AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Woo who?”
“Glad you’re excited to do the rope swing and let me come for you in the water again.”
She laughed, and his world lit up. If they’d been alone, he would’ve tried a different knock-knock joke and gone for a kiss.
“You really want to do the swing?” Easton asked. “In your tank top and shorts?”
“I jumped in the lake in a dress.” Elizabeth shrugged. “It adds to the thrill. As if we’re breaking societal rules by not wearing swimsuits.”
Hays fell even deeper for her. He could only imagine what ‘rules’ she’d had to live by. When he’d known her as an eighteen-year-old, he’d seen glimpses of her impulsive and fun side under the prim and proper heiress. Other students thought she was snooty because she never engaged with them and always had guards trailing her.
Hays had caught her blue gaze on him often throughout their years in the same high school, but a multitude of girls had chased him back then. He’d been a senior and assigned her partner for the semester before he worked up the nerve to speak to her. They’d fallen in love, and his loyal and tall friends had helped him block her guards so he could hide her in janitorial closets or under stadium bleachers to sneak brilliant kisses.
“You are just like Jacey,” Easton pronounced.
“I am?” Elizabeth put a hand to her heart as if that was the highest compliment.
“She loved the rope swing and swimming in the lake and was always up for fun or adventure.”
Hays knew Elizabeth hadn’t had a lot of ‘fun’ in her life.
“I’d love to try some fun adventures,” she said.
Hays wanted to show her fun adventures and fun kisses.
Elizabeth smiled at Hays, and he returned it.
“Let’s do it,” Easton called.
She followed Easton, and Hays followed her.
Their current situation was precarious, but they had these stolen moments together, similar to their stolen moments kissing in school closets. Back then, he’d gotten the impression her family were stiff and pompous, but he had no idea how evil her parents were. She’d never revealed anything but the basics about her family.
Now he had no idea how he’d overcome her father and give her a future, but he’d fight to the end to achieve that goal for her. They had powerful allies—Sutton Smith, Aiden Porter, Quaid Raven, and the Colevilles. There was a chance Elizabeth could someday be safe, free, and possibly choose him. He’d pray for that.
He’d also savor these moments with her. They might be all he got.
Chapter
Eleven
Elizabeth clung to the handle of a ‘rope swing’ standing about ten feet above the water on a grassy shelf.
She had never seen such a contraption. A long rope was attached to a tree branch, and Easton had demonstrated how to hold on to the wooden handle and swing out over the water, let go, and then land in the water. The cowboy had taken it to the next level and flipped his body in the air before plunging in with a terrific splash.
A fun adventure. She’d never been able to try ‘fun adventures.’ Honestly, she hadn’t spared the time to think about such a thing.
“Your turn,” Easton called, treading water below her.
“Are you ready?” Hays asked from far too close for her state of mind.
Her Superman had not only forgiven her for the horrific beating he’d taken at her hands, but had apologized for not coming for her. She’d ruined that moment by telling him she wouldn’t have left with him. If only she could escape with him now, but she was the only one who knew her father well enough to fight him and had nothing to lose if she died. Only Hays.
“I’m worried I won’t be able to hang on,” she admitted, her grip already slick against the handle.
“Do you want me to hold you the first time?”
“Hold me?” she asked, turning to stare at him.
