Small Town Rumors(58)

“There’s a shallow creek at the back of the place with a big old scrub oak shade tree at the edge. We could go there for a little while when we finish up here,” he said.

“Yes,” she said without hesitation. “But first, let’s get the stuff gathered up for your deliveries tomorrow morning.”

They were finished in less than an hour, and once they’d washed off their bare feet and gotten their shoes back on, he led the way down a path with weeds growing up in the middle of two ruts.

“I can hear it already,” she said before they made the final bend in the path.

“When Cricket and I were little kids, several times a year we’d have a tailgate picnic at the creek, and then Mama and Daddy would let us splash around in the water,” he said.

“Oh, it’s beautiful. Look at that big old shady tree. I love it, Rick,” she said. “Can we wade in it?”

“It’s spring fed, so it’s pretty cold, but you can if you want,” he answered as he sat down under the huge scrub oak tree.

“I’d rather go skinny-dippin’,” she whispered.

“Would you repeat that?” He could feel a blush heating up his cheeks.

She clamped a hand over her mouth. “Did I say that out loud?”

“I believe you did.” He grinned.

“I was thinkin’ it, but I didn’t mean to say it.” She was downright cute with two bright-red spots dotting her cheeks. “And it would be fun, because I’ve never done that before.”

“I don’t think it would be a good idea. I swear in this area even the blackbirds in the trees carry gossip. You can’t even imagine what one little skinny-dippin’ night would have created by this time tomorrow,” he said.

“It could be one of those ‘used rumors.’” She put air quotes around the words. “Those that we file away to sell to a town that’s just gettin’ into the rumor business.”

“We could sell that one pretty high.”

She sat down and nudged him with her shoulder. “We could give classes to towns that don’t have the experience Bloom does. Cricket could work up a syllabus and help teach it. Did your mama like gossip, too?”

“No, ma’am,” he said quickly.

“Then you must be more like her.”

“Pretty much, but sometimes Dad comes out in my attitude if I’m brooding about something. What about you?” He couldn’t see much of either of her parents in her. Not the uppity Charlotte or the philandering Dill. He drew his eyebrows down into a frown, wondering exactly how those two ever made a child so different from them both.

“They say I’m like Granny Baker. She was gone before I was born, but I get told that I’m like her pretty often, mostly when Mama is scolding me about something.” She stood up and walked across the green grass to the edge of the water and stuck a bare toe in it. “Man, it is cold, but it feels so good. I’m going to come out here someday and go skinny-dippin’. I’ll tell you beforehand so you can guard it for me.”

“What makes you think I’ll stand guard? I might sit right here and enjoy the sight.” Immediately he wondered if he’d been guilty of saying words out loud that he shouldn’t have even thought.

“Are you flirting with me, Rick Lawson?” she asked.

“Maybe. Probably. Is that okay?”

“Well, when you make up your mind, I’d like to know.” She stuck her whole foot into the water and then the other one, only sucking air a little bit. Then she waded out ankle-deep and inhaled. “It smells wonderful. So fresh and clean, and there’s little minnows in here, Rick. If I owned this place, I’d build a house right there where you are sitting, and I’d never leave. If I needed anything other than what is grown here, I’d pay someone to deliver it.”

He walked out to the edge of the water and extended a hand. “It gets slippery right at the edge.”

She put hers in his, but when she took that final step, she faltered and started down into the icy water. To prevent that, he grabbed both her arms and jerked her toward him. He ended up flat on his back with her on top of him. From the waist up, they were on dry ground, while below, the cold water rushed around and over them. Thank God for the cold water or else she would have known exactly how much she affected him right then.

“Are you all right?” he panted.

“I think so. Did I break your back?”

He should sit up and help her, but he liked the way her body felt. “I don’t think so.” His hands went up to cup her cheeks. “I’m flirting now.”

“Okay,” she whispered when she realized he was about to kiss her.

Then their lips met, and the whole earth stood still. Maybe he had died, and this was his first taste of heaven. As suddenly as it started, it was over. She rolled off him and lay on the grass, staring up at the limbs of the old oak tree.

“Rick, I’ve had boyfriends. I’ve had a husband. I like you better than any of them, and I’d never ruin what we’ve got for a fling,” she told him.

“Who says it’s a fling?” he said.

She sat up. “You make me feel special, but you don’t know everything about me.”

He pulled himself up to stand above her and offer his hand. “You are very special, Jennie Sue.”