he’d only known Lianne Wanamaker in utero and then very briefly after birth, he had nothing to base this comparison on. Still, he felt something he couldn’t explain. Something he was certain included his mother’s hand, and it rattled him.
“What happened to make me stop swimming?” She repeated his question and shrugged as she stood. “The girls happened,” she drawled. Pointing at her boobs, she made a face and continued. “Strapping bingo and bongo down in a leotard was easy but not so much in a bathing suit. I didn’t like the attention.”
“Are you serious?” He didn’t mean to sound aghast at this revelation, but that was how his reaction came off.
“Don’t act so outraged.” She huffed and snickered. “Guaranteed you did your fair share of ogling the cheerleaders.”
He winced. “Ouch. Bull’s-eye.”
She blew off his reaction. “Hey, it is what it is.”
“True until you make me feel like a sexist pig, and then it’s a bigger deal.”
He held his hand out for her as she hopscotched the rock stream and came to his side.
“Don’t feel too bad. I can guarantee the ladies were checking out your front and rear view at every opportunity.”
His shoulders inched up, and he muttered, “Truth.”
“Oh my god, are you embarrassed?”
He grinned. “In my high school yearbook? I was voted most likely to be a delivery guy.”
“A what? Why?”
Arnie chuckled. “I believe the snarky designation had everything to do with the word, package.”
She. Cracked. Up.
So did he.
Without prompting, she came into his arms where she belonged, and he claimed her in a tender kiss. The velvet warmth as they explored with lips and tongue was very nearly his undoing. With no problem whatsoever, he was willing to stand there through the rest of time as long as she didn’t leave him.
His lips moved to nibble at her earlobe and kissed a path down her neck. She had one hand at the back of his neck and the other on his chest.
Their kisses were intense and passionate, but they both knew acting on their desires wasn’t in the cards. Maybe some other time he’d make love to her while out in nature, but not today.
Redirecting their mutual desire was a bitch, but he knew he had no choice. He went with the easy choice because knowing Summer as he now did, Arnie was sure she’d take the bait.
“It’s getting close to feeding time.” He chuckled next to her ear. “Any minute now, I expect to hear the foghorn sound of your stomach growling, and I doubt a bunch of gas station snacks will do the trick.”
“I have just the thing!” Her laughter rang out in the woodland glade.
She took his hand and started dragging him after her.
“Whoa, sunshine. Slow down. Backpack, remember?”
He retrieved the pack while she tapped her booted foot. Her impatience was cute.
“Your Sherpa is ready. Lead the way, golden girl.”
Giggling at his jest, she brightened as her body language relaxed.
“Follow me, Mr. Magnum.”
It took considerably less time to tromp their way back to the Jeep than it had to reach their destination. Summer did a lot of jumping on the way down the trail. To her, obstacles were simply hurdles to leap over. Her energetic approach to life was refreshing. He bet she’d jump at the chance to travel off the grid, pitch a tent, and stargaze in the middle of nowhere.
As they walked, he noticed that she stooped a few times to pick things up.
“Hey,” he called to her. “Need help?”
Whirling around suddenly, she nearly collided with him. “Oops, sorry. Here.” Her hand opened, and he saw a collection of natural objects—little stones, a seedpod, and a small feather.
“What’s all this?”
“Memories.”
His eyes caught hers. He almost cried when their gazes locked. She was in this, whatever this was, just as profoundly as he.
Carefully and reverently folding the treasures in a tissue from her backpack stash, he took extra pains to make sure everything was protected. He understood a thing or two about memory treasures.
In a small, breathless voice, she murmured, “Be careful.”
“I’ve got you.” He wasn’t sure why he chose those words, but there you have it.
Her answer was a whisper. “I hope so, Arnie.”
Jesus. A wedge of emotion clogged his throat, and more damn tears threatened. This unexpected sunshine girl was … what? His destiny or deadly kryptonite? She’d gotten inside him so fast he was without defense.
When they got to the Jeep, she bugged him until he agreed to open the soft top despite the January chill. Things like weather didn’t