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We searched both wings upstairs and down, finding even ner clothing and shoes The garage housed cae tank of gas

No car, though

In the enorerators, which was surprisingly well-stocked with jellies, condiments, and drinks

He briefly closed his eyes at the feel of cold air, then said, "Come here, you" He shoved me in front of him so I could feel it too, then stood behind me with his hand on my shoulder "Adh I was still wary about being here, I re as he had that bow So I closedpast -necks Okay, that’s it, I’ed a couple of bottles, twisting off the tops Pressing a beer into est pantry I’d ever seen "Find us so to eat, woh to last two people for s, fruit juices After hastily stuffing my backpack with PowerBars--just in case we had to flee--I perused the shelves for dinner

A jar of ed them, as well as a couple of cans of black olives, a carton of Pirouette cookies, and a bag of giant pretzel sticks,a picnic on the counter

For our main course, we enjoyed beer and pretzels For dessert, Jackson hit the cookies, while I dug into the cherry jar When I dropped one in my mouth, my eyes rolled with pleasure

"You like cerises, huh?" He eased closer to

Cajun innuendo, Jackson? "Here" I s one up by the steet froleaers with his even white teeth

Flustered, I took a swig of er to the bottoasp

"Are you trying to get ht, and now one beer had me pleasantly buzzed

"Sans doute" Without a doubt

Okay, he was definitely flirting with aht? Had to be Still the sa it with a shot from his flask "Let’s see what’s outside" He collected his bow in one hand andfrench doors

We exited one onto a huge screened lanai that was like a wonderland, with gazebos and an outdoor kitchen The ently, until it looked untouched by the apocalypse

Escorting me farther outside, he declared, "We are hoht of a pool, sparkling in the ht A filled pool

Water A death trap

"Christ," hehis head around "Moon or no, why ain’t arot to go!"

"Stay here" He strode to the side of the pool, crouching down to dip a finger After tasting the water, he rose with a thrilled expression "It’s saltwater, bébé"

Salt? "Then they’d be repelled, right?"

He nodded "And the water’s warainst a lounge chair, he said, "Private well Just like you had at Haven"

But we hadn’t wasted it to swim "Jackson, please The owner could return at anyback?" Jackson kicked off his boots "Finders keepers"

"You’re not going in!"

In answer, he pulled his shirt over his head, revealing rigid planes of limpses of him shirtless before--but this was the first ti at him

His face and his broad chest were still tanned, his eyes seeht That onyx rosary around his neck glinted with hisbefore my eyes, yet I couldn’t look away I bit my bottom lip Any an to unbuckle his belt, his storeeak in the knees Any minute

When he reached his zipper, he cocked his head andbut stare He raised his eyebrows athis zipper down

A second after I’d finally found the presence ofon the tile floor, the rustle of his dropped pants Eyes wide, I snapped, "This is foolish, Jackson--"

In the space of a heartbeat, he’d snagged my pack off my back, looped an arm around my waist--and hauled us both into the pool

Chapter 27

I broke the surface, sputtering, shoving water out of h! I a with you"

In a scandalized tone, Jackson said, "Skinny-dipping? Evangeline and her dirty lanced down I could see he’d left on a pair of dark boxer briefs

"Oh" Had I sounded disappointed? "Still, I’ht with this We should be--what do you call it?--watching our six"

"So you do listen to oan to let anything happen to you I’ll hear anyone co in plenty of time"

When I reet the drop on me Doan you trust me?"

I didn’t have much of a choice "You couldn’t have lettheht I should’ve let you strip" Then he splashedNot a sazed at his lips, I foundin response

I pointed behind him "Oh, look!" Then I splashed the back of his head

He faced me with his eyes wide "Now you’ve done it! You mess with the bull" He chased hter

It felt incredible to act like norain To flirt and play

The voices were blessedly quiet

Just before he caught me, I dunked under, swam around him and yanked back on his ankles He couldn’t have known that in another lifetime, I’d been a terror in the pool