Page 31 of A Montana Secret Admirer
“Then why are you frowning?”
“Am I?” He dragged a palm down his face. “I’m just thinking, that’s all.”
She studied him. “Well, you don’t look happy at all.” When his serious expression didn’t change, she sighed. She refused to let tonight get ruined because she said something wrong. So she swiped her finger into the neon green paint and dragged it down Reese’s cheek.
His stunned expression was absolutely worth it. He blinked, then blinked again.
Then everything changed all at once. He lunged for her, his hand covered in paint.
In mere seconds, they were both covered in bright neon colors and laughing.
Their clothes were definitely ruined, but she couldn’t find the energy to care. At the moment, they were both on their backs, chests heaving. The sky was dark now, and the only light came from their lanterns a few feet away.
She turned her head, the grass tugging at her hair. Reese was smiling at her. “So, what are the jars for?”
His smile widened, and he got to his knees before standing and offering her his hand. She took it, her excitement growing. Without answering her, he brought her to the blanket. Then hepicked up a nail and a hammer and started poking holes into the lid.
“Reese?” she asked.
He jutted his chin opposite where they’d parked. There was a meadow of sorts with trees and shrubs.
And little floating, glowing orbs.
Serenity gasped, her eyes locking on the bugs several yards away. Then her eyes widened as they returned to Reese and the net he was holding out to her.
“What do you think? Would Tegan and Jessi like to see some real lightning bugs?”
This was Reese’s idea of a date—treating her to some fun she hadn’t had in a long time while also thinking about her children. She didn’t know what she’d expected, but it certainly wasn’t this.
She took the net, her fingers slowly wrapping around the handle.
“Are you okay?” he whispered.
“Perfect,” she whispered back.
“Then why do you look so… worried?”
“Do I?”
The flat look he gave her was enough to express as much.
She tilted her head slightly and grinned at him. “I’m just thinking that there’s no way anything could top this—tonight. You’ve ruined me.”
He pulled her closer, his hands coming around her waist. Her breath caught in her throat, and she thought for a moment thathe’d kiss her. But all he did was lean closer, his lips near her ear, and whisper, “I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Reese had losttrack of time. They were covered in dried, crusty paint, sprawled out on the blanket with their fingers laced. Two jars of lightning bugs were situated to the side, and their birdhouses had only been half-painted.
But their date couldn’t have been more perfect.
It wasn’t until the sky started to lighten that he realized his mistake.
Serenity shot up from where she was and gasped.
She’d stopped herself mid-sentence, cutting herself off from the story she’d been telling him of her childhood.
“What is it?” Reese asked, sitting upright with her.
