Page 73 of Protective Heroes

I looked up at him, my eyes going wide. "And from that you could tell I don't think this is the right spot?"

He nodded and slid his hand down to glide the backs of his fingers over my cheeks. I shivered.

"Oh," is the only thing I managed to get out.

Three buttons at the top of his shirt are popped open giving me a glimpse of taut pecs when he leaned in and brushed his lips over mine.

Before I could react to that, he grabbed my hand and led me back to his SUV. "Let's go. We have a mission to accomplish here and daylight is burning, baby."

I laughed and followed him, loving the feeling of my hand in his.

And the rest of the morning went pretty much the same way. Trevor drove me all over Hartwood and managed to bring me to some incredibly beautiful locations. Any of them would have been appropriate for Lily's wedding, but for some reason, I hesitated at each one. I couldn't put my finger on it, but something wasn't right in each spot.

Or I liked being alone with him.

Both answers were probably right.

I worried a bit that Trevor would get bored or impatient with me. That would have been a deal breaker for me. All attraction aside, I took my job seriously. I had no intention of lowering my standards to keep him happy.

But he didn't seem to mind. He walked at my side and pointed out different types of trees and plants, reminding me how much he loved being outside. He showed me signs that wildlife had been through and told me funny stories about some of the people he'd met since opening his outdoor expedition business. Through it all, he amazed me with how easily he seemed to be able to read my thoughts and feelings.

"Are we running out of locations?" I asked when we got back in his SUV after the fourth stop.

"There might be one more," he said with a grin.

I narrowed my eyes at him. "Have you been holding out on me?"

He held up a hand, palm facing out. "I plead the fifth."

I giggled, but before I could respond to his teasing, my stomach grumbled.

I didn't get the chance to become embarrassed. Trevor reached over and, in a gesture that was beginning to feel familiar, took my hand in his and placed our linked fingers on his thigh. And I found I didn’t mind one bit. It felt…dare I say natural? Like this should be us every day. I didn’t want to think too far into the future. I’m out of my damn mind but I’m just going to enjoy the moment.

"Your appetite is right on time. We can eat the lunch Mrs. Morgan packed for us at the next spot," Trevor said.

I peered out the window. "Isn't it a little cold for a picnic?" The late spring temperature had dropped considerably since yesterday.

He shrugged and turned up the heat a little. I gave his hand a small squeeze at his thoughtfulness and was rewarded with an easy smile from him.

“Scoot over, baby. I need you to be close to me.”

He tugs on my hand and I move until our thighs touch.

“We can eat in here and just enjoy the view.”

A few minutes later we were driving along a dirt road into the woods. I wrinkled my nose, suddenly doubtful of the kind of view we might get. “This seems a little…rustic.”

He chuckled. “I know the dirt road doesn’t look like much, but we’re going pretty deep into the woods. At least you know this would be accessible for all your guests.”

“Okay.” I tried to keep an open mind, but the farther we drove, the more oppressive the trees towered around us, blocking out the sunlight. Not to say the forest didn’t have its own appeal, but it wasn’t what I had in mind for a wedding.

The SUV crested a small hill and came to a stop. A gasp broke from me.

“What do you think?” Trevor asked next to my ear. Before I even thought about what I was doing, I unbuckled my seatbelt and scrambled out of the vehicle. The same sense of longing that hit me the first morning looking out the window at the scenery hit me even harder now, and I couldn’t resist the pull of the wilderness.

We parked at the top of a small hill which sloped down into a valley. Even though cold spring air still hung in the air, the floor of the meadow was green and lush. Trees surrounded it, looking as if they stood guard. Dappled sunlight streamed through the fronds of the tall spruces, dancing over the meadow. It looked exactly like the enchanted forest I’d been holding in my mind’s eye. So much so, I wouldn’t have been surprised to see fairies darting in and out of the patches of sunshine.

I turned to Trevor. “This is incredible.”

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