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Suddenly she sensed too late, Trevor behind her and she wasn’t quick enough as he shook his hair over her body and the cold-water drips made contact, instantly causing her to jump up.

“Hey! Why did you do that?” she reprimanded as she stood up.

“You looked hot,” he teased her again as he walked toward his horse to grab a towel.

Did he mean I looked hot, or that I looked hot as in sweaty, smelly and ready for a bath? Yikes!

Lori took the opportunity to cool off and take a swim as Trevor made himself comfortable by her blanket.

The water was cold and refreshing and she couldn’t help but want revenge on Trevor for sneaking up on her and dripping cold water. She reached down to the dirt and rock bottom as she attempted to grab something in the water. She avoided his stare as she tried to nonchalantly walk out of the water with her gift.

* * * *

Trevor watched Lori walk out of the stream. Her nearly tan skin glistening in the sunlight as she made her way toward him. He was shocked as the handful of worms landed on his stomach and he jumped up from the towel.

“What the hell!”

“Now we’re even!” Lori told him as she took her towel and wrapped it around herself. Trevor went back down toward the water to clean himself off.

He was laughing at her tough attitude and the simple fact that she picked up a handful of worms like nothing and stuck them on him. He never knew a woman who would do such a thing.

As he emerged from the water, he grabbed a small violet flower from the bush and carried it to Lori.

“Truce?” he asked as he held the flower out to her.

“I guess so.” She sighed as she took the flower and placed it behind her ear in between some strands of hair.

She was beautiful and the droplets of water that covered her lashes accentuated her jade-colored eyes.

He wanted a closer look. He wanted to kiss her and touch her perfect skin he was sure would be soft and feminine. Instead he rolled onto his back and the two of them stayed silent for a long time.

“So how do you like living around here?” he asked her.

“It’s quiet and everyone seems nice.”

“Have you gotten to go out at all, for fun I mean?” he asked, surprised by his nervousness. He was acting like a high school teenager instead of a thirty-year-old man.

“No. I really don’t have time for that. I’m trying to find work, prepare for these college courses and help my family.”

“That’s a full plate ya got there, darling.” He rolled to his side to look at her. The towel that was wrapped around her now lay open. He had a full, close-up view of her body and the urge to touch her, explore her curves was making his fingers inch across the blanket.

* * * *

Lori sat up and looked at her watch.

Trevor sat up, too, shocked at her abrupt movement next to him.

“Where are you going, kid?”

“Back home, I have to go on an interview.”

“At Carl’s?”

“Actually, yes. How did you know?”

“Charlie told me. Are you sure you want to work there?”

“What’s it to you?”