by Jen Talty
The sooner you get him in your bed and get the pictures for proof, the sooner this will be over… The sooner your brother will be released…
She blinked, staring at the text, heat rising from her toes to the pit of her gut. She hadn’t thought about the consequences of sleeping with a stranger when Gray Eyes had shown up at her doorstep with images and video of her brother, tied up, beaten, and begging for her to do whatever was demanded of her.
If you keep texting me, and he sees this, then I won’t be able to seduce him. I’ll get you the pictures in the next 48 hours.
She paused, wondering if she was arrogant to think Josh was that interested. Her fingers hovered over her phone. She added:
I want to speak to my brother.
Then she hit send.
A few cars whizzed by, but so far, no sign of Josh, and it was five minutes after elven.
Your brother is fine…for now. You can talk to him after I have the proof.
“Hello, Delaney,” a smooth, sultry voice said.
She looked toward the lake and dropped her phone, seeing Josh on the bottom step of the Inn’s porch in a pair of jean shorts and a white tank top, his well-defined, tanned shoulders soaked in the sun rays. “Where did you come from?”
He bent over, lifted her cell phone, then handed it to her, thankfully facedown.
“The docks,” he said. “Ready?”
“Where are we going?” The moment she took the hand he offered, the heat from his warm and tender touch hit all the important parts of her body.
He lifted her beach bag in his other hand, then tugged her toward the waterfront. “Bathing suit in here?”
She’d never been one to appreciate surprises. They only added a level of anxiety that she preferred not to have in her life, especially with men. But right now, excitement replaced her apprehension, and that confused her because what she was going to do to Josh shouldn’t excite her on any level. “Why are we going this way?”
“I came by boat,” he said. “You don’t have any place to be today, do you?”
“Well, no.”
“Good.”
With her fingers laced in his strong hand, they walked in silence to the waterfront of The Heritage Inn. As she stepped on the dock, a group of teenagers laughed and splashed each other while sitting on various floating devices. Boats raced by, sending waves rolling into the swimming area created by two large boathouses with sun decks and a rope between them.
“A girl could get used to this,” she said.
“The view? Or being swept off her feet for a picnic on the lake?”
“Both.”
“This is me.” He stopped in front of a sleek red-and-white boat. She didn’t know much about watercraft, but she did know this was called a bow-rider because of the seats in the front. The back—or stern—had a large cushion that she figured was meant for sunning, big enough for two, a thought that sent the butterflies in her stomach roaring in flight.
“Watch your step.”
The boat rocked as she climbed in. “Where should I sit?”
“Right there.” He pointed to the bucket seat next to the driver’s console.
“This is nice.” If this were a real date, she’d be impressed, enjoying herself. Instead, nerves fluttered in the pit of her stomach and fear flooded her thoughts, stifling any budding romance.
“This was my splurge,” he said. “I should have bought a new car, since mine has close to a hundred and fifty thousand miles, but I couldn’t resist. Pointless to live on the lake and not have a boat.”
“Do you get out much on the lake?”
She watched his biceps tighten as he untied the ropes holding the boat to the dock. The sudden tingle and tightening of her nipples warmed her cheeks.
He smiled when he sat down, fiddling with the throttle and key before the engines roared to life. “Almost every day, but some of that time is working Lake George Patrol.”
“What’s that?”
He glanced toward her, lowering his sunglasses, his green eyes peering over the rims. “Troopers patrol the lake.”
“Oh.” She’d been so busy watching him, enjoying his tanned muscles, that she’d hadn’t really been listening. She’d seen various police boats on the Hudson in the city, so it made perfect sense they would be here, too. The boat hit a wave, sending her butt right out of her seat. She gripped the dashboard. “How fast are we going?”
“Maybe thirty miles an hour.” He laughed. “If you anticipate the waves and move your body with them, it won’t be so hard on your ass.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
“Do you have sunscreen on?”
The man was a regular boy scout. “I do. And I brought more.” She kept her focus on the waves, which did nothing to help the heat rippling across her skin that wasn’t being generated by the sun. “When you mentioned a bathing suit, I figured sunscreen would be a logical accessory.”
“That’s my girl,” he said.
In another time and place, she wouldn’t mind being his girl, but right now, she needed to get her shit together and get the job done. She concentrated on the boats whizzing by in all directions, creating clashing groups of waves over the surface of the water.
She noticed Josh did his best to make the impact of the waves less harsh by the way he maneuvered the boat.
“Hey! That’s a Lake George Patrol Boat.” She pointed, then waved at the watercraft that looked more like a fishing boat than a police boat. “Is that what you drive on patrol?”
“It is,” he said as he waved, slowing the boat. “That’s my buddy Tristan.”
“Hey, Josh,” Tristan called as the patrol boat floated just a few feet away. “Busy out there today.”
“When is your shift done?” Josh asked.
“Couple hours. Then I’ve got a hot date with that new waitress, Viv.”
“She’s way out of your league,” Josh said.
“I could say the same thing.” Tristan tipped his hat toward Delaney. She smiled sweetly, but her heart beat frantically. “Weren’t you at the Boardwalk last night?”
