Page 43 of 40 and (Tired of) Faking It
He had no idea how much time passed, but at some point Lily drew back, a laugh escaping her as she snagged her mocha from the tray. “Yeah, I think that was worth it.”
His brows hit his hairline. “You think?Think?”
She smirked, straw in her mouth as she drew on her coffee. A swallow drew his gaze down to the slender lines of her throat. “Yeah, Ithink.”
When he growled in her direction, she giggled. When he reached for her, she slipped out of his grip and hurried toward the door, delight in her eyes. “I think we have someplace to be,” she threw over her shoulder. “Didn’t you promise to feed me?”
“I’ll feed you all right,” he said as he followed her out the door. Lily’s laugh tightened his gut all over again, starting a countdown in his head of the minutes until they arrived at their destination.
Chapter Twenty
The roads through the state park twisted like noodles around the rivers and creeks, the sliced-through hills and huge boulders that peppered the landscape. Lily relaxed into the soft leather of her seat, enjoying the scent of JD filling the car, the strong forearm brushing hers, and the taste of mocha on her tongue as JD took his time, weaving toward the northwest edge of the area. The border between his land and the park was narrow, but JD said several walking trails ran through the park nearby.
It wasn’t long before JD found a lookout area, took a parking space, and gathered the box of food and a blanket he’d stowed in the back while Lily gathered their coffees.
“What all is in there?” she asked, eyeing the box as they made their way toward the trailhead.
“Quiche and croissants,” he said. “And maybe some chocolate…”
Lily felt her eyes light up. “When are we eating?”
He chuckled as he moved ahead of her onto the trail. “If I remember correctly, there is a boulder up ahead that overlooks a creek. It’s a bit of a climb, but if you’re game…?”
“If there’s chocolate at the end, of course I’m game.”
JD glanced over his shoulder, a faux evil gleam in his eyes, twirling a nonexistent mustache. “And now I know the secret to getting you to do whatever I want.”
All you really have to do is look at me for that.
She’d felt her heart leap when he pulled up outside her home. She’d been sitting on the sofa, an inadequate, home-brewed cup of coffee with generic creamer in her hand, staring out the window when he arrived. She’d known he was home from New York, but she hadn’t known when she’d see him. That he’d come straight to her house first thing…
Did casual flings do that, need to see you straight away? She’d never been with someone who had that impulse. None of the guys she’d dated before ever needed her that way. Oh, there had been the occasional moment where someone would hurry over, but only if they were desperate to get her into bed. The opportunity for that had been open back at the house, but other than a couple of kisses, JD hadn’t pushed for more. He’d definitely been interested though—she’d felt his interest prodding her in the belly. Making her wet with wanting. That he hadn’t jumped her asap made it seem like something more than simple horniness.
Or maybe she was reading too much into it and he’d simply wanted to check out the trails and thought she might like to tag along. With her favorite drink in hand. And her favorite treat waiting at their destination.
She really didn’t want to hope, but like a silly schoolgirl, she couldn’t seem to help it. She never would have guessed it, but apparently you didn’t outgrow the ability to go giddy over a guy anytime he paid attention to you. At least, a particular guy.Thisparticular guy. Every time she looked at JD, a yearning started in her chest, a wish that he would continue to want to be with her. A wish that he would want something more than just a fling.
But if she couldn’t have more, at least she could have moments like this, right?
Even if her heart would be broken when he stopped focusing on her—or if she was extremely lucky, not until he left town—she accepted it as the price she had to pay. But her stupid heart couldn’t stop longing for a different outcome.
Even without the chocolate incentive, the view ahead of her would’ve been motivation enough to keep going. JD wore basketball shorts that revealed his long, strong legs and a T-shirt tight enough that she could see the thick pad of muscles stretched across his shoulders and down either side of his spine. And that sight led her straight to the firm butt outlined by the soft fabric of his shorts. The fact that she was sweating by the time they reached the boulder, high above the trail where passersby would catch no more than a glimpse of them picnicking, had very little to do with the exertion and a lot to do with that butt.
It was definitely a magnificent butt.
JD set the food aside and spread out the old blanket he’d brought with them. Lily toed off her shoes, then stepped onto the blanket and settled in. Then the magic box in JD’s hands was opened: spinach and Gruyère quiche with a light, flaky crust, and croissants that were even lighter and flakier, topped with the sweetest honey butter. “Oh my God,” she moaned as she took her first bite, “Claire’s croissants are to die for.”
“And after you finish that one, I’ve got chocolate ones for dessert.”
Her heart literally sped up. Yes, it did that where chocolate was concerned. “You brought chocolate croissants? The only thing better than Claire’s croissants is her chocolate croissants.”
JD chuckled. “So Maria told me. I asked what she thought you would like.”
“I have the best friends in the world,” she mumbled through another bite.
“Apparently.” He smirked. “And since their good advice gives me bonus points, I’m especially appreciative.”
That dimple was making an appearance again. It ignited a warmth in her belly that had been lying low since the kisses back at her house. So many things about him just did it for her. Kissing him. His smile and that dimple that created a groove in his cheek. Those electric-blue eyes staring at her with an intensity she almost couldn’t bear as she took a bite of the quiche, then licked her lips to gather the flaky crumbs left behind.
