Overheated: Sage’s Summer Surrender

Sage had been tending to her lush garden for hours, the intense summer sun beating down mercilessly. Perspiration dripped from her brow, saturating the fabric of her sundress. She struggled to her feet, wobbling slightly as the heat seemed to thicken the air around her.

Before she could collapse, she heard a shout. “Ms. Sage! Over here!”

She turned her head, squinting against the glare. Her neighbor’s teenage son, Jake, was hurrying towards her, face etched with concern. As he reached her, Sage felt her legs give out…

Strong arms caught her just in time. “You’re burning up,” Jake murmured, guiding her to a shaded bench. “You need to cool off.”

Sage tried to protest, but the words dissolved on her tongue. The world tilted, and the next thing she knew, a bottle of cold water was pressed to her lips. She drank gratefully, some of it spilling down her chest, soaking her sundress even more.

Jake’s eyes widened. “I… I’ll get you a fan or something,” he stammered, turning away. But not before Sage noticed the flush in his cheeks… and the way his gaze lingered on her curves.

A slow, knowing smile curved her lips. Maybe the summer heat wasn’t so unbearable after all.