Page 78 of Sudden Summer

“Well no,” she laughed. “I wouldn’t think your feelings would be hurt by knowing it’s you I always picture.”

My. Fucking. Heart. Stopped.

“Me?”

“Don’t act surprised! I told you that night on the porch…I told you I was waiting for someone I felt something deeper than a superficial connection. You’ve always been⁠—”

I couldn’t wait a second longer. I pulled my hat off my head, bent down, and captured her lips with mine. My arms slid around her back, and when Birdie jumped, I caught her. The weight of her legs wrapped around my hips felt so fucking right. She kissed the hell out of me. That same zap of excitement rolled through me like the first time we kissed.

My hands slid over her ass and I squeezed.

“We have to stop,” I groaned as she pulled away. “We have to stop or I’m never going to be able to make it to your surprise. I’ll have to run home with you in my arms and the guys will never let me live down everything they did while we were at Lachlan’s.”

Her eyes went wide as her lips dropped open. And I lost my resolve. “You know what? Fuck ‘em. You’re worth all the razzing in the world.”

“No!” Birdie wiggled down out of my hold. “No. I can behave. I want to see the surprise. Please.” She frowned, and I was done for.

“Come on. The faster we eat, the sooner I can feast on you.”

“What in the world is all this?” Birdie’s eyes sparkled under the dusky sky as we walked up to the picnic area the guys had helped me set up. Thank God for Denver and Kip not being completely useless. I’d half expected it to come out a disaster.

“This is all that romance I promised you,” I whispered as I pulled her into my side, sneaking a kiss on her temple before she smiled and started pulling me toward the blanket.

We settled onto the ground next to the pillows that were placed against the cooler. I tried to release the tension in my shoulders; there had been a tightness there all day as I checked in with Birdie. Not out loud, but just watching the way she moved. How she seemed when no one was watching. Well, no one but me.

I’d been waiting for the other shoe to drop. For the panic to set back in. For her to cry, or scream, or be angry about what was happening with her job. But she’d been so strong all day. So locked in on enjoying every moment with Juniper and my family.

“I can’t believe how many stars are already out. The view out here is always unmatched.”

“It really is,” I answered. I couldn’t help the heat that crawled up my chest as I looked at her, so unburdened by stress or worry. It truly was just her and I, out here under all these stars. And I wasn’t about to waste that precious gift.

“Were you just looking at me when you said that?” she asked, a smile spreading across her face as she crinkled up her nose.

“Of course. You’re my favorite view.”

“Smooth.” But there was no denying her smile was genuine.

I wiggled my eyebrows. “So smooth it deserves a kiss?”

“So smooth I want you to do a lot more than just kiss me.”

I settled a hand on her face, my thumb skimming over the freckles that had popped up across her cheeks and nose during our day in the sun. “I haven’t fed you yet.”

“I’d rather you eat first…”

I pressed my lips to hers, licking at the seam, begging for entrance. Her mouth opened, teeth raking over my bottom lip. Our eyes met for a moment, and I saw the last wall Birdie had in place crumble. She was giving herself to me. Outside of fatherhood, I couldn’t think of a more precious gift to be given.

“I love you so much,” I admitted. “But I was planning on taking you home for that part of our night.”

“I love you, too. And I want you now. Here. Please don’t make me beg…”

“Never. You never have to beg, unless you discover that you like that.”

Her mouth dropped open into a little circle as she shook her head. “No. I don’t. I know I don’t.”

“Then you won’t.” My fingers moved from her collarbone, to behind her neck, where I pulled the knot out of the straps holding her dress up. Birdie’s skin pebbled as the thin fabric fell down her arms, my lips kissing the sexy dip right at the edge of her neck. I trailed kisses over her chest, my fingers working the fabric down her body.

The kisses never stopped. I pressed my lips over the sweet, soft swell of her breasts, my dick now painfully hard, seeking any kind of friction for relief as my tongue flicked out over her peaked nipple.