He leads the way to a trailhead that’s nearly hidden amongst the overgrown grass and dainty wildflowers. “I didn’t know Texas had so many wildflowers. I’m obsessed.”
“Yeah, they’re pretty.”
“They’re more than pretty. They’regorgeous, and yet simple. They’re one of the first things I noticed when I was driving into town. I love that they can grow all on their own wherever they’re planted and thrive.”
“That reminds me of someone else I know, Wildflower.” Heat rushes to my cheeks. “Theyarepretty, but not the best sight in Roots.”
“What is?”
Rhett glances down at his feet. “I think you know.”
I bite my lip, letting it pass, even though I want to hear the words from his mouth.
The open landscape that welcomed us at the beginning of the trail is now engulfed with trees. I’m thankful for the small relief their shade provides from the beating Texas sun. Paired with the humidity, this heat is borderline intolerable. “San Francisco never gets this hot. No one prepared me for this kind of torture when I came to Texas.”
“It’s not usuallythishot in June, but you get used to the heat.”
He pushes aside a branch and waits for me to catch up to him, still holding it aside. I move in next to him to see a waterfall trickling down the rocks. It’s not huge, but it’s still magnificent, and the pool of water sitting at the bottom is calling out to me.
I stand there in awe, just looking at the water flowing.
“What do you think? Are you in love with Roots yet?”
“It’s beautiful, but it’s going to take a bit more than a little waterfall to convince me to stay here.”
Rhett gives a curt nod and then crouches down to rifle through the backpack he’s been carrying. He pulls out two rolled-up beach towels. “What if I told you we could swim in the water to help get you out of this heat?”
“I’d say I likeyoua little better now.”
He smirks as he begins tugging off his shirt. Suddenly all I can focus on is shirtless Rhett. He’s all hard edges of sculpted muscle. I suppose doing manual labor at the ranch every day pays off for him.
Glancing back at me with a smirk, he asks, “Are you going to join me or just stand there?”
I open my mouth and close it again, desperately trying to pull my attention away from his perfect six-pack. Maverick barks with joy as he meanders down to the water’s edge. When he bounds in, the splash of the cool water on the backs of my legs is enough to snap me out of my thoughts.
Rhett dives in gracefully and rises quickly back up gasping and shouting, “It feels amazing! Hurry up and get in.”
“Okay, okay, I’m coming! Don’t get your panties in a wad.”
Something about that grin on his face, and the adorable dimple in his cheek, makes me practically delirious.
“I’m not getting my panties in a wad, I just want you to experience—” He stops mid-sentence as I tug my t-shirt over my head and shimmy my shorts over my hips, moving closer to the water’s edge. Now it’s him who’s there with his mouth open. I’m not going to lie, it feels good.
“You better scooch back. You’re right in my diving spot.”
He doesn’t budge, so I shrug and instead opt for a cannonball, landing right in front of him. When I come up for air, he’s still right there, wiping water from his eyes. “You did that on purpose!”
A giggle slips from my lips. “Only because I asked you to move, and you didn’t.”
“You’re dead.” He narrows his eyes and pushes off a rock to lunge at me. When he reaches me, he circles his big arms around me and pulls me toward him. The feeling of his skin on mine is electric. His face is so close to mine. All I have to do is make one small movement and our lips would be touching. I’m no fool. I know he feels this too. Whatever is going on between us isn’t just physical, and we both know it.
ChapterThirty-Two
Rhett
I wasn’t thinkingwhen I pulled her in close to me. It seemed like a fun and playful thing to do, but now that our faces are only an inch apart, I can’t even think straight. I’m still not where I want to be with Olivia before I kiss her. I want that certainty. I want toknowI can go all in with her.
A pebbled wet nose nudges into my arm, and claws drag from the top of my ribs down to my hips. I let go of Olivia and turn to find Maverick trying to wedge himself between Olivia and me. The adorably obsessed rascal protectively inserts himself between the two of us, trying to corral Olivia back toward the shore, glancing over his shoulder, giving me the eye as he does so.
