“I’m in. All the way. I’ve got four weeks to convince you. And I will.”

“Then let’s start with dinner and conversation and see where we go from there.”

Luke relaxed and he brushed his fingers through the side of her hair. “I’m relieved to hear you say that. I was afraid I’d lose you before I ever had you.”

“I’m too tired for you to have me now. Ha. Ha.”

“I bet I could change your mind.” He kissed her again, blanking out her thoughts and making her press into his strong, tempting body. He ended the kiss and pressed his forehead to hers. “But I don’t want to skip ahead and rush things. I want to know you, Sarah. What you want. What you need. What makes you happy. Everything.”

Her stomach rumbled. She’d gotten lost in work and missed lunch. Again.

Luke leaned back and smiled. “Sounds like you need dinner.”

“Start the fire. The boys will be home soon, and I need to be there to put them to bed.”

Luke released her and kneeled by the firepit. “What’d you bring for dinner? I’m curious to see what a five-star chef taught you to make for a cookout.”

“It’s a surprise. The table and flowers are lovely. You didn’t have to do all of this for me. Paper plates would have been fine.”

“You know what I like about you? You just chewed out a guy for not paying you a million two and you’re okay eating off paper plates.”

“I grew up alone with nothing, Luke. Fine china and fancy restaurants are nice, but dinner by a fire with someone I care about is better. At least, I think so.”

Luke sat back on his heels. “I just want to spend time with you. Dinner is a bonus.”

She appreciated the sweet sentiment and the honesty behind it so much. “Then let’s spend time together.”

Chapter Eighteen

Luke lit the fire and peeked under the cooler lid Sarah opened and saw a couple bottles of his favorite beer and several foil packets of food.

“So, what did you make? All I see is foil, salsa, and tortillas. Tacos?”

“Just wait. Put the foil packets on the grill grate. Everything is cooked. It only needs to heat.”

She reached in and pulled out a beer for each of them. She cracked one open and handed it to him and did the same with another for herself. She clinked her bottle neck to his and took a long swallow of the cold beer and let out a satisfied sigh. “God, that’s good. Do you know how long it’s been since I had a beer in the great outdoors?”

“Too long to remember how good it is.” He took a sip of his beer and sat in the chair beside hers. “So, this is what you like to do when you have free time?”

“What? Oh no. Well, yes. But this is all for you. Here’s what I do when I have free time.”