Page 58 of The Other Half

We sat together in silence for a moment and I watched the flames licking the logs while they crumbled. A glance over to Cassie found those eyes that had haunted me these past two weeks searching mine. The way the light illuminated her face had my hammering heart pounding even faster. God she was beautiful.

A new song started on the radio, and when I heard the lyrics start up, I closed my eyes and chuckled. Let Me Down Easy. Of course, it was. The song that had me thinking of her every time I had heard it since I met her was now the soundtrack to our quiet moment. The powerful lyrics fueled me with the confidence I’d struggled to find. This time I wasn’t going to screw it up.

Standing up, I reached out a hand and stared down at her. “Dance with me.”

With a slack jaw, she looked back up at me. Holding my breath, I awaited her answer. It came when she reached out and took my hand. When her fingers closed around mine, I finally let out a long exhale. A gentle tug pulled her to her feet and into my arms. Feeling her arms encircle my neck, and the weight of her body press up against mine chased away the last of my fears. I had nothing to lose. Not even my heart. She already had it.

Together we swayed to the sounds. The full moon hung over our heads while the flickering embers floated up before drifting back down around us. Just feeling her in my arms erased all the pain, all the lies, and all the agony that had been my life lately. Everything about this moment told me this is where I belonged. With her. As the song came to an end, she looked up at me. My heart stalled out underneath the desire in her stare. Casting aside all my doubts, I reached down and slid my hand under her chin. While I tipped it up, she rose on her toes, our mouths drawing together like magnets.

Just before our lips finally touched, a loud splash drew our attention to the lake. The full moon showed Hank bouncing up and down in the water sending droplets spraying into the sky, then a small yip traveled up from the water.

“Poppy!” Cassie screamed. “She can’t swim!”

We broke our embrace and raced toward the water. Hank barked, and I could hear the panic in his tone. When we reached the dock, I saw the faint outline of Poppy in the water below me. Ripping off my shirt, I dove into the water after her. Emerging with a gasp, I searched the water for her little dog.

“Poppy!” I heard Cassie screaming from the dock just before she plunged in after me.

“Poppy!” I called, my eyes scanning the surface of the water. Hank swam past and Cassie popped up beside him.

“Where is she? Poppy! Poppy! Jake! Find her! Please!”

I dove under, searching the blackness and finding nothing. Desperate to find her, I stayed under until I choked for the relief of a breath of air. When I popped up, I saw Cassie treading water beside me, the little dog safe in her arms.

“I found her! She swam to me!”

“She can swim?” I asked, gasping for breath.

“Apparently she can.” Cassie kissed her head. “My little Princess Poppy can swim! She’s okay!”

“Good God. I thought she’d drowned, and I killed your dog.” The panic pushing my heart to near bursting finally let loose.

“I thought a Musky got her!” She panted while she broke into laughter.

“Poor little Muskybait.”

“She’s not Musky bait!” A splash of water slammed into my face.

“I know! I’m teasing! Well go on. Let’s see her swim.”

“Are you sure a Musky won’t eat her?”

“I’m sure, Cassie. There aren’t any in Kangaroo Lake. And I promise, she’s too big for any fish to eat.”

Poppy struggled in her arms. With a sigh, Cassie released her grip and the little creature cut through the water like a seasoned swimmer. Hank paddled up beside her and the two swam in circles before paddling back to shore and tumbling in a heap as they rolled through the yard.

“Are you okay?” I asked, swimming up beside her where she made it to water shallow enough to stand.

“Yes. I think I had a heart attack, but I’m okay.”

Finding my footing in the sand, I walked the last few steps to where she stood wringing the water from her hair. Droplets slid down her shoulders and rejoined the lake. The way the full moon illuminated her wet skin sent a surge of passion coursing through my veins. It pulsed with my desire for her, like she’d somehow gotten inside me, and every fiber of my being belonged to her, and only her.

When I stopped in front of her, our eyes connected. I gave her no time to speak, or even breathe. Sliding my hands along her face, I pulled her into my kiss and caught her gasp in my mouth. This time I wasn’t sliding down the cliff, desperate to stop the descent. I launched off it and enjoyed every second of my free fall while her tongue met mine.

Our bodies pressed together while her arms encircled my neck. Every agonizing second I’d been away from her dissolved with the power of our kiss. The heat from her body pressed up against my bare chest sent a throbbing sensation into my soaking jeans. With every swirl of her tongue and grasp of her hands on my shoulders, I felt her ripping away the last of the walls I’d built around myself. Like a tornado tearing through me, she sent all my reservations flying away. And I was happy to see them go. If being with her meant feeling like this, then there wasn’t anything in the world that could keep her out of my arms.

She was the hand that pulled me from the ashes. The voice that guided me out of the dark. The touch that soothed the last of my ache away. To me, she was everything. And now she was mine.

“Jake,” she breathed as our kiss softened. Warm breath ghosted my lips, and I claimed hers once again. Lifting her body up against mine, I slid my hand down her back, pulling her tighter while she slid a leg around mine. The heat burning between us could have boiled the water swirling around our legs. It burned away all my fears, all my reservations, and I deepened our kiss.