choice.” Then he squeezes me again. “Maybe you could learn what unbusy is like if we watch them a little longer.”
I cloud-watch for a second. “That might be a really bad idea.”
“Why’s that?”
I sigh. “Because if I learned how to be unbusy, I’m sure it would get me into trouble.”
I don’t think about how this sounds until Beau responds.
“You’re under a lot of pressure, aren’t you?” His voice is like a caress. So soft it’s dangerous for my composure—and the swelling lump in my throat.
Distract. Deflect. Divert. “You know what they say,” I chirp, powering through the emotion and ramping up a cheer-leader level of enthusiasm. “With enough pressure, you can make a diamond.”
He says nothing for a long moment. Then Beau rolls onto his side, still holding me but now he’s above me, his gaze intent and serious.
“You don’t have to do that with me.”
I blink. “Do what?”
“Keep things light. You’re so genuine, and it’s a good thing,” he says. Then he licks his lips, seeming to weigh his words. “It’s something I really like about you. You let things show, but then when you think you’ve shown too much, you make a joke to hide again.”
He’s right above me so there’s nowhere to look. Nowhere to hide right now. Heat floods my face.
“Oh God,” I groan, squeezing my eyes shut.
“What’s wrong?” Even with my eyes closed, I can tell he’s smiling.
“This is awkward. I hate awkward.”
His laughter makes me open my eyes. If I’m being honest, the way Beau looks when he laughs is too good to miss, no matter how embarrassed I am.
He strokes a thumb down my cheek. “You’re adorable.”
“And awkward,” I add.
“I’m not afraid of awkward,” he says, his smile wry. “There are a lot worse things than awkward.”
And the words just cliff-dive out of me.
“Clearly, you’ve never had a Brazilian wax.”
Time stops for a horrifying two seconds. The look on Beau’s face is beyond shocked.
Good God, what is wrong with me?
And then he collapses on top of me, laughing loud enough to fell the trees. Laughing, he wraps his arms around me. I’m frozen with mortification until he kisses my neck. He wouldn’t be kissing my neck if he thought I were some weird-ass weirdo.
I close my arms around him and just enjoy the moment. I can put a bag over my head later.
“Y—You’re right.” He pushes himself back so he’s looking down at me again, his laughter fading to aftershocks. “I’ve never had a Brazilian wax.”
His face is red, and his eyes are damp from laughing so hard. And, yeah, I did that. At the expense of decorum and grace, maybe, but making him laugh feels like a win.
“You don’t know how glad I am to hear that.” I put my hand on his chest in pretend compassion. “For your sake.”
His laughter erupts again, and he shakes his head. “You’re a natural.” His eyes lock with mine and his smile softens. “You can joke around if that’s easier. But it’s also okay to tell me that your life is hard and you’re exhausted half the time.”
The next words cliff-dive, too. Buck naked.
“I’m exhausted most of the time.” And, hell, if I don’t feel as naked as those cliff divers.
He holds my gaze with his liquid brown eyes. “I know.”
He knows. And it’s okay for me to admit it. I breathe out, a lightness filling my limbs.
“Wow.” Honestly, I’m surprised to find myself still lying on the ground instead of hovering a few inches off it. “It feels good to say that out loud.”
Beau nods. “Anytime you want to unload, I’m here.”
Just like the snuggling, this offer is something I’ve never really had before. Not like this. Not with this unflinching intimacy. Not with this sturdiness.
And the sturdiness? It’s pretty damn sexy.
Right now, I’m sure that if I stay here beneath him any longer, my will is going to crack, and then woe unto any unsuspecting hikers.
So instead of tearing off Beau’s clothes and becoming one with nature in a whole new way, I take a deep breath and let it out, allowing myself to drink in the intoxicating solidity of his body on mine for one more moment.
And then. “We should probably start heading back.”
Beau has been watching me with a gentle smile, and he doesn’t seem the least bit surprised by this pronouncement.
“Probably so.” Then, to my delight, he presses one soft, chaste kiss to my lips. Then he’s up on two feet and reaching down a hand to me. He helps