“If that’s roughing it too much, I could supply a blow-up mattress to lay your sleeping bag on.”
“No tent?”
“And block the view of the sky?”
“That’s true.” They walked back to the sandbar. He kept his attention above her neck, not an easy task when once again her wet clothes showed off her curves. “What about wild animals?”
“None you have to worry about.”
“Meaning you will?”
“Meaning the fire will keep them away, and I’ll bring Magnolia. She’ll alert us to any potential trouble. Not that there is any, really.”
Kennedy buried her feet in the sand, fastening herself in place. He kept a safe six feet away, lest he get any out-there ideas about reaching over and touching her.
“Is this as weird for you as it is for me?” she asked.
“This?”
“Us.”
“You think we’re weird?”
“I think…” She chewed her bottom lip. “I think we’re unexpectedly drawn to each other.”
That she admitted something so vulnerable made him care for her even more. And no way would he leave her alone on that ledge. “Agreed. You’re a pleasant surprise, Kennedy Martin.”
She beamed. “Fair warning: this truce could have lasting effects.”
He chuckled. “Such as?”
“I am pretty great,” she said with a wink. “And I’m leaving in three days and we’ll never see each other again. You’ll definitely miss me.”
“No doubt,” he said honestly. She’d livened up his days, and if it weren’t for his upcoming trip, he’d probably be more upset about their parting ways.
“By the way, if anything happens to me while I’m sleeping under the stars, you’re going to be in big trouble.”
“Noted.” A ridiculous amount of pleasure swept through him at their plan for tonight. These past few days had reminded him how it felt to be alive again. Not that he didn’t appreciate time with his family. He cherished it, despite how it sometimes looked on the outside. He knew how fragile life was—as did Kennedy. “You ready to head back?”
“Yes.” She slipped her life jacket on, grabbed her shoes, and barefooted it to the canoe.
He followed, tossing his sneakers into the boat so he could push it off and then jump inside from the water. Kennedy kept excellent balance on the takeoff, facing forward instead of toward him. He missed her face.
And quickly told himself to get over it.
Her abandoned canoe floated off to the west, and he dreaded having Hunter fetch it with him. His brother would no doubt find the whole situation amusing and pester him with annoying comments. Brotherly love and all that.
“You’re awfully quiet back there,” Kennedy said.
“Just watching the water bug crawling up your back.”
“What?” She furiously wiggled her torso. “Get it off! Get it off!”
Guilt crawled up his spine. He really shouldn’t tease her like this when he knew she hated bugs. He gently swiped at the nonexistent insect. “All gone.”
She calmed down. “Thank you. Are water bugs common on the lake?”
“Umm…”
She glanced at him over her shoulder, scowling. “You did it again, didn’t you?”
“Guilty,” he said with an apologetic shrug. Then with cheerfulness added, “I’m sorry I can’t seem to stop myself from teasing you.”
With the careful precision of a doctor, she did a one-eighty without causing even a tiny list to the canoe or taking her gaze off his. Once completely turned, her eyes slid down to his chest and widened. “Uh, Maverick.”
“Yes?” He kept his eyes up. If she thought him that easy to get back, she was sorely mistaken. Until a slight movement below his neck and just outside his scope of vision snagged his attention. He dropped his chin to look down. And there it was.
The one creature that creeped him the ever-loving hell out.
“That is the coolest worm I’ve ever seen,” Kennedy said, completely unfazed by this particular animal.
He stopped paddling and willed himself not to squeal like a baby and ask her to get it off him. It was a mere two inches in size! But he’d disliked the tiny, squishy invertebrate since he found one in his swim trunks at four years old.
“Its skin is transparent,” she said, leaning forward for a closer look. “I can see its internal organs! So cool. May I?” She made a motion to free it from his shirt.
“G-Go for it.” And please hurry.
She placed the common aquatic worm on her palm, releasing him from his discomfort. Mostly. He was still too close to the worm for his liking, but seeing Kennedy completely fascinated made it easier to take.
“Did you know that Charles Darwin studied worms for over thirty years?” she asked, looking absolutely riveted. “And that he published a book on them?”
“I did not know that.” He resumed paddling, in no rush to get to the other side even though his most feared animal (don’t laugh) lounged mere inches away.
Kennedy lifted her hand so the worm was at her eye level. “My favorite fact about worms is that they have five single-chambered aortic arches that pump blood through their tiny bodies. They’re located near the head.”
She studied the worm, trying to see those hearts, he guessed.
“Want a closer look?” She extended her arm and he literally almost jumped out of the canoe.
“Nooo,” he voiced with conviction. At his sudden retreat—he was leaning so far back he may as well lie down—she rolled her lips together to keep from laughing.
“Is the great Maverick Owens afraid of worms?” She sounded genuinely concerned as well as amused, her eyes full of tenderness.
“Yes,” he admitted.
She tossed the worm overboard. One quick flick of her wrist and the creepy critter landed back in the water where it belonged. Boom. Just like that.
“I hate uninvited guests,” she said.
He wasn’t sure he liked how much her reaction made him want to lean over and kiss her. It took him a minute to wrap his head around her protectiveness, her easy respite from their typical ribbing. She’d just been handed a simple jab, but when it came to the real stuff, Kennedy put other people’s well-being above all else.
Not that he didn’t already know that. He just hadn’t allowed himself to fully absorb it. The two of them thrived on taunts and teases, but this week they’d turned a corner into brand-new territory. Land he’d explore to the fullest if things were different.