Page 52 of A Place for Daydreams

He nodded, smiling almost shyly. “I mean, it was for me too. I enjoyed it. But… well yeah.”

She bounded across the garage and gave him a massive hug, squeezing him even tighter than she’d wanted to earlier. “Thank you! This is… I don’t even have the words. This is amazing.”

“You’re so welcome. I thought it would be a great way to show you that… well, I would like to do things for you, Noelle. I’d like to help you out and make sure you have the things you need, and things that make you happy. I like being around you, and I know tonight is only our first date, but I hope things continue with us.”

They stood in the garage smiling at each other. She felt her heart fluttering in her chest like a bird that wanted to fly. “I hope so too.”

Neither of them said anything for a few more moments, and then Dean grinned.

“You want to come on a drive with me?”

“Yes!” she almost squealed. “Oh my gosh, yes please.”

Dean helped her into the passenger side of the car, and she liked that he was acting like such a gentleman. She found it gracious and endearing. He hurried around to the other side of the car and got into the driver’s seat.

“Are you going to be too cold with the top down?” he asked her.

She shook her head. “Even if I am, it’ll be worth it. Besides, didn’t you offer me a jacket earlier?”

“I did.” He grinned. “It’s behind your seat there. Put it on whenever you feel like it.”

He started the engine, and they exchanged a look of excitement. Using a remote control, he opened the door of the garage and drove the Porsche through it.

“Where do you want to go?” he asked her.

“Anywhere,” she said, almost breathless. “I just want to spend some time in this car.”

With you,she thought.I think I’d go anywhere with you.

“Perfect. Wherever the wind may take us.” He chuckled. “My favorite kind of driving.”

He drove the car along Rosewood Beach’s Main Street for a while, and they waved at people they knew. The lights of shops and restaurants were glowing warmly in the dusk, and appetizing smells wafted through the air. Noelle’s stomach grumbled, and she knew that dinner was going to taste particularly good when they got around to eating it.

But first, they had driving to do.

Dean took the car farther and farther away from the heart of town, out toward the roads that led along the coast. It was a beautiful night, and as soon as the sun finished setting, the stars came out overhead, speckling the sky like diamonds.

“Such a beautiful car,” she murmured, tracing her finger along the edge of her open window. “That engine sounds great.”

“Oh, man.” He laughed. “I don’t think I can handle this. You’re beautiful and you’re kind and you say things like, ‘That engine sounds great.’”

She laughed, feeling thrilled that he’d called her beautiful. “Well, it does. And this night is incredible. It’s not too cold, and it smells all spicy like autumn always does.” In the next moment, she shivered as a gust of wind rushed over the car.

“Not too cold, huh?” he teased, noticing her shiver.

“Well, not until this moment.” She grinned and reached around behind her for Dean’s jacket. She slid it on, noticing that it smelled like him, a kind of warm, musky smell. She took a deep breath, enjoying the feeling of no longer being cold and wearing the jacket of the man she had such a crush on.

“You look great in my jacket,” he said, glancing at her as he drove.

She smiled. “It’s a great jacket.”

For a few moments, they were both quiet, but they kept stealing glances at each other and smiling. The stars twinkled overhead and the fragrant wind rushed at their faces. Noelle felt a mixture of excitement and peace that was wonderful, and not like anything she’d ever experienced before.

Unexpectedly, Dean turned the car to the left and started to drive it down an unmarked road.

“What’s through here?” Noelle asked, glancing up at the pine trees that had suddenly darkened the road.

“You’ll see.” He smiled at her and then turned to face the road as he navigated the car through difficult twists and turns.They seemed to be going deeper into a forest, and Noelle listened intently to the sound of owls hooting and the wind sighing in the pine branches.

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