King of Diamonds (All About the Diamond #2), стр. 50
I’m not sure if I should say something or let it go. He isn’t talking to me, but I hope he’s talking about me. He can’t be talking about another girl. Can he? No, there’s no way. Don’t even go there, Sherry. No backwards slides. “I’ll always say yes to anything you want that’s legal, and apparently sometimes things that are illegal.” I say as I consider the charges for indecent exposure and fornicating in public. “We should go home.”
“No. It’s not time yet. I want to watch the sunrise with you.” That’s why it was a late night adventure!
“I was just thinking if we go home, we might not get arrested.”
Something in his eyes change, “Why did you say you’ll always say yes?”
“Seemed like the thing to say. It’s the truth.” His face changes. “I guess the ‘her’ you referred to could’ve been someone else.”
“I was talking?”
“Yes.”
“What did I say?”
“First, am I the ‘her’ and ‘she’ you kept talking about?”
“I don’t know what I said.”
“Then I think it was private and just for me.” I laugh, enjoying the opportunity to use his own words against him. “How many ‘hers’ and ‘shes’ are you thinking about in there?”
Rick rubs his hand over his face in frustration. “You, Sam and my Mom, in that order. What did I say?”
“Something about wanting me to say yes and needing me. Nothing big.” I kiss him before he can get out of hand. “Now, how about we finish this when we get home and enjoy our picnic?” I smile at him, he always wants food. He nods at me, still lost in his head. I stand up quickly and get my pants back on while I wonder what’s going on in his head. I’ve learned my head needs to stay out of it when it comes to us. I sit back down next to him with the blanket wrapped around us and his jeans are still undone. I unpack the backpack, setting out the different containers and opening them. I pull out the thermos of coffee and bottles of water, realizing I didn’t bring cups for the coffee and that’s okay because we can share. “Okay, my king. We have Italian Sandwiches, seasoned popcorn, grapes, chocolate chip banana nut bread, baseball sugar cookies, coffee, and water.” I take a drink of the coffee and it’s still warm. We sit together grazing and talking for a long time. Our conversation flows organically and he likes everything I brought to eat.
Sometimes I catch myself staring at Rick and trying to determine if I’m dreaming. I’ve dreamt about him so many times. Even the first time I woke with him, it felt like a dream. If this is a dream, I don’t want to wake up.
I look up and Rick’s smiling at me, “I’m real. This isn’t a dream.” Damn it! I did it again. I must be getting tired.
I wonder if this is a way for him to make sure we spend time together without having sex. If it is, it didn’t work. He gets the weirdest ideas sometimes. I get it. We need to have more between us than physical attraction, even if the physical attraction is off the charts and so far off the charts it’s in a completely different galaxy. We’re growing everyday. Becoming a team, true partners. Honestly, I don’t think our need to be close and our physical connection could be nearly as strong as it is if it was just sex. I know it’s been fast and a lot has happened, but I wouldn’t change it. I can honestly say I would do anything for him.
“I want to spend time with you. I want to do everything with you. Everything is better with you.” His words melt me.
The stars start to fade and the lights on the Coronado Bridge shut off as daylight breaks. Rick holds me close, “I wanted to watch the sunrise with you. You brought me back to the living and you show me you love me everyday. Your heart, your love is everything to me.” Tears fall down my cheeks as he holds me tight and I listen to his words. We sit quietly and watch the sunrise.
I’ve never watched the sunrise. Sunsets many times, but this is different. The way the sunlight outlines the white fluffy clouds, giving them a glow. The fresh light making everything new. The dandelions and wild flowers opening to greet the sun, like they’ve been woken up and need to stretch. The cottontails sitting still like statues observing the beginning of the new day and casting shadows before they hop off into the bushes. The trees that were somewhat ominous, now filtering the light and allowing it to speckle the ground. Everything gets to try again, hope has been granted by the new day.
I have a new strength and I’m not afraid of the love in my heart. I grab ahold of Rick’s hand, squeezing and entangling our fingers. I think about the desperation he’s been hiding in his head and how I never want to play games with his heart. The warmth of the sunlight reaches my face and I caress his cheek with my thumb as I lean in to kiss him tenderly. I pull back and gaze into his eyes, unable to control my happiness. “It’s only been a short time and you might think I’m crazy, but I’m already yours.” I giggle and a tear rolls down my face. “There will never be anyone else. I promise you, I’ll say yes. And, for the record, I love your caveman moves.” I smile at