5.Jane

Fishing in the swamp with Danny is a pretty nice experience so far. The air is thick with the scent of wet earth and blooming wildflowers, and every now and then the buzz of dragonflies hits my ears. Danny, with his easy grin and sun-bleached hair, sits across from me in the boat, his eyes glinting with mischief every time our gazes meet.

"How about you cook me a feast later?" he teases, casting his line effortlessly into the murky water.

"You wish, swamp boy," I retort, fumbling with my fishing rod. "Besides, nobody in their right mind would ever ask me to cook."

We both laugh, the sound blending into the calls of distant birds. Despite the playful jabs, there"s a warmth to our exchanges that feels like home, even out here in the middle of nowhere. The sun climbs higher, turning the air into a stifling blanket. Sweat trickles down my back, making me squirm.

"Whew, it's getting hot," I say, fanning myself with my hand. "Do you think it's okay if I take a dip?"

Danny looks around theatrically, then back at me with a grin. "No gators in this part, promise. Go ahead."

"Alright, but if I get eaten, I'm haunting you," I joke, standing up and peeling off my tank top and shorts, revealing my underwear underneath. Most girls wouldn't probably go this far but I've never been shy with my body, thanks to my wonderful hippie aunt who raised me.

"I'd expect nothing less," he replies, his voice suddenly husky and that playful glint in his eye is gone, replaced by something that makes me desperate to cool off.

With a mock salute, I dive into the refreshing water, sighing in relief as it envelopes me. I swim around for a bit, relishing in the freedom, while Danny stays in the boat, occasionally making a comment that makes me laugh.

"First time swimming?" he teases, leaning over the side.

"Nope, but this might be the first time I ever drown someone," I shout back, splashing water at him but quickly stop when something bumps against my leg. Panic shoots through me like lightning.

"Danny!" I yelp, my heart pounding. "Something just touched me!"

"Shit." Danny pales. "Jane…I need you to swim toward me as fast as you can."

What…? A gator!

My mind blanks and I start swimming like mad, crying and gulping water. I'm going to die!

Danny dives into the swamp with a dramatic splash. "Hang on, Jane! I'll save you!"

Save me? He can't save me, he'll end up getting eaten…

Letting out a growl, Danny attacks the predator behind me and I whirl around, watching them wrestle. Danny pushes the gator down, then disappears below the surface. Tears form in my eyes but then I see a piece of the gator's tail.

My eyes narrow, the tears drying. It's not a gator at all. It's a log…

Seconds later, Danny explodes out of the swamp, looking as if he's in the middle of an action movie. "Take that, you scary beast!" Danny shouts, pretending to give the log a final blow, and I don't know whether to laugh or yell at him.

In the end, I burst into laughter, the tension melting away. "That was not funny!" I shout, splashing water at him. "I thought you were going to die!"

He stops his performance and grins at me, water dripping from his hair. "That log could've done a ton of damage."

"How? By giving you splinters?" I swim closer, shaking my head. "You really had me going there."

"That was the plan," he says softly, the humor in his eyes giving way to something warmer.

For a moment, we're close, the space between us charged with electricity. I can feel his breath, see the flecks of gold in his eyes. The world narrows down to just the two of us, the water lapping gently around us. I splash him again, breaking the spell.

"Don't do that again or I might lose trust in you," I say with a grin.

"You trust me then?" he replies, his voice equally soft.

And strangely I do. Strangely, I do trust this stranger. Even though I probably shouldn't.

Climbing back into the boat is a clumsy affair, with both of us wet and shivering. Danny heaves himself up first, offering me a hand as I awkwardly scramble in, water streaming off me in rivulets. The air feels cooler now, our soaked clothes clinging to our bodies and intensifying the chill.

"Guess the water wasn't as warm as it looked, huh?" Danny says, rubbing his arms to generate some heat.

"No kidding," I reply, my teeth chattering slightly. "I think I'm going to catch a cold in the middle of summer."

"Maybe we should get that wet underwear off of you," he says, his tone light but his eyes play with fire.

I nod, hugging myself for warmth and my knees feel weaker than usual. "Yeah, probably a good idea. Can you take me home?"

Danny looks around, then shakes his head. "It's a long row back. My boathouse is closer, and we can get dry there."

I hesitate, the idea of going to a stranger's place—even someone as charming as Danny—giving me pause. He seems to sense my reluctance and holds up his hands in mock surrender.

"Promise, no funny business. Just a warm place to dry off and maybe a hot drink. Then I'll take you home."

His sincerity disarms me, and I find myself nodding. "Okay, let's do it."

He grins, picking up the oars and starting to row with strong, steady strokes. I watch him for a moment, admiring the way his heavy muscles move under his wet t-shirt. Then I turn my attention to the scenery, trying to push aside the nervous flutter in my stomach.

The trip to his place is short but feels longer with the chill seeping into my bones, but then we finally approach a small, rustic boathouse nestled among the trees.

Danny secures the boat and helps me out, his hands warm against my cold skin. "Welcome to my humble abode," he says with a sweeping gesture.

I laugh, despite my shivers. "It's cute."

Inside, the boathouse is cozy and surprisingly well-kept. Danny quickly grabs a couple of towels, tossing one to me. "Here, dry off. I'll see if I can find something warm for you to wear."

I gratefully accept the towel, wrapping it around myself as I watch him rummage through a chest. He pulls out a robe that looks like it's never been used, holding it out to me.

"It might be a bit big, but at leats it's dry."

"Thanks," I say, taking the clothes and heading to a corner for a semblance of privacy.

Changing into his robe feels like slipping into a warm hug, and I emerge from the corner, feeling much better. Danny has changed into dry clothes as well and is busy making something in the kitchen.

"Hot coffee?" he asks, holding up two mugs.

"As opposed to what?"

"Iced." He frowns. "Isn't that what you fancy, city-folks drink?"

"Not me," I smile, taking the offered mug and savoring the warmth that spreads through my hands.

We sit on a worn but comfortable couch, sipping our coffee and exchanging stories. The earlier awkwardness dissipates, replaced by a growing sense of urgency for us to get closer…get more intimate. I glance at Danny, his face softened by the dim light, and feel a twinge of something more than just gratitude.

"You're not what I expected," I say suddenly, surprising myself.

He raises an eyebrow, smiling. "What did you expect?"

I shrug, looking down at my mug. "I don't know. Someone like…Shrek?"

He laughs, a warm, genuine sound. "I'll take that as a compliment."

"You should," I reply, meeting his eyes. The connection between us crackles, like a live wire in the quiet room. And when he puts his arm around me, I don't pull away but scoot closer.

Stranger danger! my mind shrieks, but I drown the thought. He's been good to me and good men are hard to come by. That I know, for sure.