Page 74 of Finding New Dreams

Rose nodded vehemently next to me, her eyes wide with our innocence. My ribs ached with holding my laughter in.

“Fine,” he said, his smile finally cracking through. “If you two will state for the record that you were just painting—”

“Moonscapes,” Rose supplied.

He chuckled. “Right, moonscapes. Then I’ll let you off with a warning. Just maybe pack it up for the night, eh? Don’t want the river to ‘surprise’ you again.”

“Will do, Sheriff,” I said with a mock salute.

“Thanks, Wyatt,” Rose added softly. “Sorry you had to come down here.”

He smiled at her. “It’s fine, Rosie. I let myself finish watching an episode of my new favorite TV show before heading out.” He tipped his hat to our stunned faces. “Now I suggest you take a different route back so you don’t run into Bud or Cheryl. Goodnight, you two.”

And with that, he sauntered off, whistling a jaunty tune.

A laugh burst out of Rose. “Did he just—”

“—admit he gave us some time to conclude our illicit activities? Yep.” I grinned down at her. “Well, looks like we have at least one ally who won’t be spreading this juicy bit of gossip around Tangled River.”

She bit her lower lip. “But it probably will happen. Cheryl’s worse than a flashing billboard when it comes to gossip.”

“Is this going to bother you?”

“No…well, yes. I don’t like being gossiped about. But…” She moved closer to me and slipped her hand into mine. “But I’m not sorry for it. Though maybe next time we decide to…paint a moonscape, we can do it in a more private setting.”

Smiling, I gathered her in my arms. “That might be hard to find in Tangled River.”

“Good thing we’re going two hours north tomorrow.”

“Oh shit, I almost forgot about that.”

She mock-scowled at me. “Don’t you dare! Chloe will kick your ass all the way to the wedding.”

I kissed the tip of her cold nose, wishing Cheryl and Bud had kept their eyeballs on each other instead of us. “Don’t worry. I’ll be ready. On time. The perfect groomsman. Isn’t there something about how groomsmen and bridesmaids are supposed to get it on at weddings?”

She laughed. “I believe so.”

“And I would hate to break tradition…”

Her eyes shifted to my lips. “As would I…”

“The only problem is that I don’t think I can wait until the wedding.”

“Me either,” she whispered against my lips.

I sank my lips into hers. Slowly, gently, at first. But the more I tasted her, the more I wanted. My hand slipped around her neck, angling her head so my mouth could more fully capture hers.

The touch of her tongue against mine was like a spark to gasoline.

I groaned as my hands raced over her body. Damn, she had a cute little ass under that skirt. Her fingers dove under my shirt hem to explore my tightened abdomen. Her sigh of approval had me flexing against her fingers, eager for more praise.

Suddenly, she jerked back with a gasp. “Stop! Stop. Flynn, we can’t. Wyatt—”

“I know, I know,” I said, drawing in a ragged breath and stepping away from her, even though it physically hurt to do so. “Give me a second. You drive me insane, you know that?”

She smiled. “Is it bad that I love it?”

“Not at all. Just makes it hard for me to get my blood down from a raging inferno.”

---