Page 103 of Forbidden Kisses
I was happy that we'd managed to put up the tent. For a while there, I’d thought about bailing on this whole thing and returning to San Diego. But these two had been so enthusiastic that I didn't have the heart to suggest it.
Powering through was worth it. The campsite was decent, and the toilets and showers looked fine.
"All right. How about starting on dinner?" Riley asked.
“Good idea.” I might have been clueless at putting up the tent, but I was good at starting a fire. I had one going in less than five minutes.
Riley came to me with a package of sausages, and I looked around.
"Where's Jeremy?" I asked.
"He's gathering some twigs. Don't worry, I told him not to go far."
I kept looking around.
"Want me to go get him?" she asked softly.
"No. I mean, he's ten, and you told him to stay close. I have to learn to give him a bit more leeway."
"Thank you for doing this," she said. Her smile was huge. "I've been wanting to come out to camp here for ages."
"I'm glad I could do this for you."
"And for Jeremy," she said.
I winked at her, then, taking advantage that he wasn't here, leaned in and kissed her cheek. She smelled so good that it took all my willpower not to dig my nose in her neck and inhale, then kiss her all over. I'd move even farther down, and that would be slippery slope.
"Duncan," she murmured.
"I just need a few seconds. Fuck, I've wanted to do this since I saw you this afternoon."
I straightened up reluctantly, and she flashed me a shy smile, then looked around for Jeremy.
"Listen, I think we should talk about some things Jeremy said today."
"Sure. What did he say?" I asked.
She opened her mouth, but before she could say anything else, Jeremy ran back to us.
"Look, Dad. I got a whole lot of twigs. Oh. The fire is already going." His smile dropped.
"That's fine. Just put the pile there. We're going to need them to keep the fire going, and to start a new one tomorrow."
"Okay," he said, but his voice lacked enthusiasm.
"Jeremy, do you want to make s'mores?" Riley asked him.
I fucking loved this woman—the way she instinctively knew how to put him at ease. She made him happy. She made both of us happy. I didn't know it was even possible to feel this way. And I was supposed to let her go? No way in hell.
“Oh, I forgot,” Jeremy said, shoving a hand in his pocket and pulling out some crumpled flowers. “These are for you.”
“You got me poppies!” Riley exclaimed.
“Yes, they’re your favorites.”
“Thank you, Jeremy.” She took the flowers and carefully carried them inside the tent.
Once she returned, she asked, "Who wants to compete and see who cooks the best marshmallows?"
