Chapter 5 #4
His offer tempted her enough that, without thinking any further, she jumped.
The water was startlingly cold as it hit her skin, her whole body sailing right under the water, but almost immediately, she felt the strong warmth of Jake’s arms around her.
It took what little breath she’d stored in her lungs right away.
When she surfaced, she was face to face with him, her body up next to his.
They were tangled together, their arms and legs moving to keep them afloat, bumping into each other, their skin touching in all kinds of places.
He still had one arm wrapped around her as he looked straight at her, barely blinking.
Her wet hair had wrapped around her neck like seaweed and he reached up and slid it over her shoulder, exposing her bare neck.
Her skin tingled from his touch. His eyes moved across the surface of her shoulder, up her neck, and to her face, finally meeting her eyes again. Was he going to kiss her?
“How’s the water?” she heard from behind her.
Faith lurched away from Jake like a teenager caught in a compromising position.
She turned around, shielding her eyes with one hand and keeping herself afloat with the other.
Casey and her mom were standing at the edge, Isabella already stripping off her cover-up and unbuckling her sandals.
“It’s great!” Jake called up to them.
Faith could feel the irritation slithering around inside her.
Casey had ruined the moment. Faith knew that Casey had no idea, but it didn’t do anything to ease the feeling.
She watched as her sister stripped off her clothes confidently, revealing her toned body and shimmery bikini.
She swung her long leg over the boat and dipped her toe in the water.
“It is nice,” she said. Faith kept her eyes on her sister.
She didn’t dare look at Jake. She didn’t want to see him looking at Casey the way he’d looked at her, because with Casey’s figure, he certainly would be.
Faith wanted that look to be hers only. With a little hop, Casey dove into the water without a splash, her thin body gliding effortlessly below the surface.
Faith finally turned to look at Jake but he, too, was underwater, swimming away from them. She couldn’t help but feel relieved.
Her mom helped Isabella put her floats on, and with some hesitancy, she jumped in. “Are there any sharks?” she asked, quickly paddling over to her mother.
“You’ve scared them away,” Jake said with a smile.
He’d made his way back to them and took Isabella’s hands.
Kicking his legs, he began to spin her, dragging her little body in circles like a whirlpool.
She giggled uncontrollably, and, whenever he stopped, she asked him to do it again.
Casey offered to take turns, and Faith had to look away so as not to allow the feelings of annoyance to return, looking at the three of them as they laughed and played together.
When they’d gotten tired of swimming, everyone settled down at the back of the boat on their towels to rest, but Faith sat at the ladder, her legs dangling down over the edge. Jake was still in the water, holding on to the handrail. She slid down a step to lower her legs down beside him.
“The water feels like bathwater now,” she said.
Jake nodded. “I’m glad you came,” he said almost a little too quickly.
“Me too.” And she meant it.
“How’s your stomach? All better?”
“Yes.” But being in close proximity to him in just a swimsuit was making it do somersaults.
He pulled his weight up using the handrail and Faith had to scoot backwards to allow him some space. He was standing on the bottom step, his arms on either side of her, looking down at her. “Hungry?” he asked.
“Actually, now that you say so, I am.”
“Let’s grab a towel and get a bite to eat then.”
The cabin was cool down below deck as Faith shivered in her towel.
Without her asking, Jake took a large beach towel from the shelf and switched it out for her damp one.
It was shockingly warm against her skin.
As he rummaged around in the small fridge, Faith thought about how well he must know Rich.
He seemed so relaxed on Rich’s boat, and Rich let him have free rein.
But then again, it was typical of the relaxed way of life at the coast. She liked how quickly they had befriended Jake, but his relaxed demeanor and friendly nature made it so easy.
He put out crackers and cheese, fruit, and a small platter of assorted vegetables. It all looked delicious after swimming and being in the sun. She felt like she could eat the whole bowl of fruit herself.
“So, your mother had mentioned something about teaching,” he said, slicing the leaves off the strawberries and filling a plate. “Is that what you do for a living?”
“Yes. I teach kindergarten.”
He grinned.
“What?”
“You look like a kindergarten teacher.”
“And what does a kindergarten teacher look like? I didn’t know we were a ‘type’.”
He smiled again, bigger, if that was possible. He was quiet for a second, and, until then, she hadn’t seen him at a loss for words. Then, finally, he said, “You have a gentle way about you, you seem very patient and kind. And when you smile, I can tell you mean it.”
She smiled. She couldn’t help it.
“See? You mean it right now.” He handed her a plate with a little bit of everything on it.
She picked up a cracker and topped it with a tiny rectangle of cheese. “Well, thank you. I’ll take that as a compliment.”
“Good. Because I meant it as such.”
His eyes didn’t leave her face, as if he wanted to say something else, but he’d fallen silent again.
Finally, he looked away and busied himself with his own plate of food.
She wondered what he’d wanted to say to her, if anything.
She wanted to tell him that she thought he was just the same—kind, genuine—but she too stayed silent.
They fell into an easy quiet as they ate.
They spent the rest of the day swimming and lounging on the boat until it was clear that Isabella was getting tired, and they’d all probably had enough sun.
As the crew pulled up the anchor, Jake offered everyone another deliciously fluffy white towel.
Her mom was helping Isabella dry off, and Casey was below deck getting them some wine.
Jake walked up to Faith and rubbed the tops of her arms through the towel.
“I had fun,” he said, leaning down to say it into her ear.
“Me too,” she said, tipping her head back to make eye contact.
When she did, she was too close, his lips so near to hers that she could feel his breath.
He lingered there, neither of them moving, and she wanted to kiss him right then.
It was surprising. She’d only just met him.
But his openness made him so attractive to her that she was feeling things she wasn’t used to feeling. He smiled at her and turned her around.
“Warm enough?” he asked, clearly trying to change the subject. Was he brushing her off? It was hard to tell.
She nodded.
“Good.” Then, the moment was gone. He’d turned to talk to her mom, leaving Faith a little lightheaded. She sat down and tipped her head back. It was a good day. And, with Jake around, she couldn’t wait to see what tomorrow would bring.