“Hello,” she said.
“Morning,” he said, grinning at her.
Go away, she thought, but she smiled back, trying to act unconcerned. “Did you come to watch?”
“No. I came to swim.”
“Well, come on in.” She gestured behind her. “There’s plenty of room.”
“Well, now, I don’t know.” He pushed his hat back a little farther on his head. “Are you naked?”
“Yes.”
“Then there’s not plenty of room.” He shook his head. “I’ll go in when you come out.”
Kate almost asked him to put his hat over his eyes.
She knew he’d do it, but if she was going to swim in the nude, she should have the courage of her convictions. After all, it was just Jake.
On the other hand, even if it was just Jake, she was still embarrassed for him to see her naked.
While she pondered, he watched her, laughter in his eyes.
The hell with you, she thought. Laugh at this, buddy. “All right,” she said. “The lake is yours.”
She swam toward him until the water was waist deep, and then walked out.
Jake didn’t move. In fact, he seemed frozen. She walked up beside him and bent to pick up her T-shirt. He was only inches away from her, and he turned and watched her as she bent. Then she straightened and arched her back to pull the shift over her head. The cotton stuck to the water on her body and it took a lot longer than she liked before she finally got it pulled over her hips.
“Well, you’ve certainly improved my morning,” Jake said.
“Anything to oblige.” Kate picked up her towel and scuffed on her sandals. “Have a nice swim,” she said and walked into the woods, her heart beating like mad.
Jake sat there for a while after she’d gone, stunned.
She’d looked so funny in the lake, biting her lip, trying to figure out what to do, and then, just when he’d been about to turn his back, she’d gotten that look in her eye and come walking out of the lake toward him.
Ben was right. She was no kid.
He’d felt like a rabbit caught in headlights. He hadn’t been able to take his eyes off her body, round and full and taut with the cold. She’d strolled out of the lake like a goddess, and if it had taken one more second for her to pull that cotton thing on, he’d have reached for her.
He closed his eyes. Narrow escape. In fact, it would be a good idea to stay away from Kate since she was turning out to be the most confusing woman he’d ever known. He’d thought she was just another empty suit, but out on the lake she was the best company he’d ever had. He’d thought she was a snob, but she defended Nancy against Valerie. He’d thought she was cold, but she swam naked in the lake and, from the expression on her face, loved it. He’d thought she was an attractive woman, but lately her beauty was beginning to take on mythic proportions in his dreams.
And what he’d seen today was not going to help matters.
Sighing, he took off his clothes and went into the lake. It felt like a cold shower, which was just what he needed anyway.
When Kate got back to the cabin, she slammed the door behind her, her face burning with embarrassment. She’d done it.
The only problem was, now she had to face him sometime again.
The more she thought about it, the braver she felt. Big deal. He’d seen her naked. It was her choice. And he probably didn’t give a damn. And, the sooner she faced him, the sooner she’d stop dreading it. She’d just act like nothing happened. No big deal.
In fact, the more she thought about it, the prouder she was of herself for being so free, so brave. Jessie would have loved it.
She had steak and eggs and home fries for breakfast to celebrate, and then at nine, she buttoned an oversize white shirt over her black bathing suit, filled a cotton bag with books and apples, clapped her new black hat on her head, and went off to meet Jake at the boat.
Chapter Seven
“Nice hat,” was all Jake said when he saw her, and Kate breathed a tiny sigh of relief. Still buddies, she thought. I’d have missed him. She got in the boat, and he rowed over to the willow.
They took off their shirts, set their poles and then leaned back. Their legs stretched out in the boat companionably next to each other, and Kate no longer worried about touching him, absentmindedly enjoying the warmth of his skin next to hers, as she pulled out her book and began to read.
Jake watched her read. He was glad she’d come back because he would have missed her. There really wasn’t any problem because as attractive as Kate was, she’d made it clear that he was not part of her plan. There was no danger. And now that she was back, he felt comfortable again. He hadn’t lost anything by seeing her naked except for the few brain cells he’d burned out looking directly at her breasts.
He looked up into the willow and listened to the water lap against the boat. It’s a good life, he thought and pulled his hat over his eyes and slept.
Half an hour later, Kate was deep in her book and didn’t notice the tug on Jake’s line until the pole was nearly bent to the water.
“Jake!” she called, and when he didn’t answer, she swatted his leg with her foot.
He woke up grumpy.
“What?”
“There’s something on your line.”
He tilted his hat back and then sat up fast, grabbing the pole before it flipped into the water.
“Damn,” he said, and fought the fish. It was a big one, and it broke the water battling, flapping water all over him as he ducked and tried to grab it Kate reclined in her end of the boat and watched Jake fight the good fight while she ate her second apple.
Finally, drenched and exasperated, he got the fish off the hook and threw it back in the lake. He sat looking at her, his forearms on his knees, his hands dangling in front of him, water dripping off his chest, arms and hands.
“You were a great help,” he said.
“If I’d known you were going to be this energetic,” she said, “I wouldn’t have brought you.” She tossed her apple core back over her head into the lake. “Now cut the hook off your line. The fish around here are positively suicidal.”
Jake shook his head at her stupidity. “What does a fish have to be depressed about?”
“Fine.” Kate waved her hand at him. “Slap yourself in the face with a fish again.” She leaned back in the boat and picked up her book. “Just make sure you let me know. I don’t want to miss it.”
A few moments later she heard the soft snick of his knife cutting through the line, and she grinned to herself.
“Give me an apple,” Jake said and she put her book down and tossed him one. He lay back in his end of the boat and bit into it.
“Where’d you get the hat?” he asked.
“Cline’s.”
“It looks really good on you.”
“I know. I think it’s sexy.”
He studied her critically for a while. “No,” he said finally. “It’s not sexy, but it looks good.”
Kate smiled smugly. “Well, I’m counting on it being sexy. I have a date this afternoon.”
“Oh, Lord.” Jake closed his eyes. “Who are you going to destroy now?”
“I beg your pardon?”
“The hotel would appreciate it if you’d just throw back the men you don’t like without maiming them.”
“I haven’t maimed anyone.”
“You almost drowned Lance, you scared Peter into heart palpitations, you stabbed Donald with a fork, and you hit Brad over the head with a bottle.” Jake shook his head. “And they still ask you out.”
“Lance asked for it, Peter was cheating, Donald was an accident, and, I might point out, I hit Brad to save you-an act I have regretted ever since.”
“They ask you out, but they don’t keep you. Has any guy actually finished a date with you?”
Kate sat up, outraged. “Listen, I’ve had affairs with men.”
Jake snorted. “So you’ve said, but where are they now?”