A Bite to Remember Page 0,35

enough. It wasn't as bright as daylight, but light enough they wouldn't swim head first into the side of the pool, which was good enough for her.

The patio tiles were cool under her bare feet. Jackie dropped the towel she'd brought with her onto one of the iron chairs around the patio table, then walked over to sit on the edge of the pool. She dangled her feet in the water and leaned back to peer up at the star-studded sky, her thoughts wandering briefly. After a moment, Jackie glanced impatiently back toward the house, wondering what was taking Tiny so long.

She was about to go look for him when the kitchen door opened and Tiny walked out in baggy swim trunks with Sylvester the cat on them. Jackie grinned with amusement and shook her head. The man's size scared most people silly, but no one would be scared if they knew the real man.

Or perhaps they would, Jackie decided. Tiny had as much courage as common sense and was stronger than your average bear.

"What are you waiting for?" Tiny asked as he crossed the patio. "You're dying to dive in. Go on."

Chuckling softly, Jackie pushed off, gasping as the water enveloped her. Heated it might be, but the water was still cooler than her body temperature. She quickly dove under the surface to wet herself everywhere and speed up her body's adjustment to the temperature. When she broke the surface again and glanced around, Tiny was in the water, swimming laps. Jackie relaxed for a while, just paddling her feet, then she too began to swim laps.

It was a good twenty minutes later when she noticed movement at the side of the pool. Stopping abruptly, Jackie peered about, relaxing when she saw it was Tiny. He'd got out and was now drying himself off at the poolside.

"Are you done?" Jackie asked.

"I'm here. Go on and keep swimming," Tiny assured her as he sat down with the towel wrapped around his shoulders.

Nodding, Jackie continued with her laps. When next she stopped, Tiny was no longer in the chair and Jackie glanced around sharply to see where he'd got to. She then saw the shape moving toward her through the water and gave a little laugh.

A heartbeat later, her amusement gave way to confusion and even fear as she realized the figure moving through the water was too small to be Tiny. Just as Jackie was about to strike out for the pool's edge, the swimmer surfaced in front of her and she blinked as Vincent's head and shoulders popped out of the water.

"You're home." As greetings went it was pretty lame, but it was the first thought that popped into Jackie's head.

Vincent chuckled at her surprise. "We got home a couple minutes ago. When I realized you two were out here swimming, I changed and came to join you."

Jackie nodded and glanced toward the house. "Where did Tiny go?"

"He headed in to change and dry off now that you wouldn't be left alone."

"Oh." Jackie shifted in the water. While she hadn't been ready to get out when Tiny was there, now that Vincent was there instead, all she could think of was getting out. It suddenly felt dangerous being there, like she'd suddenly discovered she was swimming with a shark.

Jackie headed for the ladder, but then recalled Tiny's words earlier, about her fear and Vincent not being Cassius. Tiny liked Vincent and Jackie trusted her co-worker's judgment. She decided to stick it out and try to be pleasant despite her fears and anxieties. She could handle it, Jackie assured herself, and determinedly ignored the defense mechanisms screaming at her to flee, or insult him, or do whatever was necessary to get herself out of his sphere of influence.

As if sensing her discomfort, Vincent began to backstroke away from her, giving her space. Jackie watched, finding herself admiring his efficient stroke.

"I'm surprised you chose to swim in the pool rather than the ocean," he commented.

Jackie's gaze flickered to his face, then she eased into a side crawl as she said, "I like to see what's in the water with me."

Vincent chuckled softly.

"I take it you like to swim in the ocean at night?" she asked.

"Yes. I rarely use the pool." They fell silent for a minute, then he asked, "Is the ocean cold to swim in during the day?" Before she could answer, he said, "I suppose it would be, wouldn't it?"

"You've never swum during daylight?" Jackie asked.

"No, never," Vincent answered.