But my feet don’t move, and I know he picks up on my panic. He’s still standing outside my front door and places the plant down on the porch at his feet. “It’ll be fine until we can plant it,” he says, and I nod my head, stilted and unsure. “You ready to go?”
I nod again, even slower this time as I try to work on my breathing.
“Dakota.” I realize I wasn’t looking at him and instead past his broad shoulders at his truck when I hear his deep, smooth voice. My eyes lock on his. “Do you trust me?”
“W-what?” I ask him, stuttering like a fool. He’s just watching me kindly. Patiently. “Yes.”
He smiles and then holds out his hand for mine. I take it, letting his warmth overcome me as I pull my door shut, letting the lock click in place behind me. We head down the stairs toward his truck, but instead of going to the cab, he walks us around to the bed. He opens the tailgate and pulls out a cooler and a tote bag that looks pretty heavy.
“Gabe...” I start, but he motions with his head for me to follow him since his hands are full, and I walk behind him as he heads to the barn.
What exactly is happening here?
I’m in a daze as he puts the cooler down, then opens the barn door, flipping on the large light in the middle of the barn. “I hope this is okay,” he says, pulling a soft-looking blanket from the tote bag and laying it out by some of the hay bales on the floor. Hepulls out a projector and box that I see has one of those portable screens inside.
I look at him in total awe. “We’re staying here for our date?”
He honest to God looks nervous and maybe even sheepish as he walks over to the wall and starts to set up the screen. “Is this okay? I just thought, well...”
He looks over at me sweetly, his cheeks a little flushed—which hey, that’s my thing. He’s usually so confident. “That I’m a mess who doesn’t like to leave the property and might have a full-on freak-out if you take me out in public?” I try to keep my tone light, but it’s clear he was considering that, though I’m not offended.
I’m relieved . . .
And surprised, even though I shouldn’t be. I’m not used to anyone paying that much attention to my needs. But this is Gabe. Sweet, thoughtful Gabe.
“I didn’t mean it that way. I swear.” And now I’ve flustered the poor man. He turns like he’s going to take the screen down. “We can go into town and have a nice dinner.”
I hurry to stop him. “No,” I say, reaching for his hand. “This is incredible. I can’t tell you how...” I honestly get choked up, and I really need to get it together. “You’re so kind and thoughtful.” I sweep my hand out, motioning to the blanket and the cooler. “This is the nicest thing anyone has ever done for me.”
I think his ears are blushing. Is that a thing? “I just didn’t think you’d want to go out to a crowded restaurant. And I really want you to be comfortable for our first real date.”
I think about the other night when Mavis had her kittens. About that kiss I’m not sure I’ll ever stop thinking about. To me, that was our first date. Or maybe even trivia night... But I don’t want to take anything away from tonight and all the amazing effort he’s put into this.
“You got it 100 percent right,” I say, taking his hand and leading him over to the blanket. “More than I ever could’ve even imagined. I was really nervous about going out tonight...” We settle down on the blanket together, our backs resting against the large hay bales. “Not about being with you.”
Though, maybe that’s not entirely true. Not that I don’t want this with him. I never even dreamed a man like Gabe would ever want me, but hedoesmake me nervousbecauseI didn’t see it coming. I don’t want to mess this up.
“But going to a crowded restaurant?” he guesses.
“Yeah. That was terrifying. And I know I made it through trivia...” I trail off, feeling more than embarrassed. And hey, yeah, you can blush all the way to your ears if the heat coming off my own is any indication.
He takes my hand in his large, warm one and squeezes gently. “I don’t need fancy restaurants. I don’t want them.” He looks happy when he looks around the large barn. “This was for me too.”
I smile at that. Okay then. “So, what’s in the cooler?” I ask, ready to start this date.
He opens the top and starts pulling out a couple of large bowls. “I don’t know how to cook much, as my daughter would tell you, but I have spaghetti down. And I make a really great meatball.”
I grin, watching him grab two plates and forks from the large cooler. He even made a salad, which looks delicious, and garlic bread. My stomach rumbles as he plates it up for us.
“And wine?” he says it like a question, and I take the bottle from him, along with the two long-stem wine glasses he brought.
“This looks delicious,” I say, pouring the wine into the glasses and admiring my full plate. “Careful, you might spoil me.”
“Well, the only other thing I know how to make is pancakes. So don’t get too excited.”
He hands me a napkin, and I take it, hoping I don’t make too big of a mess as I dig in. “I love pancakes,” I say, then twirl the noodles onto my fork and take a small bite. “Damn, that’s good.”
He looks pleased and not nearly as worried about making a mess, shoveling food into his mouth. I can’t help but laugh when sauce splatters over his lip. I take a napkin and wipe it for him, enamored by the gorgeous, sweet man.
