Page 38 of Endeavor

I chuckle. “Yep. We can have some wine and picnic and then I thought we’d go for a leisurely hike around Topanga State Park.”

She laughs. “Shouldn’t we hike first?”

“Aren’t you hungry?” I ask her.

Her grin is my answer.

“Well, then, we have to eat.”

“I suppose, but only one bottle of wine,” she declares as I park the car.

I pull out the picnic basket and take her hand, leading her to the tasting room. I watch her reaction to each wine we taste. She’s one of those people who can’t hide their true emotions, and it delights me to see how true to herself she is.

Once she’s tasted a few, we decide on a bottle and a second one for after our hike. I lead her to a spot I found a few years ago, nestled amongst the grapes on the hill and I lay out a blanket, carefully unpacking the food.

“Wow, I didn’t peg you as the romantic type,” she admits as she settles herself on the blanket.

I smirk. “I know how to woo a woman,” I add with a wink.

She rolls her eyes. “I mean, wine and some food at a vineyard is nice, but there’s more to it than that.”

“Don’t underestimate me yet. The date is just starting,” I counter as I open the wine bottle and pour us each a glass.

“Well, then, to our second date,” she says, raising a glass to mine. We look into each other’s eyes for a long moment before drinking the wine. I don’t know what she’s thinking, and I hope she can’t see through my thoughts because all of them are dirty and none of them should be said out loud, yet.

“Do you bring a lot of dates up here?” she asks, looking at the vines surrounding us and the scenery beyond.

“No, you’re the first,” I admit as I pop a grape in my mouth.

“Really?” she says with skepticism.

“Yep. I told you, I don’t date much.”

“Uh-huh,” she murmurs as she nibbles on a cracker.

“What about you? Do you date a lot?” I ask.

“Oh, no, we are still talking about you. But no, I have had one serious boyfriend and one semi-serious boyfriend. The last one was a jackass and cheated on me, so I sort of swore off men for a while. And if you don’t date, then why do I see so many photos of you with random women?”

I chuckle. “So, you admit to cyberstalking me?”

She shrugs. “I didn’t want to get in a car with a complete stranger.”

“You did at the party,” I point out.

“That was different. That was an emergency. Don’t try to weasel your way out of answering.”

“I’m not. I do have many friends…with benefits, and I won’t lie, I’ve fooled around with my fair share of groupies.” I grimace. “Shit, I don’t normally tell women that sort of thing.”

She giggles and rolls her eyes. “I’m glad I can be entrusted with all your scandalous truths.”

I laugh. “Not sure it’s very scandalous as everyone knows. But…I don’t want to lie to you. You deserve the truth.”

“Well, thank you. I’m glad you aren’t starting off…with lies,” she says, and I wonder what she was going to say but I let it go.

We are both silent as we graze on the food and look out at the beautiful sights before us. I pour more wine into her glass.

“Thank you,” she murmurs. Her eyes meeting mine and damn it, it’s like she found the weak spot in my armor. I look away, not allowing myself to feel anything.

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