Flight Risk

30 - Little Limestone Lake Part 2

"So if we were on a real tropical holiday, what else would we get up to?" I asked as I undid the back strap of the bra under my bathing suit, and with some coverage from the sarong, I slipped it out from underneath and tossed it in my bag. I changed my bottoms too under the screen of the elephant print fabric.

Caleb's green eyes danced as he smiled. "Assuming we were somewhere near a reef, we'd take our snorkel gear and explore. I doubt you'd be able to think about much else."

He knew me so well already and seemed more entertained than bothered. The desire to be as cheesy as we had at the wedding overcame me.

"It would be a close tie between that and you."

"I wouldn't be offended if I didn't win." He dug in his bag for his swimsuit.

I laughed. "It might depend on the marine life in the area. But our fantasy holiday is off to a great start."

"I've had a lot of practice with fake dating, compliments to a wonderful woman I met on an airplane, of all places." He pulled out a pair of blue swim trunks and took the sarong from my outstretched hand to wrap around himself. "Lady's choice for our next imagined excursion." He changed with a tight grip on the sarong, and his tenseness made him trip a little, but he steadied himself. I turned away to give him more privacy.

"We could explore the beach. Look for the land dwellers you would love to see."

"I could relax between the two missions. I'm not that intense." He handed me the sarong.

I held back a laugh, as we must not have been together long enough for him to pick up that I rarely sat still unless confined on a plane. Though I was jittery then too.

"I'm bad at lying on a towel on the beach. I'd be too tempted to go do something." Currently, I surveyed the glistening turquoise waters with a desire to dive in prickling at my skin.

"Nothing wrong with that. Although perhaps that massage I promised you would help."

Our eyes met and the intensity between us rose like a hot-air balloon over thousand-year-old temples. His hands brushing my skin earlier had felt great, and a massage would be heavenly. "On a sandy beach, it would."

He glanced at the rocks, and his brow creased. "Don't suppose there are many of those on our journey north."

Sadly, there weren't, and my muscles grew tighter at the idea of both a lovely massage and Caleb's hand caressing me again.

"No, but an air mattress would do the trick."

He broke into a cough. "Sorry, I uh—" He cleared his throat, and his cheeks went red.

Shoot, had I tripped over one of his boundaries? But he'd offered twice, and the first time had been a real offer. I'd been hoping this one was too.

He ran a hand through his hair. "I didn't mean to pressure you or suggest..."

"Caleb, I wouldn't agree to something I'm not comfortable doing, fantasy or not. But if it makes you uncomfortable, ignore me."

"Cool." He smoothed his hands over his bright blue swim shorts. "It doesn't, for the record. I was worried I had overstepped. I want to do this right."

Some people found hesitance and uncertainty unattractive, but on Caleb, it was endearing. 

"I appreciate that."

I tucked everything in my bag and kicked off my sandals while he did the same.

"If you could pick any meal to eat on our tropical getaway, what would it be?" he asked.