Isla looked at the clean kitchen floor and wiped the sweat on her brow. It was mid-July and the third day of hot and humid weather making it an official heat wave. Even her basement didn't offer relief. She rinsed and stored the mop. Gone were the days of washing the floor on her hands and knees. It had been too time consuming.

Needing either a shower or a swim, she walked up the stairs. The kids would never hear her if she called them. They were in Leo's room with the air-conditioner running on high. A burst of cold air met her.

Thankfully, the heat had stayed away for the week of Bible school. Isla had spent the week acting out Bible stories with two teenagers. It was fun, but exhausting. Helen acted like Isla had done the best job ever. Not much cleaning had happened that week. One night Leo brought home takeout, and another he cooked dinner.

Leo. Something had changed and she couldn't define it. In the evening, he sought her company. Some nights they sat together in the kitchen. Leo would work, while she did her word searches. Sometimes they would talk or enjoy a comfortable silence. The fear she had of him had vanished. She spent too much time thinking about him and his lips and arms and all the things in her books.

Other nights, she would sit with him while he watched a baseball game. Isla had never been interested in sports, but she enjoyed his patient explanations, and the excitement when the team scored runs.

Leo had told her she needed to learn to like soccer, because both kids played in the fall. She had seen the brother and sister kick the ball to each other but had never watched a game.

In the cool bedroom, she told them to change for a swim. Isla wore her suit in the pool with just the children. She had purchased another for herself without Lilli's help. Lilli and Zach hadn't visited in a while. Leo said they went away on the weekends to see Lilli's family in Maine or friends in Newport. She looked up both places on her phone. Each looked beautiful, but Isla had never been to the ocean.

She was the first one to lower herself into the water. After cleaning, she needed to cool off. They played catch with a special ball which soaked up water. Her skill had improved, and she thought of the baseball players catching balls thrown from huge distances. The players reminded her of the sexy men in the books Marcia gave her. Isla's vision of handsome had brown hair and kind brown eyes. If only he wasn't divorced.

The afternoon lingered, and they swam well past their fingers shriveling up. Leo had the car, so she didn't watch the time. She hadn't expected it to be so late when she saw the car in the driveway.

"Dad. Swim." Riley waved.

"Coming!"

Isla should get out to start dinner, but she waited to see Leo without a shirt. Once he sunk into the water, Riley threw the ball. Isla caught the ball and threw it at Leo, but he wasn't looking, so it hit his head.

"Hey!" He picked it up and threw it back as the pool filled with laughter.

She caught it and resisted the urge to throw it to Leo. The four of them played until she said she had to cook.

"It's too hot to cook. We'll order pizza."

They reluctantly got out of the pool. The kids disappeared to change and hide in the cool bedroom. Leo ordered the delivery on his phone and opened a beer.

"Wine?" She shook her head, as she stood with a towel around her waist.

"You and I still need to share a glass of wine together. Later?"

She felt funny inside. "Maybe."

Even with the heat, the feel of summer made her heart light and airy. Being near half naked Leo caused it to skip a beat. Where was the harm in having one glass? They had become friends, hadn't they?

Isla went downstairs to change into clothes, but was surprised Leo hadn't bothered. His swim shorts dried quickly. He had only put on a shirt before he greeted the pizza delivery girl.

The children dug in and disappeared upstairs again. Isla cleaned the kitchen and sat in the living room. The little exertion caused her to perspire again. It was slightly cooler in the basement, but she was afraid Leo wouldn't find her. She counted on a quiet hour together. It reminded her of when she looked forward to his calls from California.

Leo appeared. "They're sleeping with me again. Wine? Please."

"You had a drink already."

"Two hours ago." He didn't wait for a response. He opened a bottle and poured two glasses. "To you. I can't imagine our life without you."

She felt even warmer from his words, if it was possible. "You saved me and I'll be forever grateful."

They clinked glasses, and she took a sip. It tasted a million times better than sacramental wine.

"I'm sure it's cheap."

"Did I say that out loud?"

He nodded. His smile caused her to feel damp in sweaty places. While they drank their wine, they talked about the weekend ahead and if the heat would break.

"This is nice, but I'm sweating. I'm going for another swim. Do you want to be my lifeguard?"

She wiped her brow. "I'll change." It was dark as she stepped in the backyard. "Is this safe?"

"Perfectly. Ahhh!" Leo sunk into the pool.

Isla followed. The night was so quiet, she could hear her heart beating. Neither spoke. She felt the ball hit her head and let out a shriek.

He laughed as she grabbed the ball and held onto it. "Throw it back."

"No."

"Come on." He stepped closer, but she held tight.

He was next to her trying to take it from her. She squirmed away, but his powerful arm grabbed her. Somehow they ended up with her body against him. She couldn't breathe. Her heart felt like it might explode out of her chest. She wanted to relish the feeling, but knew it wasn't proper.

His breath was shallow. "I'm divorced. I know. Is there a rule that says..." His hand caressed her cheek. "Um. Says we can't kiss. I really want to kiss you."

A moan involuntarily escaped her, and his lips pressed into hers. He smelled of the wine and chlorine, as she lost the power to move away. Instead, her mouth moved with his. It felt a billion times better than Paul's kisses. Her arms held his shirtless back. She felt his smooth muscles. When he moved his mouth away, he rested his forehead against hers. He panted like he had been running.

"Your kiss was way better than my dreams."

"You really dream about me?"

"You take my nightmares away."

She hugged him and moved away when she let go. At a distance, she could think straighter.

"I can't. My beliefs got me through. I survived because of my faith. I can't turn my back on God no matter how much I care about you."

"I know. I would never ask you to, but I was being selfish."

She shook her. "I was curious too. Now I know how wonderful your kisses are."

"Better than your date?"

"Much. What about?"

He laughed. "No contest. Reagan doesn't hold a candle to you. Wonderful, you said?"

She stood up and walked to the ladder. "It's not right. We can't."

Leo caught her again and spun her around. "Then one more so we'll remember."

His searing mouth scorched her lips into a kiss that should cause the water to boil. She didn't want it to end. Her insides felt like liquid. She held on tight until he finally pulled away.

"You make me feel happy again. Thank you." His voice was soft in the heavy night air.

Isla felt full too. Lust? Why was it a sin? Her biggest fear was it was something bigger than lust.

She retreated to her basement and stripped out of her wet suit. When she looked in the mirror her lips were puffy. He had kissed her. She touched her pink cheeks and sighed. How could she spend time with him and not think of their kiss?

Putting on underwear, it was too hot for a shirt. With her door locked, she climbed into bed without clothes and waited for sleep to come.

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