realize the enticement the water is for Caleb? I won't sleep a wink
tonight, worrying about him. What if he wakes up and wanders away? He
could get lost in the forest, or drown, or step on a snake . . . "
"Jessica, calm down. I'm not going to let anything happen to him. "
She acted as though he hadn't said a word. "He could fall in the fire
or step on a hot ember, " she continued. "What were you thinking? "
Although he did understand her concerns, he was a little insulted that
she didn't trust him to look after her and her son. "I'm not going to
let him get burned, drowned, bitten, or lost."
"I'm still going to worry, " she whispered. She glanced over at Caleb
to make sure he was all right, saw that he was digging in the dirt with
a stick he'd found, and turned back to the lake. In the fading light,
the water appeared to be on fire. The burnished orange sheen was a
lovely sight.
"You know what I think? " Cole said, drawing her back to the
conversation.
"No, what? " she asked on a weary sigh.
"You need a bath." She turned back to him. "Excuse me? " "I said you
need a bath. Take your clothes off and go swimming. It'll be good for
you. You're hot and tired, and the water will make you feel better.
Go ahead. I'll take Caleb in with me. I'll keep my back turned if
you're worried about your modesty, but out here folks have to be
practical." She glanced back over her shoulder at the lake. "I'm not
worried about modesty. I know you wouldn't take advantage of our
circumstances. You can't." If she hadn't added the last comment, he
would have taken what she had said as a compliment, for in his mind,
she had just admitted that she trusted him.
"I can't? " he repeated, his curiosity piqued. "Why can't I? " "Why
can't you take advantage of our situation? " "Yes." Her smile was
heart-stopping. The woman was something else all right, and he
realized then how difficult it was becoming for him to keep his hands
off her.
"Because you're a United States marshal, " she patiently reminded
him.
"And that means? " he prodded.
"It means you've taken an oath. You're here to protect me, not . .
.
" She was going to say the word "dally, " then changed her mind. ".
.
. you know." He couldn't make up his mind if he wanted to laugh or
groan. He gritted his teeth in frustration, for he finally understood
what she was telling him. He decided to set her straight.
"Jessica, contrary to what you might imagine, marshals aren't neutered
when they're sworn in. Giving up sex isn't part of the job
description." Her eyes widened. "Are you saying . . . " "Damned
right I am." He expected her to blush or at the very least try to
change the subject. She shrugged instead. "I'm not going to worry, 2
she announced.
She stared at the lake a long minute before nervously adding, "Should