“Mari-girl? Marisol? You okay?”
“What?” She stared at him. Mierda! Had he been talking to her? Good work, Marisol.
“Are you all right?”
“Oh yes, I’m fine. Sorry. I just zoned out a bit.” She winced. Great. Now she made it sound like she was bored or something. “Sorry. It’s not the company. I tend to spend a lot of time in my own head.”
He drove them out of town. She hadn’t done much exploring around. Her aunt usually only liked her going out in the car if it was for work or to run errands for her, so she was stuck on foot.
“That so?” he murmured thoughtfully. As though he saw much more than she wanted him to. She licked her lips.
“We’re going to the river?”
“Yep. We’re headed to a nice spot I know of.”
“Did you have a good time at the wedding?” she asked, kicking her feet back and forth. They didn’t even touch the floor and she couldn’t see out the front window.
“I did. Charlie made a beautiful bride. And Clint could barely take his eyes or hands off her all night.”
She glanced down at her lap to hide her sadness. How amazing would it be to meet someone who loved her like that? To have the wedding of her dreams? She couldn’t see that in her future.
Linc parked the truck and she looked around in interest. They seemed to be in the middle of nowhere. Where was the river?
“Stay there. I’ll come round and help you down.”
Before she could answer, he was out of the truck, moving around with long strides. The sun glinted off his dark hair. God, he really was gorgeous.
What was he doing here with her?
She didn’t know. Right then, she didn’t much care, either. Maybe it was selfish. But she wanted this experience. The memory would keep her going for a long time. She didn’t know where she would be next month, but she could always have this.
He opened the door and reached across to undo her seatbelt. Whoops. She could have done that herself.
But then he wouldn’t have brushed his arm over her breasts.
Sliding his hands around her waist, he lifted her down. She was wearing a pair of jeans and a flowy, floral top with long sleeves and a high neck.
“We have a small walk. I should have warned you.” He glanced down at her feet. She was wearing a pair of old tan sandals. “Can you walk all right in those?”
“Oh yeah, I walk everywhere in these, I’ll be fine.”
They were pretty old though and they didn’t give much support. If she’d known, she would have worn sneakers.
“Are you sure? This is my fault. We can go back to town and have a picnic in the park.”
“No, this is fine, honestly. Please, a picnic by the river sounds like just what I need right now.”
“All right. But tell me if you’re having problems. Understand?” There went that note of sternness again. There was something wrong with her that she found that so hot.
Just friends, remember?
He drew a picnic basket out of the back of the truck. It came complete with a red and black picnic blanket rolled up and attached to the side by straps. Then he grabbed a jacket.
“Have you got a sweater or hoodie in your bag, Mari-girl?”
She glanced down at her large handbag. “Ah no, I didn’t bring one. The sun is out today.”
“But it could get cooler. Next time we go on a picnic, I’m sending you a list of things to wear,” he teased.
If only there was going to be a next time.
Reaching into the truck, he grabbed a hoodie. “It will be a bit big, but I haven’t worn it much.” He handed it to her and she tied it around her waist.
“I’m sorry. This is the first picnic I’ve been on.”
He froze. “What? It can’t be.”
She frowned. It couldn’t?
“Why not? I mean, I might have been on one when I was younger, before Mama died. But I can’t remember so I guess it doesn’t count, right?”
“Your aunt . . .”
“Isn’t really into children. Or me. Oh, wait! I lie!” She clapped her hands together. “Harry took me on a picnic once.”
How could she have forgotten that?
“Harry?” There was a funny note in Linc’s voice but she didn’t pay any attention to it.
“Yes, he’s one of my aunt’s ex-husbands. Actually, she was married to him the longest. I came to live with her and Harry after mama died. He took me on a picnic in the park by our house. I had fairy bread and orange soda.”
“Fairy bread?”
“It’s white bread with butter and sprinkles on it. Harry was born in New Zealand. After his dad died, they moved to Texas where his mom was from. He told me on special occasions like birthdays, they’d have fairy bread. I think he was trying to cheer me up. I’d had a hard night.”
“You liked him.”
“Yeah. I was really sad when he and Rosalind split up. He was my favorite of all her husbands.”
“There’s been a lot?”
“A few,” she said vaguely, suddenly aware of how much talking she’d been doing. They were still standing by the truck.
Linc gave her that knowing look again. You’re showing him too much, Marisol.
“Let’s go.” He held out his hand to her and she clasped hold, following behind him.
For a start it wasn’t too bad. They walked across a flat paddock. But at the end of it, they had to walk down an incline which had lots of rocks. She kept a tight hold of his hand. He was right, these sandals weren’t the best. He stopped in several spots to guide her down. By the time they reached the river bed, she was ready to sit down and rest.
She followed behind him to a shady spot under a huge willow tree.
“Wow, it’s beautiful here.”
“I like to come here for some peace and quiet sometimes. Don’t get a lot of free time in my job. But this rejuvenates me.”
He shrugged, almost looking embarrassed. She smiled at him.
“I know exactly what you mean. Moving here seems to have recharged me a bit. Living in the city was tiring. Everybody was always in a rush, they all had somewhere to be. And well, I’ve always moved at a different pace from everyone else.”
“Isn’t anything wrong with that, Mari-girl.”
He laid out the blanket and gestured to her. “Have a seat. I’ll get everything laid out.”
“Can I help you?”
“No, teeny, you just rest.”
Had he noticed that she’d gotten a bit winded on the walk here? How embarrassing. Which reminded her, she really needed to take her blood sugar levels before she ate. She bit her lip. Where to do it?
“I’m just going to go test the water,” she told him, deciding to wash her hands in the river. She undid the hoodie that was tied around her waist and left it by his jacket.
“All right, but it’s cold, so just dip your fingers in, nothing else,” he warned.
Was he like this with everyone? She waited until she was facing away from him to roll her eyes. He seemed to think she was made of glass. It was endearing at times, frustrating at others.
“I’ll be fine.” She walked along the side of the river for a bit. Then she took off her sandals and stepped into the water.