Page 87 of Love on the Line

Anne pulled the front of her shirt out as the sticky, cold goo from the watermelon trickled down into her bra. Wyatt dragged Goober back to his bone and snapped the leash on his collar. His gaze went to the destroyed picnic basket, and his mouth firmed. “This is exactly what I meant by him causing trouble.”

“It’s not his fault. It’s their nature to chase squirrels.” Anne opened a water bottle, poured some on a napkin, and stuck it down her shirt to wipe up the stickiness.

Wyatt’s gaze went to her breasts, following her movements, and then he sucked in a breath and knelt. He picked up squashed pieces of melon and tossed them into the trash bag Anne had brought. “I told you I didn’t want to bring him today.”

Her blood pressure spiked. She grabbed the overturned plates and waved them at Wyatt. “It’s our fault for not controlling him. And for the record, it’s not me who’s freaking out this time because of botched plans. It’s you.”

Wyatt tossed more food into the bag.

Harder.

Goober chewed on his bone, his tail slowly wagging like nothing had happened. What she wouldn’t give to be a dog sometimes with a short-term memory.

Anne continued to clean up the mess, refusing to look at Wyatt. She did shoot a glance at her picnic basket, all broken apart. Her heart sank. She’d been so happy to find it. Oh well. “Why don’t we just go home? You’re in a mood, and I have plenty of work to do.”

Wyatt sat back on his heels and scrubbed a hand down his face. “I’m sorry. You’re right. Let’s go to the water like we’d planned.”

She eyed him, not sure what to think anymore. “I guess we can.”

They rolled up the blanket and put everything back in the truck. Goober trotted along aside them like he didn’t have a care in the world. Anne couldn’t help but smile.

Wyatt shut the truck door and faced her like a big annoyed grizzly bear. “Why are you smiling at him? He just crushed your prize basket, ruined our lunch, and probably destroyed your blanket and shirt.”

Anne glanced at the pink splotch on her blouse. She raised her gaze to his and held it. “Because this really amazing guy told me that I shouldn’t get caught up in expectations and outcomes. That I shouldn’t worry about perfection and learn from experience. That I should let things go and realize it’s not the end of the world if I have to wash a shirt or buy a burger from the snack bar when my picnic lunch went to hell in a handbasket. No pun intended.”

The tension lines in Wyatt’s face smoothed. He stepped closer and placed his hands on her shoulders. “You’re right. This is a big leap for you.”

“I’m working on it.”

He lowered his head and kissed her, soft and gentle. “I’m proud of you.”

“Then don’t make it so hard. Why did this outing matter so much?”

He stiffened and pulled her closer. “No reason. My bad.”

She rested her head against his chest and let the tension ease out of her muscles. The day wasn’t lost. They just needed to chill. “How about if I go to that general store by the picnic area and get us something to eat? You stay with Goober, and I’ll be right back.”

“Okay. I’d rather keep a low profile.” He let go of her and pointed to the interior of the truck. “My wallet’s in the glove box.”

“I got this. Thanks.” She walked to the store and bought a couple of hot dogs. Not her first choice, but with slim pickings, they’d have to do.

After they ate, Wyatt tugged on Goober’s leash. “This stays on for the walk. It reaches twenty feet, so he’ll have plenty of space to roam with it on.”

Anne grinned. “The squirrels thank you.”

As they hiked through the forest, she glanced at Wyatt. He’d stopped sweating, and his face was no longer blood red. But that reminded her that he’d been interrupted earlier when he wanted to ask her something. Anxiety squeezed her lungs. He might have been about to tell her his job decision.

Goober paused to sniff a bush, and she touched Wyatt’s arm. “What was it you wanted to say to me earlier?”

Wyatt froze and then stared at the ground. His knuckles turned white on the leash handle.

Shit. That must be it. He was going to tell her he’d decided to take the USC job. “Please, whatever it is, can you spit it out? I’m imagining a lot of things.”

“Right.” He took a deep breath and faced her. “This isn’t how I wanted to—”

“Oh my God, no,” she yelled as a startled skunk sprang from a bush, sprayed Goober, and ran away.

The strong, foul odor burned her nostrils and made her eyes water. She covered her mouth and coughed. “Ew. Ew. Ew.”

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