Yet, here and now, with our gazes locked and our mouths hovering a few inches apart, those worries were shoved way to the back of my lizard brain. There were more important matters.
As I wasn’t one to normally overthink anything, I lived purely in the moment because that’s all there was, but going through a hypothetical checklist of interest, Owen checked boxes left and right.
Did he want to spend time with me? Yup. Okay, so maybe he didn’t have a whole lot of choice in that arena, but he was sitting under the wrapper with me when there was a whole other bench, and it wasn’tthatcold.
Did he keep finding excuses to touch me? Indeedy. The fact that half our bodies were smooshed together cemented that point.
He asked me questions and listened when I responded. Check-a-roonie.
What magic was this tingling through my body, to beseen?
And the way he looked at me right now, with those gooey eyes that roamed over my features. It really seemed like the man was going to kiss me.
Was that too soon? Was that what I wanted? Was thisrealor just a reaction to the first bit of attention I’ve received?
A heightened awareness passed through my entire body of the growing heaviness of my breasts and rapid heartbeat. His eyes were molten when he’d seen me in my bikini. That had to mean something. His warm, spicy-clean scent encompassed me and clouded my senses like stepping into a hot spring. His strong body occupied my entire focus, and I wanted the freedom to touch his body, so unfamiliar and different from my own. I wanted him to touch me, too, and study his face as he discovered the bits he liked the best.
What would happen if we kissed? Would it change things? What about my plans? My needs? Would he return me to Benny the second this tram got moving?
Because when I shared with him, he hadn’t mocked me. He was surprisingly profound and paid attention to me.
Maybe I didn’t always live in the moment because suddenly, I envisioned a future where we got off this mountain, and Owen never wanted to see me again. A future where I was no longerthe subject of his questions and long glances, and I found I didn’t like to think about that.
How long had we been sitting here in silence, staring at each other’s mouths?
Easily five years.
I checked my phone and gasped when I registered the time.
“It’s almost midnight,” I said. He blinked and sat back so his face no longer hovered a breath away. I regretted speaking immediately—a common affliction. “We should celebrate,” I added.
After a second, he swallowed with a rough nod.
“I’ll break out the water bottles,” I said and reached under the seat to grab the bag.
I dug through and handed him a bottle.
“I’ll grab the Pop-Tarts too,” I said. “You’ve earned it.”
“So generous,” he said with a soft, almost grin.
If you put together all those half smiles and smirks, that easily equated to a handful of full smiles. Not that I was counting, but he’d smiled more tonight than I’d seen around town in years. It made me feel like I had a sort of magic.
Soon, we were situated with our treats—I guess he was worthy of sharing with after all.
“Now that I told you my New Year, New Bee resolution. What about you?” I asked him.
He watched me curiously as I nibbled the corner of the pseudo-pastry.
“What are you doing?” he asked.
“Building a kayak.”
“Sugary foods make you snarky.”
“It’s the lack of them more accurately.”
“You only eat the edges first?” he asked.