“I was,” she said.
“Nice to meet you,” Tristan said. “I best be going. I’ve got a few things to check on.”
“Thanks, man,” Josh said.
The front of the boat rose out of the water, gaining speed. She grabbed the sides of her seat, holding on, trying to calm her nerves and her hormones.
“She decided small talk might help. Don’t you get hot in that uniform out here?”
“Not as hot as the woman sitting next to me.” He flashed a grin.
“You’ve very good with the quick lines,” she said. He could string words together that had no meaning, and it would be better than any original ‘sexy line’ any man could come up with.
“I’m just getting warmed up.”
The sun beat down, casting a bright glow across the crystal-blue water. She’d read about how beautiful Lake George was, but being here, seeing the mountains in the background, smelling the fresh water mixed with humid air, put all those descriptions to shame.
Josh pointed out various tourist spots and other landmarks on their twenty-minute ride. They approached a group of islands, and he slowed down, pointing to each one, naming it and telling a short story. She listened intently, focusing on the timbre of his husky voice, not remembering anything he said about the landmarks.
“Are we going to one of these islands?” she asked, sending her heart fluttering, wondering if he intended to spend the night at one.
“Nope,” he said, pushing the throttle down again as they reached another open area of the lake. “Our final destination is West Dollar Island. It’s for picnics.”
“We’re not going to a restaurant on the lake?”
“We’re going to have a nice picnic over there. ” He pointed. “Hold on.”
“Why?” She watched him push the throttle down, and the boat speed up, forcing her to grab the dashboard again.
“I’ve go
tten her up to about fifty,” he said. “In flat waters like this, it’s a nice ride.”
“The subway is a nice ride,” she mumbled.
The next five minutes, all she could feel was the wind slapping against her face with the occasional wet spray from the boat. There was something dangerously exhilarating about the way the boat rocketed across the surface. Being on this boat, in this place, with a man she’d just met, excited her in a way she didn’t think possible.
She forced a smile as he slowed the boat between the shoreline and an island. Laughing, followed by loud splashes, stole her attention. The water swirled as two or three girls emerged from the water at the base of the island’s cliffs.
“Oh, my,” she whispered.
More laughing, and someone yelling at the girls to get out of the way. Delaney looked up, seeing two girls, hand-in-hand, leaping from the cliffs above, and a few seconds later, crashing into the water. “That’s crazy.”
“It’s fun.” With ease, he docked the boat, jumped off, then secured the ropes to the posts. She thought about offering to help, but she wouldn’t know what to do.
“Hand me your bag,” he said.
He took the bag, offering his hand, then hoisting her to the dock before he jumped back in the boat.
“What are you doing?” Her voice trembled.
“Getting our lunch and my bag.”
“Oh.”
His biceps flexed as he carried a small cooler from the boat to shore, where she followed him up a steep trail. She’d never seen so much lush greenery in once place before. The tall trees shaded most of the island, but the way the sun rays danced between the branches took her breath away.
“After lunch, we can jump into the water.”
“I’m not jumping off that cliff.”
“You can swim, can’t you?”
All she had to do was sleep with him, and then she could go back to her normal little life that didn’t include men with hot bodies who happened to be gentlemen. “Not the point.”
“Let’s eat first. Then we can talk about it.” He found an empty picnic table amongst the families, teenagers, young lovers, and set the cooler on the ground. “I packed lots of food,” he said, pulling out a couple of large food containers and a huge bowl of salad.
“You made all this?” She perched herself on the bench across from him.
“I live above a restaurant.” He chuckled. “I just had them make what you ordered last night for dinner and a couple of club sandwiches.”
“That salad was fabulous.” Her stomach growled, remembering she’d been too nervous to eat last night. The same this morning. “Are we splitting?”
“You can have the entire salad,” he said. “Water. Diet Coke. Or Fresca.”
“Fresca.”
She dug into her chicken Caesar salad, forcing herself to glance around to keep from staring at into his bright green eyes. No matter how hard she tried, when she caught their stare, she couldn’t let go, even when that pang of guilt seeped in.
Families sat together laughing, mostly enjoying each other. She chose to watch a toddler throwing a temper tantrum rather than gawk at the young couple sitting on the same side of the table, occasionally shoving their tongues down each other’s throats.
“What does your brother do?” Josh asked out of the blue.
Trying not to choke on the piece of chicken in her mouth, she covered her lips with her hand and swallowed. “He works for my ex-boyfriend.”
“That’s got to be awkward,” Josh said. “Are you and your brother close?”
She dropped her plastic fork in the empty salad bowl, wishing she hadn’t eaten the entire thing. “Not really, but we’re all each other has since our parents died about five years ago.” She took a napkin then toyed with it under the table. The sudden interest in her brother sent a prickle against her skin. Best to deflect the conversation back to him. “What about you? Do you have any siblings?”
He shook his head as his gaze dropped to the ground. “Only child.”
“Sometimes I wish I had been an only child,” she said. “What about your parents?”
