"Maybe while we're at the Double Diamond we could do some target practicing." Rudy pulled her from her thoughts.
"Like shooting guns?"
"Yes." When she gave him a wide-eyed look, he went on. "And the next time we get a good rain, I'll take you mudding."
"Mudding?"
"Yeah, we take our four-wheel-drive trucks off road and drive in the mud."
"Why?"
"Because it's fun. Your stomach drops a little when it feels like you might get stuck, but then when your tires catch, you get this burst of adrenaline that's kind of addictive. Plus, you get bragging rights when you get to be the one to pull the other trucks out of the mud."
Rudy's childlike enthusiasm was contagious, and Eden found herself laughing. "What about if you're the one who gets stuck?"
"Then you'd better hope that whoever pulls you out doesn't rub it in your face too badly."
"You think getting covered in mud is fun?" Eden shook her head and gave him a “you're-crazy” look before she started walking again.
"We also do normal, boring things like go for bike rides, watch the sunset, and stargaz—"
"Stargazing isn't boring. Especially in the country." Eden stopped walking again. Her hand brushed his when she lifted her face to look at the millions of stars in the night sky. Her mind told her to pull away, but she couldn't seem to make her body obey.
The sky looked like a glitter bomb had gone off. She'd never seen so many stars. Nor had they ever looked this bright. Was that white swirly stuff the Milky Way? And when was the last time she'd heard crickets?
From the corner of her eye, she could tell that Rudy stood unmoving beside her. He didn't look up, instead he appeared to be studying her neck. The skin under his scrutiny heated, but she kept her gaze lifted, waiting to see if he would pull his hand away from hers.
He didn't, so she pressed her index finger against his knuckles. She was playing with fire, but she needed to know if he was as interested in something more as she was, never mind that nothing could come of it. She hadn't been able to stop thinking about the feel of his lips on hers all week. She was such a hypocrite for knowing she shouldn't kiss Rudy again but wanting to anyway.
His hand twitched then he hooked his index finger around hers.
"You can't see the stars like this in the city," she said reverently.
His shoulder pressed against hers as he lifted his head. "The best way to stargaze is lying on a blanket in the back of a truck. Away from the lights of town."
The husky timbre of his voice sent shivers racing down her spine. She slowly lowered her head and looked at him. "Sounds...romantic.
"It is." His gaze shifted to her. He laced his fingers through hers.
If he was watching for a reaction from her, he wouldn't get one. Other than total compliance.
Warmth raced up her arm at the feel of his cool, strong, calloused fingers wrapped around hers.
His hooded eyes looked captivating and a little dangerous in the darkness. When his gaze dropped to her lips, her mouth moistened. She shouldn't but wanted his kiss. A voluntary kiss that wasn't forced by her father. A kiss that she'd fantasized about for a whole week.
"Country folks are more romantic than city slickers." The words were barely more than a whisper.
Eden gave a small smile and leaned toward him a little. "Is that so?"
He squeezed her hand a little tighter, pressing it against his thigh as he leaned in and tilted his head. Mere inches from her lips, he paused, and the breath she'd sucked in in anticipation stuck in her chest.
He was giving her an opportunity to pull away, but she wouldn't. She couldn't if she wanted to. Which she didn't. All she wanted was his mouth on hers.
She rocked up on her toes and closed the gap between their lips.
His mouth twitched, and she felt him smile before his lips softened and pressed more firmly against hers.
The contact was light and feathery like the butterfly wings in Hazel's garden until Eden leaned into him and slid her free hand to the back of his neck. Parting her lips, she invited him to deepen the kiss.
