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And I’m about to go public with it. Use it or lose it.

He was about to use those hours of work, reveal his precious designs to the world and see what reaction he got.

“Convince me.” She gave him her focused attention.

Bea’s focused attention turned clients into lapdogs. Cas wasn’t any more immune. She also invited the truth, because she was truthful. He’d never dated a woman he’d known for years. He was starting to see the appeal of graduating from friends to lovers. He’d been attracted to Beatriz when he’d first met her, but she’d disappeared for a while, and when she’d returned—he’d forgotten the timing until now—her unavailable sign had become the only signal she’d emitted.

“You mentioned my present to Hunter and Anna,” he said. “It’s my idea of a side hustle.”

“It’s worth more than a side hustle.”

“Thanks.” He’d started hoarding her compliments.

Focus, Cas, on all the reasons a relationship’s a bad idea.

He started unloading the backpack.

When you start the business, you’ll have no time or money for anything else. Anyone else. She’ll be hurt.

I’d hate that.

“I’m looking at expanding it.” And that was more than Cas had told anyone else. “Let’s get this picnic started.”

She studied him with her serious eyes. “I’d love to hear more when you’re ready. What’s on the sandwiches?”

“Salady things.” He grinned. “And some chicken.”

––––––––

Two hours later, anew team was running onto the field. Cas rifled through the hamper to find it empty. “You ate everything,” he accused.

“I had help. Now, I feel drunk on soft air and warm sun. Watching those women run up and down the field is making me sleepy.” She yawned. “Doing nothing is completely hedonistic.”

“What would you normally be doing?”

“Maybe cooking, maybe visiting family, maybe some research for a work project.” She lounged back on her elbows.

“Here. You can use the backpack as a pillow. Or you can lean on me.”

I did not just ask Beatriz Gomez to snuggle up against me.

He pushed the backpack behind his head, lay back and patted his stomach. Then waited.

“Ten minutes. No longer. Wake me up if I fall asleep.” She was careful to face away from him, laying on her side, with her head resting more against his thigh than his stomach, but she was letting him feel her weight. Like the well-brought-up son he was, he folded his hands on his stomach.

“Now give a rebel yell,” he muttered under his breath, frustration wrestling with reason in his head. She was a thoroughly nice woman, and sexy as hell. The first woman in a long time he could see not just in his bed, but in his life.

Pity my life is currently full.

Cas woke a short time later. She’d moved in her sleep, or he’d moved, until she was cuddled against his side, her head resting on his shoulder. They’d been felled, not so much by physical exhaustion as the weight of things beyond their control. Turning, he rested his cheek against her hair, inhaling the slight citrus scent of her shampoo. She fit against his side so perfectly he pressed a kiss to her hair.

“You didn’t wake me.” She spoke into his chest.

“The soft air and warm sun did for me too.” He used his stomach muscles to lift them both upright, then removed the arm he’d tucked around her. “We should make a move.”

“You probably have things you need to do,” she said, looking anywhere but at him.

“I’ve been invited home for dinner tonight.”