Page 10 of The Duke’s Goddess (Duke Dare #2)

“Ponder and deliberate before you make a move.”

–Sun Tzu

“DON’T JUMP!” A CLEAR, female voice rang out. It wasn’t quite panicking. But it was a warning, yet laced in hope. James stood still, widening his stance so as to reduce the wobbling of the boat.

When James looked up, he saw Joan’s wide eyes. “I think I see Jacob and Sally. Let’s wave them down. You don’t have to jump in the water if we can get their attention. They’re just over there.” She pointed at a beige and brown cluster poking out of the water.

If he didn’t have to dive into the water to save them, he would much prefer that. James glanced behind him and there behind some cattails was the edge of Jacob’s boat. Now that he was looking for it, he could see it. “They can’t see us yet.”

They waited, anticipating the boat would come into full view shortly. Nothing.

“Jacob!” he called out, realizing the boat wasn’t moving. They waited again eagerly. Surely Jacob heard that. Nope. What the deuce were they doing? There was no reason to stop on the water and look at a forest of cattails. Unless…and well, James was a man. A virile man. He could think of a reason or two to pause, hidden from view.

Did he really want to disrupt that if it was happening? But his options were limited. One: Sit in a sinking boat. Two: Jump into a lake to save himself. Three: Cock block a friend.

“Jacob!” James called louder.

Nothing.

James directed his attention to Joan. “Together, on three.” When she nodded, he counted down. “One. Two. Three.”

“Jacob!”

It was impossible for James to believe that Jacob didn’t hear that shout. And then sure enough, the tip of the boat inched forward, and the rest of the boat came into view. James planned to discuss his observations with Joan later, but suffice to say, he noticed Sally tucking her hair behind her ears and smoothing it back into place. Her lips looked a little swollen, and her cheeks were tinted pink. And Jacob…well, he was bearing the widest grin he had ever seen on any man.

But any analysis of those observations would have to wait. And though he felt a small pang of guilt in how he hindered his friend, he more highly prioritized Joan’s safety in this situation.

“Jacob, our boat has a hole in it. Come over here and take Joan to shore.” Now that he saw the size of their boat and eyed the four bodies needing to fit, he wasn’t sure they would all be able to clamor inside the one rowboat. So much for his options. Swim it would be.

“What about you?” Joan asked.

He quieted his voice as he spoke to her, “If there’s room, I’ll join you. But it’s more urgent for you to get to shore safely.”

As he spoke the words, he saw Joan scrunch and unscrunch her face, processing his words. He hadn’t said anything any other gentleman wouldn’t have suggested. Yet he could still see her bewildered expression.

“I’ll be fine. I can swim. It’s not far.” He dismissed the questions he could see forming in her eyes and turned back to Jacob who was quickly rowing toward them.

By the time Jacob reached their boat, James had secured the oars so they couldn’t drift away while they made the transition.

“I’ll hold the boats together,” James instructed. “Jacob, you help her into your boat.”

“What can I do?” Sally asked, about to stand up.

“You can just sit there,” James said urgently. If Sally even moved a bit it could throw the whole balance of the boat off and instead of James swimming, it would be Joan.

When a small pout formed under Sally’s furrowed brow, he added, “We need someone to stabilize the boat.”

That seemed to appease her, so slowly, Joan lifted herself into the other boat. Even in this small crisis situation he noticed how she moved with intention and grace.

The second Joan was in place, James checked where the leak had sprung. Damn. There was still too much weight in the boat. Water was seeping in.

“James, it’s your turn.” Jacob said, hand extended.

James eyed the rowboat. It was already looking crowded. As Joan shuffled to make room for him, the boat teetered.

“I’ll be fine. I’ll just row this boat back.”

“Don’t be silly. There’s plenty of room. Jump in and we’ll drag the other boat back,” Jacob said.

Warily, James surveyed the boat again. If Jacob thought it would work, he wanted to trust the fellow. Make him look good in front of Sally.

Steadying himself in his boat, he gingerly lifted one leg to plant in the other boat.

Unfortunately, at the same time he stood flamingo-style in his rowboat, Sally took that opportunity to shift back saying, “I’ll just make more room for you here.”

And that shuffle was enough to rock their boat away from James's impending footplant.

It was as if it was happening in slow motion. James watched the edge of the rowboat slip away, out from under his foot. Jacob stood strong in the center to balance his boat of ladies, and Joan was kneeling (again!), reaching out to him.

He was falling into her. The momentum was too much. His head collided with her, but somehow it was only her mouth that crashed into his eye. Then—

SPLASH!

Down into the refreshingly cold water James went.

“James!”

He could hear the screaming from underwater. Thankfully he had shucked his jacket and waistcoat before going under. Swimming in clothing weighed a man down. Heaven forbid a lady fall in with all her layers.

Despite the screaming, and the shock of the water, James was calm. He had already resigned himself to swimming, so when he popped his head out of the water, he flicked his head, spraying water at whoever was waiting for him (he hoped he landed a few droplets on Joan), and belted out a laugh.

It was meant to be. “It’s a good day for a swim, wouldn’t you agree, Joan?”

***

A SHORT WHILE LATER, Joan was waiting for James on the shore. As per the selfless plan of James, she was completely safe and dry. Jacob and Sally had gone ahead to call for a towel and request tea to warm James up. It was a sunny day, but inside James might have a chill. Joan had opted to wait for him, just to be sure he didn’t need any assistance.

James wasn’t too far behind them, but swimming and pushing the boat had delayed him a bit.

