Elizabeth laughed. “We could have left you at home, you know. Your grumbling is not helping your chances of being invited next time.”
Although, Oliver was happy that they hadn’t left her behind. It was good to have a buffer between him and the ridiculously beautiful Elizabeth. If only she had an obnoxious personality to lessen his attraction. But no, she had to be absolutely wonderful.
“What makes you think I wish to come next time? I’m not even sure I wished to be included in this picnic. I was perfectly content reading my book before you dragged me away,” said Kate.
Elizabeth cast a quick nervous glance to Oliver and then back to Kate. “You needed some sunshine.” Interesting. So Elizabeth had forced Kate to come along? Could it be that she felt the same strong spark he had been feeling lately? Oliver knew his reason for keeping away from her, but what was hers?
No, he was being ridiculous. Elizabeth only saw him as another brother.
Elizabeth paused beside a patch of wild flowers and began to pick them. Kate looked at her sister and rolled her eyes with a smirk before pointing to a nice large tree a little in the distance. She took the basket from Oliver as if she knew instinctively he would stay with Elizabeth. “I’m going over there to set up the picnic. If you take too long, Elizabeth, I shall eat both yours and Oliver’s portions.” She turned and walked away with a grin.
“Don’t you dare,” said Elizabeth to her sister’s retreating figure.
Oliver watched, willing himself not to stare as Elizabeth crouched down and gathered the blooms in her hands. She was humming a soft tune. Everything about the woman was lovely and pure and enchanting. She looked up at him with a quiet smile and handed him her blooms. “Hold these, will you?”
“Of course.” He took them from her and their fingers brushed fire against one another. Did she feel it, too? “Do you realize this will be our last summer like this?” He hadn’t actually meant to say those words out loud.
Elizabeth stood and brushed her hands against her skirts, her eyes sparkling with the light of the sun. “Like what, exactly?”
He looked down at the flowers and shrugged. “You’re coming to Town this Season. Everything will change. It is very likely you will be married by next summer.”
“You have more faith in my success than I do,” she said on a small laugh.
He didn’t feel like smiling. “I’m certain of it.”
Their gazes fixed on each other. The air felt heavy and thick with feeling. Was he the only one fighting this attraction?
Oliver had been both anticipating and dreading this last summer with Elizabeth. He fully intended to spend as much of it as was possible with her. It was selfish, but he wanted to steal as many memories with the woman as he could before he would have to let her go to another man. He would take those memories and hold them close to his heart for as long as he lived. It was all he could have of her, and he would take all that he could carry.
Elizabeth must have felt something—most likely the fear of losing their strong friendship—because her eyes glistened with moisture. She blinked quickly and looked away. When her face turned back, her sadness had vanished and her eyes spoke of mischief. “The summer is not over yet. Let’s have a race,” she said.
Oliver smiled. “Where to?”
“To the tree where Kate is waiting.”
“Very well. Winn
er gets to eat the loser’s dessert tonight.”
Elizabeth laughed. “What is it with you and desserts?”
“I know, it’s becoming a problem isn’t it?”
She bumped his shoulder. “Only if you continue to take mine.”
“Well, then, you must learn to run faster.”
Elizabeth looked up from her lashes, a wicked grin on her pink lips. And then her eyes dropped to his boots. “You must tie the laces of your boot before the race.”
“What?” He frowned and looked down before realizing it was a trick. In fact, it was the oldest trick in the book and he had fallen for it. His boots did not even have laces.
Oliver looked back up to see Elizabeth sprinting off, skirts gathered in her hands, laughing like a villain. He took off behind her, catching her quickly and grabbing her hand to try to slow her down. She glanced over her shoulder, still running, and her blonde locks rushing against her face, a full smile spread across her mouth. They were both laughing as he tugged on her hand a little harder to slow her down.
“Let go!” she said, trying to rip her hand free. “I will not lose my dessert to you again!” But he just grabbed hold again, tugging her back until his arms could wrap around her waist. He picked her up, spun her around to set her down behind him. Their laughter filled the air, each competing to be the loudest. Oliver tried to make a break for the tree but this time Elizabeth caught his arm and tugged him back forcefully. They both stumbled over each other and fell to the ground, laughing like children.
“You cheat!” he said, laughing and lying on his back to catch his breath. He looked over to Elizabeth who was lying beside him—also trying to catch her breath between laughs. He smiled and held the bouquet he had been holding toward her. She took the flowers and smelled them, looking as joyful and content as he felt.
“You’re just as big a cheat as I am,” she said.