A/N This chapter doesn't come with a full steam alert, but this is probably the closest you'll get to steam in any of my stories :)
...
Jack put his hand palm up on the center console, smiling when Elizabeth slipped her fingers through his.
"Are you excited about this weekend?" he asked, keeping his eyes on the road.
Lee, Rosemary, and their son were spending a few weeks at the Coulter family's summer house on Grand Lake, and they had invited Jack and Elizabeth to bring Harrison for the weekend.
Elizabeth nodded. "Mhmm. I can't remember the last time I went to Grand Lake. Maybe on a field trip in elementary school to see the Bald Eagles nesting there? My family usually went to Tenkiller for our lake trips."
"When Harrison's a bit older, I'd like to take him trout fishing down at Tenkiller."
"Fishing?" Harrison leaned forward in his car seat. "We going fishing, daddy?"
"Not this weekend, but I'll take you another time, okay?"
"And Miss Beth?"
Jack glanced at Elizabeth out of the corner of his eye. "Well?"
"I'd love to go fishing with my two favorite guys." She squeezed Jack's hand and looked back at Harrison. "Your daddy might need to show me how it's done, though. I haven't been fishing in a very very long time."
"I think I'm a pretty good teacher."
"What do you say, Harrison? Is your daddy good at showing you how to do things?"
"Uh huh." He nodded emphatically. "He helped me on my bike."
Jack turned the car onto a side road. "The house should be just up here."
"It's beautiful out here." Elizabeth gazed out the window, a smile playing on her lips.
"Daddy, I gotta go potty."
"We're almost there, bud."
"But I gotta go bad!"
Elizabeth stifled a laugh when she looked back at him again, finding him with his legs crossed tightly and a look of concern on his little face. "Just hold it for a few more minutes, little man."
Jack pulled up in front of a lakeside house. "Okay, bud. Unbuckle quick!"
Harrison leaped from the car as soon as Jack opened the car door. "Gotta go! Gotta go!"
Rosemary opened the door just as Harrison ran up.
"Gotta go potty!" Harrison blazed passed her.
She laughed, watching him run down the hall. "Well, hello to you, too."
Jack and Elizabeth approached the front door, hand in hand. "Sorry about that. He was squirming for the last couple of minutes."
"Oh, I know how it is." She pulled Jack into a hug. "I'm glad you guys made it. And I'm so glad to finally meet you, Elizabeth." She clasped Elizabeth's hand in both of hers. "I've heard so much about you."
"Probably too much, with Harrison around." Elizabeth chuckled.
Rosemary laughed. "It's been all good things, I assure you. From Harrison and from Jack."
"Where's Lee?" Jack looked around as Rosemary led them into the house.
"Out back with James. You're welcome to join them."
"Actually," he put his arm around Elizabeth, "I think we'd like to settle in a bit first, if that's okay."
"Of course. Harrison can stay in James's room with him, and you two can stay in the room next to them. Unless one of you wants to take the sofa bed in the den."
"Thank you, Rosemary. Elizabeth, why don't we go get our bags?"
She nodded, then followed him back out to the car.
"I'm sorry, Elizabeth," he said as he pulled their suitcases out of the trunk.
"Sorry about what?" she paused with her hand on her bag, looking at him curiously.
"I didn't think about sleeping arrangements. We should've talked about that before."
"Jack," she slipped her arms around him. "We're adults. I think we can control ourselves if we share a room. If you're comfortable with that, I mean."
He grinned. "To be completely honest, I got the best night's sleep when you spent the night."
"We just better hope Harrison doesn't come barreling in there in the morning. We've already done enough damage control from the last time," she joked.
"Maybe this door will have a lock." He winked, lifting his bag from the ground. "How about a walk once we get everything unloaded?"
"Sounds great."
...
"Daddy!" Harrison jumped up into Jack's arms as soon as he approached. "You were gone forever."
Jack chuckled, swinging his son onto his shoulders. "We were only gone for twenty minutes, goofball. And you could've come with us."
"We go swimming now?"
