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“Nope,” she stated. “Look over there,” she added cryptically, canting her head back to the performance that Adeline was giving.
He did as ordered. “Yeah. I see her. Adeline. She has a great voice.”
“Who’s next to her?”
“Uh, Crash, who I understand is going to do a magic show.”
“And?”
“And Buffy.” Cisco was able to conjure a small chuckle. “It looks like she’s decked out to be Crash’s lovely assistant, with Coco and Nel as her helpers.”
“Which means…?” Hilly urged.
“Which means the kids will have a good time?”
Where was she going with this, and what did it have to do with his proposed walk?
“Which means everyone is tied up for at least another hour,” she told him tartly.
Cisco wondered if he’d drifted into an alternate universe. Was it possible Hilly was suggesting…?
Cisco coughed. “You, uh, may have to spell it out for me, Hill.”
She gave an exasperated huff and crossed her arms over her chest, her poise draining away, her gaze dropping to her feet. “Seriously, Cisco? I thought you were smarter than that.”
He could see Hilly backing off, and if he didn’t step up and take a pretty big leap of faith, he could lose an opportunity she might or might not have just handed to him.
“Are you, uh, suggesting we go back to your cabin?”
Even from his viewpoint of the top of her head, Cisco could see the blush move into the part in her hair.
She mumbled something he couldn’t hear, but he wasn’t waiting for another sign. Cisco picked up Hilly’s hand and tugged her farther into the trees. “Look at me, Hilly,” he demanded gruffly.
Her pretty blue eyes rose to meet his.
“I’d like nothing better than to go back to your cabin, if that’s what you’re saying. But I don’t want to overstep. I’ve been taking us slowly because I know you’ve had doubts about how you felt in the past, and how serious I am.”
“Us,” she repeated softly, then cleared her throat. “I have, actually,” she admitted. “But I’ve…changed my mind.” He saw her drag in a big gulp of air. “I… I decided you’re far too hot not to take advantage of while I still have the opportunity,” she told him honestly, lifting her stubborn little chin in the process.
Cisco grinned. “You think I’m hot? And you want to take advantage?”
His cock stirred.
“Oh please.” She snorted. “You’ve heard that hundreds of times before.”
“Maybe,” he admitted. “But never from you.” His response was dead serious. “And you mean more to me than any woman who’s ever said it. I promise.”
Her face took on a hopeful, yet still doubtful cast that made Cisco’s heart break. He needed to grow a pair, right the hell now. “I’m serious, Hilly. I’ve… There’s…” Dammit. He’d never said this before, and it was difficult. Cisco spit things out, quickly. “I think I’m falling for you.”
Her pretty mouth dropped open, but she caught herself mid-gape, and snapped it shut.
When she looked everywhere but at him, shifted her feet and didn’t respond, Cisco began to have doubts. Had he read her wrong? Had she simply been angling for a quick tumble? It didn’t jibe with the Hilly he’d come to know, but…
“I’m falling for you, too,” she cut through his fog.
But in what should have been a very happy moment, a single tear fell from the corner of her eye.
Cisco reached out with his finger and caught it.