Page 67 of Rescued Hearts

She drew out a soft, flowing skirt in a shade of deep blue.

“You bought me a skirt?” Her voice was quieter than usual.

He nodded, studying her reaction, a light gleam of grease from the turkey leg on his bottom lip. “I saw it in a booth and thought of you.”

Butterflies soared through her chest. Her ex never bought her presents. And here was Gray, handing one over like it was the most natural thing in the world.

She kept staring at the skirt in a vibrant blue that reminded her of the sea and the sky mixed on a perfect summer’s day. Her throat felt unusually tight.

He shifted beside her. “You hate it, don’t you?”

She snapped her gaze up to his. “No! No. Iloveit.” Her tone took that soft dip again as emotion washed over her. “It’s beautiful, and so special to me, Gray.”

“You act like you never got a present before.”

She moved her shoulders in a light shrug. “It’s been a long time. Thank you.” She leaned over to wrap her arms around him, dropping her forehead to his and looking deep into his eyes.

“I’d love to see it on you.” He trailed his fingers through her hair, raising a quiver inside her. “And then on the ground.”

She broke out laughing. “You’re impossible.”

“And you’re beautiful.”

She rolled her eyes, but inside she was melting. And falling so deeply in love with Gray Malone that there probably wasn’t a chance she’d survive it.

Later…she would try the skirt on for him. And just maybe she’d let it fall to the ground exactly like they both wanted.

* * * * *

Gray stood flipping burgers by the campsite grill, the scent of sizzling meat thick in the air. The sky had darkened to a dusky purple, and the area glowed with lantern light. From the main festival grounds drifted the sounds of laughter and musicas people continued to enjoy themselves, but he wasn’t paying attention to that.

The back doors of the van opened, and Honor climbed out. His breath stalled.

She was wearing the skirt he bought her.

It fit like it had been made for her, hugging her hips and falling to brush her toned calves.

Relief rolled through him, something he’d never felt before when it came to a woman. He’d only had practice giving gifts to his sister, and he figured Willow liked anything he gave her no matter what. She had to—she was family.

Buying the skirt had been a shot in the dark. After impulsively paying for it, he second-guessed himself all the way back to Honor’s jewelry booth. But seeing her in it was the best feeling.

She approached him, a tender expression in her eyes. When she did a little twirl, he couldn’t help but grin. “I love it so much, Gray. Thank you for getting it for me.”

He glanced down at the ring she’d made him earlier. Sticking a ring on it, she’d said, had his heart doing things in his chest that he never knew possible.

“You don’t know how hard it was picking out that skirt.” He flipped the burgers onto a paper plate and set aside the long-handled spatula.

He stepped up to face her.

“Do tell.” Her voice sounded husky with the desire he saw pulsing in the depths of her eyes.

“I had to use my hands to show your waist size to the shop owner.”

“Oh yeah? Show me.”

He held out his hands as if he was gripping her waist. “I said…she’s about this curvy. I got some weird looks.”

Then he grasped her waist for real.

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