book you time at the spa. Just say when.”

She frowned. He’d been acting funny ever since they’d kissed. No, before that. Ever since she’d dumped him off the boat. He hadn’t made a move on her since that day, and it was starting to feel strange. Adam was a man who rushed toward what he wanted like a train with jets. She wouldn’t have thought a little dunk in the ocean would slow him down this long.

“We should rinse off before we eat.”

“Yeah, okay.” Adam turned and started toward the grass hut.

“Hey, silly. Not there.” Mattie pointed at the waterfall. “There.”

Adam’s gaze flicked from her to the plunging water and back again. “It’ll be cold.”

It was a narrow stream of water, so they’d have to get close to each other. Maybe that hint would be enough to get him to kiss her. “Good.”

As they got closer, the sand turned from dry to wet and squelched between her toes. The waterfall had created a divot in the sand that was about five feet across and filled with water. Mattie stepped carefully into it and squealed as the cold water plummeted down on her.

Adam flinched away from the spray. “Told you.”

She gasped and turned her head to the side. The cascade of water washed her back, not quite hard enough to sting but enough to not linger too long.

“Come here, you.”

He shook his head. “Not enough room. You finish first.”

“Don’t be ridiculous.” Mattie gestured with one finger.

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