ROOM...BUT NOT BORED by Dawn Atkins

Author:Dawn Atkins [Atkins, Dawn]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2012-11-07T21:08:40+00:00

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Chapter 8

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"That was an amazing, absolutely perfect day," Ariel said to Jake, looking up at him as they walked along the beach. They'd gone on a second dive, then returned to Water Gear so she and Brice could go over more details. Now they were walking along the beach. It was sunset and entirely too romantic, but Ariel was too happy to care. "I think I can really do something with Brice… And the scuba … wow. It was heaven … really magical. That's probably cliché, but it's so true. I had no idea all that incredible life was under there. I thought it would be scary, but it was beautiful and natural. And … wow … just wow."

"Now you know."

"Yeah, now I know." She sighed, then took the fish chart Brice had given her from her beach bag. She'd marked off the creatures she'd seen with a wax pencil. "And I'm halfway through this chart."

"You're supposed to enjoy the experience, not collect it. Give me that." He took the chart away from her.

"That's how I remember things—by writing them down. Give it back."

"Remember it here," he said, tapping her forehead, "and here," softly touching her chest just above her cleavage. "In your heart."

"I do," she said softly. "It is in my heart." Their eyes met. Jake had shown her the wonders underwater and now he was grinning at her, happy that he'd made her happy, and she felt so good being with him. "But I want to record it, too. That's who I am." She reached to take the card from his hand, their arms brushing. They were practically dancing.

"Then come and get it." He darted away from her and into the evening tide, kicking up sand as his toes dug into the wet beach.

"You rat!" she said, dropping her bag and running after him. The wet sand was cold, but she hardly noticed. Her internal heater was keeping her warm, burning with the desire to be near Jake. She ran after him, heedless of everything but the man in her sights, so that she didn't see the wave. When it hit she went down—fwap—onto the sand, laughing. When the wave receded, she found Jake lying beside her.

"You okay?" he asked, leaning over her, braced on an elbow, sand streaking his face.

"Fine," she said, aware that she'd just been assaulted by all she hated about the beach, but she didn't mind one bit. The delight of lying near Jake masked anything unpleasant. "More than fine." She brushed the sand from Jake's cheek, enjoying the firm muscle and solid bone beneath her fingers. The retreating wave tugged the sand from under her, making her feel unsteady, a little unsafe—a feeling that intensified as she looked up into Jake's warm eyes, blue as the sky and the sea.

"Here." Jake handed her the fish chart, now wet and sandy. "I haven't been such a bad roommate, have I?" He pushed a strand of hair from her cheek.

"No. Except for the noise and the mess and the confusion—and not remembering to give me messages.

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