CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE. My God, whose idea was this? Jay asked as she handed Drew her coffee.

" My God, whose idea was this? " Jay asked as she handed Drew her coffee.

" I think it was yours, " Drew reminded her, closing the door quietly behind her. " Did she wake? "

" No. Or if she did, she didn't let me know. Yours? "

" No. But you know, I'm sleeping on the couch, so it wasn't that hard."

Jay stopped in her tracks. " The couch? You're not even sharing a bed? "

" No. Why would you think that? "

" Because you're supposed to be dating" Jay said. " Does she know that I know that you're not dating? "

" No."

" Crazy as hell trip, " Jay murmured as she headed to the rental. " You drive. It's far too early for me to get behind the wheel."

Jay sat silently in the car, sipping her coffee, watching the dark road ahead as Drew drove them across the island. There were few other cars about this time of the morning, and those that were traveling, she wondered what their destination was. Fishermen heading to the boats? Other tourists like them, heading out for an early morning excursion?

" You okay? "

Jay yawned and nodded. " Just not used to getting up at three in the morning. Even the cold shower I took didn't help much." She turned in her seat, watching Drew's profile. " Do you know where you're going? "

" Eleu gave me directions. It's only one block off of the main road here. I think we'll be fine."

" Do you bike? "

" Not so much anymore. I've got a road bike and a mountain bike, and I'll take one out for a spin occasionally. What about you? "

" Not since... well, since I met Katherine. When I was still in Lubbock living in the dorms, I rode all over campus. And even when I first moved to Austin, I'd go out to the greenbelt. But Katherine, well, as you can tell, she's not exactly the sporty type. That kinda fell by the wayside, and by the time we moved in together, I'd gotten rid of my bike." Truth was, she had given up a lot of things for Katherine. Things that, at the time, didn't seem all that important. But Katherine was never very flexible when it came to how they spent their time. She had a much more domineering personality than Jay and it was simply easier to agree than to argue about it. Which is why, over the years, they had stopped doing as much together. Jay found little enjoyment in shopping for hours on end and was more than happy to send Katherine out alone on one of her sprees. And season tickets to the theater? No, thank you. An action film with surround sound at the new movie theater, a bucket of popcorn and a large Coke was much more to Jay's liking. And as she'd told Audrey many times, she'd rather have a root canal than sit through another boring lecture at the university. The lone activity they both enjoyed doing—walking the hike and bike trail at Town Lake— came to an end years ago when work took up more and more of their time.

Drifted apart? That was an understatement. Although, if she were honest about it, she was the one who had drifted. Not Katherine.

" Here we are, " Drew said, interrupting her thoughts.

Haleakala Bike Tours was lit up, the parking lot bustling with activity. " Do you think we're late? "

" No. We still have a half hour."

Drew pulled in next to a red Jeep and cut the engine. Jay turned, smiling at her. " I can't remember the last time I've been this happy at three thirty in the morning."

Drew laughed. " I'd have to agree with you. Now if only the sunrise cooperates."

They grabbed their backpacks and headed inside, where they were met by an enthusiastic young man with long beaded hair and a tidy goatee.

" Welcome, welcome to the morning, " he said, urging them inside. " You have reservations? "

" Yes. Drew Montgomery, Jay Burns."

" Of course, of course. I am Gregory. Come quickly. We will get you fitted. The sun will not wait on us." He hurried them to a wall of bikes, all different colors and sizes. He looked Drew up and down. " Five-nine, yes? "

Drew grinned. " Yeah."

" Good, good." He pulled out a sleek bike. " Perfect for you." He turned to Jay, studying her much like he'd done Drew. " Five-seven? "

Jay smiled. " Thanks for the extra half-inch."

But he frowned and shook his head. " I never miss. Must be the shoes." He walked down the row, bending to inspect two bikes before selecting one for Jay. " Here. Perfect for you." He pointed across the room. " Go. You'll need a jacket for the summit. And gloves, if you wish. It's cold at the top. Okana will help you. You'll get water bottles and a map once we're there."

" I think he's had too much caffeine, " Jay teased as they headed to die jackets.

It was still completely dark when their van pulled to a stop near the summit. There were two vans with ten riders on each. Drew and Jay were the first ones off and they stood near the back, waiting for Okana to unload their bikes.