"There's a dock just down the way. You probably passed it on your walk," Rosemary explained. "We can all head down there now if you want."
"Sure. We just need to get changed."
Elizabeth emerged from the bathroom a few minutes later, almost bumping into Jack in the hallway. "Hi." She blushed.
"Hey, beautiful." He touched her cheek, leaning in to kiss her softly. "We'd better get out there before Harrison runs off without us."
"He's so excited to be here."
"He's very excited to have you here, too." He took her hand in his as they walked toward the door. "So am I."
She smiled, leaning into him. "I'm always happy to spend time with you two."
They all headed down to the lake's edge, the boys immediately running down the dock until Lee and Jack yelled for them to wait.
"Are you coming in?" Jack asked Elizabeth as he pulled off his shirt.
"In a little while." Her eyes were glued to the skin he had just revealed to her. Without thinking, she brought a hand to his chest, trailing her fingers down to his stomach.
He shivered at her touch. "Elizabeth." He chuckled, grabbing her hand. He pressed his lips to her knuckles. "I love you, but I'm going to embarrass myself if you keep looking at me like that."
Her cheeks darkened. "Sorry. You're just…very nice to look at."
"I'll take that as a compliment, Miss Thatcher." He kissed her cheek. "I'm going to make sure Harrison isn't getting into any trouble."
She fanned herself with her hand as he walked away.
Rosemary laughed as she joined her. "He's a good-looking man, huh?"
Elizabeth nodded. "Very much so."
She nudged her with her elbow. "He really likes you, you know."
Elizabeth smiled, watching as Harrison jumped from the dock into Jack's waiting arms. "I really like him."
"Would you like to sit? We have a couple of chairs over here."
"Okay." She took a seat beside Rosemary in the camping chairs that had been set up on the shore. "How long have you known Jack?"
"Not as long as you. I met him and Olive when Lee and I got married. I'm sure you know he and Lee were buddies in high school."
"Mhmm." She glanced over at Rosemary. "Did you know Olive well?"
"Not really. I only saw her a couple of times, when they would come to visit Charlotte. Had they lived here, we probably would've been close, especially since we were pregnant at the same time."
"Oh."
"I know I don't know you well, either, but I do know Jack. He's gone on dates here and there over the years, but it really feels like he was waiting for you."
"I think I was waiting for him, too. I've liked him since I was fourteen years old, and I guess nobody else ever piqued my interest like he did. When we reconnected, it was almost like no time had passed. Everything I felt for him as a teenager came rushing back. And Harrison is a bonus I never expected. I love that little boy like he's my own."
Rosemary grinned. "I'm glad to hear it. Jack and Harrison deserve the best."
"I agree."
"Miss Beth!" Harrison shouted from the dock. "Watch this!" He jumped off into the water, landing a few feet away from Jack.
"Wow, buddy! Great job!"
"Come swim!" He waved her over.
"Go on." Rosemary shooed her away. "Have fun with your boys."
Instead of getting into the water, Elizabeth took a seat on the edge of the dock.
Jack waded over to her. "That's not swimming."
"My feet are in the water."
"Come on, Beth." He held out his hand. "Don't make me get out and throw you in."
She narrowed her eyes. "You wouldn't dare."
He shrugged. "Want to find out?"
She crossed her arms, eyebrow raised in challenge. "I think you're bluffing."
"Am I?" He moved closer, splashing her legs.
"That's the best you have?"
He pulled himself up onto the deck. "You asked for it." Before she could react, he scooped her up, jumping back into the lake with her in his arms.
"Jack Thornton!" she sputtered when they broke the surface of the water.
He laughed, holding her tight. "I told you I would throw you in."
"You could've at least given me a second to get this T-shirt off." She peeled off the now sopping shirt and tossed it onto the dock, revealing her blue one-piece bathing suit.
"You can borrow one of my shirts." He left a trail of kisses down her neck. "I have plenty."
"Miss Beth!" Harrison swam over, his legs kicking up a storm as he went. "This is SO FUN!"
Jack let go of her, and she pulled Harrison into her arms.
"So much fun," she agreed.
