Ha.
In all the years I’ve known him, trusting him has never been at the top of my list.
“I see those wheels turning, Books.”
He stands up and holds out his hand, and it takes me a moment as I swoon over the nickname he gave me last night. No one has ever given me a nickname outside of the standard B for my name. But this one I love.
I just won’t tell him that.
“Come on. I’ll have you back in two hours tops, and you canwork your little heart to its max desires on whatever you deem fit for your evening.”
The bubble of laughter that escapes me makes him grin, and he stretches his hand closer to me.
“Come on now, let’s get moving.”
On a groan, I place my hand in his, and he jerks me up as if I weigh nothing.
I reach a hand up to stop myself before my body hits flush to his, but as soon as my palm rests flat to his chest, he steps back.
“I’ll drive,” he announces and heads for the front door.
I stand there for a moment, my heart hammering in my chest and my focus on my hand. At the tingles still coursing through it from the two-second touch with Dutton.
I’m not sure how long I stand there, but the horn honking outside snaps me to attention.
I rush to the door, slip my sneakers on, and grab a jacket. I’m wearing a pink T-shirt and leggings. He didn’t say I needed to change, so I guess this will have to do.
I catch a view of my appearance in the mirror by the door and let out a sigh.
The bun I put my hair in this morning has begun to fall out, and there are wisps of hair all around my face. At least my makeup is still going strong.
I grab my crossbody purse, rush out the door, and lock it behind me.
I jog to the passenger door of his truck and climb in.
“Where are we going?” I ask.
“It’s a surprise,” he tells me.
I grin.
“I love surprises.”
To that, he only chuckles.
“Well,it’s a good thing I didn’t change and decided to grab my tennis shoes instead of sandals.”
“Yes, that’s a good call.”
We both climb out of his truck as I stare at the trail in front of us.
“Has this always been out here?” I ask.
Dutton drove us through town, past the lodge, then past the marina Shay and Luca own, and kept driving. By the time he started to make the loop around Lovers Lake, I was starting to think he was just taking us on a joy ride. But then his blinker came on, and I started to lose track of the number of turns he took to get us here.
I’ve been to a lot of places around Lovers, but this, the green trees, the waterfall nearby judging from the sound, and the picnic tables that are slightly hidden, tucked into the trees … I’ve never seen it before.
“Probably.”