" Two water bottles, everyone, " Gregory announced. " Once it is daylight, you can check your maps. There is a spring about halfway down. It is safe to drink. The locals come to get water there. You may fill your water bottles without worry. Don't drink the water anywhere else though, no matter how clear it looks. Our vans will meet you at the bottom. You have until noon to explore the mountain. And take your time. You'll be down the mountain in a flash." He looked them over in the low lights of the van. " Any questions? "

" How many miles is it? " someone asked.

" Thirty-five from here. All downhill. You will rarely even need to pedal. The summit is about three miles up ahead. Feel free to explore it. All uphill." He waited, but no one else asked any questions. " Great. After the sunrise, daylight comes quickly. Have fun, my friends. And be careful."

As soon as the red taillights of the vans disappeared, die group of bikers dispersed. Some already beginning the trek up to the summit, but most others staying to catch the sunrise. Drew led Jay away from the others, finding a flat rock to sit on. They leaned their bikes against a tree, then sat side by side, their gazes looking out over the ocean to the east, far below them.

" How high are we? " Jay asked quietly.

" I don't know. I think I read where the summit is around ten thousand feet, so I guess we're about eight or so."

Jay leaned closer. " Because it's cold."

" Yeah. Hard to imagine we'll be shedding these clothes before long."

Drew opened her coat and slipped an arm around Jay, pulling her nearer to her warmth. Jay didn't hesitate as she snuggled closer. She wasn't that cold. But damn, it felt good to be this close to her.

They sat quietly, the sky lightening now, hinting at the colors that would come. Jay tried to concentrate on the sunrise, tried to keep her mind in a sane place, but her body wanted to get closer, and she shivered, not from the cold, but from the heat of Drew's body.

" Still cold? "

" No. This is nice." Jay reached between them, taking Drew's hand. It was as cold as her own, but she was thankful they hadn't bothered with gloves. She ran her fingers across Drew's skin. Her hands were smooth, but her fingers hinted at calluses, evidence of her occupation. " I like your hands, " Jay said.

" They're not very soft. Working hands."

" Yes. That's what I like."

They were quiet again, both staring at the sky, watching as the very tip of the sun broke the horizon. Drew squeezed her hand, both waiting for the explosion of color they knew would greet them. They didn't have to wait long. The dull red orb rose out of the water, the dullness changing to a brilliant shine as the color turned to burgundy before taking on a hint of orange. Colored light blasted out in every direction, shooting across the ocean in waves, turning the placid blue-green into a fiery cauldron as the colors raced to the shore.

" So beautiful, " Jay murmured. " My God, so damn beautiful."

" Mmm."

Jay leaned closer, resting her head on Drew's shoulder as the sky came alive with colors. " I think I want to be on a date, " she said.

Drew squeezed her hand. " Is that right? "

" Yeah. I feel... normal with you. Does that make sense? I'm more myself. I recognize me when I'm with you. I'm not just some foreign entity drifting about, trying to be something else. I'm just me."

Drew turned, brushing her lips across Jay's hair. " You can always be yourself with me. There's not anything you need to hide."

Jay smiled and moved away. " Yeah, right now I have to hide the fact that I want to kiss you. Kiss you a lot." She stood, her gaze traveling to the sun, the deep red colors being replaced with orange. Soon it would rise higher, the colors fading completely. And Gregory was right. Daylight came fast up here. The shadows had disappeared and so had some of the riders. There were only a handful of others still about, some discussing whether they wanted to climb to the summit, others looking at the map, deciding where to explore first.

She felt Drew walk up beside her and she turned, liking the contented look on Drew's face. She held up the map.

" The first waterfall trail is not too far from here, " she said, showing Jay the map. " Interested? "

" Yes. Anything."

" Anything? "

Jay cocked her head. " Yeah, anything."

" Well, I'd really like to swim in one of the natural pools. Three of the waterfalls have them. What do you think? "

Jay laughed. " I swear. I give you an opening and you want to go swimming."

Drew wiggled her eyebrows. " Didn't I mention it would be nude swimming? "

" Not on your life." Jay tugged her arm. " Come on. Let's work some of this energy off."

