“Make yourself at home, Morgan,” he calls as he shakes his head. “Sorry about that, he has no manners. Hi.” He smiles, bending down and greets me with a kiss on my cheek and briefly holds and squeezes my hand before stepping away giving me some space.
“Hi,” I say breathlessly.
“I’m glad you messaged me.”
“Me too.”
He follows me to the fire, and we sit beside each other on a bench. Pulling a basket of supplies towards me, I start handing him everything we will need to make s’mores. We can’t have a bonfire and not include them – that’s sacrilege. Plus, I really need something to do with my hands. Our brief physical contact has awakened something inside me, and I am at great risk of climbing him like a tree.
“I heard that the girls were here for book club yesterday. What are you reading?” he asks as he quickly assembles his own s’more and shoves the entire thing in his mouth. That shouldn’t be sexy.What is wrong with me?
Shaking my head, to clear the image of him licking his lips, I think quick. “Umm book club, I don’t think you would know it. It’s a new release...a second chance romance.”
“Oh, okay. You will have to let me know if it’s any good.”
“You will be the first person I tell.” I make a mental note to ask Meg about what is popular just in case there are any follow up questions about this nonexistent book that I am reading when in fact I am drafting the story of us.
“What did you do this weekend?” I ask as I put a marshmallow on a stick and hold it over the fire for toasting.
“I just chilled at home with Morgan yesterday. This morning, I went over to Carson’s. He has a little goat that keeps escaping and he needed help fixing a fence.”
“I know all about the little goat with a big personality. She runs that farm.” Carson inherited his small farm from his grandma Cathy a year ago and with it also came a motley crew of animals including a very naughty goat.
Sitting close together on the bench, we silently watch a pair of loons in the distance float across the water.
“So why didn’t you tell me that you are auditioning for Dancing with the Stars next season?” I enquire with as good of a straight face as I can manage,
“What are you talking about?” He angles his body towards me and squints his eyes.
I snicker at the confusion written all over his handsome face. “That’s what I heard when I was in line at the grocery store this afternoon to buy all this stuff. I couldn’t confirm or deny it because you hadn’t mentioned it to me yet. Apparently, your line dancing abilities is getting national attention.”
“You havegotto be kidding me.” Paling, he puts down his stick.
“I am, but the look on your face is priceless.” Setting down my own stick, I burst out laughing at the panic written all over his face.
Scooping me up onto his lap, he tickles me until I’m breathless. “You are such a brat. That right there is how rumors start in this town.”
“Stop!, stop tickling me,” I gasp, pushing him away. “I’m sorry I teased you, it’s just funny that people are still talking about it. You’ve become a dancing legend at Bob’s. Maybe they will want you to teach a class.” Huffing, he resumes tickling. “Okay!, okay I’m done,” I laugh. “I won’t mention it again.”
“I don’t think I’ll ever live this down,” he chuckles, shaking his head. The tickling stops, but his strong hands still hold me in place.
When the wind picks up off the lake I shiver, and Logan grabs a blanket off a chair close by and wraps it around us. Leaning my back against his chest, I feel content. I missed this the most when I lost Logan. We always had an easy, playful relationship. We were the best when we were together.
“I’m scared,” I confess as I stare into the dancing orange flames.
“What are you scared of, baby?” He pulls me tighter and rests his chin on my shoulder.
Exhaling a long breath, I whisper, “Trying again.”
“Do you want to try?” he asks with hope in his voice.
“Yes, but before we go any further there are a few things I need to know and a few things I want to explain.”
“I’ll tell you anything you want to know,” he says.
“I know you will, I believe you. I just don’t think I’m ready to get into the details. Is that okay?”
“Whatever you need. I’ll meet you where you are at.”
