Jennifer stepped back.

“This isn’t a joke.” He grabbed her, digging his fingers into her arm. “It isn’t something to mock like you just did.” He jutted his chin toward the cottage.

“Let go!” The anger flared in her as well. “I saw what I saw, now let go!” She screamed and pushed at the same time.

His foot slipped on the edge of the dock and he lost his balance, falling back first into the lake, dragging her with him. The chill in the water slapped him back in control and he hauled himself onto the end of the dock, his wet clothing clinging to him, wringing an icy shiver from his bones.

Jennifer swam to the edge and he offered her his hand but she slapped it away. “I can get out by myself.” She pulled herself up next to him.

A few minutes of strained silence went by and then Steve started to chuckle. Shaking his head slowly from side to side in disbelief, the hysterics took hold. He gripped the edge of the deck shaking with his head hung over as the laughter belted out of him.

Jennifer watched, breaking into a smile, but she didn’t allow herself to laugh with him. She looked at the sparkling water, waiting for him to settle down.

“What are you, a fucking clairvoyant?” he asked.

Jennifer shrugged. “I guess you could call it that.”

“I don’t know if I believe you anyway.” His doubt returned, but this time, aimed in his direction.

“It happens from time to time. I usually don’t pass out, though,” she explained, avoiding eye contact. “I rarely see things in the past; it’s usually present or future.” She paused and sighed, meeting his gaze. “That was completely disturbing.”

“No shit. You had no color in your face and your eyes. You scared the hell out of me.” He reached over and touched her cheek, gently tracing her lips with his thumb. He leaned over and kissed her. This time, he let the kiss linger before pulling away.

“She kept saying she couldn’t do this to you,” Jennifer said, not swayed by his kiss. The spark of anger returned to his eyes.

“I don’t give a shit. There is no excuse for suicide, none. If she didn’t want to marry me, she should have just told me instead.”

Jennifer bit her tongue and nodded, pulling the wet shirt away from her skin. Thlwup. The peculiar sucking sound brought a small bit of levity into the conversation.

Steve inhaled and scanned her wet form. He stood, slipping his sneakers off, peeling the wet shirt and socks from his body, and paused. “To hell with it.” He slipped his shorts off, adding them to the pile of wet clothing on the dock. He glanced at her and dove into the water. “You coming in?”

She raised her eyebrows. “I’m not exactly in a swimsuit.”

“Neither am I.”

“I noticed.” She made no attempt to move.

“Be adventurous.” He prodded, treading water a few feet beyond the edge of the dock. He faced the other direction. “I won’t even look.” He waited patiently and, when she didn’t slip into the water, he turned back toward the dock. She was now on the steps with his wet clothing beside her.

“You be adventurous.” A hint of a smile played on her lips.

Steve hauled himself out of the water and walked steadily toward her.

He really is a fine specimen of a man, she thought, sliding her eyes over his naked body. He swept her up in his arms and carried her back down to the end of the dock, jumping into the water.

When they surfaced, she splashed him and he yanked her close, wrapping an arm around her waist and planting a kiss that was neither gentle nor sweet, but insistent and demanding. His hand slid under her shirt, shedding it moments later and tossing it on the dock, where it slapped the wood with a wet flop. He lifted her onto the edge, kicking his powerful legs in the water to keep from going under. Hauling himself on top of her, he laid her back gently on the soaked planks, pausing long enough to wipe the wet hair from her face. He kissed her, sucking her lower lip while his fingers unbuttoned her shorts, unzipping and stripping them from her dangling legs.

His touched ignited her skin, sizzling, blanketing her with unleashed passion. His kiss mesmerized her, stopping time and clouding logic, leaving her breathless. When he pulled away, she met his intense gaze. “Do you think this is wise?”

He smiled, tugging the rest of her clothing off. “It’s anything but wise.” He crushed her lips, wrapping his arms around her. Rolling onto his back, he pulled her on top, caressing her breasts with his hands, followed by his mouth, and she slowly circled her hips, grinding against his already hard member.

Jennifer leaned down, teasing him with her tongue, sliding it along the line of his neck, nipping gently. The passion locked inside for the past two years ripped through her and she shifted, allowing him to slide his length inside her.

They moved in unison, slowly at first, exploring each other, reveling in the heat, the passion, the oneness. Intensity increased, driving their fevered thrusts harder and deeper until she peaked, diving over the wave, her moans echoing off the lake, prompting a chuckle and shush from him. He kissed her, drowning her moan, drowning his own gasping climax.

Exhausted, she collapsed on top of him, kissing the crook of his neck. “I don’t know if I can pretend anymore.” She closed her eyes and listened to the strong beat of his heart.

Steve stared at the afternoon sky, running his fingers lazily over her back. When she lifted her head, he smiled and shifted his gaze back to the cloud formations. Begrudgingly, he rolled her off and dove into the water, swimming to a spot about a hundred yards away, crawling to a sitting position on a shallow rock.

Jennifer followed suit, settling next to him on the rock.

“Thank you,” he said, looking at his property.

“For what?”

“For making a happy memory.” He nodded with his chin back at the cottage, the gazebo, and the long since forgotten benches. “I think I’ll tear the cottage down and build a house.”

Jennifer looked back at the little cottage and sighed. “But it’s charming.”

Steve shrugged. “It lost its charm a long time ago. It’s time to move on.”

Jennifer met his gaze.

He squeezed her gently and glanced at the cottage, acutely aware they were on a rock in the middle of the cove with no clothes on. He allowed himself a brief, slow smile.

“That’s the one. That smile drives me nuts. ” She pointed toward his dimpled grin.

“I know. I remembered.” He kissed her gently. “But before we go too far down this road, I’ve got to level with you.” He looked around again, eyes alert and scanning. “And I could be fired for this.”

Jennifer went to say something and he kissed her, stopping her voice in her throat.

“Be quiet.” He pulled away. “You’ve always been able to read me, even when we were kids. I didn’t count on that.” He slipped into the water, letting out a small laugh. “Hell, I didn’t count on you at all, but since we’re here and you pretty much nailed it already, I figure you better know what you’re getting yourself into.” He paused, surveying the lake and the cottage before bringing his gaze back to her. “I’m investigating the murders in Brooksfield and there’s a link to the college.”

Jennifer looked into his blue eyes and shook her head slowly. “You’re looking in the wrong place.”

Steve half smiled. “Should I be looking at you?” he inquired, letting his eyes drift over her. “Are you hiding twenty lost souls somewhere?” His blue eyes shimmered. He slid his hand up her thigh and the smile spread. “I think I’m going to have to subject you to a strip search.” He dragged her into the water with him, standing on a lower rock she couldn’t quite reach. His hands began to wander. He found his objective and the grin on his face widened.

“Seriously.” She pushed his hand away.

“Resisting arrest? That’s a very serious charge.” He pulled her close and kissed her neck.