sandwiches and stuff.”
So much for unveiling his surprise with finesse. Not that store-bought grub snatched on the fly qualified as a big deal. A player like Jules, on the other hand, would’ve made reservations for dinner at some trendy restaurant in Nashville. Wine, candlelight, witty conversation. A skilled seduction perfectly choreographed to a snazzy Latin beat—
“Is something wrong?”
Kat’s hesitancy snapped him back to attention. Pretty green eyes studied him, concern dimming the merriment of seconds before. Because of him. A curious pang stabbed his gut. Whatever his failings, she deserved the glorious afternoon he’d led her to expect.
“Just a little off after last night,” he lied, lifting a plastic grocery bag from the leather pouch. “Nothing a picnic with the prettiest girl in five counties won’t cure. Shall we?”
The last part, at least, was the truth.
“Hmm, I think you need your eyesight checked,” she said, humor restored. “But a picnic with the hottest guy in five counties sounds fabulous. Lead the way.”
Hottest guy? Jesus. Heat flooded his face. Okay, he’d set himself up for that one. True, women generally found him pleasing enough, but to hear Kat baldly state her approval in return made him squirm.
And yet, coming from an angel, the compliment eased the terrible ache in his chest some, lighting places in his soul that had been cold and dark for . . . well, always.
Confusion warring with a hum of satisfaction vibrating to his toes, Howard took her hand and nodded toward a grassy spot down the riverbank, away from all the activity. “Let’s try over there.”
“Won’t there be snakes?”
“Nah, we’ll scare ’em off.”
“What if they’re sleeping? They’re much harder to see in the fall with the grass turning brown and all the dead leaves on the ground.”
Beside him, Kat shuddered. He shook his head, lips turning up. “A fearless teacher who has no problem running into a burning house with a garden hose, afraid of snakes. Go figure.”
“I’m never going to hear the end of my stupidity, am I?”
“Not as long as you’re around me.” Which he hoped, in spite of the self-doubt serving a fat black eye to his confidence, would be a long while. “It’s my job to protect people, from themselves more often than not. Promise me you won’t do anything like that again.” The sudden steel in his voice surprised them both.
“No argument here. I promise.” As they walked, she shot him a searching look before steering the topic away from her ill-advised Good Samaritan act. “Anyway, I never said I was afraid of snakes. I just prefer not to commune with those particular beasties.”
Howard made a sound of agreement and kept walking. Allowed himself to shrug off the heavy burden of his past, unwilling to let the monster in the shadows screw up his life. Not today. He cast his worries aside, focused on Kat, her small hand engulfed by his huge paw. All soft, fragrant woman, firm and round in the right places.
Especially her cute butt, shaped like an upside-down heart. Two tempting globes contoured by jeans he imagined sliding past curvy hips, down toned thighs. Would her ass cheeks be as pale and creamy as the rest of her skin? What would it feel like to cup them in his big hands, knead the flesh in his fingers as he knelt between her spread thighs, teased her slick entrance with the head of his throbbing—
“Hey, that looks like a good spot!” Kat pointed to a flat grassy area just ahead.
Howard’s fantasy scattered to the wind and he suppressed a groan, willing his erection to cooperate, praying she didn’t notice the divining rod pushing at his zipper. God, he was such a pathetic horn dog.
He cleared his throat. “Yep, this works. I just wish I’d thought to bring a blanket. For the food.” Well, hell, it sounded even worse when he explained. “I’m not some kind of creep or anything, I just didn’t know the picnic tables would be full
So much for unveiling his surprise with finesse. Not that store-bought grub snatched on the fly qualified as a big deal. A player like Jules, on the other hand, would’ve made reservations for dinner at some trendy restaurant in Nashville. Wine, candlelight, witty conversation. A skilled seduction perfectly choreographed to a snazzy Latin beat—
“Is something wrong?”
Kat’s hesitancy snapped him back to attention. Pretty green eyes studied him, concern dimming the merriment of seconds before. Because of him. A curious pang stabbed his gut. Whatever his failings, she deserved the glorious afternoon he’d led her to expect.
“Just a little off after last night,” he lied, lifting a plastic grocery bag from the leather pouch. “Nothing a picnic with the prettiest girl in five counties won’t cure. Shall we?”
The last part, at least, was the truth.
“Hmm, I think you need your eyesight checked,” she said, humor restored. “But a picnic with the hottest guy in five counties sounds fabulous. Lead the way.”
Hottest guy? Jesus. Heat flooded his face. Okay, he’d set himself up for that one. True, women generally found him pleasing enough, but to hear Kat baldly state her approval in return made him squirm.
And yet, coming from an angel, the compliment eased the terrible ache in his chest some, lighting places in his soul that had been cold and dark for . . . well, always.
Confusion warring with a hum of satisfaction vibrating to his toes, Howard took her hand and nodded toward a grassy spot down the riverbank, away from all the activity. “Let’s try over there.”
“Won’t there be snakes?”
“Nah, we’ll scare ’em off.”
“What if they’re sleeping? They’re much harder to see in the fall with the grass turning brown and all the dead leaves on the ground.”
Beside him, Kat shuddered. He shook his head, lips turning up. “A fearless teacher who has no problem running into a burning house with a garden hose, afraid of snakes. Go figure.”
“I’m never going to hear the end of my stupidity, am I?”
“Not as long as you’re around me.” Which he hoped, in spite of the self-doubt serving a fat black eye to his confidence, would be a long while. “It’s my job to protect people, from themselves more often than not. Promise me you won’t do anything like that again.” The sudden steel in his voice surprised them both.
“No argument here. I promise.” As they walked, she shot him a searching look before steering the topic away from her ill-advised Good Samaritan act. “Anyway, I never said I was afraid of snakes. I just prefer not to commune with those particular beasties.”
Howard made a sound of agreement and kept walking. Allowed himself to shrug off the heavy burden of his past, unwilling to let the monster in the shadows screw up his life. Not today. He cast his worries aside, focused on Kat, her small hand engulfed by his huge paw. All soft, fragrant woman, firm and round in the right places.
Especially her cute butt, shaped like an upside-down heart. Two tempting globes contoured by jeans he imagined sliding past curvy hips, down toned thighs. Would her ass cheeks be as pale and creamy as the rest of her skin? What would it feel like to cup them in his big hands, knead the flesh in his fingers as he knelt between her spread thighs, teased her slick entrance with the head of his throbbing—
“Hey, that looks like a good spot!” Kat pointed to a flat grassy area just ahead.
Howard’s fantasy scattered to the wind and he suppressed a groan, willing his erection to cooperate, praying she didn’t notice the divining rod pushing at his zipper. God, he was such a pathetic horn dog.
He cleared his throat. “Yep, this works. I just wish I’d thought to bring a blanket. For the food.” Well, hell, it sounded even worse when he explained. “I’m not some kind of creep or anything, I just didn’t know the picnic tables would be full
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