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She shook her head. “I’m not authorized to divulge that information.”
I pursed my lips. “Ellie…” I warned. “What’s going on?”
Ellie took a long drink of coffee, ignoring my question.
And she stayed tight-lipped through the rest of the drive. No matter how many times I asked her and bribed her, she didn’t break. Only when she turned off onto a small dirt road did I know where we were headed.
My heart lurched, pounding with uncertainty and excitement as Ellie drove cautiously up to the secluded fishing spot where Atlas had taken me on our first official date.
I saw his truck before I saw him, leaning against the closed passenger-side door, hands in the pockets of his jeans. He smiled as the car approached.
He wasn’t working at all. I glanced at Ellie, and she grinned as she put the car into park.
“What’s going on?” I asked again.
Ellie just drank her coffee.
Atlas walked over to the car in his usual, relaxed saunter. He opened my door, lowering his head to peek in at us. “Hey, starlight.”
His low tenor sent pleasant chills across my skin.
“Hey,” I said, still suspicious.
Atlas’s eyes flicked to Ellie. “Thanks.”
She nodded. “Get her out of here before I spill the beans. She’s only asked me a thousand times and if she tries one more time, I might burst!”
Atlas chuckled, holding a hand toward me. “My pleasure.”
Still hesitant, I took his hand, and he pulled me carefully out of the car.
A nice warm breeze wafted off the river and a familiar sweet, lightly fruity smell met my nose. Atlas pulled me close to his body, one arm wrapping around my waist as he shut the door behind me with the other.
Ellie pulled away, leaving just him and me.
I glanced back at her car for a moment, worry pooling in my chest. Ellie tried to pretend she was okay, but I didn’t think she was.
“Wren?” Atlas’s voice disrupted my thoughts as he pulled me close.
“Atlas,” I whispered, looking up at him. His smile chased away all my worry, at least for now. His face glowed in the sunbeams shining down from the clear, blue sky. The rest of my words got lost in the beauty that was him.
“Come here.” He took my good hand and pulled me toward the truck. As we rounded the bed, the sweet perfume intensified, and I realized what it was. I gasped. Last time we’d been here, the truck bed had been filled with pillows and blankets. Now, it was filled with pots of bright, blossoming honeysuckle.
I glanced at Atlas, my mouth falling open.
His eyes sparkled as he took in my reaction. “I thought we could plant them in the backyard. Maybe around the guest house?”
I stared at the small little flowers that smelled so good and recalled the night we had been here last. How we’d sipped on honeysuckles with dessert and the lingering taste of them on Atlas’s lips. My cheeks heated, my chest filling with happiness at the memory.
“I think…that’s a perfect idea,” I breathed. Atlas’s hand squeezed mine, and my eyes sought out his. I smiled, matching his own.
He stepped closer, pulling me against his body as he pressed his forehead against mine.
“I’m glad you like them.” His chest rose and fell faster than usual, his breaths warm and rapid against my cheeks. “I have another idea too, and I hope you’ll like it just as much.”
I sucked in my bottom lip against a grin. “Oh yeah? What idea is that?”
He paused. His Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed. He stepped back and my smile fell in the absence of his body against mine. He kept hold of my hand though, his eyes studying me.