Of course coasting downhill didn't really require much energy except riding the brake, which Jay was doing now as they sped around a curve, the cool wind blowing against them. The forest was a blur as Jay kept her eyes glued to the road... and Drew's backside.

" The trail's up ahead, " Drew called over her shoulder.

Jay slowed, her hands squeezing hard on the brakes. She followed Drew, easing to a stop along the side of the road. A well-marked trail led into the forest. A muddy trail. Jay looked down at her blue and white Nikes.

" Yeah, I'm thinking the same thing, " Drew said. " Maybe we should try the next waterfall."

And they did. Just a short while later coming to another trail, this time on the other side of the road. And this time a dry trail.

" Why was the other so wet? " Jay asked as she leaned her bike against a tree.

" They're on opposite sides. It's like a mountain range. The storms come from one direction, dropping moisture, but the peaks shield the other side. I guess here, the eastern side catches the rain and west does not."

" Then the waterfalls must be spring fed, " Jay guessed.

" Which is why I'm dying to go swimming in them." Drew pulled off her jacket and stuffed it in her backpack, but left the wind pants on.

Jay unzipped her jacket, but kept it on, the morning wind still chilling her. " Will our bikes be okay here? "

Drew shrugged. " They didn't give us any chains or locks, so I imagine it's okay. Besides, I don't think anyone else is up here this early other than our tour group."

" Okay. Then lead the way."

" It's not too far, " Drew said as they followed the trail into the forest.

" I'm fine. I enjoy hiking. But judging by this manicured trail,

I don't believe we can really call it hiking."

They both stopped a short time later when they heard the roar. Drew grabbed Jay's arm, her head tilted as she listened.

" It's almost as if the ground is vibrating."

" It's deafening."

They walked on, the trail literally dumping into a fenced overlook, the waterfall's roar blocking out all other sound. They were so close, they could feel the spray as it tumbled past them some four hundred feet down, forming one of the swimming pools Drew wanted to visit. There were no words to describe it and Jay didn't even try. She simply stared at the massive wall of water that plummeted by at lightning speed. She turned to Drew, their eyes meeting for a second before looking back to the waterfall.

And how long they stood there, Jay didn't know. She felt Drew's fingers entwine with hers, felt the gentle tug. She blinked, realizing she was almost in a trance. There were no thoughts running through her mind, no words, nothing. She merely stared, absorbing the sight.

She finally nodded, following Drew back the way they'd come. When the roar subsided, Drew turned, excitement still showing on her face.

" Can you believe that? We were right there. How cool was that? " she asked excitedly.

Jay laughed. " God, that was awesome. We were so close to it, we could almost touch it."

" Can you imagine swimming at the bottom of that thing? "

" No."

Drew grinned. " Yeah, neither can I." She motioned with her head. " Come on. Let's see what else we can find."

And they did, finding four more falls on their way down, each matching the beauty of the one before. But none could match the intensity of the first one. By the time they'd hit their third, they both had shed their wind pants and were riding in shorts and T-shirts, cruising down the mountain at breakneck speed, turning into each curve like they'd done it hundreds of times before. At die fourth waterfall, Drew found her swimming hole.

The view of the falls was from down below, and they lifted their heads, looking high above them where it fell off the mountain.

" I'm ready for that swim now, if you are, " Jay said, pulling the T-shirt away from her neck to let air in.

" Yeah. Let's hike this one down. It doesn't look far."

And it wasn't. They took their bikes with them a short ways, tucking them into the forest beside the trail before heading down. They could hear the water splashing on the rocks long before they got there, and it was as the brochure promised—a freshwater swimming pool at the base of a four-hundred foot waterfall.

" Oh, my God, " Jay said as she turned in a circle, her head looking up to where the falls began. " Tell me again why the hell we don't have a camera? "

Drew grinned. " That's a rhetorical question, right? "

" Who comes to Hawaii without a camera? "

" Apparently us, " Drew said as she pulled off her T-shirt, her tiny red bikini top barely covering her breasts.

Jay stared. " Red is definitely your color."

" Yeah? And what are you wearing today? " She came closer, lifting Jay's shirt up, exposing her tanned belly.

Jay stood still, letting Drew pull her T-shirt over her head. She stood in front of her, her black top covering nearly as little as Drew's. She watched Drew's face, saw her eyes darken. Drew's eyes traveled over her, leaving her breasts, meeting her own gaze.

