Page 49 of A Montana Secret Admirer
He climbed down from the saddle and moved to her side. Her eyes were locked on the pond, and recognition was clear in her expression. Her lips were parted with shock, and if he wasn’t mistaken, there were tears gathering in her eyes.
Her focus jumped to him as he lifted his arms in an offering to help her down. But she didn’t reach for him. Instead, she asked, “What flowers are those?”
Reese didn’t have to look. He knew exactly what flowers she was referring to. “I don’t know. Lotus, I think?”
Slowly, her focus shifted to the pond again. “Yeah, that’s what I thought.” The statement was made more to herself than him. He thought for certain she’d bring up the flowers she was receiving from her secret admirer, but she didn’t do that, either. She pursed her lips together then reached for Reese so he could help her to her feet.
They spent the next several hours chatting and eating. He pulled out his guitar and strummed on it while she went through the books he’d brought and picked one. Every so often, she’d look over to the flowers in the pond nearby.
He smirked to himself as he got to his feet and plucked one from the water. “You like them?” Reese handed it to her.
She nodded, not speaking. His confession was on the tip of his tongue. He could do it, too. Just lay it all out for her and tell herthat he was the one behind the notes and the flowers. But there was one problem with that. He had no idea how she felt about the flowers. He’d been a little forward in the last note, too.
Reese settled back beside her and picked up his guitar again. The rest of the afternoon passed without incident. As did the ride back to the ranch. When he walked her toward his cousin’s house, he slowed. She appeared to notice and glanced at him with curiosity. She tilted her head so her eyes met his.
He reached for her hand, his thumb tracing over the back of it. This date had been just as good if not better than the first. The kiss they’d shared had been electric, and that was how he’d wanted to end tonight.
“Reese?” she whispered. “Everything okay?”
“Today has been great,” he murmured.
She smiled. “It has.”
“And I really want to kiss you.”
Her eyes widened. Maybe she was surprised that he wanted to. Maybe she was surprised that he’d admit to it so openly. It didn’t matter. He couldn’t be sure if she wanted it as much as he did or at all.
Reese forced himself to continue. “I know that you’re taking things day by day—slow makes sense, and I would never ask you to do something that you’re not ready for. So I’m… going to go.”
“What—”
“Before I do something that we might regret. I’m going to ask you out again. And again. And again until you tell me no, or…”
“Or?” she breathed.
“Or.” He said it like it was a statement and smirked at her. Then he lifted her hand to his lips. “Until the next one, Serenity.”
He turned to leave and got only six steps before he heard her call out to him.
“Reese, wait!”
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Serenity didn’t knowwhat she was thinking when she’d hollered after Reese. Her head was a befuddled mess. It wasn’t just the amazing, thoughtful date they’d gone on. It had been seeing those flowers.
Reese might very well be the man who was leaving them for her, but even if he wasn’t, seeing them had been like a sign—a sign to chase after something she wanted, something that made her happy.
Someonewho made her happy.
She nearly tripped over herself as she launched herself toward Reese. He turned around just in time for her to throw herself into his arms. Her mouth crashed against his.
Reese’s body was firm, stiff—at first. Then his arms came around her waist, and he pulled her body flush with his.
This felt… safe.
Warm.
And just like before, it waseverything.
