Page 64 of Patio Lanterns

Mutt Lange found a cool spot in the shade to park himself while Rick sanded down the cabinet door fronts. He shadowed Rick wherever he went and repeatedly dropped his squeaky football at his feet whenever the pup decided it was time for them to take a break to play fetch.

Rumbling up the road perked Mutt’s relaxed ears, his tail thumping against the ground as it slowed. “I wonder who’s back, hey boy?”

If Rick had a tail, it’d be thumping, too. All the same, his heart beat a little faster seeing Robin’s van pull into the yard. Mutt grabbed his football and took it over to welcome her home. A moment later, the ball came sailing over the roof of the van, and Mutt chased after it as Robin walked across the lawn toward the cottage.

She was beaming. “Did you cut the grass again?”

Rick pulled his face mask down and pushed his dusty glasses onto his head. “Just wanted to be sure everything looks nice for tomorrow.”

“It smells so fresh,” she said, taking a long whiff, “and looks terrific too, by the way. Thank you for doing that.”

Seeing her reaction definitely made the extra work worthwhile. “How did it go at the store today?”

“If my aching muscles are any indication, I got a lot done,” she told him. “I’m exhausted, sweaty, and covered in about sixty years’ worth of dust.”

“And yet, in my eyes, she shines brighter than the sun,” he mused.

She managed a little smile as she reached him and lowered her voice just above a whisper. “Are we alone out here, or do I have to call you Mr. Hunter and leave room for the Holy Spirit between us?”

“Sadly, a little of both,” he said. “Aidan’s around, the girls are inside.”

“Too bad, because there’s nothing I want more right now than to kiss you and maybe grab your ass.”

“Right back atcha,” he growled.

Robin shoved her hands in her pockets and kicked a pebble from under her shoe. “Hey, let me ask you something. Have you thought about the consequences of us being together?”

Oh. She’d suddenly turned serious. “What do you mean? Why? Did something happen today?”

“No, not really,” she said with a shrug. “But I’ve been thinking. What’s the worst that could happen if we just came out and told everyone about us? And whatever happens, wouldn’t it still be better than them finding out we’ve been keeping this secret?”

Rick pursed his lips as he pondered. This was an abrupt pivot from what they’d talked about last night. While he was encouraged by her wanting to be forthright, interpreting it as an eagerness to take things to the next level, timing was everything in such delicate matters. He wasn’t sure he was ready for the fallout if things unraveled prematurely. “I think those are excellent questions, Robin, and something we definitely need to talk about,” he said, lowering his voice, “but not here. Later, okay?”

“You’re right,” she said, gripping the back of her neck. “God, I really could use a massage.”

“Knot?” he asked.

“Yeah, a doozy. Would you mind giving me a little neck rub?”

“Now?” He looked around nervously. “I don’t think that’s such a good idea.”

“Come on, no one will see us.”

“I’m sorry, if it were anytime or anywhere else, you know I would, but…”

“A few seconds,” she said. “That’s all I need to help loosen the tension.”

She was creating a whole lot of tension in his neck right now. Aidan was bound to walk around the corner and catch them together at any moment.

“Please?” She looked up at him with those big, green doe eyes, and he was a puddle. “Just ten quick seconds?”

“Ten seconds,” he affirmed. He checked once more to make sure the coast was clear before pulling off one of his work gloves. His fingers traced the curve of her neck until he located the source of her pain.

“Ooh, that’s the spot,” she hissed, tilting her head forward.

He pressed his thumb against the tight muscle, rotating counterclockwise and kneading as the knot melted. “You know, I do have a hot tub,” he said, leaning close to her ear. “You’re welcome to come over and use it anytime. Great for soothing aching muscles.”

“Mmm… I’d like to soothe your aching muscle,” she purred.

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