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“I think I got things mixed up,” he said sheepishly and hesitated, getting out of the truck quickly. “How about I run in and grab a few donuts in the next town over?”
“Sounds like a plan,” she smiled easily, and saw him walking over to her.
He took the cooler from her and the blanket. Luke put the blanket on the floorboard before hefting up the cooler into the bed of the truck. As he turned towards her, she hesitated as he held out his hand.
“Milady?”
“Thank you, kind sir…” she murmured and climbed up into the truck as Luke closed it. He jogged over to the other side and quickly climbed in. “Let’s get out of here.”
“Perfect,” she smiled. “You are mine for the day and I want nothing to ruin this chance at happiness.”
She reached for his hand where it rested on his leg, scooping it up easily and lacing her fingers with his.
He smiled softly at her, his eyes warm and heady – and she felt that warmth roll over her as she recognized that joy that came from just being near him.
“Where to?”
“I thought we could go back to our spot,” she began. “I brought a picnic blanket, plenty of snacks, and I could handle a little wading in the creek…”
“I didn’t bring anything,” he laughed nervously.
“Sounds like that’s your problem,” she said innocently, causing him to laugh even harder as they looked at each other, both blushing furiously.
“I’ll stop and grab a cheap pair of shorts or something… or I can just get these jeans wet. Won’t be the first time I’ve fallen into a creek,” he admitted. “Boots can be slippery on the bank.”
“I bet.”
Thirty minutes later, she was stunned that Luke had shrugged off his button-up shirt, removed his leather belt, his boots, socks, and rolled up his jeans before wading in. She’d immediately shucked her things, wading into the creek in her one-pieces swimsuit… only to have him pluck a crawdad from the bank and threaten her with it.
It was downhill from there.
They played like children without a care in the world. Playing in the water together, splashing each other and talking, they felt so carefree… so reckless. The girl in her would squeal in laughter as Luke would pick her up around the waist, before dunking her in the thigh deep water… and she would yank him down.
The woman in her was keenly aware of his wet t-shirt, the way his jeans clung to him. The fact that she was in a swimsuit… and they were alone, was not lost on her.
The park was about a half mile up the way and most of the fishermen were much farther away from where the water was deeper.
As she stood up in the creek, she was bent over, laughing at him, her hair hanging around her in ropy tendrils as he was chuckling easily, before pulling her easily into his arms, kissing her deeply.
“Hey…” she whispered softly in his arms, stroking the back of his wet head and smiling at him.
“Hey yourself…” he murmured tenderly, his eyes searching hers. “I really like this between us and never imagined this could ever be real.”
“I think you are incredible,” she confessed, the words just slipping from her so easily. “I know it’s a lot, but…”
“I think you’re incredible, too,” he confessed hoarsely. “But I really want to do right by you. You aren’t just some girl, Niki… you arethegirl I’ve always known, my best friend, and…”
“And?” she whispered huskily.
“So much more,” he replied, kissing her again as she twined her arms around his neck, pulling him to her and kissing him deeply… until he slipped, and they both landed hard in the water.
“C’mon,” he choked, laughing, and wiping the water from his eyes. “Let’s get out, have something to snack on, and lay in the sun for a while to dry off…”
* * *
As the day passed,Nicolette found herself talking to Luke, listening, and offering suggestions. He was deep in thought regarding what to do for a career, because working two jobs was really hard on him – and neither was going anywhere, if he couldn’t work full time.
“I’m actually going to see about ironing out a few things and…”
