Chapter Three

Steve got up the next morning before the sunrise. He hadn't slept much because his mind raced with anticipation, but he wasn't at all tired. He headed outside, toward the water, and was surprised to see that Jaime was already there. She sat at the very edge of the water, peacefully running her fingers through the crystalline sand. He stood back and watched her for a little while. Even after all the time they'd spent apart, she was still the only woman he'd ever truly loved. She was so beautiful, so resilient and brave, and - she was watching him, too. Steve smiled and walked down the beach to meet her.

"Good morning!" she chirped.

"Hi, Jaime." He held the box in his hand but was suddenly unsure about giving it to her, not wanting to shatter the fragile sense of peace they'd found together the day before. Too late.

"Whatcha got?"

Here we go, he thought. "I found this in Jim and Helen's attic and thought you might like to have it."

Jaime openly the box and gasped out loud, tears forming in her eyes. "Oh my God - after all this time! I forgot I'd ever kept a diary!"

"I didn't read it," Steve told her.

"Why not? I'm sure you remember more of what's in it than I do." She opened the thick little book, glanced at the date and closed it again. "Wow - I was 14...that's right around the time I figured out you might be good for something other than batting tennis balls."

"And what might that be?"

Jaime grinned at him. "Picking 'em all up off the court afterward!"

"Lady, you have three seconds to put the book down, because you just begged me to dunk you in the surf."

"You wouldn't -"

"One."

"Oh, c'mon - it's early, and that water's freezing!"

"Two."

"Steve -"

"Three." He picked her up in his arms before she had a chance to run, took the book from her hand and placed it carefully on a rock. "In you go!" He waded into the ocean up to his waist and lowered her slowly, to prolong the fun, until she was completely underwater. He lifted her out and held her so they were face to face. She was laughing even harder than he was. Not ready to put her down, Steve drew her close to his chest and kissed her. It was slow and quick, to test her reaction, but tender, and filled with three years' of pent-up emotion.

He gently put her back on her feet. Blue eyes and hazel ones locked together, like long-lost puzzle pieces needed to make a complete picture. Steve found enough of an answer there to kiss her again. Jaime responded hungrily, melting in his arms. He kissed her harder, their lips becoming two pairs of heat-seeking missiles, unwilling to separate.

Their eyes delved deeply into each other's souls. Jaime wasn't sure what she was feeling, but she was unable to look away. Maybe the memories weren't there, but the attraction - the spark - definitely was.

"You know, you'd better watch out..." she told him, her eyes sparkling.

"And why is that?'

"Well, if you're not careful, I might just fall in love with you, all over again."

"That would be bad - why?" he challenged, running his fingers along the curve of her cheekbone and through her hair. His hand came to rest at the back of Jaime's neck, and with his other hand on the small of her back, he pulled her as close as possible. When she tilted her head to kiss him, she let him know with the passion in her eyes and with her embrace that she was taking them in a direction Steve had longed for but not dared to suggest. It wouldn't be the first time they'd crossed this line together, but for Jaime, in many ways, it was.

"You have no idea how much I want you right now," she said breathlessly.

"Oh...I think I do," he whispered. He lifted her back into his arms, angled her toward the rock so she could grab the book, and carried her into the house.