After a few minutes, I note, “There aren’t any interesting clouds today.”
“Naw, they all look like cotton balls,” Reno agrees and then sighs. “I miss Sexy Bunny.”
I giggle, but the sound soon fades away as my mind turns to Reno leaving.Three days.I don’t want him to go.
Turning my thoughts to safer topics, I say, “I’m trying to decide what the waterfall sounds like. For my book.”
“Hmmm,” he grumbles. “It’s not a rush of water. Much softer than that.”
“But it’s more than a trickle,” I add.
We both close our eyes and listen as we hold hands, our bodies floating in the buoyant warmth of the water.
“It’s soothing and peaceful,” Reno notes.
My brain sorts through all the words, rearranging them into something pretty. “A thousand peaceful trickles that combine into a soothing melody that surrounds us.”
“Mmhmm, that’s good shit,” he says, and I giggle and turn my face toward him. He’s even gorgeous in profile.
“You ever thought about becoming a writer? I think you could nail a romance book.”
He smiles at the sky. “I'd rather nail you.” Then he opens those pretty green eyes and looks at me. “So there’s a waterfall scene in your book?”
“Yep, it’s near the end. But first I need to infuse a little drama into the situation.” I do an evil witch cackle, and Reno laughs.
“What’s rolling around in that beautiful brain of yours?”
I love that he likes my brain. My chaotic, scattered brain that’s sometimes difficult to keep under control. But Reno likes it. Appreciates it, anddammit, I’m going to miss him.
“Anna’s ex is going to come into town and try to get her back.”
“That twat, Bradford?” Reno mutters. “Tell me she’s not going to entertain that bullshit.”
“Of course not,” I scoff. “Bradford is going to want to come to her place, but Anna insists on meeting somewhere public. Then Reid is going to see Bradford and Anna at the restaurant, and that’s when he’s going to realize hecan’tlose her.”
“Because he loves her,” Reno finishes.
“Exactamundo. So he shows up at her apartment later and…” I pause dramatically. “Claims her.”
Reno’s grin widens. “Ahh, the claiming fuck. Took him long enough.”
“Well, he’s a stubborn jock who refuses to get in touch with his feelings,” I explain.
“He’s stupid for not realizing Anna is exactly the kind of woman he needs.” Reno’s eyes search my face for a long moment, and then his eyelids shutter closed as he turns his face back to the sky.
The silence that follows is heavy, an oppressive thing that threatens to push me beneath the surface of the water and drown me. So I do the only thing I can.
I pinch Reno’s ass, yell, “Got your goose!” and then dive beneath the water to swim away. Even with my head submerged, I hear his yelp of surprise, and then I can sense him behind me, giving chase.
The waterfall smacks against my back as I swim underneath it and surface on the other side. Seconds later, Reno pops up in front of me, a playful scowl on his forehead as he swipes the water away from his face with one big hand.
“Got your goose?” he asks, lifting one dark eyebrow.
I grin. “My friend Evie and I used to play that when we were little girls atsummer camp.”
“Sounds delightful,” he says sarcastically before hauling me against him. His body is big and warm, the skin sleek beneath my fingers when I run them over his shoulders.
We’re in a kind of cave thing behind the waterfall, and it’s somehow quieter back here. Darker too, though scant streams of light penetrate the dimness and glint off the rocky surfaces. The water hits Reno up to his shoulders, and he holds me surely in his arms.
