After Angie spent a good ten minutes picking up
sticks, she walked back to the campsite to see that JC already had the fire going right in front of the tent. “That’s quite a fire you got there, JC,” she said asshe laid the pile of twigs down. “What did you do, rub two sticks together.”
He laughed. “Hardly,” he said as he reached in his
pocket and pulled out a lighter. “So either our good friends were smokers or they weren’t really one with nature.”
She laughed softly as she sat down next to the warm fire. He had positioned rocks in a circle and then built the fire inside of it. It crackled with life, as she rubbed her cold hand together. JC saw the gesture. “Cold?”
“Yeah, but the fire is helping,” she said and then
cupped her mouth and blew out hot air to warm them.
“Here,” he said as he got up and grabbed one of the blankets. He walked behind her and knelt by her as he
put it around her shoulder. “That should help.”
“Thanks,” she said with a shy smile.
“Sure,” he softly and then casually lifted strands of her hair so it wouldn’t be tucked in the blanket.
When his knuckled brushed the nape of her neck, she
shuddered. “Are you sure your okay?” JC asked.
She cleared her throat. “Yes, I’m fine.” She will be fine once he moves away from her. Whenever he was near
her, all she could think about was how wonderful it was to wake up in his arms, or the feel of his lips against hers. The thought of it made her shudder again.
“You are not fine,” he said with concern.
“JC, I’m fine,” she turned around not realizing how close he was. Their faces were only inches apart; their mouths were so close that their breaths ran together.
JC studied her in the firelight, which brought a hint of gold flickering in her hazel eyes. His eyes shifted
to her lips, but only for a second. But that second was long enough to remember the feel of them, the taste of them. “Are you sure?” he finally asked, knowing he needed to be a safe distance away from her.
“Yes,” she finally said. “So stop fussing over me.” He smiled softly. “Okay,” he said as he got up and
went back to the other side of the fire. “Are you hungry?”
“Do you have to ask?”
He smiled. “Well, let’s see what we got. You know it’s a shame we didn’t bring the fishing poles. I’m sure there’s some great trout in the river.”
“I think there is. Or at least I felt something rub against my leg in there.”
He gave her a hard look. “Not funny, Morgan.”
She winced. “Sorry, just trying to add a little humor.”
“Then stick with knock, knock jokes please,” he said and then pulled out a loaf of bread and a jar of peanut butter. “Dinner is served.”
“I don’t suppose we have knife?”
“Actually, they packed a bag of plastic silverware, but I only took out a handful.” He then reached it and unzipped a little pocket inside and pulled out a plastic knife. He pulled out a piece of bread and tossed the loaf. “You know, I was thinking,” he said as he spread the peanut butter on his bread. “We should sleep by the fire tonight, and only use the
tent when it rains.”
“Really?” she asked as she caught the jar he tossed over. “Well, I guess it would be a lot warmer.”
“A lot,” he agreed. “I must say I’m impressed that you put up the tent.”
“Thank you,” she said and then took a bite. “Even a spoiled little brat can be helpful.”
He just laughed at that and took a bite of his
sandwich. After they ate they pulled out the sleeping bags and stretched out on either side of the fire. “Are you warm enough?” JC asked as he curled up into a ball.
“I’m getting there,” she said.
“Well, if you get too cold let me know,” he said.
“I’ll give you my extra blanket.”
“So you can freeze? I don’t think so. Stop playing the hero JC, it’s getting annoying.”
He rolled his eyes. “Whatever, Morgan, go to sleep.”
Angie put the sleeping bag over her head, taking in the silence. “JC?” she finally said.
“What?” he mumbled.
“Thanks anyways.”
He smiled in the dark. “You’re welcome.”