Nate (A Texas Jacks Novel) (25 page)

“What are we doing today?” I ask from the comfort of Nathan’s arms.

“I thought we would spend the day on the lake. Maybe get a few hours of fishing in.”

“Oh! I’m definitely in for swimming, or hanging on the boat. It sounds perfect, but not so pleasant with this morning’s temperature.”

“The mountains are good like that. Don’t worry, as the morning wears on, the weather will warm up.” He runs his hand down my back, then back up to twist it into my hair. Tugging my head back, he places a kiss on the corner of my lips. “We can’t have the brisk air ruining my fun of seeing you in a bathing suit, now can we?” he whispers into my ear, sending shivers down my body. “Cold?” He laughs.

“If I weren’t in the position of getting chilled to death, I would smack you one,” I laugh.

“I think it’s time we all wake up and vote on someone making breakfast and something hot to drink,” we hear a hoarse Halley grumble. “Though, just saying—that someone won’t be
me
.” I look up into Nathan’s eyes to find the mirth playing in them.

“It won’t be Charlie, or I. Whoever wakes up last is the lucky winner,” Nate announces, just as Tucker rolls over and bangs his face into Nate’s feet, as they’re tangled into mine. I can’t help the laugh that comes out of my mouth, sending Nate into a fit of laughter, too. Before we know it, Holt is lying on top of us, and then Tucker joins in on the dog pile—sore face and all, I’m sure.

“Punishment for Nate’s big feet jumping out and attacking my face,” Tucker grunts.

“
Boys
.” Naomi cracks up, and a moment later, I’m pretty sure she jumped on top of them to weigh Nate and I down even more. I’m laughing so hard, but it really is getting hard to breathe. I’m lucky Nathan has me cocooned in his strong arms, as he rolls to try and shove the human weights off of us.

“I’m not making food—unless you want me to burn it,” Holt states.

“I knew your beauty outshined your intelligence.” Halley teases him.

“I outshine in many ways, Woman. Just wait and see.” He winks at her.

Eventually, everyone in the pile moves to get up and start the day. I don’t even know what time it is, but I’m starving. Though, I’m not ready to truly brave the biting cold air just yet. But I know I don’t have a choice the second I feel strong arms lift me up and sling me over a strong shoulder, eliciting a yelp out of me.

“I think Holt’s asking for instant karma to smack him upside his big, hot head.” Naomi laughs, as she crawls out of the tent.

“What? We need a cook! I’m enlisting this little camper right here.”

“And if you swat her bottom, you’ll find instant karma faster than you can count to one.” I hear Nathan warn Holt.

“I wasn’t really going to touch her fine behind. But okay, I’ll save all of my caresses for Halley.” I take that moment to slap his rear before I find myself being pried away and back into Nate’s arms.

“Thanks, cowboy.” I lean back into his embrace. “Was he really going to swat me?” I laugh, as I can’t believe Holt would actually do that.

“Only just to mess with Nate.” Holt chuckles, then climbs out of the tent right after Tucker, and immediately followed by Halley.

“Now you’ve done it, Curly,” we hear her tell Holt as their voices get further away.

“You’re not mad, are you?”

“Nah. I just like to bust his chops. Though, I don’t want to see another man’s hands on you, little one.” He kisses my head, then lets me go to exit the tent.

I end up helping Naomi and Tucker with a breakfast of pancakes, bacon, and fried eggs. After we clean up, we head to the bathrooms to freshen up and change. It may be 10:30 in the morning, but no one is ready to go swimming just yet. During breakfast we decided to take a bit of a hike and check out our surroundings before lunch. After lunch, the guys plan to fish, while us women swim and lay out.

After the hike and a lunch of sandwiches and chips, we get the boat situated into the water and take off towards the middle of the lake. Once the guys have their poles set up, they crank up Tim McGraw on the radio, and the girls and I relax on the deck while trying to catch the afternoon rays. Before long, I feel a set of fingers feathering up and down my spine. It feels good, and I instantly know its Nate.

“Did you put any sunblock on, little one?” His voice is lazy, yet a bit of concern can still be detected in his tone. “I don’t want you turning into a lobster.”

“I had Halley rub my back down earlier.” I yawn into my hand. My eyes are still closed, as I’m presently feeling too lazy to open them. “Though, I wouldn’t turn you down if you wanted to massage in a little more.” The sunlight I’m basking in is lulling me into a stupor, and the best thing I can imagine at the moment is a little rubdown from Nate.

“The little one gets what the little one wants.” His voice is low and intimate. After a few moments, I feel his hands on my skin, massaging my shoulders with warm, coconut-scented lotion. “Tell me, Charlotte, does this feel good?” he whispers.

“
Mmm
.” It’s all I can hum out as he molds my body into a formless state.

I hear him laugh. “Charlie, you need to either turn over so you don’t burn, or take a dip in the lake. Though, just saying—if you turn over, I won’t be able to contain myself.” I feel his lips trailing over the back of my shoulders in light kisses. I can’t even respond. All of this attention feels too good, so I just let it be what it is. It’s sweet, it makes me feel special, and it’s even a bit romantic.

“I don’t want to move, though. This feels too good. You and the power of the sun combined is just pure bliss.” I sigh, rolling over so I can see his gorgeous face. I manage a smile the moment we make eye contact. He lowers his head to brush his lips with mine.

I prop myself up on my elbows so I can get a better handle on the sweet kiss we’re sharing. I feel like time has suddenly stopped, and it’s just us two in this moment. He gently pulls away and winks at me before he suddenly jumps to his feet and scoops me up. We’re racing towards the end of the boat when I realize what he’s about to do. I let out a shriek right when he jumps off the boat and straight into the cold water.

