Sanctuary

studied him through narrowed eyes. “Why did your wife leave you?”
    “What makes you think she left me?”
    “Okay—why did you leave her?”
    “We left each other.” He brushed some low-hanging moss out of their way. “Marriage canceled through lack of interest. Are you trying to gauge what kind of husband I was before you let me grill you a piece of meat?”
    “No.” But the annoyance in his tone made her lips twitch. “But I would have if I’d thought of it. Why don’t we leave that topic, and I’ll ask you how you’ve enjoyed your first week on Desire.”
    He stopped, turned, looked at her. “Isn’t this just about where you fell into the water that summer?”
    She lifted a brow. “No, actually, it was quite a bit farther downriver that you pushed me into the water. And if you’ve got a notion to repeat yourself, I’d think again.”
    “You know, one of the reasons I’m here is to revisit some of those days, and nights.” He took a step forward, she took a step back. “Are you sure it wasn’t here that you went in?”
    “Yes, I’m sure.” He backed her up another step. She slapped a hand on his chest but found herself maneuvered nearer the bank. “Just like I’m sure I’m not going in again.”
    “Don’t be too sure.” As her feet skidded on the wet grass, he hauled her back and against him. “Oops.” And grinning, locked his arms comfortably around her waist. “Not much to you, is there?”
    She gripped his arms firmly, just in case. “There’s enough.”
    “I guess I’ll have to take your word for that ... and anticipate finding out for myself. Anticipation’s half the fun.”
    “What?” She felt her blood drain down to the soles of her feet. I’m a big fan of anticipation. “What did you say?”
    “That I’d take your word for it. Hey.” He shifted his weight, pulled her closer as she struggled against him. “Watch out, or we’re both going to be taking a morning dip.”
    He managed to pull her back from the edge. Her face had gone sheet-white, and tremors jerked from her so that her skin seemed to bump against his palms.
    “Steady,” he murmured and gathered her against him. “I didn’t mean to scare you.”
    “No.” The fear had come and gone rapidly, and left her feeling like a fool. Because her heart was still thumping, she let herself be held—wondered how long it had been since anyone had put arms around her and let her rest there. “No, it was nothing. Stupid. There was a guy at the campground a couple of nights ago. He said something similar. He scared me.”
    “I’m sorry.”
    She let out a long sigh. “Not your fault, really. My nerves are a little close to the surface these days.”
    “He didn’t hurt you?”
    “No, no, he never touched me. It was just creepy.”
    She left her head against his shoulder, started to close her eyes. It would have been so easy to stay there. Being held. Being safe. But easy wasn’t always the right way. Or the smart way.
    “I’m not going to sleep with you, Nathan.”
    He waited a moment, letting himself enjoy the feel of her snug against him, the texture of her hair against his cheek. “Well, then, I may as well drown myself in the river right now. You’ve just shattered my lifelong dream.”
    He made her want to laugh, and she squelched down the bubble in her throat. “I’m trying to be up front with you.”
    “Why don’t you lie to me for a while instead? Soothe my ego.” He gave her ponytail a little tug, and she lifted her head. “In fact, why don’t we start with something simple and work our way up to complications?”
    She watched his gaze dip down to her mouth, linger, then slide slowly back up to her eyes. She could almost taste the kiss, feel the hum of it on her lips. It would be simple to close her eyes and let his mouth close over hers. It would be easy to lean forward and meet him halfway.
    Instead, she lifted a hand, pressed her fingers to his mouth. “Don’t.”
    He sighed, took her wrist and skimmed his lips over her knuckles. “Jo, you sure know how to make a man work for his pleasures.”
    “I’m not going to be one of your pleasures.”
    “You already are.” He kept her hand in his and turned to walk to Sanctuary. “Don’t ask me why.”
    Since he didn’t seem to expect her to comment on that, or to make small talk, Jo walked in silence. She was going to have to think about this ... situation, she decided. She wasn’t foolish enough to deny that she’d had a