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Oh well, he’d take whatever win he could get at this point.
It took about forty-five minutes to arrive at their destination, and due to how far into the mountains they’d gone, it felt later now that the sun started its descent. Wade hopped out of his truck and hurried around to open the door for Brielle before he retrieved the supplies Annabel insisted he needed.
He turned, arms piled high with the supplies for a picnic and stargazing, to find Brielle wandering toward the edge of the overhang they’d arrived at. She stopped at the makeshift rail and looked down at the valley below them.
This outlook was one of the better-kept secrets of Copper Creek. As far as Wade was aware, only a few families knew about it.
A shallow yet wide stream gurgled straight through the clearing, coming off a nearby mountain. It flowed as if it had a mind of its own, a freedom that could never be attained by those who lived in the small town. Over the years, he’d felt trapped merely because he couldn’t fathom finding his way in a big city. It was just harder to leave a place like Copper Creek and expect to survive. The stream’s path had been carved in the ground for centuries, straight toward the edge of the cliff and over its edge.
There was still light coming off the setting sun, enough to illuminate her silhouette against an orange and red sky. When she didn’t turn to face him, he started to worry. Should he have taken her somewhere fancy? That’s what Tad had done. He’d shown her a good time at a place that was out of Wade’s budget. Every penny had to be accounted for, and he didn’t think he could pull much out even for an evening this important.
His excitement dimmed as he wandered toward her. He should have figured out a way to move some of their finances around. Brielle came from a family with means. Or he could have contacted Shane and asked for his help.
His boot kicked at a stone and it skidded across the earth happily. Brielle straightened and finally turned toward him. Her face was cast in shadow, making it incredibly hard to read. There was only one thing he distinctly felt in this moment, and it was her gaze. She had it set on him so deeply that he didn’t have any other choice but to stand stock-still right where he was.
“How is it that I’ve been living in this town since I was born and I’ve never been up here?” she said. Her head twisted around so she could look at the valley once again. “You’d think that at least one guy I’d dated would have shown me this place.”
Relief. That was the first emotion he felt wash over him like a wave. She liked it here. Wade moved forward, placed his supplies on the ground, then leaned against the rail beside her. “I don’t know that many know about this place, and if they do, they’re a little too old to make it up here. Those narrow, one-way roads are a little tricky to maneuver.”
Brielle turned to meet his gaze. “I suppose it’s for the best. This place is beautiful. The last thing you want is for the whole town and all the tourists to come up here and turn it into some kind of make-out point. Then again, that was probably what this place was in its heyday.” She gave him a pointed look. “Is that why you brought me out here?”
A heat started in his stomach, one he was familiar enough with to know it wasn’t going to be leaving any time soon. It crept into his chest and continued spreading until it filled his ears and neck. Thank goodness the light was all but gone. Otherwise, she’d get a front-row seat to his maddening reaction.
Her burst of laughter set a small flock of birds fleeing from a nearby tree and into the sky. She faced the valley once more, shaking her head. “You’re too serious, you know that?”
“I’d beg to differ,” he said.
“No.” She glanced at him briefly. “But it’s a good thing. You remind me of my dad.”
He grimaced. Herfather?
She snickered again. “It’s not what you think. My dad is…strong. He had to be. He lost the love of his life when we were kids. He had to raise us all and try to keep us safe, all while providing for us. Our family is one of the larger ones in this area—well, except for yours.” Her eyes reflected the last remaining light in the darkening sky. “I might not have appreciated it when I was growing up.” She huffed. “I definitely thought he needed to lighten up. But I guess I realize now why he did everything he did.”
A breeze picked up around them, tugging on his hat and her hair. The earth went quiet as if allowing Brielle’s words to sink into his soul. There were worse things for her to compare him to.
Brielle inched closer to him, turning toward him completely. She tilted her head and her voice softened. “I think it’s admirable what you have been able to do for your family.”
His whole body tremored with her compliment. This was a side of her he hadn’t seen before, not even when they’d dated a few months ago. Was she actually tearing down the walls she’d erected around herself?
The excitement that coursed through his veins was short-lived. If she was opening up to him, then what if she was doing the same with Tad? This could just be the side of Brielle that she hadn’t shared with anyone before.
Wade had to push those negative thoughts aside. He wanted this to work out not just to get a certain person out of their town but because he knew he wanted to be with Brielle more than anyone he’d ever met. This was his chance.
And Annabel had given him all the tools he needed to do so.
Before he said anything to ruin the moment, he jerked his chin over toward a grassier area. “I have blankets and snacks… and another surprise.”
Brielle cocked her head to the side, but he didn’t let her get out a single question before he grasped onto her hand and tugged her toward the area he’d pointed out.
Once the blankets were spread and the food was set out, he glanced at the time. They had about fifteen minutes.
Brielle still stood over him, having watched him make the preparations for their evening. She laughed when he sprawled out on the blanket and patted the spot beside him. She glanced to where he gestured and placed a hand on her hip. “I don’t know what you’re expecting me to do with you tonight, but right now, it’s looking pretty risqué.”
He rolled his eyes. “Nothing is going to happen.”
She frowned, her lips puckering. “Not even a kiss?”
And just like that, the heat in his chest swelled to intolerable levels. He didn’t want to think about that right now. This was a date where he was supposed to show that he was someone she could spend the rest of her life with. Wade sighed and patted the blanket. “Will you just sit down? It’s going to start soon.”
