It should have been corny. Itwascorny. But try telling that to my fluttering heart.
Shit shit shit.
I might be in trouble.
Bryson got into the driver’s seat and backed out of the driveway. He headed downtown, so I braced myself for a night at The Stag Pub. The Dinner Bell was too serious for a first date, and Taco Loco wasn’t in our path.
Sure enough, Bryson pulled into an angled parking spot a few feet from the pub a minute later. I laughed to myself. Okay. I wasn’t in any trouble if this was his idea of romancing me.
“Wait here,” he said. “Just gotta run inside for a minute.”
I paused as I reached for the door handle. “What now?”
“Just grabbing some takeout.” He winked. “Did you think I’d really take you to the local pub for a date?”
“Uh…”
He smirked and patted my thigh, which did weird things to my insides. “I can see I’ve got my work cut out for me. Be back in a sec.”
He slid out of the pickup and strolled inside. Well. He was full of surprises, wasn’t he?
Bryson returned with three bags stuffed with food and placed them in the back of the extended cab behind us. “Don’t worry. Maude hooked me up with all your favorites.”
“Oh,” I said faintly. “Okay. So…whatisthe plan then?”
He brushed his thumb along my jawline, making my lips crave a kiss. “I want to surprise you.”
“You already have.”
He smiled and withdrew, leaving me tingling for more. “You haven’t seen anything yet.”
This was like no date I’d ever been on. Bryson drove out of downtown, through the northeast neighborhood, and then got on the highway. I watched the miles flash by, wondering if I should be worried about where this stranger was taking me.
I’d only known Bryson for half an hour, at most, but I was pretty sure I could trust him.
He’d already told me half his life story. He grew up in the South, and he’d only recently moved to Granville to open a sporting goods store with his brother. He’d been too busy to get out much, which is why I hadn’t seen him around town.
“Where the heck are we going?” I finally asked as he turned onto a dirt road.
“Just a special place I think you’ll enjoy.”
“And how do you already have a special place when you’re so new to town?”
He grinned. “I’m just lucky that way, I guess.”
He pulled to the side of the road and killed the engine. There were fields and trees as far as I could see.
I turned toward him. “You’re not going to leave my body here, right? Because I gotta warn you, I might be smaller than you, but I’m scrappy. I’ll fight you off and then the police will get involved. It won’t be pretty.”
He laughed. “I wouldn’t dream of trying to take you on.”
I narrowed my eyes. “I’m not kidding.”
“I know, darlin’. I’m wise enough to pick the battles I can win.”
Well, he was smarter than most men. I’d give him that. Heopened his door. “There’s a pond a short walk from here. Gorgeous view. I’ve got it all set up.”
He retrieved the food while I hopped out of the truck. I wasn’t dressed for hiking through fields, but the ground was relatively dry and firm. It was an easy walk along a well-traveled path.
