Bring It On - Kira Sinclair Page 0,25

her little pink tongue. He wanted to reach inside and stroke it with his own.

And he might have, if they hadn’t been reminded they had company by Georgie’s amazed exclamation. “It’s so beautiful!”

In that moment he heard the shushed roar and wondered if it had been there the whole time.

“Hurry up, y’all.” Georgie’s voice floated down the path.

Lena had already turned to follow. Colt rushed to catch up with her. This time when the urge to run his hand along her spine hit, he didn’t tamp it down. Instead, he reached for her and relished the way her muscles jumped and her body pressed into his touch.

They broke through the trees a few minutes later. The waterfall was beautiful, with an untouched quality that Colt knew couldn’t be real. There was a path cut straight to it after all. They weren’t the first humans to visit here. Heck, probably not even the first this week.

“Look at this place. It’s gorgeous,” Lena breathed.

Colt walked into the clearing that surrounded the pool where the water from the falls collected before it broke through the rest of the jungle in a quiet line. He was struck by how calm the water was, especially considering that it was tumbling over a cliff twenty feet above them to churn over large boulders and rocks just a few feet away.

How could something so violent turn so calm within such a space? Mother Nature truly deserved respect for her awe-inspiring beauty.

Lena walked up beside him. Her arm brushed against his and a shock shot through his body, stronger than anything he’d ever experienced before.

“Look at those colors. What I wouldn’t give to be able to capture them in a stone or a shell or a piece of glass.” Colt heard the same awe in her voice that was expanding his chest.

“Why don’t you?”

“Because I can’t. No stone or glass could produce something so pure and vibrant. There are just some things that can’t be replicated and I refuse to create a cheap imitation.”

Her integrity was impressive, but something he’d always known she possessed. She expected a lot from herself and the people around her. Which made it worse when those people failed her as her mother and Wyn had.

Colt had the sudden urge to protect her, to make sure nothing ever hurt her again. But he, more than anyone, realized that wasn’t possible. No one could stop the inevitable.

All you could do was minimize your exposure and protect yourself as best you could.

“Soups on, y’all,” Georgie called out. She’d been busy spreading a blanket beneath the soaring trees. An array of food sat in sealed containers. She’d even brought real silverware and plastic plates.

Colt shot Wesley a commiserating look. The poor bastard had packed it all into the jungle. Wesley shrugged. “My baby prides herself on hospitality.”

“I do know how to throw a party, don’t I?” she asked, with a proud smile.

The four of them settled onto opposite corners of the blanket. Wesley speared a bite of broccoli salad off of Georgie’s plate. She swatted at his hand, but followed the empty gesture by offering what was already on her fork.

They all seemed to settle into a comfortable companionship. Lena managed to steer Georgie away from the topic of their wedding whenever the other woman wanted to hear details, although he did catch her fiddling with the gold band around her finger several times. They talked about their lives, it turned out Georgie was a counselor at an elementary school and Wesley had just taken over running his family’s car dealership.

They were fascinated by all the places Colt’s job had taken him.

“That’ll be so much fun for a while. Moving around, seeing new places, experiencing new things.” Georgie looked up at Wesley with a sad smile on her face. “I envy y’all that flexibility. Wesley’s a bit tied down.”

“I told you I’d quit tomorrow if that’s what you want me to do.”

“I don’t.” She patted his leg, leaning into his body. “I’d rather have boring and ordinary with you than exotic without you.”

Lena made an incredulous sound that she quickly turned into a cough.

“Let’s cool off,” Wesley suggested. They all made quick work of cleaning up. The water was cool and refreshing, washing away the heat of the hike. Even as he tried to behave himself, Colt found his hands and mind straying to Lena.

Despite the friendly atmosphere, a pulsing undercurrent ran between them every time their gazes caught and held. It was torture, having her so