Page 45 of Out of Sight

“Do you think that’s safe?” I asked instead. “We’re not supposed to even run around the block without Jim.”

“I don’t see why not. We’re in tiny-ass Darling Cascades, Oregon. No one will ever know we’re here, and no one will recognize us. That’s why Jim went ahead and let me go with him to the drugstore yesterday, right? So why not do a little something for ourselves, too?”

“Well…” I considered. “It would be nice to do something in a traditional way. Go on a date before we actually have sex. I’ve heard of worse things.”

He copied my shrug, still looking a bit nervous. “So it’s a go?”

“It’s a go,” I smiled. “What did you have in mind?”

“I thought I’d sneak you out for a picnic?” he asked, straightening up from the doorway to reveal he’d already packed a basket for us.Awww.“And I saw a pretty cool bookshop in town when we drove through yesterday. Everything’s in walking distance since this place is so tiny.”

“I didn’t know you were a big reader.”

“I’m not, but you are,” he shrugged.

Be still, my heart.He noticed the little things, too.

“I’d like that,” I told him, standing up and taking his offered hand.

“Lunch isn’t anything fancy, just so you know. Sandwiches and pre-packaged macaroni salad. We can eat something else if you don’t like those.”

“I like sandwiches,” I told him truthfully, but would have happily eaten something worse. The thought that he wanted to do this for us meant a lot.

“We just need to grab something to drink. I can get a couple bottles of that lemonade you like from the fridge? I mean, if you want.”

“Mmhm. I want it a lot,” I purred, giving a classic Will type of wink.

“Do you? Before I even get a chance to woo you? I might feel a little used, but I think I can get the engines revving for you, honey.”

“Pervert,” I teased, lightly smacking him on the chest. “Come on, let’s get this show on the road.”

The walk to his little picnic spot was perfect. The weather was warm, sun shining, and flowers were finally noticing it was spring, just beginning to bloom.

Will held the basket in one hand and wrapped his other arm over my shoulder, holding my hand and lacing his fingers through mine with the free hand.

We walked down the street for a couple blocks when Will abruptly turned us off the sidewalk. He led us onto a small trail that meandered into the forest that seemed to exist in every single crevice between man-made structures. He led me confidently down the path, not pausing at the fork that appeared ahead of us as he veered left. After a couple more minutes he steered us directly off the path and into the thick of the forest.

“Do you even know where you’re going?” I asked. I trusted Will, but didn’t know him well enough to trust if he had a good sense of direction.

“Yup,” he said simply. “We should almost be there.”

And he was right. There was a gorgeous blue lake splayed out before of us like something out of a painting. It was a shame I couldn’t pay better attention to the gorgeous scene when Will’s handsome face took precedence in my mind.

Will opened the picnic basket and laid out a blanket, inviting me with a nod to join him on the ground. I gave him a shrug before sitting with him, pretending that I wasn’t insanely impressed with the way he pulled this date out of thin air.

He wrapped his arms around me as I sat in front of him, my back to his chest. I could feel the smile on his lips as he kissed below my ear. “What do you think of the view?”

My eyes were closed to the lake; behind my eyelids all I could see were his handsome navy eyes. “It’s perfect,” I answered, tilting my head to give him more room to work with.

“Well, to meyouare perfect,“ he said, that smile growing wider against my skin. He had to know he was quoting chick flicks. Hehadto! Then he aimed his lips farther south, running down my neck and I didn’t care if it was on purpose or just a coincidence.

“How did you find this place?” I asked dreamily, enjoying the attention he lavished on me.

“A couple teenagers were in the aisle at the drugstore next to me, talking about how there’s lots of good places to ‘go on a hike’ with a girl. I wasn’t ashamed to ask for directions to one close to home,” he grinned, utterly unapologetic.

“Jim said we weren’t supposed to talk to people.”

“He also said we shouldn’t leave the house without him, but look how well this is turning out for us.”

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