"Yes, it was delicious, thank you," she replies. "Where did you learn to cook?"
Her smile tells me she's genuinely interested. I can't remember the last time someone was genuinely interested in knowing something about me. "After I graduated, and Brody and I moved in to our own place, we lived on take-out food for six months. Eventually we grew tired of it and I learned how to cook. My food is almost better than my moms."
She laughs and shakes her head. "I bet your mom will disagree."
"She's a woman," I joke, "You're all genetically designed to disagree with everything."
She throws a napkin at me. "We are not!"
"See, you just proved my point."
She folds her arms across her chest and pouts. It makes it nearly impossible for me not to stare at her breasts.
I laugh at her as I finish off my burger, catching sight of a smudge next to her mouth. I move so that I'm right next to her and as I lower my head I say "Don't move."
Her eyes widen slightly but she doesn’t move. I place a kiss on the side of her mouth and effectively remove the smudge. Hmmm, it tastes better like this.
"You had some sauce right here," I wipe the spot I just kissed with my thumb. She shivers.
Another internal fist pump.
I'm about to inch closer when her phone rings. We both jump.
She grabs it out of her bag and answers. Her eyes never leave mine.
"Hello?"
"Yes Demi, we're fine."
I can't hear what Demi is saying but I'm pretty sure she's making sure I'm behaving.
"No."
Pause.
"Ok, I will." She rolls her eyes.
"Yes, ok Demi, I'll kick Grayson in the balls if he tries anything funny."
I muffle my laughter. Demi is a little crazy sometimes but her concern for Huntley is endearing.
Huntley ends the call and puts her phone away. "Sorry about that, Demi wanted to make sure I was ok. She's been a little overprotective lately, you know, after...." she trails off. She's referring to Saturday night.
"I understand," is all I can say. I look away because the situation hit a little too close to home. No one will understand the collision of guilt and relief I felt when I found her. I had a hard time dealing with it, knowing that my sister wasn't so lucky. I didn't get to her in time.
Huntley must've noticed the change in my mood. She touches my arm and I look up to find her eyes watching me. But it's not pity I see. It's understanding.
"I didn't say thank you," she whispers, "For coming to me. For saving me."
Little does she know that she's the one saving me. She brings me back to life. I want so much to tell her, but it's too soon.
She brings her palm up to my face and I lean into it, placing a gentle kiss on the inside of her palm. Words are not needed. I know she understands what I'm saying without them.
After a few minutes of staring at each other, I remember why I brought her here. Why I wanted our first date to be here.
"I have something to show you," I say. "But first, let me clear this stuff up."
I pack the picnic basket and put it back in the truck. I decide to turn on the radio and let the music play softly through the open windows. I get back onto the flatbed and position myself against the back of the truck's cab. Huntley is sitting next to me, fiddling with her fingers. I want her closer so I wrap an arm around her waist and lift her until she's settled between my legs with her back against my chest. She fits perfectly under my chin and between my arms, like the space was specially carved for her. Her body tenses.
I brush her hair to the side and kiss her bare shoulder, "Relax," I whisper. Her skin breaks out in goosebumps before she finally relaxes against me. My cock stirs slightly as she moves her bottom closer to me and I will him to calm down. It's going to be a long night if I don't reel it in.
By now the sun has set and it's dark. I have candles in the back but I don't know if we'll need them yet. I'm about to show her the second most beautiful sight I've ever seen, the first being her naked body.
"Look up."
Her head moves up and she gasps. "Oh my God, Grayson. It's..." her words disappear as we take in the magnificence of a clear sky littered with stars. We definitely won't need those candles. The stars are all the light we need.
"I know."
We sit in a comfortable silence for what feels like an eternity. It's getting late but I don't want this moment or this night to end yet. Just then 'God Bless The Broken Road' by Rascall Flatts comes on. "I love this song," Huntley whispers. I almost thought she fell asleep because of how quiet she was.
I also like this song and it gives me an idea.
I push Huntley forward slightly and slip out from behind her. I jump off the flatbed of the truck and hold my hand out to her, watching confusion wash over her face. She follows my lead and takes my hand so that I can help her jump down.
"Are we leaving?" She does little to hide her disappointment at the thought that our date might be over.
"No silly," I reply. "Dance with me.'