Joan had offered to pull the boat, but James insisted on pushing it, saying he needed the exercise.

When James came nearer, she watched as he found the water shallow enough to stand in. With each step, he slowly revealed more of his body. A chiseled body that she could clearly see through a translucent white shirt. A body rippling with muscle that she couldn’t tear her gaze away from. One hand rested on the boat as he stood for a moment, The other hand raked through his hair, spraying droplets everywhere. Water sluiced down his chest, down toward…she dared not look. But then she did.

His legs were powerful, thick thighs. Clearly he exercised frequently and it paid off. And she wanted to throw herself at him. It was silly. He was fine. The entire time he was fine. There wasn’t even any danger in what he had just done. All the same, she was relieved he was fine and that he was back. And that he was wet.

Well, the wetness was just an observation. Not something she was particularly grateful for. Though…when she took a second look down over his body, she wasn’t not grateful for him being so wet.

And oddly, she felt a bit…wet. Between her legs. A liquid pooling that she had never experienced before. And her nipples were hardening, like beacons, pointing to James. Almost exactly like a lighthouse, directing him to her. Calling him hither.

God, she needed to clear her head. She was beginning to sound like Mimi and all her fantasies.

“I’m glad you’re back,” she said, feeling she needed to say something, and that was so much safer than anything else that was floating around in her head.

“Missed me?” he teased back.

She rolled her eyes. It was natural for a duke to be arrogant, often to a fault. Typically Joan’s experience with dukes was that their haughtiness was condescending, leaving only peons in their wake. But James’s arrogance was different. He was self-assured but light. Always lifting up those around him. He knew who he was. No apologies. It was different for ladies of the ton . Joan knew who she was, but she had to hide much of it. Like the dagger she always kept on her person, always tucked away beyond her right side pocket where she left a small gap for easy access.

James was moving again, honing in on her like she was a beacon. Pushing the boat ashore, he grunted.

Ugh. The deep, reverberating sound shot right to her core, like a jolt. Her eyes flew wide. What was that reaction? It was like she no longer knew or understood her body. It was communicating in a foreign language.

When James plopped himself on the grass, he patted the spot beside him.

“Don’t you want to change?” she asked, taking in his dripping translucent shirt. Pectoral muscles rippled with his movements, and all he was doing was shifting his legs so that his forearms rested atop his knees. Her eyes wanted to drift down to his breeches where she was sure she might see fabric clinging to…him. Beyond terrified to give in, she held his gaze instead.

“In a minute,” he huffed.

And God, his shallow breaths were doing something to her. Parts of her body were zinging. Those parts of her body were shouting at her. Sending her a message loudly and clearly. Danger . She should leave. Temptation was growing. But she didn’t want to go.

“We need to talk.”

Oh dear, that didn’t sound good.

“You need to tell me what’s going on.”

How did he know something was going on with her? Of course, they had so far been able to communicate effortlessly, like he was in tune with her somehow. But could he really sense her body’s physical response to him? She wasn’t close enough to him for him to feel her heat, was she? Were those zinging sensations visible?

She managed to keep her face still, and blandly asked, “What do you mean?”

“I didn’t see Sally’s reaction. What happened in the boat? Are we making progress with them?”

“Oh,” she exhaled in relief, “that. It couldn’t have gone better if we had planned it that way. Sally’s eyes were dreamily focused on Jacob. And I’m quite sure I heard Sally exclaim, My hero , when he helped me enter the boat. I don’t think she even noticed when you fell in the water.”

At that, James barked out a laugh. The sound brought a quick smile to her own lips.

“Thanks for saving me.” Despite James looking slightly incompetent amidst the rowboat transaction, she wanted him to know that she saw his efforts and appreciated him.

“Yes. About that…”

“You could have done a better job saving me in return.”

She could feel the intense heat under her jaw, crawling up into her cheeks. “And a gentleman wouldn’t remind me of that obviously awkward encounter.”

He chuckled.

Joan waved the topic away. “Anyway…I think Sally’s smitten. And did you see where they were coming from? Behind those tall cattails so no one could see them. And did you see what she looked like after we called them over?”

“The hair?” James smirked.

“The lips?”

“Jacob’s grin?”

The two chuckled together.

“I never thought Sally was the type,” Joan mumbled.

With a waggle of his brows, James teased, “Every lady is the type.”

“Not every lady,” Joan countered, but not too vehemently.

“You’ve never…?”

For some reason, that question triggered something in her. Joan almost wished she had let a man take her to a private place and kiss her. That way she wouldn’t feel so embarrassed that she was apparently not like every lady. But when James's eyes softened and she saw something flare in them, her heart fluttered.

“Well…it sounds like we did our job then,” James stated.

And as much as that phrase should delight Joan, a small sadness crept into her heart. Or somewhere close. If Sally and Jacob were now attached, there was no reason for Joan and James to be attached.

“Why the frown?” James prodded.

“Oh, no reason.” But she had a reason. If she was willing to admit it. She had been enjoying her time with James. He was funny. Carefree. Handsome…She didn’t want to give him up just yet. “Perhaps Sally and Jacob just need one more push?”

James studied her face for a beat and said, “I couldn’t agree more. We want to be absolutely sure that they’ll become a couple.”

“It’s settled then. One more push?”

“Just a little nudge,” he agreed as he bumped his shoulder into hers.

“Then we had better make it worthwhile.”

“I couldn’t agree more,” he smiled.

She smiled.

There. That felt better.