“There’s one more thing I want you to try,” he said with a twinkle in his eyes.
“I’m stuffed,” Sara protested, as Amy curled up beside her, the sun and activity taking its toll.
“Be right back.”
When Jase returned, he held a dish of pastries that had been dipped in chocolate.
Sara groaned. “I won’t fit in my scrubs.”
He looked her up and down. “You’ll fit in your scrubs just fine. The outside isn’t the best part. The inside has a mixture of mascarpone cheese and peanut butter cream. Carlo’s known for these. Diners go to his restaurant just for the dessert. Come on, open up.”
Jase was seated on the other side of her now, looking at her with mischief in his eyes. This was a side of him she didn’t see enough of. She opened her mouth and he offered her a bite of the pastry, his gaze never leaving hers. She felt breathless, transported to intimacy only the two of them could share. How was that possible by just looking at him?
When she took a bite of the pastry, his thumb grazed her lip. She felt a tremor ripple through her, and he must have felt it, too, because his eyes darkened. As he fed her the rest of the pastry, some of the filling escaped onto his thumb. He offered it to her. She took a quick lick, and he pulled his hand away.
“What do you think?” he asked in a husky voice.
“I think this pastry is absolutely decadent.”
“Want another?” he teased.
“I think you should try one.” She picked one up and fed it to him.
When he’d finished, he clasped her hand and said in a low voice, “Feeding each other could get us into a lot of trouble.”
“I don’t think we need to feed each other to get into trouble.”
“You know what I’d like to do right now, don’t you?”
“Maybe.”
She glanced down at her dozing daughter, laid her hand on her head, then brushed her hair to one side.
Turning her focus back to Jase, she said, “I’ve been thinking about those hot springs.”
“You have?” he asked blandly, waiting for her to go on.
“I’d like to visit them with you.”
After a few heartbeats, he asked, “Do you have a bathing suit?”
“I picked one up at Thrifty Solutions after our evening with the hose.”
“How about tomorrow?” he suggested.
“I’ll have to check with Marissa to see if she can watch Amy. I’ll let you know as soon as I find her.”
“Why don’t we go find her together? I can carry Amy back to the cottage for you, but then I do have to come back here to the festival.”
“I understand.”
Jase had that look in his eyes again, a look that told her their visit to the hot springs could indeed get very hot.
* * *
Sara hadn’t known that Raintree kept four-wheelers on the property, but it made sense. Such a vehicle made it easier to get around anyplace on the vineyard. Marissa had come over with Jordan, insisting he could sleep anywhere, and gave her a thumbs-up when Jase pulled up outside.
Sara had worn a swimsuit under her jeans and T-shirt. After all, she didn’t know how far they’d have to hike to reach the hot springs.
There was a cooler strapped to the back of the four-wheeler, and Sara motioned to it before she climbed in. “A picnic?”
“Cold water to drink is always good when you dunk in hot springs. I also packed baguette slices, fruit and cheese.”
She climbed in beside him. “How far will we have to hike?”
“I can get us pretty close. We’ll have to return home before nightfall, though. I know my way back, but I don’t want to take that chance driving it if you’re with me.”
She found that statement both comforting and scary. “So you’d take a risk if I weren’t with you?”
“I think we’re talking about more than a trip in the four-wheeler.” He sounded a bit wary.
“I just know you risked your life before you were injured. I wondered if you’d put yourself in the same danger again.”
“Uh-oh. Why do I have the feeling this dip into a geothermal pool isn’t going to be all pleasurable?”
“Isn’t the purpose of tonight to get to know each other better?”
“Don’t you know me well enough?”
She didn’t know if she did. How long might it take for her to forget about everything that happened with Conrad? How long might it take for her to be willing to take a risk with Jase?
They rode through the vineyards with late-June evening scents warmed by the sun drifting by them—wild grasses and sage. After a while, the landscape changed from rolling hills to rockier terrain. This area of the property seemed untouched, pristine in its earthiness. They circled red-brown rocks honed by the weather that had probably been there for centuries.