Chapter 7
Chapter Seven
Josie’s Howl List—July
Josie leaned back, letting the sun warm her face. She loved summer. The sound of kids playing, splashing water, and someone’s radio blasting classic rock surrounded her.
Loud squeals of laughter caught her attention.
She glanced toward the lake. Jake and Tommy were in the middle of a major splash war with a big group of kids.
She smiled proudly. Her guys were outnumbered, but still winning.
A quiet giggle escaped her lips when Jake lifted Tommy up onto his shoulders and the two of them started chasing the other kids, roaring like monsters.
Jake claimed more and more of her heart each day.
He’d accepted not only her with all her craziness into his life, but he’d offered real friendship to her son.
Jake had held true to his promise of laser tag.
The three of them had actually gone back twice since the first trip because it was so much fun.
Then Jake had declared Mondays pizza night. He’d bring over a large pizza and the three of them would devour it in front of some movie or while playing a board game.
She dropped her sunglasses over her eyes once more and lay back, trying to remember the last time she’d felt so relaxed and comfortable in her own skin. She could get used to this feeling.
“Have I mentioned how much I love women who wear bikinis?”
She squinted one eye open, keeping the other closed against the bright sunlight, and found Jake staring at her. “I thought you said you’d watch Tommy while I sunbathed for a little while.”
Jake gave her a shit-eating grin as he dropped onto the towel next to her. “I’m doing both. Besides, there are three lifeguards on duty and he’s not in any deeper than his knees.”
Josie glanced toward the lake and saw Tommy filling a bucket with water with another girl about his age. They appeared to be building a sandcastle. “Oh, I see.”
“Yeah. I didn’t want to cramp his style while he was putting the moves on a hot little beach bunny.”
She rolled her eyes at Jake’s jest. “He’s six.”
“A guy’s never too young to start practicing pick-up lines. Tommy started off with a gem. Looked at the girl and said ‘Hey. Are you using that bucket?’”
“Wow. Impressive. I can see why she stuck around.”
“Yep. He’s going to be a heartbreaker.”
Josie sat up, drawing patterns in the sand next to her.
The wine girls had organized a picnic at this local lakeside beach to celebrate Kristen’s fortieth birthday.
While her actual birthday was next Thursday, Kristen had forbidden them from throwing a real party, claiming she was perfectly happy to turn forty in Laura’s living room with a glass of wine in her hand.
It seemed this wasn’t exactly a milestone their friend was looking forward to.
Kristen hadn’t found the marriage mart as favorable as she’d expected.
Of course, Georgie and Laura couldn’t stand letting the birthday pass with so little fanfare, so they’d thrown today’s festivities together, declaring it a joint celebration.
In addition to Kristen’s birthday, they were rejoicing over the fact Zoey had been given a clean bill of health—the cancer was in remission.
Josie spotted Kristen sitting in a beach chair near the water’s edge talking to Zoey and Laura, while Rob, Georgie, Shelly and a few other friends stood waist-deep in the water batting a beach ball around.
As far as parties went, Josie could think of much worse ways to celebrate an unwanted birthday.
The sky was clear with only a few fluffy white clouds breaking up the vivid blue. The sun was shining brightly, but it wasn’t too humid, as a pleasant breeze kept most of the real heat away.
In another hour or so, they’d move the party from the lake to one of the big covered pavilions for a picnic supper, wine and cake.
“I realize it’s broad daylight and the full moon is still a week or so away, but I can’t help but think we should make hay while the sun shines.”
Josie looked at Jake, confused. “What are you talking about?”
Jake shook his head. “I think I know your Howl List better than you do. July’s fantasy was sex on the beach.”
Since she and Jake had embarked on a full-fledged relationship, she’d thought less and less about her list. She supposed it was because she’d written those fantasies down at a time when she was horny, single and sick of her vibrator.
Now that she was having fantastic sex on a semi-regular basis, she didn’t feel the same drive toward accomplishing every goal.
Jake, however, was nothing if not committed to seeing a task through to the end.
Josie glanced around. The place was packed. “I didn’t write anything on that list about outright exhibitionism. And my son is here. I’m not sure this is exactly the right time.”
“Have you ever been to this lake before?”
