Page 19 (1/2)

The sun dips just below the trees, causing a drop in the evening air tehts flicker above from their perch in the branches as the band introduces themselves

Dane and I move across the patio and find a spot under a tree near the cornhole boards

“They’re starting the night with a Nitty Gritty Dirt Band song,” Dane says with a laugh “This should be interesting”

“I’m just disappointed it’s not ‘Fishin’ in the Dark’”

He sips his drink and watches ?”

“Please It’s a classic”

He looks at ed for an old country fan”

“That’s why you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover I le“But I grew up listening to Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson”

“Favorite Waylon song?”

“‘A sip of my drink “What kind of music do you like?”

He leans against the tree, looking delicious in the subtle soft glow of the lights overhead I take a moment to appreciate how his shoulders fill out his shirt

“I listen to a little bit of everything,” he says “It depends on what I’”

“Okay Working out? Since you apparently do a lot of that”

“I listen to a lot of eighties music when I work out”

“Oh,” I say, surprised “I didn’t expect that”

He fights a grin “I’d ask you what you listen to when you work out, but …”

I swat at his chest, but he catches my wrist just before it makes contact with his chest The motion—the feel of his hand wrapped around mine, makes my breath hiccup in o wide … just before a slow smile spreads across his lips

My insides turn to jelly My knees go weak The skin he’s holding feels like it ers

“I was going to say but you don’t need to work out,” he says, lowering his voice a couple of notches

My face burns with the heaviness of his gaze It stirs souished for good