She groans. “I still can’t believe Walker won.”
“I can’t believe he didn’t tell you he’s been bowling ever since he was a kid. That was his family’s thing, growing up. Every weekend, they’d drive a couple towns over to go bowling before Bea settled here and opened up her place..”
She peers over at me. “How do you know that?”
I shrug. “As a handyman, you’re privy to all sorts of stories. Word of how I helped Miss Bea got around, and soon I was being hired for all sorts of little projects here and there. Tansy’s grandmother, back when she still ran the bakery, hired me one time because a light switch wasn’t working properly in her kitchen. Got a crash-course in electrical work on that job.”
“Glad you didn’t electrocute yourself or anything.”
“Who says I didn’t?”
She swats me playfully, and the sound of her laughter rings throughout the cabin of my truck. The nose of it tips upward as we climb the mountain, and things go silent between the two of us once more. Her eyes turn out the window, and I can see her watching the sky lighten to a deep indigo.
I can’t wait to see the look on her face when the sun crests over the horizon.
“Almost there,” I say, easing off the beaten path.
When I back up to the overlook, the sky is just starting to catch fire. The horizon warms, and I leap out of my truck just for the privilege of opening Lia’s door. She smiles as she places her hand in the one I offer, and the electricity that zings up my arm prickles goosebumps along my skin.
Then she turns toward the sunrise.
“It’s starting,” she says, her beautiful green eyes illuminated with the reflection on the horizon. “Wow, the town looks so small from up here.”
“It’s an amazing view, isn’t it?” I head to the bed of my truck. “Come on. Let’s get comfy.”
I flip down the tailgate and motion for her to come over. It pulls her attention away from the sunrise, and when she graces me with that lovely smile of hers, I’m undone. She’s the most beautiful woman I’ve ever laid eyes on, and all I want is the privilege to care for her for the rest of our lives.
“Come on,” I motion for her again, “I’ll help you up.”
She comes over to me, and I grasp her waist. Her hands fly to my shoulders as I hoist her up, and the little squeak she gives me stirs something in my gut. I have to resist the urge to step between her legs just so I can lean in and take a whiff from her scent gland. I watch as her eyes fall over my shoulder, the reflection of the gold bleeding into pink behind me lighting up her features.
“Hungry?” I ask as I force myself to remove my touch from her body.
“Starving,” she says, never peeling her gaze away from the sunrise once.
I hop up onto the tailgate beside her, our legs dangling over the edge. I reach behind me for the picnic basket, and I hate that I have to slide it between the two of us. The warmth of the sun pours over us, ushering in a new spring morning, and I can’t help but watch the profile of her face while she watches the sunrise.
“So beautiful,” she whispers to herself.
My gaze roves over her features. “Very.”
She looks over at me and does a double take before she gives me the honor of giggling. “You’re missing it, Knox.”
“I promise, I’m not.”
Her blush gives me life as I finally start pulling out some of the finger foods I brought with me. I take my time, filling her a small plate of the fruits and cheeses before I pull out the Thermos of hot water.
“You take your tea and vitamins this morning?” I ask.
“Oh! Thank you for reminding me,” she says as she jams her hand into the pocket of her coat. “We may have to go somewhere after this so that I can get a cup of hot water?—”
I grin as I pour some of the steaming water into the top of the Thermos I unscrewed. “No need, Sunshine. Here.”
Her smile is brighter than the sunrise as she takes it from me. “Thank you, Knox. I really appreciate it.”
After getting everything ready, I force myself to look at the sunrise. Gold bleeds into pink with Honeysuckle Grove spread out below us like it’s still half-asleep. The old oak tree stands off to the side, gnarled and blooming with buds that still have yet to unfurl. Its branches stretch wide and tall, as if reaching for the beauty of the sunrise.
I watch out of the corner of my eye while Lia sips her tea and swallows down her vitamins like a champ.
