Page 139 of River Wild

“I hope that’s not why you’re out with me tonight.”

That does make him laugh. And I love the sound. It has me smiling from ear to ear.

“Definitely not.” He shakes his head, his laughter subsiding. “Although a lot of people from our town might think that’s the case for you—that you’re out with the devil.”

“Well, I’d rather be out with the devil. At least I know what I’m getting.”

“That’s how you see me? Not like a devil, but that you know what you’re getting with me.”

“Yes.” I smile warmly at him. “And I very much like what I’m getting with you.”

“Good.”

“How do you see me?” I ask tentatively.

“Right now?” He suggestively raises his brow.

I playfully narrow my eyes. “You know what I mean.”

“I’ve always known what I was getting with you. And I’ve always liked it.”

“Even when you were being an ass to me?”

“Even then.” He lets out a breath and picks up the saltshaker. “Say this saltshaker is me.” He picks up the pepper with his other hand. “And the pepper is you. To the outside world and even to us at first, we don’t seem like we should go together. I’m brash and hard. You’re soft and beautiful. But we do go together, Red.” He presses the shakers together. “We go together perfectly.”

My heart pauses, skipping a beat, before starting back up at a faster pace.

A smile lifts my lips.

He smiles, too.

And this is the exact moment that I know for sure that I’m in love with River Wild.

I’m in love with him.

“You’re a closet romantic.” I smile, hiding the words that I feel are scrawled all over my face.

He puts the shakers down and eyes me, amusement sparkling in them. “You ever tell anyone, Red, and I’ll deny it until my dying breath.”

“Your secret’s safe with me.” I grin.

The waiter returns with our drinks and asks if we’re ready to order, but neither of us has even looked at the menu. So, the waiter says he’ll come back.

I pick my wine up and take a sip. Then, I read the menu.

I go for the shrimp brochette, and River orders the freshwater trout.

We mostly talk about Hope over dinner—you know, because she’s awesome. And River tells me stories about times that he and his gran had together.

Before I know it, dessert is finished, and River is paying the bill.

We step outside the restaurant. The air is pleasantly warm.

We walk to his truck, hand in hand. River opens the passenger door for me.

I watch him round the truck.

Every part of me is tingling with feelings and emotions, now knowing what I feel for him.

I want him.

Like I’ve never wanted anyone in my life.

He climbs in the truck and turns the ignition on.

“So …” he says, meeting my eyes across the space between us. His eyes are dark and glittering with desire for me. “We have an hour before we told Sadie we’d be back. Do you want to do anything else? Or we can go home now? Whatever you want, Red.”

“There is one thing I’d really like to do,” I softly tell him, nerves creeping up my throat.

“Oh, yeah? What?”

I bite my lip, delaying, and then decide to just go for it. I take a breath and blow it out. “Go back to your house, River. That’s what I would really like to do right now.”