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“Shawn, this is incredible.”
“I found it by accident,” he says as he leads me to sit on a boulder near the pool. “I took a walk one day and found the trail and ended up here. I think I sat here for about four hours that day and fleshed out the idea for a film that’s currently in production.”
“That’s awesome.” I take a deep breath, enjoying everything about this place. The water is crisp and cold, and once in a while, I feel a small droplet that escapes the roaring water hit my face. “I wrote a book once about a woman who knew everything there is to know about astrology and each birth sign. Of course, I had to do a ton of research. I’m an Aquarius, an air sign. Air signs usually pull their energy from the elements of nature. I never really took it seriously, but I can totally see that. As I’m sitting here, breathing it all in, I feel energized. Who knew that I could be outdoorsy?”
He laughs and squeezes my hand, and we sit in silence for a long while, listening to the water and just enjoying this special place.
Finally, I stand and walk around the pond, and then start to feel restless.
“Are you ready to head back?” he asks.
“I think so, if that’s okay with you.”
“Of course.”
We hike back down the trail, with me in the lead. It feels good to stretch my legs, and before long, I find myself running down the path. The strain on my lungs feels wonderful, my legs feel strong and ready to run for as long and as far as I want to go.
Yes, I’ll be getting back into running when I get home. I’ve missed it.
When I reach the bottom of the trail, I stop and wait for Shawn, who isn’t far behind me. He’s panting hard but grinning.
“You’re like a gazelle,” he says as he bends at the waist and tries to catch his breath. “Jesus, I could barely keep up with you. You definitely should get back into running. You’re damn good at it.”
“I just decided I’m going to,” I say. “And the hiking isn’t so bad either. Look at me, being all outdoorsy and everything!”
Just then, I feel something crawling along my arm. I stare in horror at a massive spider walking across me as if it belongs there.
“Oh, shit! Get it off get it off get it off!”
Shawn swats at it, sending it to the ground, and I do the squirmy, creeped-out spider dance.
“I take it back. I hate nature. I fucking hate nature.”
Shawn’s laughing, so I glare at him out of principle.
“It was just a wee spider,” he says, turning up his Irish to charm me.
“It wasn’t a wee anything. Except I might have wee’d in my pants at the sight of that monster.”
Shawn laughs harder as we walk to the house.
“I need a shower, stat.”
“You don’t look like you sweated much.”
“I had a spider on me, Shawn. I have to wash off. Ew.”
“Do you want me to check you for ticks?”
“Ticks?” I stare at him incredulously. “You didn’t say anything about ticks. Are you telling me I could have Lyme disease now? Oh my God, Shawn.”
He’s practically rolling on the ground in laughter. “You’re so damn cute. The odds of a tick already taking hold are very slim. We’ll get you all checked out in the shower.”
“Is this your sly way of getting me naked?”
“Did it work?”
“Yeah.”* * *Shower Shenanigans should be an Olympic sport. I’m happy to report that there were zero ticks found on either of us, but there were plenty of orgasms to be had—and that’s a successful morning in my book.
Now, we’re sitting in the family room with an Indiana Jones movie showing on the huge TV while we play Canasta.
“I can’t believe you’ve never played this before,” I say as I take a card from the deck. “I used to play all the time with my dad.”
“Were you a card shark with him, too?” Shawn asks with a frown.
“Maybe. You have to take your pants off.”
Did I mention we’re playing strip Canasta? Because we are. It’s glorious. So far, all I’m missing is the button-down shirt I put on over my cami after our shower. Other than that, I’m fully clothed.
Shawn is now officially only in his boxers.
It’s a sight to behold.
“So, you won,” Shawn says.
“No, you’re still wearing your underwear. I don’t win until you’re naked.”
He cocks a brow. “If getting me naked is your goal, I’ll happily do so without having you kick my ass at cards, Lex.”
I giggle and shuffle the cards. “But this is so much fun.”
“For you.” He waits while I deal, watching me with happy, green eyes. He’s acting like a sore loser, but he’s been laughing and having a good time regardless. “I had no idea you were so competitive.”
