Page 36 of More Than a Little Spark

“Yeah.Well, here’s hoping I call you squealing later.Bye.”I end the call and yank open the door before Carson even has a chance to knock.

“Hey there.”He holds out a small gift bag.“I got you a little something.”

Ignoring the bag, I wrap my arms around him.“I’ve missed you.”

He tightens his embrace and pulls me close.“Same.I know we text or talk every day, but it’s not the same as seeing you and holding you.”

I pat his chest as I pull back.“Now, let’s see that bag.And I don’t know why you brought a gift because you already sent me those amazing flowers.”I point over my shoulder to where the bouquet is sitting.

He grins.“It’s just something small.My way of asking if you’ll be my valentine.”

“Yes!”I pull a box of chocolates and a bar of soap.“Is this your soap?”

“I haven’t personally usedthatbar because giving used soap as a gift is weird, but that’s the kind I use.”

I inhale the absolute delicious scent of the bar.“It’s amazing.I may just tuck it under my pillow.”

“We should head out.The food is in insulated bags, but I don’t want to risk it getting warm.”He holds out his hand.Waiting for me to clasp it.

I do.And just like always, the warmth of his hand has my heart swing dancing in my chest.“We should go dancing sometime.Do you like to dance?”

“Haven’t been dancing much.Or at all.But I’m up to try.”

Conversation flows as comfortably as always while we make our way to the picnic spot.After passing the entrance to Stargazer Springs Ranch, he drives another half mile before turning onto a dirt road.

“If I’d known we were coming to the ranch, I could have met you here.You didn’t have to drive all that way just to come get me.”

“And miss spending time with you on the way?Where’s the fun in that?Valentine’s Day is about spending time together.”He punches a code into a keypad, and the gate swings open.

“Aren’t you worried someone will see us together here on the ranch?”I don’t mention Fred by name, but it’s not hard to figure out what I mean.

“Fred’s in school for another couple of hours.Then Poppy is picking him up.Plus, the boys don’t come to this part of the ranch.Beau has a cabin out here, and he and Lilith are the only ones who come out this way.But when I was talking to Ava about planning a picnic, Beau walked in and suggested this spot.”

“This area is beautiful.”

“It is.”He parks in front of a cabin.“I figured we’d lay the blanket out over by the creek.”

It isn’t long before we have a large denim blanket stretched out.Carson sets two cooler bags on one corner, then strides back to the truck.He returns with an armful of throw pillows.

“Did you buy those just for today?Because you don’t look like the throw pillow type.Plus, you didn’t have any when I was at your house that day.”

“Guilty as charged.And if you want them when we’re done, they’re all yours.I’m not sure I’d convince Fred that I bought a bunch of throw pillows for no reason.”

“I can keep them until our next picnic.”Am I angling for another date?Yes, I definitely am.I want a lifetime of dates with Carson.It’s way too early to say that out loud, but I can think it.

Chapter15

Carson

Carson

Daphne holds out the last chocolate-covered strawberry.“Open up.”

“You can eat it.”

She shakes her head.“I want you to have it.”

I open my mouth and let her feed me.The date started off great and just keeps getting better.“Thank you.”

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