They were impossible to ignore when he was famished himself. He craved to taste her. Just one kiss.
“I’d better put the blankets inside for you,” she said with urgency worthy of an alien-invasion announcement. He watched her duck inside the tent with desire twisting his stomach into painful knots. If she’d stayed a second longer, they would’ve been doomed before the first shoot.
7
The sun began its slow descent, blanketing the interior of the tent in its muted twilight. Grateful for the seclusion, Aubrey heaved a deep breath but choked before she could exhale. She’d forgotten to bring in the blankets from Landon’s car.
Crap. She gnawed on her bottom lip and paced the entire four-step length of the tent.
There was no way she was going back out there. That would be equivalent to announcing she was a horny idiot. Hey, I made up the blanket excuse to get away from you, but I was so turned on that I forgot to grab them.
With her hands on her hips, Aubrey surveyed the tent as though all her marbles had spilled inside it. After a few deep breaths, she reached a decision. She hated to do it, but there was no other choice. As her father would say, it was the civilized thing to do. Her skin crawled at the thought of the man, but she had to channel the socialite she was raised to be. Chin held high, she lifted the flaps and glided toward the campfire. Landon straightened from the bubbling pot to watch her approach.
“Do you need some help?” she said.
That’s right. She was going to pretend nothing happened and hide under the comfortable quilt of politeness. What sexual tension?
“No, thanks. It just needs to sit and simmer for a few more minutes.” Landon responded with equal politeness in contrast to the knowing smirk playing around his mouth. “Wine?”
The stars were taking stage in the sky, preparing to steal the night. The crisp mountain air played with the tendrils of her hair and caressed the nape of her neck. One false step and her clothes would melt off. Throwing wine into the mix would be the stupidest thing she could possibly do.
“Sure. Why not?” Yup. She was a dumbass.
Aubrey took tiny, measured sips of wine as Landon stood to ladle the cassoulet into some wide mugs. He handed one to her and settled next to her with the other.
“Be careful. It’s hot.”
She breathed in the decadent aroma of wine, thyme, and rich, stewed chicken and veggies. The sausages added a smoky layer to the hearty stew, thickened with soft beans. Her mouth watered, and her stomach urged her to face-dive into the bowl. At the risk of burning her tongue, she blew on a heaping spoonful and filled her mouth with cassoulet.
“I had to improvise quite a bit and make do without some ingredients.” Landon watched her with shy anticipation. “Do you like it?”
“Ooh me gah,” she groaned as her eyes slid shut. She couldn’t handle more sensory input. The bite of cassoulet burst with a rainbow of flavors and textures that required her undivided attention. Warm, creamy, fragrant, and just a touch salty. It was wonderful—kind of like sublime butter except she could eat bowls of it without censure. “I can’t believe you made this out of the random ingredients I brought. I call dibs on licking the pot clean.”
“I’m going to take that as a yes,” he said in a warm, intimate voice. His blush melted her heart, and the Smile blinded her.
Satiated with wine and cassoulet, the campfire lured Aubrey into a sleepy stupor. When Landon put his arm around her and pulled her close, she yawned and tucked her head against his shoulder. His thumb drew small circles on her shoulder, and she nearly purred. Dangerous? Probably, but nothing short of Armageddon was going to make her leave the fleeting haven by his side.
“Should I tell you a scary story?”
Aubrey bolted upright and covered both ears. Or a scary story.
“No. Never. Absolutely not.”
“Okay. Okay.” Landon chuckled, tugging her hands down. “I just thought that’s what people do when they go camping.”
“Well, I don’t.” She rubbed the heebie-jeebies from her arms. “I watched The Exorcist when I was ten, and it scarred me for life. I haven’t been able to watch or read or listen to anything evil since then.”
“I’m with you there. The Exorcist is the creepiest movie ever made.”
“Right? The kid who could see dead people has nothing on the vomit-spewing, head-spinning girl.” Aubrey shivered.