Page 107 of Grumpy Darling

“Been up here a few times with Matt and the guys in the summer,” I said.

“And you never brought me?”

“It was team bonding time.”

“You hate team bonding time.”

“True.” I chuckled. “I much prefer being here with you.”

The smile that lit her face made my heartbeat pick up a gear.

She turned to look out the window once more. “Pretty good for a first date, Gray.”

I figured if I only got one chance to take Paige on a date, then I was going to do it right.

“Well, don’t speak too soon, because that’s not the view we came for. Come on.” I grabbed the hot chocolates and climbed out of the truck. Paige followed, somewhat cautiously.

“There’s a better view out here than that?” she asked as she came around the side of the vehicle.

“Yep.” I was busy pulling the cover off the truck bed. “But you’re going to have to hop up here first.”

Paige gave me a confused look and glanced over her shoulder, scanning the field behind her through the darkness.

“No, I didn’t bring you here to look at an empty field,” I said. “Just get up there, Pidge.”

Paige hesitated, but I didn’t give her more than a moment before I gently placed my hands on her waist and lifted her off the ground.

She gave a sharp intake of breath, and when I lowered her onto the tailgate she was staring directly into my eyes. For several breaths we both remained still, and every ounce of my skin vibrated at her nearness. All I could think was how close her lips were to mine.

She cleared her throat but didn’t take her eyes off me. “So, uh, what am I supposed to be looking at?”

As much as it pained me to move from my spot in front of her, I smiled and climbed up beside her. “Let me show you.”

I’d set up a camping mattress with pillows and blankets in the truck bed behind her, and I climbed onto it. I beckoned for her to join me. She lifted one eyebrow but followed. When she was sitting next to me, I wrapped one of the blankets gently around our shoulders and layered several others over our laps. Given the time of year, it was a mild night, but I still didn’t want her to get cold.

I settled back on the cushions, which were resting against the back of the cab, and looked up. When Paige did the same, she went completely still. The night sky, clear and vast above us, was covered with stars, glittering brightly, as though they were putting on a show just for us.

“You told me that people don’t spend enough time looking at the stars. Well, tonight, we have all the time in the world.”

She turned to face me. “We’re stargazing?”

“For as long as you want.”

I’d witnessed Paige’s smile thousands of times before, each one more beautiful than the last. But the one that graced her features now outdid them all, as she released a breath, tucked her head against my shoulder, and gazed up at the stars.

I lost track of time as we lay in contented silence. It could have been forever, and it wouldn’t have been long enough. Lying here with Paige in my arms, everything in the world felt peaceful and perfect. Even the nerves caused by my still secret feelings had briefly subsided.

She suddenly pointed upward. “Look, a shooting star.”

I watched as her eyes sparkled more brilliantly than anything in the sky. Staring at her now, my thumping heartbeat suddenly returned, and I knew I couldn’t spend another moment pretending she didn’t mean more to me than all the stars above us.

She turned to me, a hopeful look in her eyes. “Did you see it?”

I shook my head, nerves building. I’d been far too busy looking at her to worry about what the stars were up to.

“You missed it? How? It streaked across the whole sky. Now you don’t get to make a wish.”

I drew in a breath. This was it. Time to fly or fall. “I don’t need a wish. Everything I’ve ever wanted is already right here.”

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