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“Seriously?”
“She’s likely exaggerating.” He thought about that for a moment. “Maybe.”
“Where are we?” she asked.
“This is Malone land. But the ranch’s main house is still a ten minute drive from here.”
They stepped up to the table and Hannah couldn’t wait for the sun to go down so she could see the fairy lights in the dark. No wonder he’d wanted her to wear a jacket.
“This is so beautiful. I can’t believe you did this for me.”
“Why wouldn’t I do this for you?”
Because I’m not worth all this fuss.
Stop it. She wasn’t about to let that stupid voice derail this for her. Take away something so beautiful.
Raid held out a chair, and she sat. “There’re even cloth napkins.”
“Clem said we needed them. That kind of surprised me, since I’m pretty sure Clem doesn’t own any napkins. Half the time, she doesn’t even use glasses to drink.”
She didn’t know Clem well, but from the few times she’d met her, she’d seemed hilarious.
Then Raid picked up her plate before moving to the other table.
“Oh, I can get my food.” She stood and took the plate from him, then waited for him to grab his plate before moving to the table. He lifted the lids of the trays.
Whoa. That was a lot of food.
“Are people joining us for dinner?” she joked.
“They better damn well not,” he replied. “Although with my family, you can never be too sure. If they show up, don’t get alarmed if I pick you up and run for it.”
“Why would we run?”
“Because those bastards will devour everything in sight. They’re interfering and nosy. And I am not ready to share you.”
“Is that why we’re here tonight and not at Fet or Dirty Delights?”
He turned to her. “Why would I take you to Dirty Delights for our first date?”
“I don’t . . . I don’t know. There aren’t many options in town.”
He stared down at her for a long moment. “Was that what you were worried about?”
“What?” she asked, even though she knew what he was asking.
“In the truck on the way here, you looked worried, and I asked if you were all right. Was that what was concerning you?”
“I guess I thought you might take me to Fet, and I didn’t feel ready for that.”
“You should learn to trust me.”
She sucked in a breath. “I mostly do. And I think . . . I think I’m getting there, Raid.”
“Good.” He filled his plate and carried it to the table. She gave herself far smaller portions of the beef cheek casserole, mashed potatoes, and mixed greens.
“This looks so good.”
“It does?”
“Um, yep. You don’t think it does?” she asked.
“I think you gave yourself enough to feed a rabbit.”
“I, um, this is as much as I need.”
Mumbling to himself, he grabbed her plate and returned to the table. With a far larger portion of everything.
“Raid! I can’t eat this much.”
“You can try.”
Dear. Lord.
He was out of control. She glared up at him until he drew her chair out for her. And then she melted again.
25
“That didn’t happen.” She gaped at Raid as he took a sip of his beer.
Oh, did she mention there was a portable cooler filled with drinks? He’d really thought of everything.
“It did.”
“But that’s terrible!”
“It was his own fault. He shouldn’t be so uptight. I mean, we shouldn’t have had to go to school every day.”
“Everyone has to go to school every weekday.”
“Really? Seems barbaric. Still, West needed to learn a lesson.”
“So you filled his car with balloons that were filled glitter!”
“Every time one popped, more glitter filled his car. He got it detailed and still years later, he’d find some glitter. Best prank ever.”
“Poor West. I’m beginning to see why he is the way he is.”
Raid grinned at her. “And what way is that, darlin’?”
Uh-oh. Hannah squirmed in her seat. They’d finished their meal and were now talking while the sun was beginning to go down, and the fairy lights were flickering on. Soon, it was going to be utterly magical.
“I’d rather not say,” she replied primly.
He roared with laughter. “Right. Only I can see it on your face. You’re thinking what we’ve all thought a time or two.”
“What’s that?”
“How the hell does Flick put up with him?”
“Raid Malone! I was not thinking that!”
She totally had been.
“Are you going to eat some more?” he asked.
“Oh no, I’m finished.”
He gave her plate a look of disapproval. Then he folded his arms over his chest. “Did you eat lunch?”
“Yes, I ate lunch.”
“Got to keep an eye on you.”
“You do not! No one has ever had to keep an eye on me. I’ve never filled someone’s car with glitter balloons.”
He grinned down at her as he stood and took hold of her hand. Then he led her closer to the river. Letting go of her hand, he bent, picked up a flat stone and flicked it, sending it skimming across the water.
