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He spread the blanket out under the tree, tossed his can onto it, then took off his hat and offered her a dramatic bow. “It’s probably a long way from the glitz and whatever that Vegas or New York has to offer, but, Ms. Spence, your table is ready.”
Heat filled her cheeks and her belly. The can felt slippery against her palms. She wasn’t sure if it was the condensation or her nerves. He needed to stop reading her mind like that, making it feel like he knew her more in a month than most people did in a lifetime.
“Thank you,” she replied, curtsying back and then taking his offered hand.
She lowered herself onto the blanket, and Eli followed, dropping his hat on the blanket beside him.
He spared no space between them, his hip nudging hers as he leaned against the trunk that was big enough to accommodate them both.
“Cheers,” he said, picking up his drink and tilting the bottom of his can toward hers.
Beth tapped her can against his. “What are we toasting to?”
He sat with one knee raised, his arm resting on it as the unopened can dangled from his fingers.
“Hmm…” he mused, staring up into the canopy of leaves. “To first rides, an amazing woman, and my super-secret childhood hideout known only to two others—Boone and Ash. So to answer your question, I bring none of the ladies here.” His eyes met hers. “Until now.”
She swallowed, realizing now the depth of her teasing question and the real truth it held.
“It’s okay, Beth,” he told her again. “You can ask.”
“Dammit,” she muttered. “You really have to stop reading my mind.” She blew out a shaky breath, squeezed her eyes shut, then set her gaze on his. “Not Tess? She was your wife, Eli. I wouldn’t be upset if… I mean, I don’t expect you to shield me from the life you had before you met me.”
“I’m not shielding you.” He shook his head. “Okay, of course some part of me is because I want our firsts to be ours. I am up one hell of a creek without a paddle or compass or smartphone or any sort of manual to tell me how I’m supposed to do this.” He set his can down and lowered his knee, then slid his hands beneath her calves, tugging her legs over his. “But I got in the boat or on the horse or whatever…” He groaned. “I’m shit at metaphors, so let me just say this the best I can. I’m happy. Right here. Right now. With you.” He pressed a palm to her cheek, his thumb tracing an invisible line across her skin. “And as much as she liked riding, Tess hated picnics. So no, this place wasn’t for her.”
It was for Beth. For them.
She swallowed the knot in her throat and whispered, “I think that’s a really good toast, Dr. Murphy.” Then she cracked open her can, the contents exploding in a cold, apple-scented shower of fizz.
Beth yelped, and Eli swore.
On instinct, she threw the can, then sprang up to…what?
“I don’t suppose you have any wet wipes or actual water in that magic bag of yours?”
Eli shook his head and laughed. “I mean, technically, sparkling water is water. We just smell like apples now, I guess.”
He brushed his splattered T-shirt off with a nonchalance that might have been the sexiest thing she’d ever seen, especially compared to her standing with her arms stretched to either side as if she’d been slimed on a children’s game show.
He rose to his feet and took a step toward her. Then he gave both of her hands a gentle nudge, and she dropped them to her sides.
“Are you cold?” he asked. “The sun might have a hard time finding us under here.”
Beth glanced down at her own shirt, which leaned more toward soaked than splattered.
“No,” she lied, then let out a soft laugh. “Okay. Maybe a little.”
She was freezing.
Without warning, he grabbed the hem of his T-shirt and pulled it over his head.
Beth’s mouth fell open as she took in his lean but defined frame and the dark dusting of hair that traveled from his belly button down to…
She swallowed. Her skin might have still been cold, but her body now radiated heat from the inside out.
“Here,” Eli said, handing her the shirt as though him standing in front of her without a shirt was totally and completely normal. “Take this. You have goose bumps.”
Not because she was cold.