I go all the way under before I crest the top of the water. I’m sputtering water out of my mouth as I try to stay afloat. Nate swims over to me and wraps his arms around my flailing body. I try to elbow him, but he holds me too tight, so I can’t. I can only manage to scissor my legs to keep from going under again, just as I hear the laughter coming from the boat. Next thing I see when I look up is Holt and Tucker jumping off the boat, too.

“I thought cowboys were only able to buck broncos and heft a fishing pole,” I tease Nate.

“I think I have a smart mouth over here, guys!” he laughs, right before he dunks me under the water again.

We end up horsing around for a while until we decide to dry off in what’s left of the hot afternoon sun. The guys have taken to their fishing poles again, deciding to get more serious about it.

“I hope they’re not trying to catch our dinner,” I say to the girls in a hushed tone. They giggle as they lay on either side of me while we dry off on our backs. I definitely had enough of lying on my stomach. I wouldn’t say that the boat deck is exactly comfortable, and now my body is starting to feel the stiffness from lying on it for so long.

“No worries, I saw extra food in the coolers. I think we’re safe,” Naomi assures us.

“What are you women whispering about?” Tucker calls out to us.

“About how sexy your butt looks in your board shorts!” Halley teases.

“Why don’t you do a little runway walk for us, so we can
all
check it out?” Holt razzes him. “And woman!
You
better not be looking.” He frowns at Halley. She just laughs as she closes her eyes and settles back onto the deck.

“Are you threatened by my hotness? No woman can resist these sweet abs and buns of steel.” Tucker says as he flexes for us. Nate and Holt groan and shake their heads.

“Don’t hate!” Tucker wags his brows at the guys.

“Go crank on
Southern Girls
,” Nate pushes him towards the cabin, laughing at him. “You have nothing on us, anyway. Though, if you want to prove you’re a real man, we can take it to the track.”

“I don’t need to prove anything, but I’ll see you on the track. That’s a promise,” Tucker replies in all of his cockiness.

Pretty soon, we hear Tim’s voice coming through the speakers on full blast. Nate comes over and pulls me to my feet to start dancing with me. I fan myself, because this boy is pure hotness when he dances. He makes my cheeks blush with his moves.

“I can’t wait to get you back on the dance floor at
T.J.’s
,’ he yells over the music, causing an instant grin to pull at the corners of my lips.
I can’t wait, either
.

The day turns into the evening before long, and we make it back to camp to clean up and fry up the fish the guys caught, though I politely decline. I’m grateful there are other things to choose from, as we settle around the campfire with plates in our laps, the night descending quickly upon us. We’re all content to be with each other in the cold mountains on our last evening outdoors—where I get one more chance to sleep right next to Nate in my own sleeping bag—before we pack it up bright and early the next morning. I relax into my chair and watch my friends as they talk and tease each other. This is the feeling of really living, and I’m so glad I took a chance on
Texas Jacks
, for once in my life.

I
T’S THE DAY AFTER THE
lake, and I’m on my way to check in on Charlie. As it turns out, she came home with a nasty sunburn that kept her home from work.

After I finished work for the day, I stopped by the store to pick up soup, saltine crackers, and Coke, in hopes that she would feel better with something in her stomach. I also purchased aloe vera gel to help with the burn.

I pull into her complex parking lot and luckily enough, there’s an open space close by her place. I pull in, grab my purchases, and then jog up the steps to her door. I have to knock a few times before she finally opens the door, and to my surprise, her skin is worse than I could have imagined.

“Charlie, wow. I had no idea,” I regretfully say. I should have paid better attention to her the next morning as we cleaned up our campsite to leave. I knew she was moving at a snail’s pace, and that her skin was beet red, but who would have known she had water blisters all up her legs? Shaking my head, I gently push her out of the way and walk into her living room.

“Little one.” I say into her hair, as I kiss her cheek. “Go lay down. I’ll warm up some soup and bring you some aloe.” I head towards her kitchen to unload my goodies, and she doesn’t complain, just does as I ask.

Ten minutes later, I’m pulling a kitchen chair up to the couch she’s laying on. “All right, Charlie. Why didn’t you tell me it was this bad, sweetheart? I would have gotten here sooner.”

“You had work, and I didn’t want you to worry. Besides, I didn’t realize how bad off I was until this morning. I woke up not feeling well, and then noticed the blisters. I could barely get my sleep shorts and tank top on last night. I think I’m stuck in them for the next few days.” She pushes her lower lip out in a pout.

“Do you have the air on? I just realized it feels like a freezer in here.” I rub my arms for emphasis.

“I can’t seem to get comfy, and the air feels great on my overheated skin. I called my mom—she says I need to lay low for a while, stay home from work, and rest, using plenty of aloe and fluids. You know, she tried to bully her way out here, and I had to make a convincing argument as to why I didn’t need her help.”

She gives me a fond smile over her mom wanting to help, and I wish I could bottle up the feelings she’s wreaking havoc on me with—and she doesn’t even know she’s doing it.

“Well, I know I put sunblock on you, but Charlie, I’m sorry it wasn’t enough. I feel bad you’re in so much pain.”

“No need to feel bad. You didn’t do it. I did have a lot of fun, just so you know. This burn is totally worth the trip,” she openly flirts.

“Remind me to have you repeat that in a couple of days when you’re still miserable.” I uncap the aloe, rub some on my hands, and forewarn her that I’m going to apply the green slime to her legs. “Be prepared, it’s going to be cold, too!”