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“It’s colder than I thought it would be,” she said with a smile as she looked back at me. When we’d gotten out of the car, all talk of sexual innuendo had stopped. It was as if she didn’t want to encourage me in that regard. I was frustrated, but I respected her wish to not go down that road. Perhaps it was smarter. For all I knew, she wasn’t attracted to me that way, but the demure looks and the way she touched me and talked to me led me to believe that she also felt a spark for me as well.
“So what are we going to do here?” she said as she stood up and headed back towards me.
“Well, we have our picnic,” I reminded her.
“I’m not ready to eat quite yet. Are we going to go swimming?”
“If you want. We could go skinny dipping.” My lips twitched as she rolled her eyes.
“No, Chet, we’re not going to go skinny dipping. Did you get that idea from one of your brothers?”
“What?” I said innocently, not wanting to let her know that my brothers and I talked about absolutely everything. “We could fish,” I said. “I’ve got some rods in the back of the truck.”
“Oh? What sort of fish are in the water here?”
“Lots of different kinds, actually,” I said, my mind distracted as she ran a hand through her hair.
“Lots of different kinds? That’s very descriptive,” she said with a laugh.
I turned around and headed to the truck and grabbed the fishing pole. I needed to take a breath and a moment. I was too attracted to her. I didn’t want to do something that I would regret later.
“Let me see if I’ve got the tackle and some bait as well,” I said, fishing around in one of the tool boxes.
“We don’t have to fish if you don’t,” she said. “Maybe we could go for a walk.” She pointed up to the left near the forest. “It looks quite mysterious in there.”
“It is not mysterious.” I laughed. “I guess I’m so used to being here that it doesn’t feel as special.”
“No way!” she said. “It’s amazing here. It feels magical. Eloise would love it.”
“Maybe next time we could bring her.”
“That would be nice,” she agreed, “if I’m still here.”
“What do you mean if you’re still here?” I knew I should keep my mouth shut. I knew I shouldn’t push the issue, but I thought she’d be staying now that Chip had closed up the bar for a month.
“Well, I’m still looking for a place. Just because I can’t work at 12 Point Buck Bar right away doesn’t mean I’m not going to look for another job and accommodation. I’ll just have to spend my entire paycheck on it as opposed to getting free rent.” She shot me an aggravated look, and I swallowed hard.
“You know you don’t have to—”
“Please, Chet.” She shook her head. “I don’t want to have this discussion. Not again. Not today. Let’s just enjoy our time in nature.”
“I’m more than willing to enjoy our time in nature. We could also be one with nature,” I said with a wicked grin.
“What do you mean?”
“Well, if we actually lived in nature, perhaps we would be naked.”
“Chet Hamilton, really? Would you say those words if your mother is around?”
“Maybe not.” I chuckled. “But she’s not around.”
“You’re really bad, aren’t you?”
“Did I ever say I was good?”
“No,” she shook her head, “you didn’t. But I figured you’re a Hamilton and you were raised by Amelia and Ranger and, well, they have manners.”
“Are you saying I don’t have manners?”