Josie frowned. There was nothing he could say that would convince her to take such a chance with so many people around.
“I used to come here years ago with my mom. I sort of forgot about it for a while.” She’d been too busy keeping her head above water after the divorce to remember how to have fun.
It was just one of the amazing things Jake had brought back into her life, along with sex and laughter and relaxation.
“I come here a lot. There are a few trails through these surrounding woods that I’ve explored some. You think you could convince your friends to watch Tommy for a little while? I want to show you something.”
She stood up and slipped on her flip-flops. So much for there being nothing he could say. “Give me two minutes.”
Josie walked across the beach to where her friends were sitting. Tommy was building the sandcastle with his new friend nearby. “Would you girls mind watching Tommy for a few minutes? Jake and I are going to take a walk.”
Zoey smirked. “We’re going to have to start turning the hose on you two.”
Josie laughed. “Oh wow, Zoey. People who live in glass houses should not throw stones. I think I had a mini-orgasm watching Rob lather up your back with sunscreen earlier.”
Georgie raised her hand. “Gah. Enough. I’m tired of listening to the two of you brag about your incredible sex lives. I’ll watch Tommy, Josie. Go get laid.”
“It’s just a walk,” she said, fooling no one with her weak lie.
“We’re planning to head over to the pavilion around five.” Laura—ever the organizer—glanced at the time on her cell phone. “It’s four now.”
“We’ll be back before then. Promise.”
Josie walked back to Jake. “I’m ready.”
Jake had picked up their towels and tucked them under his arm.
Grasping her hand, he led her to the edge of the sand and they began trekking through the woods along the edge of the lake.
It was a privately owned campground and a popular spot in the summer.
They walked in silence for about ten minutes.
Josie was amazed how quickly the woods absorbed the blaring music and loud talking from the beach.
Suddenly it seemed as if she and Jake were the only two people for miles around.
A loud roaring sounded up ahead. “What’s that noise?”
“That’s where we’re going. I found this a few summers back. Be careful here. It’s sort of a steep incline.”
Jake tightened his grip on her hand. Walking down the sharp drop in flip-flops was tricky. When they reached the bottom, Jake left the trail, taking them through some short scrub brush. She started to tell him she hadn’t really dressed for serious hiking when they reached a clearing.
Josie gasped when she spotted the waterfall.
It was set back a bit between the plush green of the surrounding trees and the fiery red of flowering bushes.
If not for the sound of the crystal-clear water pounding down, she might have overlooked it completely.
Near the base, there was a high rock cliff that created a curtain effect.
It was absolutely beautiful. Breathtaking.
Jake pointed to the hill they’d just climbed down. “The lake ends up there and this is where the waterfall turns your swimming hole into a river.”
“Wow. I had no idea this was here.”
“Yeah. I used to wonder why the campground owners haven’t forged a proper trail down here. Then I figured maybe they didn’t want a bunch of people trudging along, spoiling the beauty of the place.”
“I’m glad they haven’t exploited it. It’s perfect.”
“Keep your flip-flops on and come with me into the water. There’s something else I want to show you.”
She kept a firm grip on Jake’s hand as he led her over stepping stones in the river.
As they walked closer to the falls, the water got deeper, reaching Josie’s mid-thigh.
Soon they were standing just a few feet in front of the waterfall, the sound of the water beating down so loudly, they had to raise their voices to be heard.
“Almost there.” Jake let go of her hand and disappeared under the waterfall. She expected him to come right back out, but when he didn’t emerge, she sucked in a deep breath and walked through as well.
She found Jake, standing knee deep in water in a small overhang beneath the falls. The roar of the water was almost deafening as it echoed off the rocks. It was colder too, but Josie didn’t care. She was inside the waterfall. She and Jake were completely hidden from the world, the ultimate escape.
Jake pulled her closer and kissed her. Neither of them needed words as they fell into the embrace that hadn’t grown less passionate despite its familiarity.
She loved the way Jake held her, the possessive way he claimed her lips, cupping her face in a way that told her she was the most precious thing in his world.
She ran her hands along his chest, toying briefly with the firm buds of his nipples. She wasn’t the only one feeling the effects of the chilly water. Then she let her fingers drift lower. She pushed her hand inside his swim trunks and found true heat.