I know with a certainty he’s not referring to the bachelors in the slightest. His words cause my hands to tremble. The temptation to kiss him returns with an intensity that takes me by surprise. Exhaling a shaky breath, I look away from Livingston and stare toward the trees.
I can feel his eyes on me. They’re trailing across my cheeks, lips, eyes, and down my neck. I take a deep, shuddering breath. Then I feel the slightest graze against my wrist. At once I stop tapping my hat and freeze. I take measured breaths in and out as his fingers drift down my palm. The touch feels like a feather against my skin, making my skin break out in goose bumps. Before he has a chance to pull away, my fingers curl around his. Lifting my head, I look at him and see a stark hunger in his gaze. “Rainey, I—”
Immediately, he lets go and steps away from me. Turning around, I see why.
Serene, with one hand on her stomach and the other shading her eyes from the sun, is walking toward us. “Are we going to eat soon? The baby and I are starving, and the longer I stand here watching the two of you spar with your words, the more Livingston’s head is beginning to resemble a sandwich.”
Livingston shifts back, giving Serene an alarming glance and gestures in front of him. “Well, I would hate to keep you waitin’.”
Serene nearly runs toward the plaid blanket. I don’t think I’ve ever seen her move so fast.
Livingston and I follow her in complete silence. We both realize that we were almost caught for the second time being far too close. “We need to discuss …”
He arches a brow and gives me his devilish half-smirk. “Yes?”
“We need to discuss what happened in the ballroom,” I say in one giant rush.
So much for not discussing the kiss.
Livingston appears momentarily surprised before he nods thoughtfully. “We do.”
The moments when we agree are so few and far between. It’s like seeing a shooting star. You can’t help but savor the moment so you can think back to it during a gloomy day.
“However, your bachelors are lookin’ forward to your return so at a later time.” Anytime the word bachelor spills from his mouth, it’s bitter and hard as granite. Our peaceful moment is gone so swiftly.
Livingston gives the men a look filled with annoyance before he turns back to me. “That’s why Serene arranged this picnic, so you could better get to know the bachelors, right?”
Before I can answer, or even ask when we can talk about our kiss, he walks away.
“Wait, Livingston—”
Frustration fills me as I watch him saunter away. Why did I ever naïvely think we could have a conversation about the kiss? He has doubtlessly kissed more women than I can ever begin to imagine. What was memorable for me would hardly bury itself in his memory.
By the time I reach everyone, Livingston’s sitting beside Serene and playfully picking at the food on her plate. She elbows his arm and narrows her eyes before she continues eating, causing him to grin.
Frowning slightly, I sit down across from him, next to Conrad and Taylor. Is this how it will be from here on out between us?
“Arrogant bastard,” I mutter under my breath.
“I’m sorry, did you say somethin’?” Conrad asks.
I freeze for a moment and glance at him with wide eyes that I hope come across as innocent. “Pardon?”
“You said somethin’. I didn’t know if you were talkin’ to me?”
“Oh … I- no.” I look around as I grapple with a reply. “I was talkin’ to … myself?”
Taylor, along with everyone else, arches a brow. I even have Livingston’s undivided attention.
“I believe in positive affirmations,” I supply with a straight face.
Taylor nods. “That is a wonderful quality.”
“Mmmhmm.” I continue to smile while studiously refraining from looking in Livingston’s direction. He’s undoubtedly suppressing his laughter.
Arrogant, arrogant bastard … I repeat, this time in my head as I stare at Livingston. And I was the foolish woman who kissed him. Better it was just a kiss and nothing else, right? I still have my dignity and the ability to push the kiss into the darkest corner of my mind.
“Now what did that poor chicken do to you, Rainey?” Serene asks, pointing at my plate.
I look down and see the shreds of meat scattered across my plate. Between my hands are the remains of the chicken leg. Pity it wasn’t Livingston. Rationally, I knew it wasn’t anger I felt but hurt that Livingston could so easily forget. In order to move forward, I should want that, though, right? The truth is, the kiss should’ve never happened.
Knowing the truth didn’t make the situation any better. Because the truth is, I wanted the kiss to happen again, and again, and again. Placing the chicken leg on the plate, I wipe my hands on my napkin.
“I like my food to be in small, cut-up bits before I take a bite out of it.” I eat a piece of meat while I stare at Livingston.
There’s a heavy silence. Serene looks back and forth between the two of us with wide eyes.
With his elbows braced on his knee, Livingston tilts his head to the side and observes me for several seconds before he leans forward. His eyes gleam not with anger but with hunger.
“Miss Pleasonton, I believe you’re referrin’ to prey,” he says.
“Food and prey can be one and the same, Mr. Lacroix.”
Nobody around us says a word. Livingston narrows his eyes. I lift a brow. And then Livingston smirks at me because my temper isn’t something he hasn’t seen before. He knows me far too well. And maybe that’s why I’m scared and lashing out. This person who’s been a consistent and, at times, an annoying presence in my life is someone I desire.
Distantly, I hear someone clear their throat. At once, I break eye contact, anxious to look anywhere else.
“This is quite a spread,” Taylor says graciously.
“Thank you,” Serene replies.
“Mrs. Lacroix, did you make this?”
“Yep. I was in the kitchen all morning,” Serene says without missing a beat.
He takes a bite out of his food and chews for a second before he says around the bread, “Rainey, did you know the sandwich was invented by John Montagu? I believe he was the 4th Earl of Sandwich.”
I nod and direct all my attention to him. “Is that so? I did not know that.”
“Oh, yes. It’s said he requested his valet to place meat between two pieces of bread.”
“Fascinatin’,” Livingston murmurs although his eyes dance mischievously.
He takes a break only to wash down his food with some Coca-Cola. Holding the glass bottle away from him, he looks at the label. “Of course, the Coca-Cola’s story isn’t quite as interestin’, but there are some pieces of information you might care to know. Rainey, did you know Coca-Cola was originally intended to be a nostrum? And Rainey, did you know …”
And so began a string of information delivered in the form of, “Rainey, did you know …”
Taylor knew unimportant facts, but they were highly detailed. And he said them with such conviction I couldn’t help but nod along even though no one could get a single word in.
Livingston just sat there, placing his weight on his palms as he leaned back and watched it all unfold in front of him. A bemused expression danced on his face.