" You wore a bikini, " she said quietly. " That is so not fair."

Jay took the shirt from Drew's fingers with a smile. " Paybacks are hell."

" I only hope the water is cold."

And it was, both of them gasping when they jumped in. Jay moved into the sun, but the pool was deep. She finally found a rock to stand on as she treaded water, lifting her face skyward.

" Cold, but so refreshing." She shook her hair out. " This is beautiful."

Drew swam over, moving into the shallow water, watching her. Jay saw her gaze slip to her breasts, saw her lips part slightly. It was then she realized what held Drew's attention. Her nipples were rock hard. From the cold or Drew's nearness, it didn't matter. She could feel them straining against her black bikini top, could feel Drew's eyes on them.

" Drew Montgomery, behave yourself, " she teased, splashing water at Drew.

Drew laughed. " Sorry. I'm a pig, I know." She ducked under the water again, swimming away, giving Jay room.

Jay took a deep breath, her hands cupping herself, squeezing her breasts, feeling her nipples dig into her palms. She and Drew were getting closer. Every day, every glance, every innocent touch... they were getting closer. How long could they deny what was so painfully obvious? How long before they lost their resolve? How long before they touched... kissed?

How long?

She growled in frustration and sank under the cold water, moving her arms slowly as she glided, trying to get herself under control. Because frankly, her body was on fire.

You 're a pig, you 're a pig. Jeez.

Drew swam into deeper water, feeling the power of the falls as it crashed around her. She surfaced, gasping for breath. She spotted Jay floating on her back out in the sun. Again, her glance locked on her breasts and she shook her head, sinking again under water.

Pig.

But she couldn't help it. She'd been waiting for Jay to come into her life for far too many years to be patient. Her hands itched to touch her, her mouth begged for a kiss, and her body longed for the feel of Jay's pressed against her.

And she didn't know how much longer she could wait.

They didn't say another word to one another, they didn't even swim near the other, but Jay was acutely aware of where Drew was at all times. And she assumed the same was true for Drew. She could feel Drew's eyes on her.

And her body was numb from the cold water.

She glanced over her shoulder, finding Drew, still swimming in deeper water. She moved to shore, carefully stepping over the rocks to hoist herself to the edge. She pulled herself up, shivering. Her feet were bare and the smooth surface of the rocks was warm against them. Brushing her hair back from her face, she turned into the sun, feeling the moisture drying on her skin.

She heard the water splash behind her, heard Drew pull herself out. She turned slowly, watching as Drew pulled her hair together, shaking out the water before slicking it back off her face. Her body was exquisite. Her face flawless. And those eyes... God, she could fall in and drown there.

And it was those eyes that held her now, warming her much more than the sun could. She didn't move as Drew came closer. She wasn't even aware if she was breathing or not. She couldn't move away, she couldn't even think.

And she couldn't stop herself as she took a tiny step toward Drew, her hands reaching for Drew the same instant Drew reached for her. Their mouths met in a wild and hungry kiss. Their first kiss. Jay heard the moans coming from her throat, but she couldn't stop them. Her mouth opened, letting Drew inside, her own tongue sliding wetly across Drew's.

God, they were out in public but she didn't care, didn't protest when Drew grabbed her hips and pulled their lower bodies together. All she could do was strain to get closer, her hands moving at will across Drew's hot body, her legs opening, gasping as Drew's strong thigh pressed against her.

The jolt that pierced her core brought her to her senses. Here they were, practically groping each other, their mouths still fused together, their moans mingling as they were within seconds of becoming very intimate in a very public place. And a part of her didn't care in the least. How could she? Not when Drew's hands were slipping up her waist, not when her nipples were so hard she didn't know if she could stand it when Drew finally touched them. And not when she felt like she was seconds away from an orgasm as Drew's thigh moved against her. But when Drew's hand closed around her breast, her fingers rubbing across her nipple, when she heard Drew's moan, she knew she had to stop.

She tore her mouth from Drew's, turned without looking and flung herself back into the cold spring water, surprised that it didn't boil as her heated body entered.

Oh, God, but did that feel good or what?

How long could they wait?

Not any longer.