Page 8 of Kissing in the Rain
“So?”
“So, I was doing my best to keep my friends off her. If I made a play on you, what would that makeme?”
Same as right now. She was vulnerable. On the rebound from a bad relationship. If he made a play on her now, which he’d already considered doing half a dozen times, what would that makehim?
The top of the tent caved and pressed over the top of his head. The rain was just sitting in one spot where the tent’s piping had broken. Gabe poked at the deep indentation it made, but it didn’t quite fix the problem. “I might have to go out there and fixit.”
“But you’ll getwet.”
“Better than you getting wet… Um.” He cleared his throat because that had sounded all kinds of suggestive. “I,uh…”
“It’s okay.” She looked down. “I know what youmeant.”
The tent droppedlower.
“It’s going to cave in on our heads. I’m going out there.” He crawled toward the tent’s opening. “Be right back,” he said before heading out into the slanting rain. Unfortunately, it was pelting stronger than ever, driving into his skin like little blades of ice. How had this storm escaped his radar? He guessed he’d been distracted today with training Jonathan and the email from Kimberly’sfather.
He drained the water from the top of the tent and collected some brush nearby, laying it on top of the dome and creating a makeshift gutter system for the rainwater to slide down. If he thought they’d be here any longer than a day, he’d have tried to collect the drainage at the bottom for drinking. This was just an overnight ordeal, though. Kind of likecamping.
With his task complete, he hurried backinside.
Jillian squealed as he got her wet. “Take those off!” she said of his soggyshorts.
“Excuse me?” He raised an eyebrow as he plopped down besideher.
“I can’t see anyway. And it’s only fair. I’m almost naked,so…”
He nodded, skimming the water off his face with his hands. “You really can’t see?” he asked. Not that he’d ever been the modesttype.
“You’re one big blur,” sheconfirmed.
“All right.” He shifted around and pulled his shorts and boxers off, glad to get rid of the soggy articles. There. He was now fully naked and in a confined space with a beautiful woman—something that hadn’t happened in quite awhile.
She lookedover.
“You’re peeking. Thought you said you couldn’t see anything,” he said, sitting on his bareass.
“I lied.” She started giggling and gasping for air, which he found absolutelyadorable.
His mouth quirked. “You trickedme?”
“I still have one contact in. Sorry. But you’ve been checking me out for the last hour. It’s only fair.” She snatched his shorts and tossed them in the pile with her dress. “Now we’re even,” she said, turning to him and grinningwide.
And in that moment, he had the primal instinct to kiss her. It was so strong that it knocked the wind out of his lungs. It was bad timing for her, though. Swallowing past the feeling, he said, “Let’s just hope rescue doesn’t come before our clothes dry out. I’ll never live this down with the guys.” His phone buzzed in his emergency bag. He’d tossed it in there to keep it dry. Pulling it out, he read a text message fromLorelai.
Find her yet? You okay? Should I sendhelp?
Jillian’s wet hair scraped against his shoulder as she leaned over to see his screen. He had an inescapable urge to take her in his arms, kiss her, touch her. “What does it say?” she asked. “I can’t read it without both contactlenses.”
“My sister’s worried. She’s asking if we needhelp.”
Gabe started typing:Found Jillian. She’s fine. No help needed, but we’re going to be spending the night at Bear Island. It’s too risky to head back against the storm. See you tomorrow.He read aloud as he typed so Jillian would know what he wassaying.
She shivered against him again, reminding him things weren’t exactly A-OK. There were still all kinds of risks in being out here. He wrapped his arm around her shoulders and pulled her closer. “Forget for a moment that you hate my guts. You can steal some of my heat. That’llhelp.”
She didn’t resist. Instead, she burrowed into him. “I don’t hate your guts. I’m just not very fond ofthem.”
He chuckled. The woman had a way of making him laugh. And turning him on. Her skin was soft under his fingertips. Like velvet. And she smelled like lavender. “How’s yourhead?”
