The Truth She Knew Read Online Free PDF Page B

crowded.
    I paced around my car, leaned on the bumper, and then brushed off my butt. It was impossible to keep dirt off a car this time of year, and the last thing I wanted was a big dust print on my backside for our second date.
    A sigh of relief rushed out of me when Walker pulled into the parking lot.
    “ Hey! Get in,” Walker said as he opened the passenger door for me from the driver’s seat.
    I couldn’t control my smile as I checked that my car keys were in my purse. I locked my car doors and climbed into his car.
    “ Hi,” I said, trying to tame the crazy smile that spread across my face.
    “ Hi yourself,” he replied.
    His gaze fell across my face and paused.
    “ Is there something on my face?” I said, rubbing at my cheeks and mouth.
    “ No,” he said, laughing. “You’re beautiful, Lacey.”
    “ Oh.” I mentally swore as my cheeks reddened.
    “ I didn’t mean to embarrass you,” he said as a smile tugged at the corners of his mouth.
    “ No, it’s fine. Um, thank you,” I muttered.
    “ I can be somewhat forward. I don’t mean to be, I just don’t have a good filter on my mouth sometimes.”
    “ Isn’t that a guy thing?” I glanced at him and laughed.
    “ Probably. Are you ready?”
    “ Yes, let’s get the hell out of here.”
    Forty-five minutes later, we pulled into a more private area of the lake and unloaded his car.
    Walker shook out the plaid blanket and we sat down facing the water. The sun sparkled off the ripples, and the breeze brought in the smell of the water. It was perfect.
    “ I brought strawberries,” he said as he opened the picnic basket.
    “ Oooh, I love strawberries.” I grabbed one, plucked off the green stem, and popped the whole thing into my mouth. My cheeks bulged as I tried to move the fruit from one side to another, realizing what I’d done. I giggled as I brought my hands to my face and peered at him through my fingers.
    Walker tried not to laugh but didn’t succeed.
    “ Did you just do what I thought you did?” he asked.
    “ Maybe?” I mumbled around the food in my mouth.
    “ Oh my God, that’s awesome. I can’t say I’ve seen a girl do that before!”
    I chewed my strawberry before I spoke again. My face flushed and matched the color of the fruit as I swallowed.
    “ What, be rude?” I asked as I reached for another one.
    “ No, I’ve met plenty of rude girls. I’ve just never seen a girl eat like that.” His laugh filled the quiet picnic area.
    “ Well, I tried to warn you last night, but you didn’t want to listen. Sorry, I’m nervous,” I said as I wiped my clammy hands on my jeans.
    “ I don’t care, it was funny. I want you to feel comfortable with me.”
    I stared at him for a moment, still holding the strawberry in my hand. He reached for it and gently put it in my mouth. I took a bite. His eyes never left my face.
    “ I’m glad you’re here.”
    “ Me too, Walker.” As hard as I tried not to, I meant it.
    “ There’s something about you. I mean other than the obvious.”
    “ What do you mean, ‘the obvious?’” I asked as I made air quotes.
    “ You’re beautiful, gentle, and funny. You don’t find that combination often. Hopefully you’ll let me hang around long enough to figure it out.”
    “ Maybe.” A small smile tugged at the corners of my mouth.
    “ Do you want to take a walk on the beach?” he asked and extended his hand.
    “ Yeah, I’d love to.” I accepted his hand and he pulled me up. We stood so close that his breath brushed against my cheek. He held my gaze as his fingers brushed across my hand. A tingle ran up my arm and swirled through my body. If I responded like this to holding his hand, I wasn’t sure I could handle it if he kissed me. But the more time I spent with him, the more I wanted to find out.
    A ski boat whizzed by in the distance and broke my train of thought. I used the distraction to step back and take a breath. I’d promised myself I could handle this date and not do