Like a mirage in the middle of the desert, the manmade pond glistened under the sunlight, beckoning her to scale the fence and dive into it. She let out a breath then pushed the gun and her now-empty water bottle under the lowest rung of the fence. She was up and over the fence in three quick moves. Snatching up the bottle and rifle, she hurried to the edge of the pond.
She stared at the water and frowned. Although she’d known not to expect the ocean-blue water of the Caribbean where a person could see fish swimming by just under the surface, the pond water was anything but inviting up close.
“Eck. I guess it’s true what they say about the red dirt coloring the water.”
She could see a fish or two if she looked really hard, but the murkiness obscured everything else. But water was water and, hopefully, it was cool. She laid her rifle on the ground and inched closer to the edge. Squatting down, she dragged the bottle through the murky liquid then held it up and examined the contents.
“No way am I drinking that stuff.” She shook the bottle as though that would clear out the bits and pieces of whatever-the-gunk-was. She poured a little over her hand, and, although it wasn’t very cool, she judged it good enough to ease a little of the heat suffocating her.
She checked around her, saw that she was still the only one around, and pulled off her cap and tossed it on the ground next to her rifle. She tugged off her T-shirt, leaving on only her lacy bra, then pulled the scrunchie off her ponytail. Shaking her hair free, she dumped the contents of the bottle over her head and tried not to think about the gunk.
Relief swamped her. The water was far from appealing, but it did cool her off. She dipped the bottle again and, once more, dumped the water over her head.
“That was good even if it is dirty.”
She studied the muck again and decided it was worth whatever she might encounter. Toeing off her shoes, she shucked off her jeans, leaving her skimpy lace panties on, then stepped into the water. Mud squirmed between her toes, but she ignored it and focused on the coolness flowing around her bare legs. Sticks and small stones dug into the bottoms of her feet, but she didn’t care. It felt too good to leave. She was up to her waist before she knew it.
Did she dare dunk her head? She nibbled at her lower lip and considered it. Maybe if she did it really fast and held her nose, it’d be all right.
Pinching her nose to keep out the water, she took a big breath and went under the surface. She kept her eyes closed, not wanting to see whatever might float by her face. Standing up, she broke the surface and pushed her hair away from her face. The murky water revitalized her and, for the first time since she’d started walking, she felt like her old self.
“Need someone to wash your back?”
Charlie whirled to face the sound of the deep, masculine voice. “What the hell are you doing here?” Had he followed her?
Reese Rawlins quirked an eyebrow up as though surprised by her question. He shifted in his seat as the bay horse blew out its nose then lowered its head to nibble at the grass. He rode bareback, his long, hard body looking as though he was a part of the animal.
“I could ask you the same question.”
She wouldn’t have thought it possible, but he was even better looking on top of a horse. He leaned back, put one hand on his leg and held the rein in the other hand against the mane of the horse. The sun shone through his golden locks, giving him the appearance of a halo effect. But she doubted he’d wear any angel wings unless he was playing the part of Gabriel, the avenging angel. She could easily imagine him, sword in hand, hair flying behind him as he vanquished the enemies of God.
“Do you have a hearing problem?” He frowned, dropping his eyebrows between the piercing blue eyes.
He was every woman’s dream of the perfect man—until he opened his mouth.
“No. Why would you ask that?” She mentally pulled up her defenses, determined not to let him rattle her.
“Then why don’t you answer my questions?”
A brief breeze swept over her, reminding her that her bra and panties were the only things she had on and they were sheer even before getting them wet. She crossed her arms over her chest and saw him blink. Heat that had nothing to do with the sun rushed into her. He wanted her. She could almost smell it on him, but she didn’t need to. The look he gave her said it all. She nibbled on her lower lip then forced herself to stop. Nibbling on her lower lip always gave her away, telling whoever was paying attention that she was either nervous or horny as hell.
“See? You’re doing it again.”
She broke out of her thoughts to stare at him. Who did he think he was? The hero out of a Wild West movie? She took in his wide shoulders that draped to the lean waist. With his legs straddling the horse, she got a good look at the tent forming in his jeans. She was right. He wanted her in a big way.