looked into the fierce green eyes of Brittany Clementine, her satisfaction went bone deep and mile high.
Brittany’s eyes narrowed into slits. “You’re the fiancé she was talking about?” Her pink lips curled over her teeth as she folded her arms hard over her chest.
“The one and only,” Justine assured.
“Aw, that’s sweet.” Burke nuzzled into her neck “You were talking about me, babe?”
“I was trying to be discreet, but when you live in a small town…” Justine said, trying very hard to not be affected by his tickling touch at her neck.
Burke chuckled darkly.
“Well, if you’re actually engaged, then why don’t I see a ring?” Brittany challenged.
“Oh, she’ll have a ring, all right. Any ring she chooses.” Burke lifted her hand to his lips and kissed it. “I’m not the traditional type. I think that if a woman’s going to wear a ring on her finger for the rest of her life, she should pick the exact ring she’s always dreamed of, down to the cut, karat, and size.”
Brittany’s mouth hung open. She blinked once. Twice.
“Nice to meet you, Britt,” Burke said, pulling Justine back to the table. Justine took a seat beside him, replaying the event in her mind.
Burke plopped a napkin in front of her, then one in front of himself.
Justine stared at the action, barely focusing as he slapped a thick piece of fresh baked bread on each.
“She’s gone,” he muttered.
“Are you sure?”
Burke pried the lid off the small tub of butter and sank the plastic knife inside. “I’m sure.”
“I can’t believe I almost passed this up.”
“What’s that?” He was smearing butter on her bread now. And then his. “What jam would you like?”
“I can’t believe I almost passed up the chance to experience one of the best. Things. Ever.”
“You liked that, did you?”
She let out a small laugh as the waves of satisfaction rolled through her once again. “Oh, yeah, I did.”
“Good. So did I.” He twisted the lid off one of the jams with a pop. “Do you want this kind too?” He held it up for her.
Justine nodded without bothering to check which it was. “Do you think she didn’t believe us? Is that why she was asking about the ring?”
“Could be,” Burke said. He lifted a beautifully prepared piece of bread before her. A thick layer of butter peeked through a generous spread of tangerine-colored jam. “We’ll seal the deal at the bonfire tonight. Eat up.”
It felt like something with wings was flapping a hundred miles an hour in Justine’s tummy as she watched the growing flames. The words we’ll seal the deal at the bonfire had run through her head at least three million times since Burke uttered it in his raspy, deep-like-molasses voice.
It’d been in answer to Justine’s question about why Brittany had mentioned the ring. Do you think she didn’t believe us?
Burke’s casual could be was countered with his unexpected bonfire comment, and Justine hadn’t thought of much else since. It was the reason she steered very clear of onions on her burger and in the stacked nacho fries they ordered to go with those burgers. Burke had done the same.
It also had a lot to do with the fact that she’d said yes to the bag of cotton candy because her favorite book as a teen had the hero and heroine sharing the perfect cotton candy flavored kiss and she’d always fantasized about what that might be like.
But now, as she sat before the flames of the crackling fire, Trevor and Brittany within broad view, Justine could hardly contain the spurts of anticipation that pulsed through her.
Wilfred had long since retired for the night, along with Millie and the rest of the old timer’s crew. Families with young children had stayed just long enough to let the little ones roast a marshmallow or two before packing them into minivans and taking them home for a good night’s rest before tomorrow’s fun filled day.
Now they were left with mostly couples, some teens, some early twenties, cuddling up on lawn chairs, tree stumps, or even on blankets along the hilly grass in front of the amphitheater and the live music. At least she’d left the blanket back in the car. Justine was not ready for something that…dreamy? her mind offered.
Sheesh, Burke was taking a long time to throw their hot chocolate cups away. Had he not seen the trashcans outside the lodge? Perhaps he had to use the restroom. Maybe he was sick.
She hoped not. That would be just her luck, wouldn’t