Page 30 of A Montana Secret Admirer
Her eyes were locked on the sunset. The colors seemed brighter up here at the outlook. They were higher up, and they could see everything in town from their vantage point. They were close to the Lodge—just a couple miles away. The folks staying there had a similar view depending on what side of the resort their room faced.
What they didn’t have was their proximity to a particularly special bit of nature that hadn’t emerged quite yet.
Her eyes slid down to the blanket and locked on what he’d set up. He had two lanterns lit and glow-in-the-dark paint with the birdhouses ready to use. In about an hour, the lightning bugs would emerge, and they’d have a different sort of light to work with.
Serenity grinned. “We’re going to paint birdhouses in the dark?”
“Sorta.” He shrugged. “While we watch the sun set, anyway.”
The joy on her face was worth every bit of anxiety he’d had over coming up with this idea.
Sunsets had, in a way, become their thing.
He jerked his chin toward the blanket. “Come on, before the paint stops glowing.”
CHAPTER TEN
This was too much.Serenity had never been on a date like this before. Finn had been a wonderful boyfriend and the perfect husband, but their outings had never consisted of something so… involved.
Maybe that had something to do with the fact that they’d met, dated, and ultimately married young. They enjoyed their walks, hikes, and sunrises. They’d gone to school dances and movies or the occasional fancy restaurant.
But nothing like this.
She drew closer to the blanket. “Birdhouses,” she mused. “Any particular reason?”
Reese grinned at her in that boyish way of his. “I figured we could bring them back to the ranch and let the boys pick a place to put them.”
“Creative, charming, and thoughtful. Looks like I hit the jackpot.” She’d said it lightly, but the way his gaze darkened with something serious had her heart leaping into her throat. He wasn’t angry. This was something else.
Longing?
Desire?
Whatever he was feeling, it was undeniable, and she had to tear her eyes from him before she said or did something stupid.
Like ask him what he was thinking.
Nope. She definitely wasn’t ready for that.
Her eyes flicked up to the sunset, and she allowed herself to watch for a few moments. Tonight was clear. There weren’t any clouds in the sky. The pale colors faded into deeper ones the higher she looked. And a gentle breeze played with the loose hairs around her face. She breathed in deeply and exhaled before she picked up a brush and started to paint.
The colors were ridiculous—the sort that her sons would have loved to use. They were neon and bright, but perfect for their purpose of nighttime painting.
She shook her head, another laugh spilling from her lips.
“What’s so funny?” Reese demanded. He glanced up at her then down to his birdhouse. “I know I’m not the best painter, but?—”
“No,” she laughed again. “I just can’t believe that we’re doing this. Painting. At night. It’s…”
He frowned, and her expression faltered.
“It’s great, really. I’m loving it. I just never thought that dating as an adult would include…” She gestured to their snacks, the paint—all of it.
His frown didn’t go away.
She rolled her eyes. “I’m not making fun of it, if that’s what you’re worried?—”
“I’m not worried.”
