Page 58 of Stirring Up Love
“But you came back.” His brown eyes searched hers, but he didn’t need to know her reason for leaving Chicago. Didn’t need to know she’d come back home out of necessity.
“When my sister offered the restaurant, I thought it would be a chance to do what I couldn’t do all those years ago—prove to my family I had what it takes. Instead, all I’ve done is embarrass myself on national TV.”
“Simone—” He reached out for her hand, and she spun around, in no mood for any more of Finn’s pity. But her elbow knocked into his chest and sent him tumbling off the ledge.
CHAPTER 20
FINN
Like a boulder careering off a mountainside, Finn tumbled off the canyon edge and plunged into the icy water. Ho-ly crap. That stung. His only experience with swimming was in the heated shallow end at the YMCA, and even that felt cold on the first plunge. This wasn’t cold. This was like diving into a brain freeze. Penguins would need mittens to swim in this.
And then there was the little detail that he couldn’t swim. He kicked his legs and brushed gravel. Vaguely remembering something about pushing off the bottom, he jammed his toes in, tried to jump. Didn’t get purchase, so he tried again. Kicked hard and broke the surface. Gasped a half breath.
He willed his feet to paddle, his arms to churn, but he sank under again. Struggled to bring his head above water and heard a disembodied voice shout, “Finn!”
This time when his head dipped under, a hand clasped around his arm and tugged him up again. He broke the surface, not drawing any air because he was panicked. Water rushed into his mouth and he inhaled it, then sputtered, coughing. His vision blurred with wavy drips.
“Can you kick, Finn?” Simone’s voice was raw, harsh. “I need you to help me out here. Can you do that?”
He kicked, or at least he must’ve. He couldn’t feel his legs, but the canyon wall drew nearer as Simone pulled him to the edge, her grip iron on ice.
“Grab the wall, Finn. You’ve got this.”
With great effort, he raised his arm out of the water and caught the canyon rim. Dragged himself up while Simone tugged until his chest scraped against the rock, then his stomach, and he was free. Coughing, he rolled over.
“Jeez, are you crazy?” Her face appeared above him, her eyes angry. No, not angry. Worried. “If you can’t swim, why were you wearing a swimsuit?”
Good question. But he’d only planned to wade, not jump in. Probably a bad time to mention she’d knocked him off balance, given that she’d rescued him and all.
She unzipped her jacket and pulled it off, and for a disjointed second he thought she was going to do skin-to-skin, for real this time. Even through the layers of bulky coat, her hug earlier had felt amazing, as much as he hated to admit it. But then she helped him sit up and slung the coat across his shoulders. Less nice than her touch, but practical. “Can you make it back, or should I call for help?”
His teeth chattered too much to answer, but he managed to shake his head.
Hooking an arm around his elbow, she tugged him up as he scrambled to his feet. He slumped against her thin shoulders, legs trembling from adrenaline, maybe, or cold. He hated himself for leaning on her, even more so because he liked it. She wasn’t doing this to be near him. Feelings didn’t factor in. And that shouldn’t matter. Didn’t matter.
They reached the car, and she pulled the passenger door open. Practically shoved him in. If he needed confirmation this was basic kindness and nothing more, then he had it. She jogged around to theother door and hopped in, turning on the car in the same motion, and cranked up the heat.
“D-d-don’t you w-want the top down?” He tried to smile, but his lips were numb.
“Half-drowned and he’s still got jokes.” Simone made a disapproving face, but worry still puckered her brow. “Now take off your swimsuit.”
“Excuse me, what?” Maybe his ears were clogged from all that river water.
“Your trunks are sopping wet! You need to get them off so you can warm up.”
He crossed his arms over his chest, trying to look intimidating—hard to do when his whole body was a giant shiver. “I am not getting naked in front of you.”
“Really, Finn?” She was sounding less worried and more exasperated by the minute. “You’re gonna let your pride make you sick?”
“The first time you see my goods is not going to be when they’re shriveled and—” He gestured vaguely to his crotch with a shaking hand.
“First time? As in there’ll be a second? You must be delusional from cold.” Her gaze was withering. As if his body needed any more excuse to shrivel up. “And dude, I don’t plan to look. What kind of perv do you take me for?”
“The cute kind.”
“Definitely delusional. Listen, I’m going back to grab your clothes,” she said. “You can strip while I’m gone.”
“That actually s-sounds less f-fun, come to think of it.” But she was already out, jogging up the trail in only her T-shirt, and he realized she’d left him with her coat. She’d be freezing. Shame curled through his chest, but he arched up to peel off his swim trunks. He hadn’t been kidding about the state of things down there. Now was not his time to shine.
