“Just a bit,” I say, huffing out a breath. “I had to talk you into asking me out–in a roundabout way–so I definitely wasn’t expecting presents.”
Watching me, his eyes narrow as they roam over my face. Then, as if a decision is made, he steps forward until he’srightin front of me and he’s all I can see.
“Something to know about me, Blair,” he says in a low whisper that has me feeling things I shouldn’t feel before a first date. He reaches his hand out and gently sweeps a wayward strand of hair back over my shoulder. “I wanted to talk to you the first time I saw you.”
“I know,” I reply softly.
“I don’t think you do. I’d go to the quad and sit under the same big tree just hopin’ to catch sight of you. I was gutted when I came back in the Fall ready to man up and approach you. I’d talked to my brothers, I’d practiced what to say, the whole deal.” I think I forget to breathe after hearing that. “If you think–even for a second–that you ever have to talk me intoanythin’when it comes to you, you’d be wrong.”
A full body shiver courses through me and I swear my body sways toward him. It’s like there's an invisible rope pulling me toward him that I can’t fight.
Still staring deep in my eyes, he smiles. “I gave up hope of ever gettin’ another chance, but now that you’re here, I’m notgoin’ to letanythin’ get in the way now. Not my anxiety. Not the mountain. Not anythin’. OK?”
I stand there and try to take stock of not just his words, but also the way my heart flips, my stomach flutters, and my entire soul feels like I’ve stuck my finger in a power socket.
I feel…alive. And all this before we’ve even left the mountain for our date.
“OK,” I say with a wry smile. “And just soyouknow, I like this side of you, Sutt. It’svery…” Sexy, strong, steady…
“I’m just me. I’m always gonna be me.”
“The dating you?”
He shakes his head. “No. The me I’m comfortable bein’ after lettin’ my anxiety rule my life for far too long. The last straw was when it stopped me from shootin’ my shot with a beautiful golden-haired woman who lit up the quad with her smile all those years ago.”God, he’s sweet.
“Well, let it be known that I like thisyou, but I think I would’ve liked you back then too. Had Iknownyou, of course.”
Sutton’s lips twitch. “Thank you.”
My eyes drop to the bag to distract me from the heat radiating between us. “So, gifts?”
A slow-growing smile appears. “Yeah.” The first thing he pulls from the bag is a small black box with a pink ribbon tied around it. “This one is the promised replacement…”
My eyes widen and my cheeks heat as realization hits me. “Oh.”
“I said I would.”
“I know,” I reply. “I just… thank you,” I say before taking it from him, not confessing that I didn’t think he’d actually do it.
“And after seein’ those sneakers, this might be the most important gift of all.” He places the bag on the ground before pulling out a bigger box this time, my eyes widening when I see itis pink hiking boots, a very expensive brand too. They’re my size too.
My eyes jerk up. “How did you know?”
“I may have enlisted Jude’s help to check your shoes when you were at the hospital.” he shrugs.
“Sneaky,” I tease.
“Necessary sneakiness. Worth it for that smile too.”
Damn, how am I supposed to resist this man.Why would I want to?“Should I put them on?”
“I chose a beginner’s trail but it’s still an hour each way. I’d feel much better knowin’ you had good boots on your feet while doin’ it.”
“Thank you,” I say softly, truly touched by his thoughtfulness.
“It’s nothin’,” he says, humbly.
It’s not nothing, but I don’t call him out on that. Not when I’m eager to get this date underway.
