Shoe Strings

her guard down
and enjoy herself in a way he hadn’t before.   At least from that standpoint, the trip
had been a success.   Throughout the
day, there’d been an undercurrent of desire, in the shared looks and simple
touches.   He wanted her like he
hadn’t wanted another woman and yet felt hesitant to take her
without…what?   Promises?   A future?   Since when did he think of a woman in terms
like that?  
    He’d never thought of women as anything other than necessary
and very delightful diversions.   His
first priority was to Ty and, in many ways Kerri Ann.   Maybe because Angelita knew Kerri Ann
and Ty, and she knew the history of their relationship, he felt willing to move
forward with her.   He couldn’t be
sure, but he did know if they became lovers, tonight or any other, it wouldn’t
be a casual fling.  
    He didn’t have time for his thoughts to settle before
Angelita emerged from the bathroom wearing the t-shirt and shorts he’d packed
for her.   They belonged to Ty, the
old Sequoyah County Football shirt and drawstring shorts.   They’d fit Ty when he was ten.   They fit Angelita like the wetsuit.   Except this time there wasn’t a bathing
suit, or even underwear, between the clothes and her skin.   It’d be a cold shower for Jesse.   Very cold indeed.   “I see you found the clothes.”
    She looked down at herself and cringed.   “You’re lucky I left the others for
you.   I had half a mind to stick you
with these things.”
    “I thought they’d fit.”   He shrugged and stood up.   The faded gray fabric was as good as see through.   He needed to shower and fast.   “There’s beer in the fridge and wine on
the counter.   Take your pick.”   At the door of the bathroom, he turned and
delighted in the view of her backside.   “I put the menu on the counter.   Order whatever you like.   I’ll eat anything.”
    ***
    Angelita meandered around the small cabin, fingered
knickknacks on the coffee table.   She walked to stand in front of the popping wood.   The fire felt good on her skin, but she
couldn’t relax enough to sit and enjoy it.   She saw her cell phone on the counter and grabbed it.   No service.   Sophie had called last night and pleaded
with Lita to call her father again.   He’d been harassing her at the store.   Lita had ignored his repeated calls, but
after speaking to Sophie, she intended to call him as soon as they got
back.   It would have to wait until
tomorrow.
    She heard the shower begin to run and felt her pulse
race.   Jesse stood fifteen feet
away, gloriously naked.   Why, she
thought as she ran her hands through her wet hair, did she have so little
self-control where he was concerned?   All day he’d taunted her with his easy smile, carefree attitude, and
piercing eyes.   Damn it, she didn’t
need this kind of distraction in her life.  
    She’d been so distracted by him she hadn’t even asked him if
he’d contacted his friend and found out about the consulate.   She moved to the kitchen and searched
the drawers for a bottle opener.   What she really needed to do was make arrangements to get back and deal
with her problems, instead of running from them.   As she twisted the opener into the
wine’s cork, the bathroom door opened and Jesse appeared, shirtless and
smelling of soap.   His cargo shorts
hung low on his hips and drops of water ran down his chest at will.  
    She flashed back to their first meeting, when he’d scared
her half to death coming out of the bathroom at Cal’s.   He moved toward her, his shirt in his
hand, the look in his eyes the same that had broken her concentration all
day.  
    “You order the pizza?”   He yanked the shirt over his head.
    She couldn’t decide if she felt relief or disappointment
that he’d covered himself.   What was
wrong with her?  
    “Ah…no, I didn’t.”   She handed the menu to Jesse.   “You decide.   I’m so hungry
it doesn’t matter what you get.”  
    He poured her wine in a tumbler and told her to wait by the fire
while he ordered enough food to feed four.   He joined her on the futon after he’d hung up the phone.  
    “I guess I’m not the only one who’s hungry,” she said.
    “You’re not.   Besides, there’s nothing better in the morning than cold pizza.”   He tapped his bottle of beer to her
glass.   “Cheers.”   He watched her as he swallowed.   “How’s the wine?”
    The only taste on her tongue was desire, laced