Through the kitchens, round the back of the bins, and they were on the back of a meadow, the River Sever audible nearby.
“You outed us to the whole town.” He put his hands on her hips, turning her to face him. “I thought you didn’t want to be known as my girlfriend.”
Lainey bit her bottom lip, something he’d be doing later.
“I think I know you well enough to know you’re not going to let anyone think I’m just someone you’ve slept with.”
“I think they know that already, Laine.” He pushed her hair back from her face. “I think you made a mark on Severton just by being you. You did on me.”
She laughed, and then he saw tears form. Panic set in. Crying females were one thing he didn’t deal with well, given that his sister did not cry, and on the odd occasion she did when they were kids, it was usually because of him.
Lainey brushed them away, her laugh now seeming to be at him. “Happy tears, Jake. You’re safe.”
He nodded, a little too struck to speak.
“What changed your mind? I thought you would take ages before you let people know we’re together. And maybe, not let them know like that.”
Her arms went round his neck. “I think I’m falling for you. Hard. I didn’t want someone else to win a date with you.”
Jake tipped back his head and laughed. “You were jealous?”
“No, I didn’t say that…”
He whooped a little. “You were! You were jealous!”
“Was not.” She looked cross.
He held her again. “I was praying Gran had bought the date. I hated the idea of having to take someone out to dinner that wasn’t you, and you sat there at home wondering what I was doing.”
“Not going to lie, I didn’t relish the idea of you going out with Dani Eccles or that girl from The Climber who works behind the bar.”
He took great delight in the jealousy that was evident on her pretty face.
“You have nothing to worry about. And they’ll soon learn I’m unavailable.” He swallowed hard, knowing his next words hadn’t been said by him before. “I’ve never been in love with anyone before, not like this, Lainey. Not like I am with you.”
Her tears did spill out of her eyes this time. He used a thumb to brush them away, hating to see them even though he knew they weren’t because she was sad. He hoped they weren’t anyway.
“Jake Maynard, you were worth every penny.” She kissed him. Hard. “You still need to finish off what you started before.”
He laughed. “Here?”
“Maybe somewhere a little more secluded.”
He was harder than a rock. There was no way he’d be able go back into the auction with a significant tent in his trousers.
“Good idea. Follow me.” He started to pull her onto the meadow, until she pulled him back.
“Shoes. Heels won’t work on that.” She pointed down to the stilettos that really weren’t good for anything but looking extremely pretty.
Jake bent down and picked her up. “Better?”
Lainey’s laugh felt like he’d just won the lottery. “Better. Where are we going?”
“There’s a birdwatching hide just through the trees. No one will be there.” He sped up, knowing that they would be missed soon. Not that he cared particularly; he’d quite happily spend the rest of the day and night, hell, rest of the year with it just being him and Lainey, but that wasn’t on the menu.
The hide was empty. He sat down on the bench in there, pulling Lainey onto his lap, straddling him. Her kiss was demanding as soon as her mouth took his, and he let her have control. He’d never expected in a million years that she would’ve come up on stage like she had, kissed him like she did. Any worry that she wasn’t as into him as he was to her had gone at that moment.
It was then he knew for sure that he was utterly and totally in love with her. And it felt good, better than when he was flying through the air when he jumped into a lake, or free climbing up to the top of a peak. Better than anything.
