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I backed up and turned us toward a trail that ran off the side of the lake and followed it around to another point and then finally to another trail. I took the thing as far as it would go and we were surrounded by a ring of trees. On one side there was a large boulder and just beyond that was the lake.
“This place is amazing. That thing looks a bit out of place.” Her hand rose and she pointed to the large rock.
“I found this one day and have been back a few times since.”
I held the bike as she climbed off and then put down my kickstand and joined her as she neared the rock, flattening her palm against it.
“It’s colder in here, too, almost like we’re in a cave.” Her smile was contagious and she took my hand and pressed it to the rock. “Feel it.”
There were so many other things I wanted to feel, but I pressed my hand flat next to hers and felt the cold stone. “So, is this place better than the other?”
“Much better, and I’m in much better company this time as well.”
“Well, I won’t ask you what you were doing out here, but it’s nice to know you’ve got a rebel’s heart beating somewhere in you.” She gave me a challenging look and dropped her hand from the stone.
“I’ll have you know I was quite rebellious in my younger years and I bet I’ve pulled more crazy stunts than you would ever imagine.” She lifted her chin with a defiant smirk.
I turned and leaned against the rock. “Oh? You’ve got secrets then? Care to share?” I could imagine the kind of things she might have done and wished I’d met her when she was younger, back when she was a free-spirited, free from stress, and not so hell bent on refusing me.
“I’ll tell you what I was doing out here but then I get to ask a question of my own.” She wasn’t asking, and I liked the way she took control.
“I’ll play along.” I shrugged and crossed my arms waiting for her to spill her best secret, knowing she wouldn’t tell me anything too crazy.
“Well, the last time I was here I went skinny-dipping.” She turned and walked toward the edge of the large rock, where the water splashed against the sand and the trees behind us had refused to grow but still offered shade as well as privacy. She spun around and gave me a knowing smile. “So now it’s my turn.”
I closed the distance between us and put my arm around her. “Not so fast. I’m not sure I know what this skinny-dipping thing is you’re talking about, I think you should demonstrate.” Her hand landed on my chest and nudged me but I didn’t move.
“I’m not skinny-dipping and you owe me a question.” She tilted her chin upward meeting my eyes and I was only a breath away from her lips and the kiss I’d been waiting for since the day I saw her washing windows outside my shop.
As she opened her mouth to pose her question, I cut her off, bringing my mouth down on hers. She melted against me and I spun her around and lay her back against the rock. Our kiss deepened and she sighed, snaking her long legs around mine to draw me closer still. I grounded against her, showing her my need, my thick shaft pressing against her leg. Her arms fell around my shoulders and my hands slid up to cup her breasts through her shirt. I’d been waiting to get my hands on them since the day we met, and she arched her back as if to give me permission.
“I’ve wanted to kiss you forever,” I whispered.
“Why did you want me to come over? What’s the proposition?” I stepped back so quickly that she stumbled forward. “Hunter, just tell me.”
“I didn’t want to just dump it on you, it’s a crazy idea but I think it’s my only chance.” She walked up behind me and put her arms around my waist as if we were still on my bike.
“Do you think I’ll hate it? Is it something awful? I’m dying here, Hunter. You’ve got to tell me now.” I had put it off for so long and wondered if now she’d regret kissing me.
I took a deep breath and let the words fall from my lips. “The judge insinuated that if I had a two-parent home she’d reconsider making Tani stay with my ex.” She stilled behind me, and then pulled away.
When I turned around she held her hand over her mouth and her eyes were wider than I’d seen them. “You mean, you want me to move in with you?”
I reached for her hands but she pulled them in tight around her.
“In a nutshell, yeah. Oh, and marry me too.”
She closed her eyes tight then opened her eyes and stepped away from me in disbelief. “I didn’t even want to date you until you brought me out here to this make out magic rock and now you’re telling me you want to marry me to save your kid from her own mother?” She wasn’t asking me as much as she was stating the facts as she wrapped her own mind around the very idea.
“Yeah, but I’d pay you. You need money, I have money. I need a wife, you could be a wife. You’d be a good wife. You’re smart and talented and gorgeous and you own your own business and have a hell of a better reputation than my ex. I mean, I wouldn’t go telling the judge about your promiscuous skinny dipping story or anything, but—”
“Stop rambling so I can think.” She gave me a nudge then placed her hand over her mouth and gazed up into my eyes. Then she stepped away and talked to herself as if giving herself a pep talk. “This is it. This is exactly the type of moment my sister was talking about.”
“Is that a good thing?” I stood watching her debate it and then she turned and met my eyes directly like some sort of epiphany had overtaken her train of thought.
“I’m not saying yes, not just yet.” She rushed me before I knew what was happening and her mouth fell against mine in a kiss so hot I swear I could hear it sizzle. If this was her ‘no’ or ‘maybe’ I wanted to see her ‘yes’.
She backed me against the rock and then I lifted her up, turning her around to lie against it again. I felt like I’d just struck the lottery. She didn’t reject my crazy proposal; as an alternative, she seemed pretty excited at the thought of it.
