Page 48 of Shelter for Morgan

Before she'd taken more than a step he was at her side, his hand on her arm.

"Goodness," she smiled at him. "You're fast on your feet."

"Don't change," he heard a rough scratch in his voice. "You look amazing like this."

The beaming smile she directed at him was even more stunning.

"You're so beautiful."

She ducked her gaze from his for a moment before she looked back up into his eyes. "Even if it's just flattery, I love it."

He didn't want to get into an argument with her, especially when there wasn't something to argue about. "I don't flatter, Morgan. I don't say what I don't mean."

He watched how she pondered over his words. He could tell when she was done. Her gaze lifted back to his. "Thank you, Palmer."

Her soft, heartfelt words made an impression on his heart.

Incredible.

"Let's get going," he told her, holding his hand out toward the door. "I can't wait to see what you think of this place."

Rhett enjoyed listening to her talk on the ride to the municipal parking lot and when they were approaching the underpass, he kept his attention on her, listening and waiting to see when she saw the murals.

"So I was doing a lesson on rules and laws and... Oh My Goodness! Is that? Are those?"

She turned to him, both of her hands reaching for his arm.

"Is this... Is this what you were bringing me down here to see?"

He tilted his head a little to the side. "Part of it."

"Wait," she looked at the brightly painted columns and then back at him, "there's more than this?"

Rhett nodded and knew that he'd owe Taco a big thank you for the suggestion. "We came here so you can see it before the sun completely goes down and then we're having dinner in the Historic Market Square. I'm told that it's an incredible place to spend an evening."

They continued walking toward the murals and she looked up, glancing at him from time to time. "So you've never been here before?"

"No," he lifted his free arm and reached across to cover one of her hands where it was on his arm. "One of the guys from the other shift said it was a good place to bring you after he saw your car."

"He was right." They continued to walk together and just before they reached the first column, she stopped, and he moved them to the side of the sidewalk. "But I'm really glad that it's your first time, too. It's like we're having this experience together."

Rhett wanted to pull her closer, but he managed to hold himself back. "I looked it up online and I knew you'd like it."

She did a little dance or something like it, her smile brilliantly white and her eyes shining with joy. "Come on, let's look at the murals together."

Together.

That word sounded beautiful coming from her lips. "Yes," he smiled back at her, "let's."

MORGAN

The murals were amazing! And even better, an artist was working on a new addition to the collection of painted columns under the Thirty-Five. They stood there for a little while watching. Some of the other onlookers asked questions, but she kept herself quiet.

When Palmer leaned forward over her shoulder, he whispered to her.

"Why aren't you asking him questions?"

She'd been so focused on the painting that when she turned around, she found herself almost mouth to mouth with Palmer.

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