It was just after lunchtime when Steven killed his engine in the driveway of 4 Ilahee Road. Looking up at the two-story cabin overlooking the water, he realized how far out of his league this girl was. He wondered why she had invited him at all. He grabbed the six pack of beer out of his back seat and carried it to the front door. On the door hung a hand written sign that said, 'If you brought beer, we're around back. If you're a cop, nobody's home.'

He laughed and walked around the side of the house, following the sounds of Stone Temple Pilots and giggling. When he reached the clearing and could see up on the deck, he spotted Journey kicked back in a lawn chair. She had on a mismatched bikini, black bottoms with a pink striped top without any straps. Steven closed his eyes and tried to recall the age of consent laws in Georgia.

"Hey, don't be a creeper!" a girl's voice called.

He opened his eyes, and Journey was standing, shielding her eyes from the sun. His eyes drifted from hers, down the whole of her figure. He decided jail might be worth it.

"I hope I didn't miss too much." He smiled as he stepped up onto the deck.

She clapped her hands together. "I'm just glad you made it!"

He nodded and held up his six pack. "And I brought beer."

She pointed to the other couple on the deck. "You know Justin Kruse and Kara, right?"

He waved his free hand, and they smiled in return.

"Good to see you, Steve," Justin said.

She reached for his arm. "Come on. We'll put your beer in the fridge."

He let her lead him into the huge, open living room and into the kitchen. "This place is nice," he said, taking it all in. "I think my whole apartment would fit in just this room."

She pulled the refrigerator open and laughed. "If only my parents knew how many times I've gotten hammered up here without them."

He laughed and stepped over beside her to put his beer in the fridge. He pulled one of the cans out of the plastic before he shut the door. He popped the top and tipped it up to his lips. "From the way you talked, I thought this was going to be a party."

She pushed her bright blue sunglasses up on her head. "Oh no. Parties attract too much attention. I'm sorry if you thought-"

He held up his hand to stop her from apologizing. "No, it's cool. I get it. I'm just happy I made the short invite list." He took a step closer to her. She smelled like booze and tanning oil. "You know, they frown on kids who ditch class at West."

She laughed. "They frown on me for a lot more reasons than just skipping school."

He smiled. "Me too."

They walked back outside, and she straightened her towel on the chair.

Steven shook his head. "Screw sitting on the deck." She looked up, and he nodded toward the lake. "Let's go for a swim."

She laughed. "I don't think so. That water is about twenty below."

He frowned. "Don't be a drama queen. It's not that cold." He offered his hand to her. "Come swim with me."

Her eyes widened and fell to his outstretched hand. She was trying to suppress a smile and failing miserably. Pink spread through her cheeks as she laced her fingers with his. A chill buzzed down his spine.

"You're crazy," she said as he led her past her friends.

He nudged her with his elbow. "I think I'm in good company."

Up the path in front of them, a large oak tree stretched out over the still water. There was a rope dangling from a branch. He looked over at her, and she was shaking her head.

He raised an eyebrow. "Chicken?"

She pulled away and put her hands on her hip bones. Her tantalizing hip bones. "I'm not a chicken."

He winked at her. "Prove it."

A wild look flashed in her eyes. "I'll race you!" She took off running barefoot toward the lake.

Steven put his beer down and ran after her. She ran up the hill toward the tree. He stopped just short of her, laughing. "You won't do it."

"Wanna bet?"

Did he ever.

He nodded toward the tree. "Go on then."

He stood back as she tiptoed to the edge of the bank. She grasped the branch over her head as she carefully stretched to retrieve the rope. When she had it in her hands, she crept back a few steps and tossed her sunglasses onto the grass behind him. "You ready to eat those words?"

He was ready to get in the water with her.

Gripping the rope with both hands, she jumped. When she was out over the lake, she let go, held her nose, and squealed as she splashed down. Steven doubled over laughing. When her face broke the surface, she was screaming.

"Oh my god! It's freezing!"

He covered his mouth with his hands. "I didn't think you'd actually do it!"

"You're insane!" Kara yelled from the deck.

Journey pointed at him. "Now it's your turn."

Even from the bank, he could see her teeth chattering. He shook his head. "I don't think so!"

"Chicken!" she taunted.

His desire to maintain his body heat was overridden by his desire for the possibility of her warming him back up. He walked up to the tree and grabbed the rope. He pulled off his t-shirt and tossed it near her sunglasses. He took a deep breath before swinging through the air. He hit the water a few feet away from her, and every ounce of his flesh screamed out in pain as he kicked back to the surface. She was laughing and swimming toward him when he came up for air.

He laughed. "You're right. This was a bad idea!"

She splashed him in the face. "I told you so!"

He lunged toward her and caught her by the arm. She squealed as he pulled her body close to his. She was close enough that he could count the water droplets sliding down her skin. When she draped her arms around his neck, he no longer cared about the water temperature.

She grinned. "You ready to get out?" Her body was bobbing up and down against his.

His eyes were fixed on her mouth. "Hell no."

As his mind wandered, his feet forgot to kick, and they both dipped under the water again. She was laughing and wiping her eyes when came back up. Pulling on her hand, he tugged her closer to the shoreline where it was just shallow enough for him to sink his toes into the mud. Facing away from him, she let her feet float up to the surface and she rested her head back on his shoulder. He slid his hands down her arms and tangled his fingers with hers.

His lips brushed against her ear. "You should blow off prom and go out with me tonight."

Her fingers tensed against his. "I can't." She looked over at him. "I'm not allowed to date till I turn seventeen."

He grinned. "You don't strike me as the type who follows those kinds of rules."

She turned around to face him. "Well, my daddy is the type who owns a personal arsenal, so I suggest you weigh the risks carefully."

Her arms were back around his neck and her bare stomach kept sliding against his.

"I don't care about an arsenal." And, in that moment, he meant it.

"I still can't skip out on prom," she said. "I'm going with David Britton."

The cold returned to his extremities. "Oh. Sorry, I didn't know."

She shook her head. "Oh, we're just going as friends. He couldn't get a date. It's not a big deal."

Steven had a hard time believing David Britton couldn't get a date. "Well, if it's not a big deal, why don't you at least let me take you out to dinner? I can drop you off after at the dance." He wrapped his arms around her waist.

She sucked in a deep breath and smiled. The lake water reflected flecks of green in her hazel eyes. "Like a date?"

He smiled. "Exactly like a date."

She bit down on her bottom lip, making his brain go blank for a second. She smiled and nodded her head.

"Yeah?" he asked.

She giggled and pulled herself even closer toward him. "Absolutely."

***********

**I wonder what David is going to have to say about all this...hmm.**

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This chapter is dedicated to winterstar5 who is submitting her story, The Logger's Daughter & the Phantom, for publication! My fingers are crossed for you, girl! :)