“I was raised by a single mother. She passed away a little over two years ago.” The way his mouth pulled into a straight line gave away a vulnerability she hadn’t expected from him.
“I’m sorry. What happened?” Delaney wanted to reach across the table and take his hand, but she couldn’t bring herself to do it. Everything about this situation was fake, except him, and to offer comfort and solace over the death of his mother would add a new layer of deception.
“She had a heart attack. I didn’t see it coming. She was the picture of health.”
“What about your dad?”
“Never met him,” he said. “He was killed in the line of duty right before I was born.”
“Jesus,” she whispered. “I don’t know what to say. That just sucks.”
“It does, but my mom was pretty spectacular.” The life quickly came back to Josh’s eyes, and he smiled. “She was forty-two when she had me. They’d tried for years to have a baby, but it seemed it wasn’t in the cards for them, so they gave up. Then she found out she was pregnant, and here I am. She always called me her miracle super boy, and she had a way of making my father seem like he was always part of my life. It might sound weird, but, I feel like I had it better than every other kid I know.”
“That’s got to be the sweetest thing I’ve ever heard.” She bit her lip. These were the little details she didn’t want to know. “I’m sure your parents are looking down, smiling, quite proud.”
“I hope so,” he said. “Ready?”
She titled her head. “For...?”
He pointed toward the cliff where, one by one, kids, parents, and teenagers jumped, some screaming, some laughing, all ending with a big splash.
“No…no…no,” she whispered, shaking her head. “I don’t do things like that.”
“Things like what?”
“Dangerous, daring, thrill-seeking things that have the potential to cause me bodily harm.”
He laughed. “That is none of those things. Let’s go put our suits on, and then we can sit and watch others for a bit.”
“Not going to change my mind,” she said, helping him put the leftovers from their lunch in the cooler before heading down a narrow path.
His strong hand looped over her shoulder, squeezing, then slid slowly down her shoulder and across her spine. She arched into his touch.
“Ticklish?”
“Not at all.”
“This is a good spot,” he said.
They’d stopped in a small grouping of trees not far from the picnic area. “Good for what?”
“To change.”
“What!?” Turning in a circle, she noted they weren’t far from the path as four people walked right past them. Not to mention the boatloads of people just below them, frolicking in the lake. “I think that might be considered indecent exposure.”
“I’ve always found that an odd term. I personally find the human body—well, a woman’s body—to be the most beautiful naked.” He held up his swim trunks while he undid the top of his jeans.
“No.” She quickly turned away, her heart pounding against her ribcage, wondering how she could record this encounter and if it would be enough.
His fingers laced around her arm. “I’m not going to strip,” he said softly. “You’ve never changed under a towel?”
“Can’t say that I’ve ever had any reason to learn.”
“My mother taught me when I was a little boy, and I use it now and again when necessary,” he said. “Watch.”
“I don’t think so.” But she turned and stared, intrigued by how was going to pull this off.
“First, you wrap the towel around you, securing it like this.”
She couldn’t believe where she currently stared, but she watched intently as he reached under his towel, and seconds later, he held his denim shorts in his hand, and a huge grin across his boyish face.
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“Then you just pull up your suit.”
“I have two pieces,” she said, watching the towel drop to the ground, his swim trunks hanging low on his hips and riding just above his knees.
“I’m looking forward to seeing you in those two pieces.”
She bit her lower lip.
“I’ll help you.” Before she could protest, he held up her bathing suit. “This will be a bit more challenging than I thought.” He tilted his head, looking over the length of her body. “Okay, so the bottoms will be easy. Let’s start there.” He wrapped the towel around her waist, securing it tightly. “I can remove your shorts if you want.”
“Not going to happen on the first date.”
“Second date, but who’s counting?”
She pursed her lips, taking in a quick, calming breath, shaking out her hands. “Turn around.”
“You’re covered with a…”
She glared at him, and he turned. Quickly, she removed her shorts and thong, stuffing them in her bag, then she hiked up her bottoms, making sure they were secure, covering her ass. “Okay. Now what?”
When he turned around, he paused, staring at her legs. “Wow,” he whispered. “Nice.”
“Thanks. So, that part worked,” she admitted, “but I don’t see how I’m going to get this on without you having to arrest me for flashing everyone on this island.” She blinked a few times, shocked by the things coming out of her mouth. She never behaved this way in front of men. Ever.
He took the bathing suit top in his hand and studied it. “We need to get your bra off.”
“And here I thought you were a gentleman.”
She held her breath when he stepped behind her, wrapping the towel around her upper body. “If you remove your bra, then put your suit over—where it needs to go—I can tie it for you.”
“With my luck,” she said, desperately trying to keep her voice steady, “you’ll tie it in such a way that it will fall off as soon as I get in the water.”
His warm breath tickled her ear as he leaned in. “As much as I’d like to see your breasts, I sure don’t want anyone on this island to see them, so I’ll double knot it, just to make sure.” Heat trickled across her skin as his full lips pressed against her ear lobe. A quiet moan escaped her lips.