Free Heat Wave by Kate J. Squires Page A

loose and it fell around my shoulders, curled into gentle waves. Stepping out into the light, I kept my eyes on the wooden deck to avoid Tanner’s gaze. ‘Where do you want me?’ I said, my voice shaking.
    â€˜Oh, great!’ said the other cameraman. ‘Just wait there a sec. We need to film you crossing to Beau to make sure the light is right.’
    I crossed my arms over my chest, feeling exposed. I could sense Tanner’s eyes on me, my skin crawling with heat, my nipples tightening into firm buds.
    â€˜Okay. Walk over to him now, please.’
    With heavy feet, I put one boot in front of the other and moved to the little X taped in front of Tanner. We were less than an arm’s length apart, and the sweet smell of his skin invaded my senses, causing my legs to wobble inside their leather coating.
    â€˜Great, that’s perfect. Sound check next. Can you guys just introduce yourselves, as if you’re a real competitor?’ A boom mike appeared and waved above us like mistletoe, while another assistant scurried forward and clipped a cordless mic to my shirt.
    For the first time, I raised my chin and stared into the mocha eyes I loved so much. ‘Hi,’ I said softly. ‘I’m Maddie.’
    His face was torn, his eyebrows knitting in desperation. From the pinched way he held his mouth, I wondered if maybe he was struggling to maintain his calm around the crew as much as I was. ‘Howdy. I’m Beau Tanner.’
    He reached for my hand, and as our fingers connected, streaks of hot bliss crackled along my arm. Tanner lifted my hand to his lips, placing a delicate kiss on the back of my fingers. I moaned quietly, tightening my grip on his hand, the one that had wiped my tears away and drawn out my pleasure on so many occasions.
    Shivering in a cold sweat, I used my thumb to draw a circle on Tanner’s palm, delighted to hear him growl in desire. His eyes were almost black with a lustful haze as he said, ‘Why, Miss Maddie, I must tell you that I’ve never seen a girl as beautiful as you before in my life. Your eyes are the exact colour of the sky back home when I used to take early morning rides.’
    I smiled weakly. Tanner and I used to sneak out at five am, saddling up and riding hard before school, only stopping to fall into each other’s arms. I remembered crying out in bliss as Tanner’s hands worked their magic before dropping to my knees to return the favour, loving how I could make him call out my name with total abandon. When we got to school, we used to explain our flushed cheeks away by blaming the wind on our rides. Nothing could explain our post-coital grins though.
    â€˜Do you miss it?’ I breathed, asking so many things with the one sentence.
    â€˜So much. So very much.’
    We stood there, our eyes locked together, holding hands, the whole world unimportant. It wasn’t until the cameraman yelled out, that I remembered how messed up the whole situation was. ‘Great! Thanks, Maddie, you can go.’
    â€˜Nice to meet you, Tanner,’ I murmured.
    â€˜Maddie …’
    He clung to my fingers, but I twisted free, wanting to flee back to the safety of the dark staircase before my tears spilled. I tore my eyes away, passed my mic over to the other assistant and walked off, resisting my every screaming urge to run back into his arms.
    Back beside Greg on the stairs, I shuddered and leaned heavily against the wall. My cameraman handed me back my tablet, observing my sweats and shakes. ‘What the hell was that?’
    â€˜Nothing.’ I flipped open my screen, scanning for the time. ‘What’s the hold up? The first girl should be here by now.’
    â€˜He’s still staring at you, you know,’ observed Greg, his eyebrows high in suspicion as he looked over at Tanner.
    â€˜Good for him,’ I muttered. ‘Where’s the girl?’
    â€˜Oof! Oh, no! No, no!’ A tinkling voice echoed