Small talk, he supposed, but it felt so silly and shallow and all manner of things he didn’t especially like to waste his time on.
They were standing in the middle of a crowded room, and it felt like they were the only two people. Certainly, she was the only person he really wanted to speak to.
“The bakery is great too,” she said. “I don’t know if you’ve gone in and had some sweets, but I eat there every morning.”
“I’ve been in a couple of times,” he said. “Looks like Cara is a pro. Just like you said.”
“I’m very trustworthy,” she said.
“You are. That’s why I knew that I could trust you to get the hotel up and running without me breathing over your shoulder.”
A small, funny smile curved at the edge of her mouth. “Oh, is that why? Because you trust me so much?”
He couldn’t help but give her the same sort of smile right back. “Yes. That’s why.”
Silence stretched between them, but it wasn’t uncomfortable. It was an echo of that afternoon in the cabins, where the tension had been something wild and delicious. Berries growing along a sundrenched river. Sweet and tart and tempting. But too much of it and you would make yourself sick and ruin your appetite.
Though he was beginning to wonder what the hell he was saving his appetite for when all he wanted was her.
“You should see the patio out back,” he said.
The minute the words exited his mouth, he knew that he was full of shit, and he knew exactly what he was doing.
“Patio?”
“Yeah, it’s just a nice little area that we put together. Again, more venues for parties and things like that.”
“You know, I was wondering if it would be worth putting in some RV spots,” she said.
“Really?”
“Oh yes, that can be very profitable, so I’ve read. People look for wineries and ranches, unique places to park their RVs.”
“Fascinating,” he said, feeling edgy. “I’ll have to look into that.”
“Yeah,” she agreed as she followed him while he wove through the crowd of people in the barn, heading toward the back door. He could feel someone looking at him, and he glanced out of the corner of his eye and saw Walker, who winked. He looked away quickly.
He pushed open the back door, and Marlowe stepped out into the darkness.
He closed the door behind them.
“It’s not very well lit,” she said.
“No. It’s not. That’ll have to be fixed.” He reached out and grabbed the bottle of beer from her hand, set it firmly on one of the patio tables just to his left, then took a step toward her. She backed up a step, then another, until her shoulder blades were back up against the side of the barn.
“I don’t think you came out here to show me the patio,” she said.
“No. I lied. Are you okay with that?”
She glanced up at him, and he could see the full moon reflected in her eyes. He needed to hear her say yes.
He needed it more than he needed air.
Then finally, she nodded, just a little bit. “Yes.”
Chapter Twelve
His mouth was on hers before she could say anything else.
