Page 108 of Confessions

“Us.”

Her throat closed. “There’s nothing more to discuss.”

“I miss you, Carlie,” he said, his expression lifeless.

“I thought you were dating someone else.”

“It didn’t work out.” He shoved a hand through his brown hair and scowled down at the water.

This was getting complicated and she felt a little guilty. “Look, Kevin, I’m seeing someone—”

“Ben. I know.” His expression hardened and the look in his eyes was as cold as the depths of the lake. “Hell, don’t I know?”

“I don’t understand what you want from me, Kevin,” she said, wrapping her towel around her shoulders as she stood and faced him. He was tall and intimidating, but he didn’t scare her. Kevin wasn’t a bad person, just confused.

“I don’t know, either. I know it didn’t work for us and I suppose I’m as much to blame as anyone, but I’m not sure I can deal with you being Ben’s girl. I loved you, Carlie. More than anyone else ever could.”

Her heart twisted a little. “You don’t, Kevin, and I’m...I’m not anyone’s girl.”

He reached for her, but she stepped away. “Please, don’t—”

His lips flattened suddenly. “No one’s girl, eh? Oh, right. You’re your own woman, going places, off to see the world.” When she didn’t answer, he cast her a disdainful look filled with pain and anger. “Who’re you kidding, Carlie? You don’t have any more chance of getting out of this hellhole of a town than the rest of us. You’re trapped, baby, just like everyone else.”

Trembling a little at the fierceness in his tone, she stepped backward and nearly fell off the dock. She had to scramble to maintain her balance.

“Kevin!” Ben’s voice thundered from the parking lot and Carlie wanted to die.

Kevin’s expression turned ugly as he watched his younger brother run to the dock. “Big mistake, Carlie,” he said, turning back to her and stripping the towel from her fingers. His gaze raked down her body. “If you really want to get out, you’d better not tie yourself down. Especially not to Ben. He’ll break your damned heart.” With that piece of advice he dropped the towel and strode down the planks of the dock and met his brother who was running toward the pier.

“She’s all yours,” Kevin said with a dismissive motion of his head.

“I’m not anyone’s!” she insisted again, though her face burned with shame.

“Carlie—”

Ben’s voice followed her as she turned and dived into the clear, cold water of the lake. Damn the Powell boys. Both of them. Who did they think they were, snarling over her like two tigers coveting a prized piece of meat? Why couldn’t she just forget them both? Kevin was bad news and everyone told her that getting involved with Ben would be courting disaster. The writing was already on the wall.

The water caressed her skin and she swam under the surface, determined to put as much distance between herself and anyone named Powell. Who needed them, she thought, and her heart tugged a little as her lungs began to burn. She kicked upward, through the cool depths and, as her head broke the surface, gasped for air. Treading water she looked back at the dock and saw Ben kicking off his shoes.

She felt a little shiver of anticipation as he looked her way and stripped off his shirt. Her throat tightened as he dived neatly into the water and started swimming her way. She had two choices: swim toward him or toward the opposite shore. Gauging the distance, and the rate he was plowing through the water, she knew she didn’t have a prayer of reaching the distant bank. Still, she could give him a good run for his money.

Again she dived under the surface and swam toward the middle of the lake, but at an angle, toward the Fitzpatrick place. Within a minute her lungs began to ache, but she kept going and only surfaced when she was starved for air and her lungs were on fire.

Her head emerged and she saw him, still coming, swimming unerringly in her direction. With a kick, she surged away from him, but within a matter of minutes, he was next to her, his hands sliding against her wet skin, his fingers surrounding her arms.

“Wh-what are you doing?” she asked between gasps.

“This.” His lips found hers and he tasted of salt and clear water. She had to tread water to stay afloat.

Kicking away from him, she said, “I don’t appreciate your getting your big brother’s approval to—”

He pulled her roughly against him. “Kevin has nothing to do with us.” He kissed her again, and wound his arms around her torso. His body was hot and wet against hers and her heart beat anxiously to a new and wild drum.

“We’ll drown out here.”

He lifted his head and smiled, a flash of white so devilish that her heart turned over. “I’ll keep you safe, Carlie,” he vowed. “Come on.” He pulled gently on her hand before letting go and swimming back to the dock. With only a second’s hesitation, she followed him, swimming in his wake, feeling the ripples splash her face and knowing that she was beginning to fall in love with him.

Not now! her mind screamed. She had plans for her life and those plans didn’t include being tied to a hometown boy. But he was different and changed her way of thinking. He wanted to see the world—he’d said as much. Maybe they could see it together.