from mortification.
Sand stuck to her sweaty skin and itched so bad she wanted to scratch like a dog with fleas. Her daddy used to say, “Grit is good for the craw,” and though she never understood the meaning, she hoped the saying was true, because hell would freeze over before she’d embarrass herself further by spitting out the sand stuck between her teeth.
Adding to the trauma, Kevin—her fantasy man—not only witnessed her swan dive, but felt the need to come to her rescue.
Memories from the night before rushed her, and even though he didn’t know he’d been her dream lover, she panicked. “I’m fine. Put me down. Put me down.”
“What the hell? Stop fighting me.” His words were like a cracking whip, instantly stifling her wild attempt to break free. “Does anything else hurt?”
She shook her head in short, jerky motions. “Only my pride. I’m fine. You can put me down now.” When he kept walking toward the pavilion, she said, “Really. Any time now.”
A breathtaking smile lit his face and laughter vibrated from his chest into her side. “You are feisty, aren’t you?”
“Yeah,” she admitted. “But usually with more finesse.”
Of all the ways she imagined launching a campaign to attract and seduce, none included falling flat on her face. She wrapped her arms around his neck to hold on and ducked her head to keep from hiding behind her hands.
The pain was still incredible, but cradled against his body with her arms around his neck, breathing in his earthy scent, she was shocked to find heat of a different kind blooming. Never one to pass up an opportunity, she gave in to the temptation tickling her fingers and sifted them through the curls at the base of his skull.
His body tensed, and he stopped breathing. The response initially made her think the subtle advance was unwelcome and she quickly let go of the silky strands. But then his arms tightened, pulling her closer to his chest. His reaction wasn’t obvious, but enough to let her know he wasn’t repulsed by her touch.
She lifted her gaze to his, hoping for a clearer indication of his thoughts. But rather than being warm and inviting, his eyes narrowed as he stared at her sunglasses. As they bounced from one lens to the other, his jaw flexed and frown lines creased around the edges of his lips and eyes. Not the reaction she hoped for. His mixed signals made her feel awkward and left her with that naked on Main Street feeling again.
She wasn’t petite, but she didn’t weigh a ton, either. Certainly not enough for someone in excellent condition to be overexerting himself. The day was warm, but not a scorcher… so what was up with the bead of sweat trickling down his long sideburn.
He swallowed a few times in rapid succession, and his voice was a little rougher than normal when he said, “Let’s find a place in the shade to sit while we ice your ankle. Because of the swelling, I don’t think X-rays will show anything right now, but I can take you to urgent care, if you like.”
“Thanks, but that’s not necessary.” She pointed to the bench she and Michaela vacated moments earlier. “Look, my awesome-dog’s still there.”
Kevin grinned. “Ah, that explains it.” At her frown, he added, “I wondered about the mustard on your nose.”
A fresh wave of humiliation shot through her. She swiped at her nose and sure as shit, her fingers came away with a streak of yellow. “Jesus, can this day get any more embarrassing?”
“Did you shit your pants when you fell?”
She gasped in shock. “What? No!”
Kevin laughed and eased her onto the bench. “There ya go. It could’ve been worse.”
Despite the circumstances, she laughed. She always considered laughter the best medicine, and before she could gain control, the small chuckle turned into near hysterics.
“Miss Amy said come back and get more if we need to,” Spencer said, handing him two big bags of slushy ice, a couple of towels, and Kevin’s five-dollar
Sand stuck to her sweaty skin and itched so bad she wanted to scratch like a dog with fleas. Her daddy used to say, “Grit is good for the craw,” and though she never understood the meaning, she hoped the saying was true, because hell would freeze over before she’d embarrass herself further by spitting out the sand stuck between her teeth.
Adding to the trauma, Kevin—her fantasy man—not only witnessed her swan dive, but felt the need to come to her rescue.
Memories from the night before rushed her, and even though he didn’t know he’d been her dream lover, she panicked. “I’m fine. Put me down. Put me down.”
“What the hell? Stop fighting me.” His words were like a cracking whip, instantly stifling her wild attempt to break free. “Does anything else hurt?”
She shook her head in short, jerky motions. “Only my pride. I’m fine. You can put me down now.” When he kept walking toward the pavilion, she said, “Really. Any time now.”
A breathtaking smile lit his face and laughter vibrated from his chest into her side. “You are feisty, aren’t you?”
“Yeah,” she admitted. “But usually with more finesse.”
Of all the ways she imagined launching a campaign to attract and seduce, none included falling flat on her face. She wrapped her arms around his neck to hold on and ducked her head to keep from hiding behind her hands.
The pain was still incredible, but cradled against his body with her arms around his neck, breathing in his earthy scent, she was shocked to find heat of a different kind blooming. Never one to pass up an opportunity, she gave in to the temptation tickling her fingers and sifted them through the curls at the base of his skull.
His body tensed, and he stopped breathing. The response initially made her think the subtle advance was unwelcome and she quickly let go of the silky strands. But then his arms tightened, pulling her closer to his chest. His reaction wasn’t obvious, but enough to let her know he wasn’t repulsed by her touch.
She lifted her gaze to his, hoping for a clearer indication of his thoughts. But rather than being warm and inviting, his eyes narrowed as he stared at her sunglasses. As they bounced from one lens to the other, his jaw flexed and frown lines creased around the edges of his lips and eyes. Not the reaction she hoped for. His mixed signals made her feel awkward and left her with that naked on Main Street feeling again.
She wasn’t petite, but she didn’t weigh a ton, either. Certainly not enough for someone in excellent condition to be overexerting himself. The day was warm, but not a scorcher… so what was up with the bead of sweat trickling down his long sideburn.
He swallowed a few times in rapid succession, and his voice was a little rougher than normal when he said, “Let’s find a place in the shade to sit while we ice your ankle. Because of the swelling, I don’t think X-rays will show anything right now, but I can take you to urgent care, if you like.”
“Thanks, but that’s not necessary.” She pointed to the bench she and Michaela vacated moments earlier. “Look, my awesome-dog’s still there.”
Kevin grinned. “Ah, that explains it.” At her frown, he added, “I wondered about the mustard on your nose.”
A fresh wave of humiliation shot through her. She swiped at her nose and sure as shit, her fingers came away with a streak of yellow. “Jesus, can this day get any more embarrassing?”
“Did you shit your pants when you fell?”
She gasped in shock. “What? No!”
Kevin laughed and eased her onto the bench. “There ya go. It could’ve been worse.”
Despite the circumstances, she laughed. She always considered laughter the best medicine, and before she could gain control, the small chuckle turned into near hysterics.
“Miss Amy said come back and get more if we need to,” Spencer said, handing him two big bags of slushy ice, a couple of towels, and Kevin’s five-dollar
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