Page 21 of The Maverick

She felt her face heat to the temperature of Venus, and her face probably looked severely sunburned. “Um, thanks. You’re not looking so bad yourself. You have a lot more muscles than I remember.” She ran, jumped into the water and then, after she surfaced, she walked backwards in the cool water while keeping her gaze on Nick.

He laughed. “That’s what throwing bales of hay will do for you.”

“Why would you throw bales of hay? Don’t you have a machine for that?”

“No, I want to keep as close to the old ways as possible...with some things. I use machinery where I believe it’s necessary.” He ran a hand behind his neck as he joined her in the water. “And that’s about everywhere when it comes to producing hay.”

“Why don’t you just buy the hay? Wouldn’t that be easier?”

“Sure, but it’s way more expensive than growing it myself. Mom and Dad have the machinery already, so I just borrow it after they’re done with the harvest.”

She continued to walk backwards while talking.

“Uh, Rach, there’s a?—”

Suddenly, Rachel stepped back and off into the deep end. She went under and then kicked to the top, sputtering as she broke the surface. She pushed her wet hair back off her face. “You should have signs to warn a person there’s a drop-off.”

Nick pointed to the depth markings on the pool wall. “We do.” He grinned and then laughed.

Rachel laughed right along with him as she treaded water. “Well, I wasn’t looking over there. I was mesmerized by the muscular form in front of me.”

Now, it was Nick’s turn to turn red. “I guess I can’t blame you for that.”

The way he looked at her had her insides doing flips and all her blood rushing south.

Nick walked closer.

Rachel froze in place, unable to move away. She licked her lips just as Nick stopped right in front of her.

He pushed a lock of hair behind her ear, and then the same hand cradled her head while he lowered his to hers, taking her lips in a gentle kiss.

She wrapped her arms and legs around him. The feel of his skin on hers was enough to set all her lady parts aflame.

He sank at her unexpected weight.

They bobbed to the surface, sputtering and laughing.

“Guess that will teach me to kiss you.”

“Back up. Go to where we can both stand without drowning.”

He did as she ordered.

She stood in front of him, reached up, cupped his head, and pulled gently until she could press her lips against his.

His arms came around her, and he pulled her close.

She placed her arms around his neck, her pulse raced and her heart pounded as she kissed him for all she was worth. She pressed her tongue against his lips and was thrilled he opened for her. This was her second genuine kiss from Nick, and it definitely wouldn’t be her last. Was it possible, after all she’d been through with Greg, that her dreams really were coming true? Could Nick fall in love with her, or was this just because of their proximity? Would this feeling change after she returned to her house in Denver?

CHAPTER6

Rachel woke the next morning to Jake jumping on her bed.

“Get up, Mommy! Get up! I’m gonna learn how to ride today. Hurry up! Get up!”

She hadn’t seen him so excited about doing something in, well, she wasn’t sure she’d ever seen him this excited.

“Okay. Okay. I’m up. Now, get out of here so I can get dressed. I’ll see you in the kitchen in ten minutes or so.”