Page 27 of The Duke's Goddess

“Just…need to…finish…yes. There!” she exclaimed.

God, that was torture. “Get up,” he shouted.

“No need to growl at me. I’m trying to save us.”

He glared at her and started rowing them back to shore.

“Oh dear, the stockings aren’t working.”

“What?”

“Can’t you see the water collecting in the bottom of the boat?”

Yes, he could see it. Now that he was looking at it. But no, he hadn’t seen it because he was trying to keep his eyes up and away from her or anything near her.

“The boat is going to sink before we get to shore,” Joan stated the obvious.

“Hell,” James muttered. This was a terrible situation. Should he jump in the water and take some weight out of the boat? The hole was just high enough that without his fifteen stone frame it might bob above the waterline.

Well, better him than her in the water. He started to take off his outer layers.

“What are you doing?”

“Swimming.”

“Now?”

“It’s so you don’t have to.”

“Oh.”

And then he stood up, ready to jump.

Chapter 10

“Ponder and deliberate before you make a move.”

–Sun Tzu

“DON’T JUMP!” A CLEAR, female voice rang out. It wasn’t quite panicking. But it was a warning, yet laced in hope. James stood still, widening his stance so as to reduce the wobbling of the boat.

When James looked up, he saw Joan’s wide eyes. “I think I see Jacob and Sally. Let’s wave them down. You don’t have to jump in the water if we can get their attention. They’re just over there.” She pointed at a beige and brown cluster poking out of the water.

If he didn’t have to dive into the water to save them, he would much prefer that. James glanced behind him and there behind some cattails was the edge of Jacob’s boat. Now that he was looking for it, he could see it. “They can’t see us yet.”

They waited, anticipating the boat would come into full view shortly. Nothing.

“Jacob!” he called out, realizing the boat wasn’t moving. They waited again eagerly. Surely Jacob heard that. Nope. What the deuce were they doing? There was no reason to stop on the water and look at a forest of cattails. Unless…and well, James was a man. A virile man. He could think of a reason or two to pause, hidden from view.

Did he really want to disruptthatif it was happening? But his options were limited. One: Sit in a sinking boat. Two: Jump into a lake to save himself. Three: Cock block a friend.

“Jacob!” James called louder.

Nothing.

James directed his attention to Joan. “Together, on three.” When she nodded, he counted down. “One. Two. Three.”

“Jacob!”

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