Her fingers brushed his as she took them, and their gazes clashed. Desire arced through him like lightning.
“You’re a lifesaver,” she said, breaking eye contact to don the gloves and rub her hands together.
Jeff partially unfolded the first blanket and laid it on theground to provide some cushion and protection.
Tara and the little girl sat. “Much better.”
He laid the second blanket over their shoulders.
Tara thanked him and Crystal echoed her. She was adorable. They both were.
“Would you guys like something to eat? Or drink?”
Five minutes later, Jeff’s arm was pressed to Tara’s shoulder as the three of them sat side-by-side on the blanket eatingchips and salsa. He and Tara sipped from mugs of hot coffee while Crystal drank water.
It was almost like a family picnic. He could imagine himself lounging with Tara and Evan at the bottom of a secluded waterfall in the Rockies, or under a canopy of thick forest in the Smoky Mountains, sneaking kisses while Evan played nearby, making love in their tent—or RV or cabin—after the hike back, dinner,and putting his son to bed.
That was the dream.
And that’s all it was. A fucking ridiculous dream.
Tara’s dark gaze met his and she smiled. His heart dropped into his stomach. Why her? What was it about this woman that hijacked his common sense and made him want things he couldn’t have?
