“The best.” Melanie squinted into the sun.
“I’m glad.” Gabe was glad to see her smile. “This tree swing has quite the reputation around here.”
“Oh, really? What does it do?”
Gabe stared into the most incredibly blue eyes he’d ever seen. A blush from the sun settled on her cheeks and a smattering of light freckles dusted over her nose. He swallowed and tried to find his voice. “It makes people throw caution to the wind.”
A light sparked in her eye and he thought he saw her wink. “Me? Throw caution to the wind? Not in a million years.”
Gabe offered Melanie a hand up. Her fingers were warm in his palm. They locked gazes and couldn’t look away. His insides churned.
Then her son Jason ran up and wrapped his arms around her. “You were great!” He turned toward Gabe. “Will you push me, Gabe?”
Gabe nodded. Melanie looked away, breaking the spell between them. She ruffled Jason’s hair.
“Okay. Just once.” She glanced back again with a shy smile. “Then my turn.”
All Gabe could do was nod.