“Actually,” he scratches the back of his neck, a little sheepish, “if you’re not too busy, I was wondering if you’d want to go on a picnic with me.”
That makes me blink. “A picnic?”
He shrugs, that grin creeping back in, though his eyes are serious. “Yeah. There’s… something I want to talk to you about.”
My heart gives a strange little twist. I nod slowly, curiosity prickling. “Okay.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
Beau
I should mentionhow fucking sexy she looks. That little pink set clings to her in all the right places, the hem of her top brushing her waist, her legs bare where the shorts ride up when she shifts in the passenger seat.
It’s the kind of outfit that makes every Alpha instinct in me sit up and snarl “mine.” But I bite it back. I can’t let it show, not now.
Not when she trusted me enough to come out here.
So instead, I clear my throat and go the safest route I can find.
“Have you thought about joining the Harvest Festival this year? They’ve got the pie competition again. I swear, if you came up with one of your recipes, you’d wipe the floor with everyone else.”
She laughs softly, shaking her head. “Honestly, Beau? I’ve been so wrapped up in getting the café fixed up. That’s my priority. Competing in the festival feels like something extra.”
I glance at her, watching sunlight spill across her profile as the truck bounces down the dirt road. “Fair. However, if you do decide to join, I’d be happy to brainstorm flavors with you. Maybe even be your official taste-tester.”
That earns me a smile that feels like a prize. She tucks a strand of hair behind her ear, her green eyes glinting. “I’ll keep that in mind.”
The truck jolts slightly as we crest a hill, and she steadies herself with one hand against the dashboard. “By the way, where exactly are we going? I feel like we’ve been driving forever.”
“The other route was muddy,” I say, cutting the wheel onto a narrower path that dips into the trees. “So, I took this one instead. Figured it was better than getting stuck in a rut with no one around to tow us out. But don’t worry, I’ve got a spot near Fernbridge Trailhead. It’s still one of the best places for a quiet afternoon.”
Her laugh rings out, light and incredulous. “Fernbridge? You’re kidding. That place is still standing?”
“Barely,” I admit with a grin. “But yeah, the cabins are still there. They get used now and then—mostly by partners who want a little privacy. Or Alphas and Omegas who…” I hesitate, then smirk at her sideways glance. “Well, who need a place to get nasty when the timing hits.”
She snorts, rolling her eyes but blushing just the same. “I know. Ryker mentioned he was working on repairs. Said some of the roofing was caving in.”
I nod. “He’s done enough to keep them functional. Not pretty, but functional.”
The trees part as we roll into the small gravel turnout near the trailhead. The air shifts the moment I cut the engine—cleaner, sharper, filled with the scent of pine and moss after last night’s rain.
She pushes open her door and steps out, stretching her arms over her head. The hem of her pink top rides up, flashing a strip of soft stomach, and I have to drag my eyes away before I start panting like a rookie.
“God,” she sighs, tilting her face toward the sky. “The weather’s gorgeous.” She tips her face upward, lashes catching the light. The sky is a watercolor wash of blue and pearl, the air carrying the sweetness of something just beginning—spring, hope, maybe even love.
“It’s too soon,” I quietly remind myself, quickly looking away.
“Perfect picnic weather,” I agree instead, circling to the back of the truck. I grab the blanket and the bottles of sparkling cider I packed earlier, then hand her the basket. “Here—if you don’t mind carrying that, I’ll grab the rest.”
“Wait.” Her voice stops me mid-step.
I glance over my shoulder. “What’s up?”
She hesitates, then blurts it out. “I slept with Simon.”
The words hit me like a fist to the chest, but not in the way I expected.
I don’t feel jealous, not exactly. More like my body registers what I already knew—her scent has been carrying a thread of him since the moment she opened her door this morning.
