"I know."

She sighed and relaxed her back against the girder, then chuckled. "Garrett, being with you has certainly been an adventure tonight."

He smiled. "Shall I assume you're enjoying yourself, then?"

"Yes."

"Splendid. I am certainly enjoying the evening."

A fly buzzed by her head and he moved it away with his hand. The only discouraging thing about being this far in the shadows was he couldn't see the blue of her eyes. But if he stepped closer... He followed his thoughts.

Her chest moved with quick breaths. She licked her lips, and he couldn't tear his eyes from that spot--except when the fly buzzed between their faces, pestering him once again. Just as he was ready to knock it aside, an idea hit him, making him grin. "Why don't you blow away the fly like you did the bee earlier?"

She laughed and shook her head. "I fear if I do, you may get the wrong impression of my intensions."

"But my dear, sweet Cecily. I am led to believe your intensions are as wicked as my own." He arched an eyebrow. "Or am I misreading you?"

Even in the dim lighting, he detected a blush on her cheeks. He swept his knuckle across her heated skin to get his answer.

"Garrett," she said as she fingered one of the gold buttons on his over jacket. "I don't know why I'm here with you now. Propriety dictates this is wrong."

The fly darted by his face again, and he tried to swat it. Soon, her hands were trying to make the insect go away as well. After missing their target, they started laughing.

"Hold still," he instructed, keeping his eyes on the fly. When it neared her hair, he batted his hand. Instead of knocking the fly away, he bumped her styled hair, making the pins fall out. Her curls tumbled out of the bun and hung around her shoulders.

"Oh, dear," she gasped and tried to fix it.

Mesmerized, he stopped her hands, lowering them to his chest as he held her palms against him. "Don't," he spoke in a deep voice. "I've never seen hair so beautiful before."

"Garrett...this is indecent." Her voice cracked.

"Please, allow me this one thing." He caressed her hair, running his fingers from the top of the curls all the way to the bottom where they rested against her bosom. She inhaled sharply but didn't remove his touch. "Your hair is so silky."

Against his hand, her chest heaved with quick breaths. He ran the tip of his fingers up her hair once again, until reaching the curve of her neck before sliding his touch to her skin. Creamy, just as he'd imagined it would be. In slow circles, he rubbed his fingers along her collarbone, and down the swell of one breast. The Lord had certainly blessed her, and Garrett thanked the Almighty that she hadn't put a stop to his exploration.

When he reached the edge of her bodice he stopped, but only to move in a different direction as he traced her gown. Her breaths grew quicker, as did his own, but something else grew as well. His arousal leapt by leaps and bounds the longer she allowed his ministrations.

Hesitantly, he slipped a finger inside her bodice, searching for a nipple. The bead rubbed his finger, creating a deep groan from Cecily, and he was surprised when one came from his throat as well. "Cecily, I want to hold you so bad it's killing me."