She reacted beneath his touch. It was like she started out as a small ember but immediately grew into something bigger and brighter.
This kiss was unlike any other he’d experienced, that was for certain. How had he gotten so lucky to find this kind of chemistry?
James pulled back from her, the corners of his lips quirking upward. “How about we make it to the clearing and set up that picnic? I’m famished.” He didn’t release her hand. Instead, he made sure to walk more carefully so as not to put any form of distance between them.
Finally, they arrived in a clearing near the top of the mountain. Evergreen trees mingled with maple and aspen trees. There were a few picnic tables on the outskirts of a large meadow that somehow hadn’t become overgrown with foliage.
Constance’s steps slowed until she came to a complete stop, and he had to face her to make sure she was ready to continue. Her eyes rounded like saucers and her mouth had dropped open. “How have I never been up here before?”
He chuckled. “It’s a popular place for hikers. If you’re more into riding, then I suppose you wouldn’t have found this place.”
She met his gaze once more before releasing his hand and moving forward toward the edge of the clearing.
16
Constance
She was on top of the world. It felt as though Constance could see the entire world around her. As far as the eye could see, there were lights coming on as the city continued to darken. Fall was quickly on its way and it was getting to be dusk sooner.
James’s footsteps shuffled a little way off from where she stood at the edge of the mountain. There was a wooden fence blocking any sightseers from accidentally losing their footing. It was quiet. The only other sounds were that of bugs or small woodland creatures.
She had never felt so small in her entire life. This place was proof that in the grand scheme of things, the importance of certain topics was relative. The reasons she’d been upset earlier didn’t really matter.
Why should she care if her sisters didn’t want her out here with James? She knew he was a good man. Brielle was crazy if she didn’t see that. They’d been friends once.
Unless the reason her older sister had warned her off was because of a falling-out.
Constance shook off that thought. She would have noticed if something had happened between Brielle and James to cause a rift. They’d just drifted apart. Brielle was probably jealous that James had moved away and followed his dream to become a veterinarian. That was her biggest judgment of him. She thought he was stuck up and full of himself. Brielle didn’t know what she was talking about. Or maybe he’d changed since high school.
She glanced over her shoulder toward James who was setting out a blanket with the food. He’d pulled out a little electric lantern, and there was a single rose set out where she would be sitting.
Butterflies erupted inside her stomach. He was turning out to be such a romantic. She never would have guessed he had it in him. He was perfect.
Maybe too perfect?
The thought was laughable. How could there be such a thing as too perfect? Eventually she’d figure out that he had a bad habit or two or three. And it might drive her insane. But by then she might also be so utterly in love with the guy it wouldn’t matter.
Perhaps she was already on her way there.
His eyes lifted and locked with hers as he placed the last container of food on the blanket.
She wandered toward him and settled onto her knees. “This is quite a spread you’ve got going. I would have thought that our first date would have been at a restaurant or bowling or something equally cliché.”
He scoffed. “A picnic under the stars isn’t cliché enough for you?”
She laughed. “No. It’s everything I didn’t know I needed on a first date.”
James reached out and held her hand, trailing his thumb across the back of it. “I’m glad it makes you happy.”
Constance settled into a more comfortable position. Her stomach growled as her eyes bounced from the fruit bowl to the chips and sandwiches he’d packed. “I can’t believe you did all of this.”
He shrugged, a proud smile pulling at his lips. “This is where I excel. It’s sorta my thing.”
As much as she tried to keep the thought at bay, a sliver of jealousy and doubt crept into her mind. He’d said he’d never brought someone up here with whom he’d shared a kiss like the one they’d experienced. But she’d be an idiot to think that he hadn’t brought other girls up here. It wasn’t necessarily a special evening he’d picked out just for her.
That negativity needed to go.
They were here together now. Just because she’d never dated anyone before didn’t mean she could expect the same from him. He was older and didn’t have the same restrictions she’d grown up with.