Page 38 of The Female Warrior & The Charming Gentleman

“Take them off, then,” she said.

He studied her, then bent and slid off first one boot and then the other. Enthralled by the way he made slipping cowboy boots off look enticing, she stared openly.

Straightening, he took off the plaid jacket and set it aside. The muscles in his arms were defined and lean. Her mouth watered as she imagined him slipping that T-shirt off.

“I’d hate to ruin this high-quality T-shirt.”

She laughed unsteadily. Was he a mind reader?

That T-shirt was a fraction the cost of his normal wear. She refused to say what he wanted her to. Especially as all she wanted at the moment was for him to take off that shirt so she could viewhis chest again.

She could hardly believe how much she’d changed in her thoughts about him and their progression since she’d seen him without a shirt in his closet, he’d flirted with her like a specialist in charm, and she’d knocked him onto his back, sprawling on top of him.

Her blood heated thinking about those moments. She wanted to reenact them. Even more disconcerting, she felt as if she now knew Jarom on a deep, personal level. She liked everything she’d learned about him since meeting him in real life. He was everything she’d dreamed about as her celebrity crush and a million times more. It was terrifying because the real him was nothing like she’d expected. If only she could let him be her safe space, her love.

Shaking her head to clear it, she focused on the pine trees where she caught a glimpse of Chad’s black shirt.

“Chad is watching out for us. Let’s have some fun.”

She pulled out her pistol and set it with his boots and jacket. Rushing to the edge of the lake, she lifted the rope off the hook on a pine tree, had a brief moment to wonder if the lake was deep enough this late in the fall or if the water levels had dropped and they might hit bottom, and how cold it would be. Then she tossed the worries away, ran a couple steps, jumped, and reached as high as she could on the knots on the rope. She swung out over the pristine lake, let go, and launched into the air.

“Yeah!” she cried out. Flying into the air and feeling like a rag doll with no effects of gravity was exhilarating. Plummeting toward the water made her stomach pitch as anticipation heightened.

Slamming into the block of icy, cold liquid and plunging down was not one bit fun.

The pressure of the heavy, freezing water surrounded her. Her ears clogged, and the chill of the water instantly made her head ache. She hadn’t taken off her shoes or any of her clothes, including the thick sweatshirt. Kicking toward the surface felt impossible. Her shoes and clothes and the uncaring darkness all weighed her down. Was she going to drown? Jarom would be undefended, and she hadn’t even gotten the kiss she longed for.

Where did one go who snubbed their nose at heaven? She’d faced death many times but had never been so acutely aware of what she was lacking. It would be uncomfortable to meet her maker and give the excuse that she’d had an awful childhood and therefore had never chosen to trust in Him. Instead, she’d let resentment fill her soul and blamed God and man for her defensiveness and emotional isolation.

No! These were irrational and stupid thoughts. She was Autumn Cardon. She wasn’t going to die in a lake and make all the people who’d tried to kill her happy.

She kicked harder and peered up through the murky, bitterly cold, dense liquid. She had to reach the surface.

A large body angled toward her. Crying out in surprise, she got a mouthful of cold water. Her lungs seemed to fill, and she coughed underwater, somehow pulling in even more of the icy liquid.

As the body sliced through the water, she recognized Jarom and her fear fled. She reached out for him.

Jarom wrapped his hands under her arms and easily tugged her to the surface, only a couple feet away. She coughed and sputtered, appreciating the crisp air, the sun’s touch, and most of all Jarom’s arms and support.

“Hold on, love,” he said. He swam her quickly toward the edge and lifted her up onto the bank. They wereboth dripping wet. Her coughing settled. He looked over every inch of her, trepidation evident in his blue orbs. “What do you need? Besides a heated blanket and hot cocoa.”

Autumn smiled through chattering lips. He was trying to make her smile despite his worry.

Chad appeared on the ledge they’d launched off of. “You two all right?”

Jarom looked at her. He was fine. It was her they were worried about. Instead of feeling defensive and mouthing off that no man need concern himself with her well-being, she felt Jarom and even Chad’s concern deeply. She appreciated it.

“Yes,” she admitted, thankfully not coughing any longer. She wrapped her arms tightly around herself and shivered.

“All right. I’ll let you have your minute.” Chad rolled his eyes, and she heard him mutter as he walked away, “Crazy in love fools.”

Jarom smiled at her. “You’re really all right?”

“How’d you know I was in trouble? I’ve never had a problem swimming before. My clothes and shoes weighed me down and I couldn’t get to the surface.” At least she’d conquered those fears and tried, but Jarom coming for her and rescuing her meant everything.

“I could claim instinct because of how much time I’ve spent in the water, but it was inspiration from above, my love. He knew you needed me at that moment.”

Her eyes widened, and she wasn’t certain how to respond.

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