Timing Is Everything by Tracey V. Bateman

Author:Tracey V. Bateman
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Barbour Publishing, Inc.
Published: 2012-11-09T00:00:00+00:00

Nine

“Okay, I blew off an entire afternoon of work,” Esther groused. “The least you can do is tell me where we’re going. I don’t see what couldn’t wait until dinner tonight, anyway.”

“The reason it couldn’t wait,” Tom said, with all the patience of Job, “is because I missed you.” His heart-stopping grin nudged away some of her exasperation at being kept in the dark about where they were going. He’d come into the office thirty minutes earlier, picked her up in front of her wide-eyed assistant, and carried her to his pickup. Though outwardly she’d protested the Hollywood action, secretly she was swept off her feet in more ways than one.

The fall foliage flew past on either side of the small highway leading out of town, but Esther barely noticed its loveliness. “Okay, I mean it. I want to know where we’re going.”

“You’re not very patient, are you? I hadn’t noticed that so much before today.”

“That’s because you’ve never kidnapped me before today.”

He grinned again. “We’ll be there in about ten minutes, so just relax.”

Scowling, she sat back and crossed her arms, feeling a full pout coming on. “All right, but this is under protest. And it had better be worth it.”

“I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised,” Tom said wryly. He hummed along with the Christian radio station while Esther sat silently taking in the last days of autumn. He maneuvered the truck onto a small gravel road.

Esther forgot her protest as she took in the sight of the sun seeping through the red and gold leaves shielding the road like a canopy. She drew in a sharp breath. “Oh, how gorgeous.”

He pulled to the end of the road where a field stretched out before them bordered by evergreens and oaks. Tom shifted into park and killed the motor. He got out, walked around to her side of the truck, and opened the door.

“How would you like to have a picnic with me?”

“I’d love it.” Placing her hand into his, Esther slid from the seat. Tom moved to the back of the truck and grabbed a picnic basket and a blanket.

A cool breeze lifted Esther’s hair and blew across the back of her neck. She shivered.

“Cold?”

It was on the tip of her tongue to say no, but as he put his arm around her and pulled her close, she changed it to, “Not very.”

“Now, was it worth it?”

“Every frustrating second. You should know I’m not patient in general. And I’m typically not crazy about surprises.”

A laugh rumbled his chest. “You like surprises. You just don’t like waiting for the surprise.”

Nudging him with her elbow, she gave a sheepish grin. “I guess you’re right.”

“What a beautiful view. Where did you hear about this place?”

“Here and there.” He set the picnic basket on the spread blanket and motioned for her to sit down. She complied, unloading chunk cheese, apple slices, deli sandwiches, and a bottle of sparkling cider. “Wow, you went all out. I’m impressed.”

He leaned forward and brushed her lips with a quick kiss.

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