Page 10 of First Moon

“Like a gaggle of my mother’s friends, all claiming theirs is the best,” I said. “Gosh, it’s hot, isn’t it? I’ve been sweating like a working girl in church since that darn bird decided to invite himself into my living room. Shouldn’t it be cooling down by this time of day?”

“It’s nice in the house,” Jack said. We were at the front door by then. Jack opened it, and I stepped inside to the cool foyer.

My gaze traveled immediately through a wall of glass on the other end of the house, where a gorgeous patio with a turquoise pool called my name in the worst way.

“What a gorgeous patio,” I said.

“You eyeing that pool?” Jack asked.

“It does look mighty inviting.”

“You want to take a swim before dinner?”

“Would you mind?” I bit my lip, feeling about sixteen years old. “I know it’s terrible manners to take a swim before a man’s dinner but—could we? Just a quick dip? Five minutes? There’s nothing I love more than splashing in some water.”

He looked at me sideways, the corner of his mouth tipping up. “No arguments from me. Do you want to change?”

“I just happen to have my favorite bikini on under this dress.”

He swallowed, stuttering. “Um, yeah, yeah, sure. How did you know I had a pool?”

“Um, because you told me earlier,” I said.

“Oh, that’s right. I plumb forgot. Dumplings in the kitchen, dumplings in the brain.”

“My building has one but I never use it. Too many eyes on me,” I said.

“I get that.”

“You sure it’s okay?” I asked. “I’m not normally this forward, but I’m so hot.”

“I get to see you in your bikini?”

“That’s an inevitable outcome, yes,” I said.

“Then get on in there.” His eyes twinkled at me, part mischievous boy and part way too sexy grown man. He took my hand and escorted me across the large great room and out to the patio. “I’ll get changed in the pool house. Feel free to jump in without me.”

I was already pulling my dress over my head and kicking off my sandals as he headed toward the pool house. I dove in head first, the cool water immediately refreshing. When I surfaced, Jack was standing on the steps leading into the shallow end.

And oh my goodness, the man without his shirt was something every woman in the world should see just to prove there was indeed a God up in heaven making beautiful things. Broad shoulders, six pack abs, and a chest I longed to run my fingers down.

“You coming in?” I asked, treading water.

“I’m working into it.”

I swam to him, then stood in front of him, his bare skin radiating heat in the last golden light of the day. Taking his hands, I led him further and further into the pool until we were both in the deep end. I thought he’d swim away, but instead he pulled me to him. My legs seemed to have a mind of their own because they wrapped themselves around his waist like that had been their purpose all along. My arms did the same around his neck. We floated like that, all entwined, and I knew this is where I was supposed to be.

“Hey, pretty girl.” Jack looked into my eyes, In the orange-tinted evening, his eyes appeared darker, more like two bags of deeply seeped tea than the sweet tea my mama makes. “Where have you been?”

“Not far,” I said.

“Far enough I couldn’t find you.”

“I’m here now,” I said.

“Is our first kiss going to be in the pool?” Jack asked, voice husky.

“Is that what you want?”