Page 44 of A Montana Secret Admirer
“Oh?” His eyes traced over her body, and she fidgeted beneath his smoldering stare. “So ask.”
Her mouth was suddenly dry, and she found herself incapable of forming the simple words she knew she needed to say in order to move forward like she wanted to. Serenity looked away then back to him. Her face flushed hot like she was in a furnace rather than the pleasant, cool morning air. “I want to go out with you. Again,” she amended. “I want to call in that rain check. I’ll plan everything?—”
He stepped closer, and her words died in her throat. “No.”
Gaping, she stared right back. “No?” she squeaked.
“No, you won’t plan everything.” His mouth twitched, his smile returning. “I would love nothing more than to go out on another date with you. It’s all I’ve been thinking about, actually. But I’d be lying if I said that I could handle you planning a date when I personally feel it’s my responsibility.”
She bit back a smile. “So chivalrous of you.”
He moved even closer. There was barely enough room to stick a book between them. “No, I’m just a little obsessed, and I don’t want you lifting a finger. I want you to see just how much you mean to me.”
Breath had never eluded her before this moment. She couldn’t recall a single experience with Finn where she was left speechless. Maybe it was because they’d gotten along so well over the course of their teenage years that she could anticipate what he was going to say before he said it.
Reese was another issue altogether.
Serenity cleared her throat, suddenly realizing there were other men watching their interaction. “Do you… um… are you going out… do you have to work late today?” There. She’d finally spitit out. Still, her face flushed even hotter, and she couldn’t bring herself to meet his gaze. Instead, she stared at a spot right between his eyes.
He chuckled, and her knees nearly buckled. Why was this so hard?
Because maybe you want him just as much as he wants you.
That had her heart racing even more, and if it didn’t decide to slow down, she might actually faint.
Reese reached out for her hand. It was the smallest gesture, and one that immediately made her swoon. He rubbed small circles on the back of her hand. At least he wasn’t staring at her directly anymore. His voice was low and soothing. “No. I’m holding down the fort here for today.”
“Oh. That’s good.”
A small smile touched his lips. For a second, it seemed their conversation might end, but he was still holding her hand. Then he murmured, “I can’t stop thinking about that kiss last night.”
“Me neither,” she whispered.
“I’m glad you sought me out. I was…”
Worried.
He didn’t have to say it for her to know that was what he was thinking.
She nodded. “If you’re not willing to let me plan our next official date… maybe we could do something else?”
His eyes lifted to meet hers, and all she saw there was hope. It both wrecked her and built her up to heights she hadn’t been since Finn had been alive. “Yeah?”
“How long do you get to spend for lunch?”
“How long do you need?”
Serenity wouldn’t have been able to hide the smile she wore if her life depended on it. “I was just thinking that the boys might like to have a picnic today. And they’d definitely enjoy it more if you were there.”
“They like me that much, huh?”
“They adore you,” she admitted. “But you already knew that.”
“And you?”
“Hmm?” She was losing track of what they were talking about when he looked at her like that. Those eyes, geez, they could do so much damage to her thundering heart.
“Do you… adoreme?”
