"Gee, thanks," she said sarcastically. She glanced at the lawn. The heat of the sun had withered the cut foliage and it was unsightly. A day wasted.

"Anyway," Keaton continued in a stern tone that wasn't unlike her father's, "you could get lost in the woods, or even injured. If you'd like to explore, why don't you let me go with you?"

She glanced up at him. Another invitation? He must be getting bored with watching her. At any rate, a stroll through the woods with him sounded inviting.

They left the house and headed for the swim area. Keaton pulled the car off the road into a grassy parking area beside the creek and shut off the engine. "We're in luck. We're the first ones here tonight."

She glanced around at the deserted area beside the creek. The black remains of a fire indicated that people did more than swim. For the first time, she wondered if she had made the right choice in coming with him today. After all, what did she know about him?

"Do a lot of people come here?"

"Sure, it's the best swimming hole around here."

He opened the door and stepped out, peeling off his shirt and shucking his jeans.

"Come on. Let's go swim."

Keaton was a strange combination...sometimes shy, sometimes bold. She followed him to the rocky beach and removed her shoes and beach robe. The rocks were deceptively sharp and the coldness of the water increased the sensitivity of the soles of her feet. She winced and moaned with every step. The angle of decent was mercilessly gradual and her feet were sore by the time she was in icy water up to her knees. Unwilling to go on, she stopped and hugged herself, watching Keaton plunge into the water. How could he stand the cold?

He surfaced and noticed she was standing still.

"Come on. It's not bad once you get into it."

"I can't walk any further," she lied. "The rocks hurt my feet." Her teeth were already chattering.

His dripping frame emerged from the water and he strode toward her as if the bottom of the creek were sand. For a moment she thought he was going to give up swimming. Instead, he slipped an arm behind her back and one under her legs. He scooped her into his arms and started for the deeper water.

His actions were far too bold, and yet the feel of his warm muscular torso was comforting. She squirmed.

"Put me down. I'm not a baby."

He chuckled. "I know. You're a little sissy." With that he dumped her into the water.




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