Page 129 of That Geeky Feeling

“Wonder if those little guys are hungry,” Elliot says. “Maybe you should add bird feeders to Mom’s agenda for next year.”

I hit him on the chest in delight. “Oh, that’s a great idea. But for your dad. I bet he’d love that. And it would get him more involved in the garden with your mom—something they could enjoy together.”

He rubs my upper arm and chuckles. “I know Mom and Dad love Summer and Polly and Rose and Emily, but out of all of our other halves, I think you’re the instant favorite.”

“You’re just biased.” And I could not be more thankful. No matter what, I know Elliot will always think I’m the greatest, the best, and he’ll loyally be at my side come what may. It gives me a warm inner glow, whatever the weather.

He leads me toward the wooded area on the other side of the water.

“Won’t it be even chillier in there?” I ask. “With all the shade? Maybe we should wander back and have some hot tea or something.”

“I just want to show you something first,” he says, staring straight ahead at the trees.

“In the woods?”

“Yup.” He slides his arm from around my shoulders and takes my hand.

“If it’s anything like the thing you showed me the last time we were in there, it’s definitely too cold for that today.”

He raises my hand to his lips, and looks at me over his glasses as he kisses the sensitive spot on the inside of my wrist. “I promise to leave all your clothes on.” He waggles his eyebrows as he switches to kissing the backs of my fingers. “For now.”

He breaks into a jog and leads me into the trees, sending more little birds that were scavenging on the forest floor fluttering off in all directions.

“What are you doing?” I giggle like a kid as twigs snap under our feet and we jump over fallen branches and muddy patches.

Finally, he pulls me to the side, and we stop to catch our breath.

“Did that warm you up?” he asks.

“The inside of me, yes.” I pat my cheeks. “The outside’s still a bit chilly.”

He taps the tree next to us. “I thought we should revisit this.”

I look around to get my bearings. “Oh, it’s the tree. Everything looks different without leaves.” I slip my arms around his waist and stand on my toes to give him a light kiss. “And also, I wasn’t exactly taking in the scenery last time.”

“I wanted to bring you somewhere significant.” He rests his back against the trunk and pulls me to him.

“You mean significant because this is the spot that scarred Max for life?”

Elliot rolls his eyes. “Please erase that part from your mind. You’re killing the moment.” He drops his lips to my forehead. “I chose this place because it’s a much better spot than your twin bed where I first removed your skirt, the Plainsville Highway Inn, or the powder room at my apartment.”

My core heats at the memory of what we did in there yesterday. “Yeah, that marble counter was a bit cold on my butt.”

“And mine.” He chuckles as he dips his head and takes my top lip between his. Our kiss is long and almost lazily slow, the warmth of our mouths a contrast to the cold air around us.

He takes hold of my backside and pulls me against his arousal, our tongues attempting to crawl deeper into each other like no matter how far we get it’s still not deep enough.

I wrap my arms around his neck and push my fingers into the back of his hair. The fire within me has me pressing him against the tree this time.

“I love you, Charlotte,” he breathes.

The novelty of hearing him say those special words will never wear off. “I love you too.”

He pulls back and looks at me, his eyes scanning every inch of my face as if trying to sear it into his memory.

“I want to be with you forever.” He runs his fingers from my cheekbone to my jawline and under my chin. “I can’t imagine life without you.”

I’ve never had more of a sense I belong with someone, or felt more wanted, desired, cared for and appreciated, than with Elliot.

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