Daddy in Cowboy Boots (Montana Daddies #9) - Laylah Roberts Page 0,23
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.”