“You think?”
“I know. And yay, by the way.”
“I’m so excited. I really like him.”
“Call or text me after, okay?”
“I will. How’s it going there? Any more kisses with Maverick McDreamy?”
Kennedy cut a glance to Maverick, hoping he couldn’t hear Ava through the phone. Her sister tended to have one volume: loud. But thankfully he didn’t appear to be listening.
“Could you lower your voice a little?” Kennedy whispered.
“Oh! Is he there with you? What are you guys doing?”
Turning so the back of her head was to Maverick, Kennedy said quietly, “We’re camping.”
“What?”
That one little word could no doubt be heard through the trees a mile away. Kennedy shut her eyes and took a calming breath. “We’ll talk tomorrow and catch up.”
“I can’t believe you are camping. Are you in a tent?”
“Ava. I’ll tell you everything tomorrow.”
“Okay, but don’t get eaten by a bear or anything.”
Kennedy chuckled. Ava’s city-girl blood rivaled her own. “I won’t.”
“Oh, and will you please take a picture of him and text it to me? Pretty please? I’m dying to see what he looks like.”
“No, I can’t do that.”
“Pleeeease? Just ask him. I bet he’ll say yes. And besides, you owe me for taking care of Mrs. White’s fish. Her apartment smells like something died in it. I’m not equipped for that sort of thing, Ned.”
Kennedy feared if she didn’t at least ask Maverick, Ava would text annoying emojis all night, so she turned and said, “Would it be okay if I took a picture of you for my sister? She’d like to see you.”
“You could take a selfie with both of you!” Ava shouted through the phone.
Maverick heard it, his smile growing larger. “If she’s half as tenacious as you are, Shortcake, we’d better take the picture.”
“Shortcake! Oh my God. He has a nickname for you!”
“Please stop shouting,” Kennedy said firmly into the phone, pressing it to her ear in hopes of muffling any further comments.
“Will do,” Ava said, calming down in order to get what she wanted.
“You don’t mind?” Kennedy asked Maverick.
“Not at all.” He spread his arm wide, indicating she should come on over.
She moved to kneel beside him, tucking herself under his arm. Holding the phone in front of their faces, she snapped a photo.
“Take two just in case someone closed their eyes!” came through the phone loud and clear.
“Don’t blink,” Kennedy said before taking a second shot. She scooted back to her spot to look at them. Both were good, and to her surprise, Maverick’s wide grin matched hers.
“How do I look?” he asked, his eyes twinkling in the firelight.
“Eh,” she said with a shrug while her mind shouted, Amazing! Hot AF! Dimples to die for! She concentrated on her phone in case her face gave away the truth. Then, bringing the phone back to her ear, she said, “Picture sent. I’m hanging up now.”
“Love you. Thank you!” Ava said. “Holy—”
Kennedy hung up before she could hear the rest of whatever Ava wanted to say. Two seconds later, though, a text came through with a string of smiley faces with heart-shaped eyes emojis. She put her phone on the blanket, facedown.
“Thanks for indulging her.” She picked up the last bit of her sandwich.
“No problem. I know how younger sisters can be. Once Nova decides she wants something from me, there is no wrangling out of it.”
They finished eating and returned to their chairs. The fire kept Kennedy toasty warm. So did the simple act of looking at her cowboy. The cowboy. Sheesh. He wasn’t hers. “You were right. The stars are so much brighter out here.”
“Yeah, without any commercial lights, you get a crystal clear view. Want a closer look?” He handed her the binoculars.
“Thanks.” She held them up to her eyes. “Is this the part of the evening where you spout your knowledge of astronomy to impress me?”
“Afraid not. I don’t know anything about the stars. Only that they’re nice to look at.”
Kennedy lowered the binoculars. Mav’s eyes weren’t on the stars; they were on her. She gulped at the intensity she saw shining back at her.
“Have you ever seen a shooting star?” she asked, putting the binoculars on the ground and tucking her hands inside the pockets of Maverick’s denim jacket.
“Many. You?”
“Once, I think. A long time ago. I’ve never looked for them, but I imagine out here, people like to stargaze and without really trying, you see a shooting star or two.”
He stretched his legs out in front of him, crossing one ankle over the other. Rested his hands behind his head and looked up. “I suppose.”
“Do you ever—”
“Kennedy,” he interrupted.
“Yes?”
“This is the part of the evening where you just take it all in. Without speaking. Listen, look if you want to, and feel everything around you.”
He closed his eyes. His chest rose then slowly fell.
She followed suit. Let in the smell of pine, the fresh air, the sound of peace. She’d tried meditating. Tried yoga. Tried listening to music to clear her mind. None had worked. Maybe because she hadn’t devoted enough time to reap the benefits.
But this? Being surrounded by nature, sitting beside a man she trusted implicitly. In a small town she never in a million years thought she’d enjoy. This got through to her. She lost herself to this exact time and place. Her pulse slowed. Her muscles loosened. She heard the slight rustling of leaves, the occasional crackle of the fire. When she opened her eyes and stared up at the sky again, the stars shined even brighter.
Time passed.
Maverick’s hand coaxed hers out of her pocket. He laced their fingers together. His touch warmed her from the inside out.
She rolled her head to the side at the same time he did. Their gazes connected, blazed. She didn’t consider herself an expert on men, but she knew an invitation when she saw one. Keeping hold of his hand, she got to her feet, stood in front of his chair. He tugged her down at the same time she moved to straddle his lap.
Wiggling her bottom, she got comfortable as he wrapped his arms around her waist beneath the jacket. She shrugged out of the denim, letting it fall to the ground behind her—she certainly wasn’t cold anymore. Then she placed her hands on his shoulders.