He wrapped his arms around her, leaning against her chest. "I love you, Miss Beth."
Her heart melted, and she glanced over at Jack, tears in her eyes. "I love you, too, buddy."
...
"Miss Beth, you read me a bedtime story?" Harrison took her hand, tugging her toward the room he was sharing with James.
"You don't want your daddy to read to you tonight?"
He shook his head. "He reads every night."
"Okay." She followed the little boy down the hall.
He handed her a book before hopping into the trundle bed. Elizabeth pulled the covers over him, then leaned against the bed frame.
After all the excitement he'd had that day, it didn't take long before he fell asleep. She closed the book and dropped a kiss on his forehead.
"That didn't take long," Jack remarked when she returned to the living room.
"He must've been very tired." She sat beside him, close enough that their legs touched.
"Would either of you like a glass of wine?" Lee peered out of the kitchen.
"Sure."
He joined them a few moments later, carrying two glasses of wine. Rosemary followed right behind, two more glasses in her hands.
Elizabeth accepted her glass and snuggled closer to Jack. "Thank you both again for inviting us. I'm having a great time."
"I'd venture to say you'd have a great time anywhere, as long as you were with Jack." Lee raised his glass, looking at them knowingly.
She tucked her face into Jack's shoulder, both of them chuckling.
"Anyway, we're glad you're here. And I know James is thrilled to have Harrison here. He gets lonely sometimes."
"You should get him a dog," Jack joked. "Harrison and Simba are always together. I'm honestly surprised that Harrison didn't insist we bring the puppy with us this weekend."
The four adults chatted for a while, sipping their wine as they discussed plans for the rest of the weekend, stories from their high school days, and the boys' upcoming school year. Eventually, Elizabeth started yawning, and Jack excused them, deciding it was time to retire to bed.
They got ready quietly, Jack changing in the bedroom while Elizabeth used the bathroom. He was already settled in the bed by the time she returned, and he lifted the comforter for her.
"Thank you," she whispered, curling right up next to him.
"I like having you beside me." He slipped his arms around her, pulling her to his chest.
"So do I." She leaned up, kissing him softly. "Good night, Jack. I love you."
"I love you, too."
...
The next morning, Elizabeth came into the kitchen, finding Jack leaning against the counter with a steaming cup of coffee in his hands.
"It's quiet in here."
He set down the mug. "Rosie and Lee got up early and took the boys to the park before it gets too hot."
"So we're alone?"
He took a step toward her, giving her a small nod. "All alone."
"I guess we'll have to find something to occupy our time."
"Guess so," he agreed, wrapping his arms around her. "Any ideas?"
"A few." She leaned in until her lips were barely brushing against his, pulling back quickly when he tried to kiss her.
"You little tease."
She smirked. "What are you going to do about it?"
"Oh, just you wait and see." He gave her a mischievous grin before suddenly lifting her from the floor.
"Jack!" she squealed, snaking her arms around his neck and her legs around his waist as he carried her into the living room.
He set her on the couch, pinning her hands to her sides. "Now I've got you." He leaned down, trailing his lips across her face and down to her neck. He moved his hands to her waist, and her own hands slipped under his shirt, her fingers pressing into the bare skin of his back.
"Elizabeth…" Barely breaking contact, he reached back and pulled the shirt off, returning his hands to her waist. "God, I love you."
"Jack." She started to work the buttons on her pajama shirt, but froze when she remembered where they were. "We need to slow down." She sat up, her hand against his chest pushing him upright beside her.
He nodded and ran a hand through his hair, breathing hard. "You're right." He leaned back against the arm of the sofa, watching her as she tried to regain control. Her cheeks were red, her hair a little tousled. "I hope you know that I didn't bring you over here with the intention of things going this far."
"I believe you. And just so you know, someday I'll be ready for that step with you, but not here." She put her hand on his cheek. "I love you, Jack."
"I love you." He leaned in to give her a soft kiss. "I think I'm going to go for a swim, cool down a bit."
She chuckled. "I'll join you."
"Just give me a head start. I don't think that seeing you in a bathing suit is going to help this situation."