“Less thinking and more doing.” I’m surprised by my sassy response, or that I’m able to respond at all with my heart beating as fast as it is.

Luke smiles against my lips, and sweeps me up in a hot, all-consuming kiss. He releases my hands and finds my ass like he did the night before, pulling me against him. I grasp his face in my hands, holding him close, and just like that I’m lost in him. He’s so good with his mouth! He nibbles my lips, and his tongue makes gentle and patient love to my own. I groan and push my hands up into his hair, hanging on for dear life.

“Excuse us!”

I glance behind me to see a group of hikers trying to get around us on the trail. Oops! Luke laughs and pulls me out of the way so they can make their way down the path.

“I guess we got caught.” Luke whispers in my ear, tucking a strand of hair behind the lobe and kisses my cheek.

“I guess so,” I giggle breathlessly, and we resume our hike to his sexy car.

***

“You brought food?” I can’t hide the surprise in my voice as Luke pulls a small cooler and blanket out of the back of the car. I stow my camera and lean my hip against the car.

He gives me a shy smile. “Yeah, I packed a picnic lunch. I know a nice little spot up that trail there to relax for a bit. I hope that’s okay? You said you didn’t have any sessions today.”

“Sounds good to me, I’m starving.”

“Good. Come.” He takes my hand and leads me into the woods on another dirt trail. The trees and ferns are lush and dense around us, not letting much sunlight in. After a few minutes of walking the path opens up to a clearing.

There’s a beautiful meadow with tall green grass. A tall, lush oak tree stands in the middle; it’s large, green branches providing plenty of shade.

“Oh, it’s beautiful!” I let go of his hand and move quickly through the grass to the majestic tree and stare up into its branches. “This tree has to be two hundred years old.”

I glance over to Luke, a huge smile on my face. He’s standing near me, the cooler and blanket at his feet, his hands in his pockets.

“I’m glad you like it.”

I look up again. “Luke, I love it.”

I help him spread the big, green blanket we snuggled up in last night in the shade of the tree.

“Get comfy.”

I kick my sandals off and sit on the soft blanket, my legs stretched out in front of me and lean back on my hands.

Luke also kicks his shoes off – mmm, naked feet – and kneels on the blanket, opening the cooler.

He pulls out a fruit salad, sub sandwiches, and hummus and crackers.

My stomach growls and we both laugh.

“Did you make all this?” He passes me a sandwich and I dig in. Mmmmm…

“Yeah, I threw it together this morning.” He passes me the fruit and pops a cracker full of hummus in his mouth. “I love a woman who likes to eat.”

I stop chewing and look up at him, frowning, remembering my thighs and round butt. “What do you mean?”

“Just what I said. I like a woman who enjoys food.” He shrugs and frowns at my expression. “What did you think I meant?”

Shit. “I don’t know.” I eat a strawberry.

His eyes narrow. “Don’t tell me you have body issues.”

“Don’t be ridiculous.” What the fuck!

“Natalie, you’re beautiful, you have no reason to be self-conscious.”

“Did you not just see how I devoured that sandwich? I’m not self-conscious.”

Stop talking about this.

He shakes his head.

“This is delicious.” I smile sweetly.

He doesn’t look like he’s buying my change of subject, but he lets it go and starts packing the left-overs back into the cooler.

I lie on my back and take a deep, satisfied breath. Oh, this is nice. Warm late-summer day, good food, sexy man…

Yes, it’s a really good day. Suddenly, Luke is pulling my feet into his lap and he starts to rub.

Make that a glorious day.

“Oh, my. You cook and give foot rubs. I must be hallucinating.” I hear him chuckle.

“Hey, what’s this?” He runs his thumb just above the arch on the inside of my right foot.

Oh, that.

“A tattoo.”

He tickles my foot and I squirm and giggle.

“Obviously, smart ass. What does it say?”

“It says ‘One Step at a Time’.” I reply and sigh as he continues to work magic on the sole of my foot.

“In what language?”

“Italian.” I reply.

His finger traces the letters and I push up on my elbows and watch him. When his eyes meet mine they’re on fire, and the muscles low, low in my stomach clench.

“It’s sexy.” He grins.

“Thanks.” I grin back.

“Do you have any more?” He cocks his head to the side and reaches for my other foot.

“Yes.”

His eyes shoot to mine again and they narrow.

“Where?”

“Various places.”

“I don’t see any others.” His eyes skim up my bare legs, my arms, my chest.

“The one on my foot is the only one visible with my clothes on, and that’s only when I’m barefoot,” I whisper. Oh, this is fun!

He releases my foot.

“Hey! I was enjoying that foot rub.”

He grabs my ankles and parts my legs, then crawls up my body on his hands and knees until his nose is almost touching mine.