I was quietly trying to decide if I liked the idea of a picnic among the tallgrass or not when a clearing came into view. I sucked in a breath, stunned.
“Gorgeous, huh? Just wait until the sun starts to set.”
A sparkling pond sat before us, sunshine reflecting off its gentle ripples, and a lush weeping willow stood off to one side. It was pretty enough to be a landscape painting.
A small, wrought-iron table for two was set up with china and silverware.
“How…” I glanced around. “Do you live out here?”
“No. I wish.” He chuckled. “Met a nice fella who was interested in our store. He brought me out to go fishing, and I couldn’t get over how peaceful it was out here.”
“It’s pretty amazing.”
As a guy who planned weddings in plenty of rural locations, I was impressed. This was a well-kept secret. I sure had never been out this way.
Bryson carried the food to the table and set it down, then pulled out a chair. “Please, sit.”
This was surreal. I’d never met someone who made this kind of effort, especially on a first date. I couldn’t decide if it was sweet or scary.
Maybe both.
I sat down, and Bryson put his hands on my shoulders, thumbs brushing up along each side of my neck. “I hope it’s not too much,” he murmured. “I just believe in starting how I mean to go on.”
“And how—” A shiver racked me, and my voice cracked. I cleared my throat. “How do you mean to go on?”
Bryson stepped aside and began unpacking the food. He set a large cobb salad and container of blue cheese dressing in front of me. “I just believe in showing people you appreciate them. If this goes beyond one date, I want you to know that I’ll treasure you.”
I bit my bottom lip, glancing at the handsome man, the scenic view, and the romantic table setup. Never had my jaded heart been so conflicted.
“I know,” he said with a chuckle. “I’m coming on too strong.”
“It’s…sweet,” I said carefully.
“But too much for you?”
He didn’t seem offended, more curious.
I chose my words carefully. After all this effort, Bryson deserved that much.
“I don’t date much. I should be honest with you. I agreed to this match because the mamas wouldn’t leave me alone. It was the best way to get them to back off.”
“Ouch.” He laughed and mimed stabbing a dagger into his heart.
“It’s not about you at all,” I said quickly, not wanting to ruin this beautiful night. “All this is lovely. You seem like a really great guy.”
He smiled easily as he dug into the steak dinner he’d plated for himself. “Iama great guy. A real catch, Silas. You’d becrazyto toss this fish back.”
I laughed. “The fishing metaphor really sells it.”
“I figured that’d resonate with you. You look like a man who loves to get his hands dirty.” He winked playfully.
“Oh, I do,” I purred. “Just depends on the kind of dirt.”
Bryson swallowed hard, looking thrownfor the first time. Good. He’d unbalanced me enough for one night. It was about time the tables turned.
He cleared his throat. “So, uh, what do you do, Silas? Tell me about yourself.”
“Besides get dirty with men?” I joked.
