“I’m gladyouturned out all right.” I lay my hand over her shoulders as we head out to the car.
“What’s that?” She eyes the picnic basket in my hand and gives a knowing smile.
“Part of the surprise. You up for an adventure tonight?”
“Sure. I’m up for whatever. Tonight is all about you. Remember?” She runs her hands down over my hips and sinks a little lower.
“And what about you?” I’m hoping she’ll tell me. I’d hate to rat Brylee out as the period police.
“I’m out. My body decided to pull the curse card, and I’m vexed with the details of being a woman tonight.” She lays her head over my chest a moment. “Sorry.”
“Don’t be.” I pull her in by the waist. “Then, I’m out, too.” There’s no way I’m going to let Reese pleasure me while she’s feeling like shit. “Tonight’s about being Reese and Ace. How’s that?”
“Reese and Ace.” She breaks out in a grin as she tightens her grip around me. “I love that.” She hikes up and lands a lingering kiss over my lips that blows any platonic implications out the window. She tries to pull back, but I follow her with my mouth, and we engage in something deeper, my tongue chasing hers, playing catch and release. It’s heaven like this with our mouths fused together—her affections pouring into me, desperate and aching.
“Why are you so nice to me?” Her eyes flutter into mine like twin pools of water.
“Because no one deserves it more.” I walk her over to the car and open the door for her. “You up for some camping?”
“Are you kidding?” She practically squeals her way into the seat. “I’ve been dying to go camping since I was a kid. You’d think we’d do it all the time, but Beverly is allergic to the idea.”
“Perfect.” I hop in, and we take off. Tonight is all about Reese and me. Just holding Reese, staring at the sky, breathing God’s own breath.
If this isn’t heaven, I don’t know what is.
I pull in along Fox Road and follow the trail all the way up until we have a good view of Pleasure Point Marina. The sun is getting ready to set as it lays its reflection over the water in pink and silver tails. The boats shine like miniature jewels, like a whole string of Christmas lights. I kill the engine, and we hop out.
“The facilities are that way.” I point down at the public restrooms about a hundred yards away.
“This is amazing,” Reese says as she stretches her long tawny limbs, and I pause for second to watch the way her arms touch the sky, her legs elongate over the earth like a shadow. I open the trunk and pull out the popup tent my dad bought for Christmas a few years back.
“You look amazing tonight,” I say, handing her the round disc. “Toss that in the clearing over there, would you?”
Reese throws the tent in the air, and it explodes into its proper form, mid-air, landing on its bottom just the way God intended.
“No way! That was too cool!” She bubbles with a laugh. “You make every moment magic, you know that?”
“It’s easy when you’re around.” I graze her lips with mine, and she pulls me in by the back of the neck. A small moan gets locked in her throat as she swipes her tongue over mine in achingly slow circles. Her moans increase in volume as we part ways.
“You’re the best kisser ever, Ace Waterman.”
“That’s because I’m kissing you.”
We get settled in the tiny tent, overlooking the lake, and I start a small fire out front before turning on my laptop.
“Are we surfing the net?” she teases.
“I thought maybe at the end of the night we could watch a movie. Just you and me under the stars.”
“Sounds perfect.” Her eyes catch the light from the fire, and I try to memorize her with the flames dancing in her eyes. “And until then?”
“I’m glad you asked.” I pull forward the picnic basket and unleash the chocolate fest on her.
“Oh my, God! How much do I love you?” She glances up as if she caught herself off guard, and a thread of sorrow swims between us.
“I had a feeling chocolate was the way to your heart.” I pull her onto the blanket and land another one over our shoulders to keep the chill off. Not that we need it, but Brylee suggested it, so I figure if it’s what the neurotic blonde doctor ordered, I’m not going to fight it. Besides, I want Reese comfortable. I’m not sure what “Aunt Flo” entails other than the basics, but I want her to feel good, safe, and, most of all, loved.
“Everything about this is perfect,” she whispers. “You know the last time I did something like this was with my mom.” Her face pinches with grief a moment. I remember the hell she went through losing her mom like that. It killed me then to witness it, and, it was on the heels of that, my own mother took off.
