Page 88 of Love for a Lifetime

She laughed, and silent tears crept from the corners of her eyes. Wiping them with the back of her hand, she huffed. “I’m so tired that everything sounds funny.”

“You must be extremely tired because my Eagle Scout status is anything but funny. I worked so hard for that. It’s like my greatest accomplishment.”

“And Beau dropped out as soon as he hit high school,” Olivia said, remembering her brother’s grumbling about camping.

“Quitter,” Dawson mumbled as he pulled out the blanket.

Shivering, Olivia reached for an end to spread it out over them. “If it was this cold, I completely understand why he quit.”

“Don’t worry. We won’t freeze.” Dawson handed her the blanket and braced his hands on the front seat headrests. “You think I can climb into the front seat?”

Laughter bubbled in her chest as she imagined the tall man beside her folding himself in the cramped space.

“You think this is so funny. Wait till it’s your turn.” With that, Dawson bent and turned, swinging his behind around to position it in the front passenger seat. Then his long legs swung over the seat until he was draped over the console.

“Shoot. Now what?”

Olivia’s fit of giggles intensified. She gripped her chest, gasping for air as tears streamed from her eyes. “How…how are you going to…”

“I don’t need your negativity right now,” he said, throwing her words from earlier back at her. “I just need to figure this out.”

She pointed as she tried to catch her breath. “Move the seat back.”

He reached beside the seat and it started slowly creeping back. “Freedom!”

Olivia doubled over, wiping happy tears from her eyes. “I’m glad this isn’t a tiny truck. You would be in so much trouble.”

“You wouldn’t be much better off if you had to listen to my grumbling,” Dawson reminded her.

Wrapping her arms around the seat to get to him, she rested her head against his, trying to stomp down her laughter. “I’m sorry I laughed at you.”

“No you’re not. You are having way too much fun.” He turned his head and kissed her temple. “But it’s your turn now, and I get to laugh.”

Olivia raised her head and looked at him. “My turn?”

“Unless you want to sleep on that bench seat that’s about a foot wide, you’re sleeping up here with me.” He opened his arms and smiled. “Plus, I promise body heat.”

“We are not making friction in this truck tonight,” Olivia said.

“Good grief, Liv. That’s moving a little fast don’t you think? No funny business. I just run hot.” He pulled the collar of his hoodie to the side. “See?”

She slid her hand around the side of his neck, and the warmth tingled over her cold hand. “How are you that warm? It’s freezing in here.”

Dawson shrugged. “I’m always like that.” He reached beside the seat again, and it started slowly reclining. “Come on.”

“I can’t believe we’re doing this,” Olivia mumbled so low Dawson probably didn’t hear it. The thought of sleeping close to him was a little too exciting when she was supposed to be tempering her expectations.

Dawson guided her onto his lap, and she pulled the blanket over them. His arms wrapped around her, and she relaxed into his hold. With her head against his chest, the smell she’d come to associate with Dawson mingling with the lingering scent of the campfire filled her senses.

He squirmed a little, shifting her around in his arms. “You comfy?”

“Mmhm,” she hummed as her eyes drifted closed.

Problems waited for them outside, but tonight, she’d sleep safely in Dawson’s arms.

23

DAWSON

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