We’re in the truck for about twenty minutes until he turns onto a familiar road.
The one from our first date.
My pulse leaps and my stomach flutters.
I don’t remember the direction he drove because I was so nervous I could barely see straight.
The truck goes up a hill and stops at the top in front of a blanket with pillows stacked up, surrounded by candles giving off a golden glow.
“I couldn’t do live candles, fire hazard and all. But what do you think?”
I look at him with tears in my eyes, pressing my fingers to my mouth.
He leans over and moves my hand to kiss me before hopping out. Staying in my seat, I wait for him to open the door for me.
“Thank you for waiting,” he says.
He helps me out and reaches into the bed, lifting a cooler out of the back.
“This is so nice, Coop.”
“I’m glad you like it,” he says, and moves the pillows around a bit.
“Take a seat,” he says, holding my hand and lowering me down to the ground.
He plops down next to me and opens the cooler, pulling a bottle of wine from it.
“I hope this one is good, June said it was.”
I smile and glance at the label. “It’s Italian.”
“I thought it was funny, you know … since you’re Italian.”
I snort and nod. “Yeah, looks good.”
He pulls out a container, and I know what it is before he even opens the lid.
“I’ve been craving this forweeks,” I groan.
He chuckles and pulls out two forks.
“Dessert before dinner, I like it,” I say, reaching for a fork.
Cooper rubs his mustache and stares at the cake.
“What?”
His gaze trails across my body, contemplative and full of heat.
“You’re making me nervous,” I rasp.
His hand drops, and the corner of his mouth tips up.
“Coop, what is going on?”
He chuckles and shakes his head. “I’m terrible at this. I thought I had it all figured out in my head, but I think I spontaneously forgot half the English language.”
I puff my cheeks out, deeply confused. “Did something happen to dinner? It’s okay, it’s not a big deal.”
