Page 140 of Love in Riverbend
I sit near him, both of us facing the water. The rock’s warmth penetrates the material. “It’s okay.” I turn to him with a grin. “I’m glad you want to share it with me. I guess I’m surprised there aren’t more people here.”
He lies back, propping his elbow on the blanket and holding up his head. His sexy blue stare is focused on me in a way that makes me warm and covers me with goose bumps at the same time.
His deep voice is smooth and easy. “It’s because the access road for the quarry is a few miles from where I parked. It’s blocked by a locked gate and has big no-trespassing signs. The way we came in…not a lot of people know about it.”
“We’re trespassing?” I ask. “Could we be arrested?”
Justin smirks. “More likely we’d be told to leave. I think there are more pressing crimes for the police or sheriff to worry about.” He winks. “Don’t worry. If it happens, I’ll take full blame. I kidnapped you.”
“I went willingly.”
I’m struck by how handsome I think Justin is. With his long legs covered by blue jeans and his blue t-shirt stretched over his wide chest, he has a rugged appearance. The way his arm is flexed shows the bulge of muscle in his bicep. His auburn hair is no longer damp but messy and windblown from our drive. And under the summer sky, his eyes are strikingly blue.
“I can’t believe you wanted to bring me here,” I finally say.
He pushes himself up to sitting and leans closer. After only a second’s hesitation, his lips come to mine. Our bodies are drawn to one another as our kiss deepens.
By the time we pull back for air, Justin laughs. “I’d like to keep kissing you.” His smile grows. “But from the sounds of your stomach, I should feed you first.”
Laughing, I cover my stomach with my hands. “That’s so embarrassing.”
“I think it’s cute.”
Great.
Cute.
After opening the picnic basket, Justin starts to remove the contents when he catches my expression. “What did I say?”
“You said I’m cute, as in a puppy.”
“Oh fuck no. You’re cute as in perfect, stunning, gorgeous, and you take my breath away.” Setting down a container, he reaches for my hand. “I’m not the best with words, but you can be assured cute will never be meant as a derogatory term. And… I adore puppies. So, no, not a bad analogy.”
I have the flash of an image of grumpy Justin Sheers on the floor with a puppy, laughing and playing. Shaking that imagery away, I open the plastic container and find fresh strawberries. Plucking one from the bowl, I put it in my mouth. The sweet fruit bursts with juice. “Mmmm. It’s delicious.”
His voice is deep. “I’m suddenly thinking things I shouldn’t about you and those strawberries.”
My cheeks warm.
He goes on, removing more things from the basket. “Full disclosure, I didn’t cook the strawberries. I didn’t really cook.” After removing paper plates, plastic ware, and napkins, he pulls out two sandwiches. I recognize the paper as from the local deli. “Turkey or roast beef?”
“Both,” I say.
Justin opens the paper and places one half of the turkey on one plate and the other half on the other. He does the same with the roast beef.
My mouth is watering and my stomach’s still growling. “Condiments?”
He removes individual packets of ketchup and mustard. His stare meets mine with a devilish grin. “Did I forget something?”
I work to hide my disappointment. Shaking my head, I reach for a ketchup. “No. This is great.”
Next, he pulls out a bag of potato chips.
As I’m about to tear open the ketchup packet, I’m struck by a flying packet. “What?” I pick up the small blue foil. “Mayo.”
His smile blooms. “I got the feeling that day when we were packing your apartment that you liked mayonnaise.”
Tossing the ketchup aside, I eagerly tear open the packet he’d tossed my way. “I do.”
