Page 117 of Phishing for Love
I giggle and nuzzle his neck. “It’s nice to know you’re not all work and no play.”
“Oh, I’m all about playing with you.”
I trail kisses along his jawline. “I approve of that philosophy.”
His arms tighten around me. “You better stop that, woman, or else this hike is not going to happen.”
Aaron changes into shorts and I take a moment to admire his impressively well-defined legs.
He catches my eyes wandering appreciatively over him and color rises adorably to his cheekbones. “I feel objectified,” he grumbles good-naturedly.
On the hike, I insist he walks ahead of me so I can ogle his legs. In retaliation, when we hit the top of a particularly steep hill, he insists I tie a knot in the front of my T-shirt to expose my stomach.
“That drove me insane when you did it the first time at my house,” he murmurs huskily. “I haven’t looked at my shirt the same way again.”
Without taking my eyes off him, I slowly lift the hem of my T-shirt and take my time tying a simple knot. When I’m done, he makes a hoarse sound and drops to his knees in front of me, gripping my hips and pressing a kiss to my stomach. My hands knot in his hair and I tilt my face to the clear blue sky as heat spreads over my skin.
On Sunday, we make a pancake breakfast together and play cards at the dining room table. Late in the afternoon, we curl up on the couch and watchThe Proposal, a classic romantic comedy I’ve seen before, but I love it so much I want to watch it again, especially when I discover Aaron hasn’t seen it. I fall asleep somewhere near the end and when I wake up, I’m alone.
“Aaron?” I call out, yawning and stretching, wondering how long I’d slept.
There’s no answer. He’s nowhere in the house so I wander out to the back porch. When I look out on to his backyard, I stop dead, stunned. My hand presses against my chest in an effort to contain the swell of emotion threatening to spill out.
Aaron has laid out picnic blankets on the grass with a vintage picnic basket in the middle. Lit lanterns edge the rugs, with citronella candles scattered between them to keep the mosquitoes away. There are even twinkle lights strung in the bushes. It’s a fairytale wonderland.
“Welcome to a sunset picnic,” he says softly, his eyes holding mine.
My voice comes out in a whisper. “You remembered what I said, what my favorite outing is for a date.”
“Uh huh.”
“And you did all this while I was sleeping?”
“Yes.”
“But how? I mean, all this stuff...” Confusion fills me. Who has lanterns and twinkle lights and a picnic basket just lying around? Particularly in a rented place?
“I’ve been planning this for a while. Ever since you told me.”
I stare at him. “But we weren’t together. I was seeing Nathan.”
Something deep and tender flashes in his eyes. He allows several seconds to slip by before he says quietly, “I knew we were meant to be together.”
The air rushes from my lungs and a strange thrill stirs inside me at the powerful certainty behind his statement.
I descend the porch steps slowly, still absorbing the scene. I’m abruptly so grateful I’m wearing my favorite floral sun dress that matches all the prettiness around me.
I sit next to Aaron on the blanket and tuck my legs beneath me. Then I lean over, frame his face with my hands, and kiss him deeply.
“Thank you for this,” I say against his lips.
He casually brushes a strand of hair away from my face, tucks it behind my ear. The intimacy of the gesture hums through my body.
“You ready to eat?”
I nod.
Aaron opens up the picnic basket. I didn’t think he could surprise me more, but I’m flabbergasted when I see what’s inside. Instead of the usual sandwiches, chips and dips, crackers and cheese, there are Japanese bento boxes, rice paper rolls, spring rolls, Gyozas, and Thai curry puffs.
