A/N: For those wondering, there are five more chapters after this one. All mistakes are mine. And as always, thanks for reading!
Chapter Sixteen
It was a beautiful day in the park - the sun was out and the sky was blue, and with the beautiful woman by his side, it was everything.
Rick found a shaded area and took the blanket he had folded over his arm, spreading it neatly by a tree. Kate set the basket she insisted on carrying on a corner.
As she knelt beside it and began to open the lid, he gently put his hand over hers, keeping her from seeing its contents. "Wait," he said, "We don't have to be in a hurry, do we?" he asked, smiling.
She smiled in return and sat back. "I'm not in a hurry, I just want to know what you've got in there."
"And you'll find out in a little while." He sat with his back against the tree and pulled her toward him.
Kate turned and sat in front of him, with his legs encircling hers and her back against his chest. Rick closed his eyes and ran his fingers through her hair as he felt her relax into him.
He leaned his head forward and placed a gentle kiss on the side of her neck. Her muscles tensed a little, so he stopped and rested his head against the tree, committing to memory the warmth of her next to him. He half expected her to move away, but she stayed.
"I'm sorry," he said, "I shouldn't have-"
"No, you're fine," she interrupted, "Just tired and a little stressed out."
"Anything I can help with?" He rubbed the tensed muscles where her neck and shoulders met. Kate sighed and leaned into his touch. "You know, I can help with things around the shop. That is, if you would like for me to do so."
"Thanks, but I'll be okay. A lot of it is from an outside project that I hope will be finished soon."
That was unexpected. She hadn't mentioned anything of the kind before, and they had talked about a lot of things. "What kind of project, if I may ask?"
Kate laid her head against his shoulder and kissed his cheek. "You may ask, but it's personal..."
His eyes met hers, and for a moment, it was like he hadn't set eyes upon her before. She was absolutely breathtaking. It had been a long time since he had felt such strong feelings for anyone. And those feelings... they were so familiar and so different at once. Was it love?
It was overwhelming and he wanted to say something, tell her everything - everything - but then, what would she think of him? He couldn't tell her. Not now, not with the plans he - that Maelstrom - had in mind.
Rick poured over those events and knew he had to keep her safe. He had to figure out some way to make Kate leave, but without her feeling pushed.
"What?" she asked.
Her question broke him out of his trance and it was a moment before he remembered how to breathe. He saw the basket and remembered the wine. "I... I was just thinking we should open the bottle of wine I packed."
"That sounds great." Kate moved aside, giving him room to take out the wine. As she turned to face him, she said, "I'm glad you talked me into this, Rick."
"Yeah, me too," he said as he handed two glasses to her and began to fumble with the wine bottle.
When it finally opened, part of the liquid sloshed out and down his shirt. Kate laughed and the sound lightened his heart so, he couldn't help but join in her mirth. "I guess I am a little clumsy today. Want some?" he asked, holding the bottle like he would pour it on her as well.
"No, not like that," she answered, smiling as she grabbed his wrist so the wine would go into the glasses. She then handed one to him, "Here, isn't that better?"
"You have no idea," he said, and noticed Kate paused a moment. "Are you all right?"
"I'm fine," she answered and gave him an odd look, but it was gone almost as quickly as it appeared. "It's... I don't know, something in the air, I guess." Kate leaned toward him and pressed her lips against his.
He responded in kind, wanting to melt in the taste and feel of everything that was her. When they parted, he breathed, "Yeah, definitely something in the air."