Which implied that she wouldn’t be here with him for those future picnics. Disappointment washed over her, but she quickly ignored it. How could she fault him for being honest?
“Would that be so bad?” Squeezing the soft blanket and pillow to her chest, she took a step toward him. “If late-night picnics made you think of me?”
“Guess that all depends.” He set his armload of supplies down on the ground and reached for the blanket.
“On?” She put the pillow between her knees and helped spread the dark navy blanket over a plush, grassy spot.
Taking the full-sized pillow from her, he tossed it to one corner. “On how this all ends. I don’t want to hurt you.”
She bit the inside of her lower lip. “I don’t want you to hurt me either.”
“Good, then we’re agreed.” His tone lightened, although she was positive it was a forced lightness. “Let’s get this spread out so we can eat. I hope you’re hungry.”
“Starved.” But she wasn’t so sure that she was talking about food.
The meal was delicious, the company more so.
The setting was romantic, the company more so.
More relaxed than she would have believed possible a mere thirty minutes earlier, Madison popped another fresh raspberry with a dab of whipped cream on it into her mouth. “Yum. Those are so good.”
“Glad you’re enjoying them.” His gaze never left her lips. “I started to get strawberries, but decided that was too predictable.”
“Strawberries are good, but these are an unexpected treat.” She closed her lips around another berry, savoring the fruit. They’d finished eating the finger foods he’d packed, had drunk a couple of glasses of wine from the bottle he’d had chilling in the cooler. Now they lay back, staring out over the lake, watching the final stages of the sun disappearing while they ate berries.
Well, Madison had been staring out at the lake. She wasn’t sure Levi had. And from the moment she’d realized he was watching her mouth rather than the water, she’d given up any pretence of anything having her attention except him.
He looked at her like he wanted to dab her in whipped cream and sink his teeth into her. Oh, my.
“Being here with you is an unexpected treat.” His voice was soft, raspy, his words a melody to her ears. “I’d thought I’d be stuck at that committee meeting all evening. I’m glad you gave me an excuse to head out early.”
“Thanks.” Had that been her voice? She sounded pretty raspy herself. Like she was getting a cold. Oh, my, oh, my! She cleared her throat. “I’m glad you asked me to help.”
He took her hand in his, stared at their interlocked fingers a few moments. “I’ve been thinking about the grand opening gala, Madison. I’d really like you to go with me.”
The grand opening gala that was four weeks away? The grand opening that was a glitzy semi-formal affair where lots of well-do-to folks would be showing off their poshest outfits and finery? Wow. Unless…“To help?”
He lifted her hand to his mouth, pressed a kiss to her fingers. “To be my date.”
Shivers ran up and down her spine, zapping every which way and bumping into one another, making her head spin.
“Oh.” She willed the emotion welling in her chest not to be love. “Of course I’ll go with you, Levi. As your date.”
With an odd look in his eyes, he dipped another raspberry in the whipped cream and offered the fruit to her.
Feeling very self-aware, Madison opened her mouth, accepting the berry. The combination of the tangy fruit and the sweet cream toying with her senses, she closed her eyes, savoring each delicious drop. Savoring that Levi had just made plans with her four weeks on. Savoring that she was here with him, on a blanket under the beautiful North Carolina sky with no one around except Mother Nature.
“Good?”
“Mmm-hmm,” she answered, opening her eyes and taking in the sound of the cicadas and an occasional frog providing background music to their romantic evening. And right down to the citronella candles he’d set up a few feet away from the corners of their blanket, it was romantic. Maybe it was only her foolish heart, but Levi screamed romance. “This is nice.”
And her voice was croaking worse and worse. Maybe she should just be quiet before she started ribbeting.
“You’ve really got to stop using that word in relation to me, Madison.” His face pulled into a slight scowl, which might have bothered her except his eyes weren’t scowling. They were mesmerizing in the flickering candlelight. More bea
utiful than the sunset. Darker than the night.
“What word?” Ribbet. Madison winced at her hoarseness, barely recognizing her own voice.