Page 47 of Baked

“Who knew you were such a sweet talker, Hunter Campbell?”

“Not sweet talk, baby, just the truth.” He kept his head back but turned so he could stay looking at his woman for the rest of the ride.

It really was the truth. He didn’t care where they went as long as they were together. Steak was just a bonus.

The drive to where they were going didn’t take long. It was only when they took a turn at Little Rock Falls that he realized where they were headed. And his grin must have grown wider and wider the nearer they got.

He felt Rachel sneak peeks at him as they got closer, nervous trepidation clear on her face. When she pulled into a space overlooking the valley, she finally turned to him, flushed cheeks, wide eyes, and teeth clasping her lower lip.

“So, what do you think?” she finally asked.

“I think ... that if you wanted to make out with me, honeybun, you should’ve just asked.” He chuckled.

Her hand shot out and pushed at his arm. “That’s not why we’re here.”

“So there’s another reason you brought me to Woodvalley’s infamous make-out point?”

Twisting in his seat, he felt his smile stretch to painful levels as he took her in. She looked beautiful and a little shy as she tucked a strand of long, red hair behind her ear.

“Okay. So. Making out in your truckmighthave been on the agenda, but only after we eat steak and enjoy the view,” she admitted. “I was gonna set us up a picnic, and I brought beers for you. I put them in the cooler in the back.”

His hand came out this time and tugged Rachel into him, close enough so he could lay a soft kiss on her lips.

“Just so you know ... making out isalwayson the agenda.”

Her relieved smile managed to spread so far, it hit his chest, a new ache warming his insides.

“That’s why I’m one lucky woman.” She laid another kiss on his lips before pulling back. “Come on, we have steak to eat.”

You didn’t have to ask him twice.

Rachel had hidden all sorts in his truck bed under some tarp. There was a huge blanket that he helped her spread just in front of the truck; a camping lantern he recognized, which she’d obviously swiped from his spare bedroom; a cooler full of beer and soft drinks; and plates, cutlery, and two pink trays that she’d brought from Fairy Baked.

It was the classiest picnic he’d ever been to. He told her that too as she unpacked the food and placed it carefully onto their plates.

“That’s the point, sugar. I wanted to make this special.” She passed him over his pink tray, plate now filled to the brim. “I know we could have gone to an actual restaurant and eaten there, but then you wouldn’t get this view. And we wouldn’t be alone. And ...” She trailed off, spiking his curiosity.

“And what?” he prompted.

“And ... I wouldn’t get to make out with my man at Woodvalley’s infamous make-out point.”

A throaty laugh erupted as her smile turned audible too. “I knew it!”

“Well, I haven’t been to an actual make-out point before, so I figured we should check it out, you know, now we’re going steady and everything.”

So fucking cute.

“Is that what we’re doing... going steady?”

She gave him an adorable little shrug. Even that made his heart pound and his blood heat.

Placing his tray on the blanket, he took Rachel’s and did the same. Scooting closer, he gently cupped her soft face with his rough palm.

“This is more than going steady. This is the real thing, Rachel. This is what people spend their whole lives looking for ... you know that, right?”

Shut the fuck up. You’re gonna scare her off.

And she did look scared.

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