One Look: A grumpy, single dad small town romance(76)

Mom’s voice was serious. “It is, darling. My spirit guides came to me, and I am supposed to tell you that the winds of change are coming for you.”

“Are you into mushrooms again?”

“That is entirely beside the point, Lark.”

I stifled a small laugh. It was comforting to know that my mother would never change.

“Well,” I offered, “winds of change sounds exciting.”

“It came with a warning. The guides said, ‘Keep the wind at your back and the sun on your face.’”

I scrunched my face as I swapped my phone to the other ear to put in an earring. “Isn’t that an Irish prayer?”

“Lark! This is serious. The guides are here to help you.”

I shook my head and sighed. “Winds of change. Back. Sun. Got it. Thanks, Mom. Did your guides have anything else to share? Because I’m getting ready for a date.”

“No, dear. That was the message. I love you. Enjoy your date.” Just like that, the line went dead, and she was back to her tantric meditations with Eagle.

I shuddered at the unwelcomed memory of the one and only time I had interrupted them and had gotten an eyeful of naked old-man ass.





As I made my way down the stairs of the apartment, Wyatt was already waiting for me on the steps of his porch. He was ungodly handsome in a white button-down shirt, blue trousers, and a brown belt. His sleeves were rolled up, showing off the veiny forearms I loved so much. I had no idea veins were a turn-on, but holy crap, they were hot.

Wyatt hit me with the full force of his smile, and my chest tightened.

His deep voice rolled over me. “You look amazing.”

A giddy zip raced through me, and when I got to the bottom of the stairs, I did a little twirl to show off the coral boho sundress with the lace bodice I had purchased at the women’s boutique downtown.

His arms wound around my middle as he pulled me closer. “Better than amazing. You look perfect.”

For a moment, my worries of Wyatt and unvoiced fears faded away. He kissed my lips and ran his nose down the length of mine. “Ready?”

My hands played with the short hairs on the back of his head and pulled him down for another long kiss. After we broke apart, Wyatt gazed into my eyes. He took a step toward the yard, and my eyebrows dropped down.

“Come on.” His mischievous smile was irresistible. I had speculated we might try the new wine bar downtown or maybe even dinner on the beach, but with my hand in his, Wyatt headed straight for the walking trail.

I clung to his arm and rested my head against his thick biceps as we walked. With Wyatt, the darkness of the trail wasn’t nearly as frightening. He clearly knew the way, and in no time we came to the clearing by Wabash Lake.

Arranged in the middle of the shoreline was a thick blanket surrounded by tiki lanterns on long sticks. There was a small cooler and a pile of additional wool blankets. Everything had been arranged perfectly for a romantic, moonlit picnic.

“Oh, Wyatt . . .” My hand went to my throat, where my pulse beat wildly.

“You like it?” He reached into his pocket and pulled out a lighter to ignite the lanterns. They cast a semicircle of warm, glowing light that danced off the water of the lake.

“This is amazing. No one has ever done anything like this for me.”

He smiled, satisfied that he’d gotten this right. “I thought a lakeside picnic might be a little more intimate than a dinner on the beach. This late, there will be no one on the trail to bother us. The lake is all ours.”

I raised an eyebrow at him. “But, Mr. Sullivan . . . I didn’t bring my swimsuit.”

He grinned and pulled me closer. “Guess then you’ll have to go in nude.” His playful teasing reminded me of the day we’d seen each other naked. Best. Day. Ever.

I tipped my head back to laugh into the starry night sky. His mouth found the column of my neck, and I melted into him.

He caressed my hair, and his mouth slanted over mine. I poured every emotion into that kiss. I never wanted it to end.

Wyatt separated from me and pulled me to the blanket. “Let’s eat something. I have plans for you later.”

The dark promise in his words had me slipping off my sandals and dropping to my knees before settling into the soft blanket. From the nearby cooler, Wyatt unpacked a roll of sliced salami wrapped in butcher paper, a loaf of crusty bread, and a few different cheeses. He took care to arrange everything on the blanket between us. After he caught me staring, he pulled me in for a quick kiss and continued to arrange our picnic.

How did I get here?

If anyone would have told me that I would have Wyatt Sullivan, former NFL quarterback and head football coach, doting on me and impressing me with a romantic picnic, I would have called them a damn liar.

Yet there we were.

Finally, he stacked two sandwiches, also wrapped delicately in paper, on top of one another and lifted a chilled bottle of white wine from the cooler.

“Did you do all this?”

Wyatt looked offended, his hand spreading wide across his chest. “You doubt me?”

I pinned him with a stare and tried not to laugh.

“Fine.” He pulled the cork from the wine and filled two stemless glasses. “I had a little help. But it was my idea.”

I took the glass he offered and looked out onto the lake. The night was so clear you could see the hundreds of stars reflected on the water’s surface. I sipped the wine, and the dry-but-buttery flavors of fruit and tanginess rolled over my tongue.