Kaleidoscope (Colorado Mountain #6)(116)

“How did he use the money to pay for stuff and not have it traced back to the robberies?” I went on.

“Like I said, he’s likable. His mother, though, is beloved. Apparently an amazing woman, lots of friends. As the disease progressed, they did what they could but only so much folks can do. They had fundraising events and people ran races for her, shit like that. But her care ate all that up, and kept going. People have their own lives and they can give selflessly but they can’t do it for eternity. So, given the opportunity to do more without it coming from their pockets or sweat, they did it. It didn’t take much for Prosky to talk them into saying they gave a gift for her care, and as it was cash, it couldn’t be traced. That said, when DPD officers went out to have chats after we got Prosky this afternoon, several of them ’fessed up. But they did it expressing concern for Prosky and his mom.”

All this was sad, lives destroyed, a young man was dead and a woman would now face a bitter battle with a disease with no one at her side.

Part of me got why Prosky did what he did. That didn’t mean I condoned it. Too much was lost, even if what he was trying to gain was honorable.

The rest of me just hoped myself or no one I knew faced the same kind of tragedy.

Jacob’s words took me out of my thoughts.

“You okay with all this, honey?”

I focused on him as my body melted into his.

He was such a good guy.

And he so totally loved me.

“I’m okay,” I assured.

“Brings up bad shit for you,” he reminded me, scanning my face, looking for indications I’d inadvertently taught him to search for when it came to me. Hiding fear. Burying things. Preparing to retreat.

“I’m not happy someone got kidnapped,” I shared, and his arms around me got tight. “But I’m here, with you, Buford and Josephine. I’m full of good burritos. And I’m learning how to count my blessings instead of fear they’ll be swept away from me. So I’m good, outside of not being real happy you spent time today thinking I wouldn’t be.”

I got another squeeze on his, “I’m fine, Emme.”

It was my turn to search his features to make sure he was what he said.

And he looked okay to me. Well, not okay. Handsome, intent and sweet, but that was his norm so that was okay.

It was time to move us on.

Not to bury it.

Just to move past it.

In order to do that, I asked, “You know what all this means?”

“I know what all this means to me, that this guy was completely f**ked in the head,” Jacob answered, and I grinned but shook my head.

“What all this means is that it lays testimony to the blatant fact we need socialized medical care,” I announced.

Jacob stared at me.

Then he moved his eyes to the ceiling and stared at it.

“Admit it, I’m not wrong,” I pushed.

At that, Jacob angled up, taking me with him. The move was so sudden, I cried out and latched on. We were front to front with my hands clutching his shoulders and my legs wrapped around his h*ps when he started walking.

Toward the French doors.

“What are you doing?” I asked.

Jacob didn’t answer. He kept walking then dipped down to open the door.

Out we went with me crying, “Jacob! What are you—?”

I didn’t get it all out. He made it to the edge of the pool, pulled me from his body even as I tried to keep hold and easily tossed me right into the water.

Fully clothed.

I came up spluttering, pulling my hair from my face and shouting, “Are you insane?”

Standing at the side of the pool, hands on hips, smiling, Jacob declared, “Just sayin’, anytime you mention socializing medical care, you get tossed in the drink.”

“You are insane!” I yelled, swiping an arm across the water in hopes of splashing him but I was too far away and thus failed.

He kept smiling.

Then he yanked his shirt over his head and I watched with some awe as he bent his knees and took off. His long straight body knifing through the air, it sliced into the water as he executed a perfect dive.

God. He could even dive perfectly.

In jeans.

Or maybe it was perfect because it was hot he was doing it in jeans.

Or maybe it was just hot because he was joining me.

I treaded water as he swam under it and came up in front of me, wrapping an arm around my waist and pulling me to him as he did.

I again grabbed his shoulders and wrapped my legs around his hips.

“I’m glad we’re moving to my house,” I announced. “I don’t have a pool so when you don’t want to concede a valid, and I’ll just note, accurate point, you can’t toss me into it.”

“Emme,” he said.

“What?” I snapped.

“Take off your sweater,” he ordered.

I watched his face in the tranquil, revolving colors of the pool lights and noticed my man was not in the mood to discuss political ideology.

Suddenly, I wasn’t either.

So I pulled off my sweater.

* * *

An hour later…

Jacob powering inside me, my back to the wall of the pool, my face in his neck, our soggy clothes strewn around the pool deck, my legs wrapped around his hips, he stated, “This summer, we’re puttin’ a pool in at your place, south side.”