“Oh,” I say. “I’m sorry, Red. I didn’t mean to?—"
“Mags?”
“Yeah?” I say, my cheeks burning hot.
“There’s been no one until you,” he replies.
My heart feels like it has doubled in size. “What?” I squeak.
“I’m sayin’ it was nice wakin’ up with you in my arms. Both durin’ the nightandthis mornin’. Was just worried about howyouwould feel about it…”
“I—" I stop and take a deep breath. Red is being open and honest with me, so I owe him the same in return. “I liked it too.” Then his words register. “Wait! You knew about the middle of the night?”
His lips twitch up on one side. “Oh yeah. Haven’t slept this well in years.Definitelyhaven't slept well at all on this trip. First, it was nerves about Wy leavin', then it was the bad couch at Pinky's. Now I'm thinkin’ we should've been sharin' a bed the whole time."
I open my mouth and slam it shut again, shaking my head at him in disbelief.Is this really happening?
“Now, I’ve got one more question for you. It’s very important, darlin’,” he says.
“OK…” I say, bracing myself for whatever is coming my way.
“What I want to know, is if you’re goin’ to just stand there watchin’ me or are you goin’ to put some coffee on for us. Because I may have gotten some good sleep but that doesn’t mean I can do without my mornin’ brew.”
“I’m not just standin’ here watchin’ you,” I reply haughtily, putting my hands on my hip and raising a brow. “But how ‘bout you tell me what my surprise is today and maybethenI’ll make us coffee.”
“You’re cute in the mornin’.”
My brows bunch together. “What? No, I'm not.”
"Yes, you are."
“Red, what are you?—?”
I’m still confused as all get out when he throws back the covers and stands up. “Don’t worry about the coffee. I’ll make us some cowboy brew and breakfast burritos to have on the way,” he says while I’m still stuck on the ‘cute’ part of the conversation.
“Are youevergoin’ to tell me where we’re goin’ today?”
That gets me a grin. “Eager, are we? Well, how about this? You’ve got twenty minutes to get ready. Then we’ve got about an hour’s drive ahead of us. Oh, and you’ll need hiking boots and a jacket.”
I stare at him, the longer I do it, the lighter and happier he becomes.
“Ugh. You know what I hate?” I growl as I walk toward the bathroom.
“Surprises?”
“That, and you smirkin’ at me.”
“Why?”
“Cause it’s cute too.”
He barks out a laugh, his whole body shaking with it. “That the best you got, darlin’?”
"Yep. Now let me get ready because I've only gotnineteenminutes left now.” I grab the door handle, ready to shut him out.
“Mags?”
“Yeah?”
