Second First Kiss

Oh, that loaded syllable.

Her eyes met his, and he didn’t seem to mind that she was dripping wet, or that her hair was probably plastered to her face, or that she smelled like irrigation water. He was devouring her with his look and moving closer. He reached a hand out and placed it on her hip. She angled toward him. She was higher on the bank, and he was lower, just like when they’d climbed the front steps to her house. Eye to eye-level, lip to lip-level.

Jasher gazed at her mouth and again at her eyes. “You liked it.”

Was he talking about the ride down the sluice or the kiss he’d given her so many years ago that she couldn’t stop reliving? “Uh-huh,” she whispered answering both questions, her breaths shallow again. How could he do this to her with a look? She’d dated, even been married, and had never had so much insane magnetic force overtake her senses.

“Wanna go again?” he asked, his voice smoky, like he knew what she was really thinking about.

And again and again. “I’ll lift my feet this time.”

“Okay.” He pulled away, releasing her from his powerful gaze.

Together, they hiked down the ravine, across the road, and up the other side. This time, he lifted her down into the water, his hands never leaving her waist as he nested her against him.

She wrapped her arms around his neck. He hugged her tight.

“Ready?” He entered the sluice, hugging her close. “You’ll like it more this time.”

She already did. It was like they were skydiving together, except in dirty water.

He fingered the bones of her spine, and then placed the flat of his hand on her lower back, pressing her closer. The little flame that the glistening water droplet had lit in her belly grew to a bigger blaze. She’d better douse it because his touch was gasoline, and this closeness was matches and torches.

“What made you choose the sluice as a date location?” she asked. “Pretty unconventional.”

“I wanted to appeal to an unconventional bidder.”

“Shut up.”

“Okay, fine. I didn’t know it was for a date. It wasn’t just a way to look cheap, which is what everyone at the bachelor table was saying.”

“Huh?” The water rushed them down. She wished it wouldn’t end. “How could you not know?”

“All Inchy said was list your favorite local places. I happen to love the sluice.”

Sage sank and bobbed back up with him. “I’ll admit, it’s climbing my charts.”

A spark lit Jasher’s eye. “I like hearing that.” He curled his fingers and ran them down the side of her face. She lifted her chin—

And the sluice ended, water slowing as the canal widened. They had to get out—or face a long walk back up the canal. Then again, would that be a bad thing?

“Okay, hold tight.” Jasher clutched her, and she hugged him while he exited the canal, carrying Sage.

Atop the bank, she wasn’t quite ready to let go. “I liked that version of the sluice.”

“We could repeat it.” He gazed down at her.

“I’ll race you to the starting line.” Sage took off down the hill, Jasher close on her heels. He overtook her in no time, and was waiting down in the water at the entry point, where she jumped into his arms. He caught her. She splashed him. He splashed her back. They were laughing and splashing so much they didn’t see the melee of teenagers and children unloading from the back of an old pickup truck until a dozen of them had jumped into the canal wearing water wings and holding swim noodles.

“Geronimo!” First kid cannonballed into the water.

“I’ll race you to the end.” Second kid jumped in, too.

“I’m going to walk back across the wood slats along the top.” A bunch more kids followed.

“No, you’re not. Mom said we can’t do that anymore. The board is broken.”

“I’m going to tie a rope to the one in the middle and then hang over the side.”