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It had been a long time since I had wanted to share in that fashion.

And I wasn’t sure how I felt about it.

Maddy lifted her face to the sun, the wind drifting around her, blowing her hair and kissing her skin. She leaned back on her hands with a pleased smile. I stared at her, transfixed.

She opened her eyes, meeting my gaze. “What?” she asked, confused. “What are you looking at?”

“You,” I said simply. “You’re stunning.”

“Stop it.”

“You are,” I insisted.

She sat up, crisscrossing her legs and tucking her skirt around her knees. “Trying to get lucky, Dr. VanRyan?”

I laughed and handed her a glass of wine. “I am lucky. I’m here with you. The weather is perfect, and you brought me cake.”

She laughed. “Oh, you’re good. Smooth. Such a charmer.”

“Wait until you meet my dad. He’s the charmer. I’m just being honest.”

Maddy took a sip of wine, staring at the water for a moment. “I don’t know how to respond.”

I shrugged. “You don’t have to. You take my breath away, and I wanted you to know that.”

“Are you always this open with your thoughts?”

“Around you, I seem to be. Most people find me very quiet.”

She tilted her head, studying me. “You are quieter than most men. You don’t brag. Fill in silence with boring football talk or boast about something. But when you talk, it means something. I like it.”

“Well, now I have no idea how to respond.”

She smiled. “I like you, Matthew VanRyan.”

“I like you.”

Our eyes locked, our gazes warm. She grinned, keeping the moment light.

“Are you gonna feed me soon?”

“Your wish is my command,” I replied, standing and bowing low. I grabbed the picnic basket from the trunk and set out the food I had picked up. Chicken strips, cut-up veggies, cheese, little sandwiches, all ready for us to eat. I filled a plate and handed it to her. “Dinner is served.”

“This looks great!” She peered into the basket. “Any hot sauce?”

“I am officially in love with you now,” I replied, handing her a packet and adding some to my chicken strips. I had chosen them for the simple ease of eating without utensils or having bones.

“I knew it,” she replied with a cackle. “I’m freaking irresistible.”

She bit down, a drop of hot sauce clinging to the corner of her mouth. I leaned over and offered her a napkin, then wiped the red smudge away with my thumb. I lifted it to my mouth and licked it off, winking at her. “Tasty.”

She rolled her eyes. “There you go again.”

“Yep. Still working?”

“Maybe.” But she grinned and I knew it was.

After we ate, we walked along the cliffs, staring at the ocean stretched out in front of us. “It’s so pretty here.”