The path was beginning to angle uphill, and she needed all her breath for the climb. She wasn’t surprised when he left her behind. What surprised her was the fact that she kept on going.

He called down to her from the top of the bluff. “Not exactly a walking advertisement for physical fitness, are you?”

“Just skipped a few”—she gasped—“Tae-Bo classes.”

“You want me find an oxygen tank?”

She was breathing too hard to respond.

She was glad she’d made the effort when she caught the view from the top. There was still enough light to see the town at the far end of the lake. It looked quaint and rustic. Boats bobbed in the harbor, and a church steeple peeked through the trees against a rainbow candy sky.

Kevin pointed toward a cluster of luxury houses closer to the bluff. “Those are vacation homes. The last time I was here, that was all woods, but nothing else seems to have changed much.”

She took in the vista. “It’s so pretty.”

“I guess.” He’d moved toward the edge of the bluff, where he gazed down at the water. “I used to dive off here in the summer.”

“A little dangerous for a kid by himself, wasn’t it?”

“That’s what made it fun.”

“Your parents must have been saints. I can’t imagine how many gray hairs you—” She stopped as she realized he was kicking off his shoes instead of paying attention to her.

Pure instinct made her take a quick step forward, but she was too late. He threw himself into space, clothes and all.

She gasped and rushed to the edge just in time to watch the sharp, clean line of his body hit the water. There was barely a splash.

She waited, but he didn’t come up. Her hand flew to her mouth. She searched the water but couldn’t spot him. “Kevin!”

Then the surface rippled, and his head emerged. She released her breath, then caught it again as he turned his face to the evening sky. Water ran in rivulets over those clean planes, and something triumphant shone in his expression.

She clenched her fists and shouted down at him. “You idiot! Are you completely crazy?”

Treading water, he looked up at her, his teeth gleaming. “Are you going to tattle to your big sister?”

She was shaking so much that she stomped her foot. “You had no idea whether that water was deep enough for diving!”

“It was deep enough the last time I dove in.”

“And how long ago was that?”

“About seventeen years.” He flipped to his back. “But there’s been a lot of rain.”

“You’re a moron! Have all those concussions scrambled your brain cells?”

“I’m alive, aren’t I?” He flashed a daredevil grin. “Come on in, bunny lady. The water’s real warm.”

“Are you out of your mind? I’m not diving off this cliff!”