Page 25 of Turn the Tide
Chapter 4
Blessed heat finally seeped into Zoe’s limbs so fast her extremities prickled in near pain. But her back, her chest, her shoulders…those were neither numb nor prickly. They positively zinged with heat from Eric’s body.
More than heat, if she was honest. Energy, electric and exciting, coursed through her, tingling in places and getting all sultry hot in others.
She cleared her throat. Better make conversation to keep her traitorous body distracted. Besides, now that danger had passed and shock had bled away, there were things she needed to know. “So…is Eric your real name?”
“Yeah. Why?”
“I don’t know. You’re not, like, undercover or something, are you?”
He laughed, more a rumbling against her back than a sound. She couldn’t help the way her body sank into it, just a little. The way she melted against him.
“No. I honestly went after you because you hadn’t come back. And you always come back.” She was pushed forward, very slightly, as he sucked in a breath. “I like to watch out for you.”
That quickened her pulse, sent more blood flowing—to the surface of her face and neck this time. Her skin burned with what must be one hell of a blush. Good thing he couldn’t see her. “That’s kind of you.”
“I knew something was off today. Felt bad that I didn’t warn you.”
“What do you mean?” She turned as much as she could to face him.
“It was too quiet. No fish biting.” He shook his head. “Something else, too. I’m no good at explaining it. A sixth sense.” His eyes skipped over her face before losing focus off to the side. “I learned to listen to it a long time ago. When you didn’t come back, it was just a confirmation. Something wasn’t right.”
“Well, thank you.” With a sigh, she settled back against his hard chest. From the first time she’d seen him on his boat, she’d wondered about this man. More curiosity than fantasy, but close. Of course, none of it had ever involved the rest of the crap that had happened today.
“I…always enjoy running into you out here.”
“Yeah?” A wave of something like embarrassment hit her, burning her skin and pushing her breath out in hot little bursts. He could probably feel it, the way his arms were so tight around her. “I do, too.”
He cleared his throat, leaned over, and grabbed something. “Here, more socks, if you need ’em.”
He must have known that she didn’t, since her feet were plastered to his calves. Oh. Maybe… “Are my feet bugging you?”
“No. No, of course not. Keep ’em there.”
“Okay.” She couldn’t help a smile.
“Still too worked up to have another bar?”
As if on cue, her stomach growled and she laughed. “Guess not. Share one?”
“Sure.” He opened a pack, stuffed the wrapper into a bag with the others, and handed her the slightly larger piece.
“Thanks.” They chewed in silence, and Zoe couldn’t recall a more intimate meal. Ever. They didn’t have to be facing each other for messages to be passed between them.Unless it’s all in my mind.
Of course it was. He couldn’t possibly be getting worked up over a protein bar in the dirt with a near stranger.
“Weird, huh?”Shoot. Why do I always do that?Voice the most uncomfortable thoughts out of some desire to ease things. It wouldn’t work. Never did.
He didn’t answer right away. When he did, his voice was quiet, his words slow, almost careful-sounding. “You mean…this?” He tightened one of his arms. “Or…that?” He widened the same arm to encompass the dark, twinkling sky hanging above the platform, which sat like an alien ship that had landed on the glimmering water, all of it bathed in pale moonlight. When she didn’t answer, he went on. “That out there sucks. But I don’t mindthisone bit.”
It took her a few seconds to grasp his meaning. Oh.Ohhh.
“I don’t, either.”
He went very still. “No?”
“I mean, I’m glad I’m finally getting a chance to talk to you. A bit more than just ‘Hey!’ on the boats, you know?”
