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Chapter Eleven
Smitty
"We could make it back tonight, but I'm pretty tired," I say, stretching out on a blanket under the tree at the guest house. My belly is full of Maggie's homemade comfort food. Ally is lying on her side across from me, having a glass of wine.
Maggie, Jackson, and their posse of kids and critters all up and left our spontaneous picnic, insisting that the kids can help put away the dishes and clean up.
"Yes, we could, and we probably should. Shouldn't we?" Ally is bent over her day planner, crossing off things and making more notes in margins.
I roll over on my side and watch her chew nervously on the inside of her cheek. "What do we have left to do on that list, partner?"
She sighs. "Well, the caterer and the bartender has been scheduled, I found an up and coming vegan caterer who is eager to impress, so fingers crossed. Sam has agreed to let me use the lavender in the field for floral decorations and bouquets, which I can make myself on Friday. Should be pretty simple and we can save on flowers. Other than the food, that's the most expensive thing on this list. We won't have a deejay, but Sam is going through Wren's music collection, getting names of songs to use, which my assistant will burn onto some CDs. The judge is taken care of. Chairs and a dance floor and centerpieces have been ordered. So really, all that's left is decorating and setting up chairs, which you and the guys will help with on Friday. Tomorrow I'm going to hunt down a dress in the city, and I've already got some dressmakers setting things aside for me. So, not much," I say with a smile. "I think we're ahead of schedule."
"Good, because it's so nice here, I kind of don't want to leave," he says.
I smile at him and I see the mischievous look in his eye. "I don't really want to leave until the morning either," I say.
"I kind of want to kiss you right now," he says.
The sun is setting over the barn, I can hear baby goats bleating in the background, and the fireflies are starting to come out. It has to be the most perfect moment for a kiss and I couldn't have arranged it better if I'd tried.
"I kind of want you to kiss me, so we're in agreement," I say.
First, Smitty laces his fingers through mine and brings my hand to his lips. "Oh my," I breathe, feeling the butterflies in my stomach when his lips touch my skin.
He sits up slowly and angles his face in. Our lips meet with a soft, quick kiss. Just a taste, but it's enough to make me want another one.
"Just the one?" I ask.
Smitty laughs. "I think I got another one around here somewhere, let me check." He comes back in for another kiss, this time longer, softly swiping his lips over mine, building a gentle warmth inside my tummy.
"You're pretty good at that," I say.
"Just pretty good?"
This time it's my turn to laugh. "I don't know, let's try again for an upgrade."
I expect groping hands. I expect him to pull me down on top of him and press me against his body. But he doesn't. Smitty is entirely focused on the kiss itself. His mouth presses harder, then softens, tasting my lips one by one. He softly brushes our lips together again then goes back to a more intense pressure that I can feel in my toes.
"That was better," I say with a teasing look.
"Just better?"
"Hey," I say. "Better is better. You should be very proud of yourself."
I'm enjoying the banter but Smitty is done. He catches me off guard when he sits up completely straight, tossing his hat to the ground and cupping my face firmly. I've been thinking about those full lips of his on me since the moment he single-handedly lifted me onto his horse like a damn action-movie hero, and now that it's happening I'm as excited as a teenager on prom night. Nobody has ever made me feel this way before. The last thing I see before my mind and body are overcome by the deep, wet, warm tongue kissing is the smoldering look in his eyes. He's done with the teasing and the playfulness. He licks the seam of my lips and I open willingly. Everything feels warm and sweet and wonderful.
His tongue delves into my mouth, delivering all the wild heat his eyes promised. I rest my hands on his chest and I feel him growl a little bit in pleasure.
When we pull away to catch our breath, both of us look astounded. Not because we kissed, but because neither of us expected to feel it so deeply. At least that's the case for me, I don't know about Smitty.
Chapter Twelve
Smitty
This is special. Ally is special. I better not fuck this up by going too fast or too slow.
"I really like you, Ally."
