Page 28 of Wildfire
Chapter Thirteen: Cole
I toss and turn all night. Everything about Renée drives me wild, and I don't want to think that way about her since I know she is leaving. But I also wonder if Buzz might be right. She might stay if she can play with the band. I mean, what if that's enough for her?
What if I'm enough for her?
I get up at half past one and go for another swim to exhaust my mind. There is nothing like exercise to unwind the brain. The moon is high in the sky and almost full. It's glowing on the water's surface, making it look like glass. Except for one spot about twenty feet out, I see something bobbing, breaking the surface. It might be a piece of wood or the beaver my mother always complains about. But as I draw closer, I see it's a person.
It's Renée.
"Can't sleep?"
Her head spins around as she paddles in place. A wide grin stretches across her face, which warms me in several key places.
"No, you?"
"Same."
"Well, get in then."
She swims toward the dock where I'm standing in my swim trunks, desire twisting me up in knots. I kick off my flip-flops and dive in, letting my body glide through the water like a dolphin.
When I pop my head up, I see her watching me, but this time, the grin is replaced with an intense gaze as she bites her bottom lip. My eyes lock on her lips as we churn water, keeping a few feet between us. I'm grateful the water isn't more transparent, or she might see that despite the cool temperature, I am sporting big wood.
"What's got you up so late, Chief?"
"Work."
Only a tiny lie.
"You?"
"Music." I see her eyes dart away momentarily, and I wonder if that is a 'tell' when she is being dishonest.
Maybe we both have something to hide.
"Want to swim to the other side? It always helps me deal with insomnia. At least in the summer. I couldn't do this year round."
"Sure. But I'll have you know, I'm the fastest swimmer in my family. I had to be, or my brothers would dunk me in the lake."
"I wouldn't dream of dunking you. Let's go."
Swimming is going to have to settle my mind, even though she is only a few feet away.
We lap the lake twice before hopping out and resting on the dock. That is when I see her in a cropped tank and underwear. Despite the unseasonably warm weather, it is chilly enough outside that her nipples immediately perk up, and all the headway I've made clearing my mind during the swim is lost.
I'm already a goner for her.
She doesn't seem shy about her body the way many other women are, and it's unnerving. There is something raw about her sitting there, legs draped over the edge, water dripping down her bare belly. I have to wrap myself in my towel to cover the boner that is forming again.
"Toss me my towel, Chief?"
I throw it at her and pretend to find something interesting in the other direction. Not only do I not want to see Renée towel off, but I am hiding. Little Chief is standing in full salute.
"I think I'm going to head in. Got a long day tomorrow."
"You mean today?"
"Yeah. Today. Goodnight, Wildfire."
