Chasing Forever(41)

She released his hand and sat down on a large gray boulder.

“What are you doing?” he asked.

Smiling, she bent to pull off one shoe and then the other. “What does it look like?”

Lucas cocked his head to the side. “I hope you aren’t planning on going swimming because the water will be insanely cold and I don’t have blankets this time.”

“Not swimming, but I am going to put my feet in the water.” She stood up and walked to the edge of the stream, cautiously placing each foot on a stable rock.

She turned back to look at him. “Are you going to join me or are you going to sit there like some grumpy old man?”

“Hey,” he said, kicking off his black loafers. “I’m not a grumpy old man just because I don’t want to stick my bare feet into some water that just melted from the snowpack a few minutes ago.”

“Are you sure, because you are significantly older than me and you are complaining about the water freezing your fragile feet.” Regan dipped one of her feet into the water and pulled it back out. “Oh my God. It’s freezing.”

Lucas rolled up his pants. “I told you.” Smiling, he walked toward the edge of the water. “Are you sure you still want to wade in the water?”

Regan stepped back into the water and maneuvered over to a large rock, her hands out to the side to maintain her balance. Turning, she looked over her shoulder. “Are you coming?”

He stepped one foot in and then the other. “Stop watching me and pay attention to what you’re doing. The rocks are slick, and you probably can’t feel your toes anymore. I know I can’t and you got in before me.”

“Oh please. I think we should explore what’s on the other side. We do have all afternoon. Dinner’s not until seven-thirty.”

“I think I had some better ideas for how we’d spend our free time this afternoon, but if you are enjoying yourself, who I am to object?” He shrugged.

“You want to share your ideas?” The water was freezing, and as Lucas pointed out, her feet were kind of numb. Leaning forward to balance on a large boulder in the middle of the stream, she pulled one of her legs out of the water, attempting to crawl on top of the boulder.

“My wholesome ideas or my less than pure ideas?”

“Huh?” she questioned looking over her shoulder at him. “Did you actually say that or did I imagine it?”

“Hey, you asked,” he responded, stopping near her.

As her foot slid down the side of the rock, she realized the restraining nature of her pencil skirt prevented her from pulling her other leg on top boulder. Wearing a tight skirt this afternoon was definitely one of her dumber ideas. She looked around the stream. If she could place her standing leg on something higher, she might be able to propel herself on top. Looking around, she saw a large rock to balance her foot. She pushed up her skirt a few inches and moved her standing leg on to the rock. Just when she thought she got her balance, it tumbled sideways, jarring her right ankle hard to the side. “Ow,” she yelled as she fell backwards into the cold water right onto her butt.

She felt Lucas’s arms wrap around her shoulders and under her legs, lifting her. “Are you okay?” he asked.

Embarrassed, she closed her eyes, wishing a giant hole would swallow her so she didn’t have to face him. She turned her face into his chest. “Maybe we should explore those other ideas now?”

He kissed the top of her head. “Maybe you’re right.” Stepping onto the rocks lining the edge of the stream, he stopped. “Can you walk?”

“Maybe, I think so . . . I don’t know.”

“Okay. Maybe the better question is do you want to try to walk? If not, I’m happy to carry you.”

“Put me down and I’ll try.”

Gently, he released her legs letting his hand slowly roam up her legs to her waist while leaving her upper body pressed firmly against him. “Can I let go? Do you think you’re stable now?”

Regan shifted her weight onto her right foot and pain shot up her leg. She stifled a cry, not wanting him to know how bad she hurt herself. Pressing her head to his chest, she wrapped her arms around his neck. “I think I’ll take you up on your offer to carry me.”

“Here,” he said, pointing to a rock behind them. “Sit there while I get our shoes.”

Regan watched Lucas slip on his black loafers and pick up her nude colored heels. He handed them to her. “You hold these and I’ll hold you.”

“Thanks,” she said. “I’m sorry I’m such a dork.”

Lucas chuckled. “I’m not complaining. I don’t mind carrying you. It gives me the excuse to touch you, and I’m hoping you’ll feel indebted to me. It would play nicely into my plans for this evening.”