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“Leah, go out with me.”
I don’t even have to consider my answer.
“Okay,” I say.
I haven’t goneon a date since…well, since before getting pregnant with Anna. And to be honest, it almost feels like it’s the first date of my life. When Gabby comes over to babysit for me, she assures me that the maxi dress and strappy sandals I’m wearing straddle the right line between sexy and appropriate for almost anywhere.
“You’re sure my ass doesn’t look too big in this?” I say.
“Are you kidding?” says Gabby. “You look amazing. Work those curves.”
I laugh, thank Gabby for the support, then give my sweet little Anna a kiss goodnight.
When River picks me up, he won’t tell me where we’re going. I feel safe with him as I sit in the passenger seat of his truck, though. He drives us across a bridge to a small island and pulls the truck over at a roadside parking area. Before I can open my door, River runs around the front of the truck and pulls my door open for me.
It’s hard to believe someone as wonderful as him exists.
I look around the almost empty parking area. “What are we doing here?”
“Having dinner,” he says, and pulls a picnic basket and blanket out from behind the seats. Then he leads me to a trail on the other side of the parking area, and we start to make our way down the path.
With one turn, the entirety of the ocean is spread out beneath us. The cliffs are high—at least a hundred feet above the ocean.
It’s truly breathtaking.
River spreads the blanket out, sits down, and pats the space beside him. I happily take the seat. As I get comfy, he fishes glasses and a bottle of wine out of the basket, then pours me a glass before he starts dishing out small containers of figs, grapes, cheeses, and crackers.
“It’s gorgeous out here,” I say, lowering the wine glass from my lips.
“Isn’t it? I come here all the time.”
Something squeezes in my chest. Suddenly, I can picture it: River bringingeverywoman that he dates out here.
I knew he was too good to be true.
“Hey,” says River.
When I look over at him, he’s frowning at me.
“What’s wrong?” he asks.
“Oh, it’s…nothing. I just realized I was being idealistic about something.”
River raises an eyebrow. “Care to elaborate?”
“No. It’s okay. Let’s just enjoy the view.”
“If something’s bothering you, I want to know, Leah.”
Wow. He reallydoesseem like he wants to know.
“Okay…” I say slowly. “Well, I just realized that you’ve probably taken a lot of women here. It’s…your ‘spot,’ or whatever.”
“Itismy ‘spot.’ But not for first dates.” He smiles at me gently. “I don’t really go on dates, in fact. And I’ve never brought a woman up here.”
“Oh.” I grimace. “Okay. Now I feel like a total idiot. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to assume anything. It’s just…well, I’ve experienced that kind of thing before.”
“You deserve a hell of a lot better than that, Leah.”
