Chapter 6 #2
“Oh, we will,” Jake responded, resting his hand on Emily’s shoulder. “We’ll also bring some more apples soon.”
Jake and Emily headed back out to the truck, waving to familiar faces on the way.
“Thanks for the save,” he told Emily as they crossed the parking lot on the way to his truck.
She bumped her shoulder against his side. “It’s going to be okay. We got this.”
When they reached his truck, he unlocked the passenger door and then snatched his hat off her head and stuck it on his. She watched him with a look of awe. “Are you staring at me because the hat looks better on me?” he joked.
She shook her head. “I’m just really impressed by how you take care of everyone around here. You’re like Splendid Lake’s very
own caped crusader.”
He snorted.
“Seriously, you are. You’re helping the downtrodden and taking care of neighbors. You’re kind of amazing.”
He rolled his eyes. “Get in the truck.”
“Yes, Superman.” She saluted, and he laughed.
Later that afternoon Jake crouched on the roof of the barn and swiped the back of his arm over his forehead and his face.
He glanced back toward where Vince, Rico, and Eddie hammered plywood to replace the rotted boards. The afternoon sun was brutal,
and he was convinced it was at least a hundred and fifty degrees.
Jake took a long draw from his bottle of water and moved to the edge. Below him, Emily sat on a stool and wrote in her notebook.
He grinned as he recalled how she’d begged and pleaded, trying to convince him that she was perfectly capable of hammering
pieces of plywood. While he’d been impressed with her enthusiasm, he told her there was no way he was going to allow her to
stand on the roof and risk her life.
An amusing argument ensued, during which she lectured him on equal rights, girl power, and how she’d take all the necessary safety precautions, and Jake had somehow managed not to smile at how adorable she was.
Finally, Emily conceded, and then she settled on a stool and spent the next couple of hours pouting and drawing while he and the orchard employees worked.
“Hey,” he called down to her. “How are things down there?”
She tented her hand over her eyes and squinted up at him. “Boring. Why don’t you take a break?”
“That sounds like a great idea.” Jake pivoted toward where the three other men worked. “You guys up for a break?”
They all nodded and wiped their foreheads.
“Let’s call it a day and get back to it tomorrow,” Jake said, and they all agreed. “Thanks for your help today.”
After gathering their tools, the men climbed down the ladder. Once on the ground, Jake thanked the workers again and then
stowed the tools and supplies.
Emily linked her arm with his. “Let’s go for a walk.”
Jake allowed her to steer him through the orchard, and soon they were out by the dock. He breathed in the fresh scent of the
lake and scanned the path leading to her childhood home. “You want to take a walk over there?”
“Over where?” She scrunched her nose and turned her back to him.
“To your folks’ house,” he told her gently. “Maybe it would be good for you to go visit it. I’ll stay with you the entire
time.”
She kicked off her Birkenstocks and then began to yank off her shirt, revealing a black tank top, before she placed her phone
on the dock.
“Whoa!” He tried not to stare at how the tank top hugged her curves. “What are you doing?”
She held her hand out to him. “Give me your phone.”
“Why?” He lifted it from his pocket.
She took it and set it on the dock next to hers. “We’re going for a swim. Take off your shoes.”
He did as he was told and kicked off his sneakers and socks. Then he reached up behind his neck and pulled off his T-shirt.
Her eyes meandered over his chest for a few moments before she snatched his hat off his head and dropped it beside their shoes
and shirts.
Then she grinned. “You first,” she said, pushing him toward the end of the dock.
Stumbling forward, he grabbed her arm, and she shrieked as they crashed into the water together. Jake released Emily’s arm
when the cool lake water swallowed them up. He bobbed up to the surface and pushed his hands through his wet hair and sighed.
The cool water soothed his aching muscles. How had Emily known that this was just what he needed after spending a few hours
hammering on the barn roof?
She appeared beside him and flipped her long hair out of her face before she splashed him. “That’s what you get for pulling
me in with you,” she joked.
“Oh yeah?” He splashed her back, and she giggled and swam away from him. He loved how impulsive she was, keeping him guessing
and pushing him out of his comfort zone.
“How many times have we swam in this lake?” She treaded water beside him.
“A million?” He splashed her.
She splashed him back. “That sounds about right.”
Soon they were in a splashing war, with water and their laughter raining through the air.
Emily reached over and grabbed his shoulder while gasping for air. “Truce. Okay?”
Her warm hand on his shoulder sent a shock wave of heat rushing over his skin.
He pretended to consider the request. “I don’t know. You started it, but now you can’t take it, huh?” He rested his hands on her shoulders. “What if I dunked you? Maybe then we’ll be even, after you pushed me in the lake and then splashed me.”
“Please don’t.” Her words came out in a squeak.
He chuckled and then swam to the dock and pushed himself up out of the water. He stood and reached over. “Come on.”
She held up her arms, and he lifted her out of the water as if she were as light as a feather. She hugged her arms to her
middle, and he tried not to stare at her. Water dripped from her long hair, and her clothes stuck against her skin. He couldn’t
help but think she was gorgeous.
He cleared his throat and tossed her the T-shirt she’d left on the dock. She pulled it over her head and shoved her feet into
her shoes.
“I guess we need towels,” he said as he put on his T-shirt. “Let’s go to my place.”