Page 82 of His to Save

“It’ll work just fine,” I murmur as I practically float into the kitchen to grab a cup from the cabinet.

Atlas swoops in and steals the cup from me, filling it with water before arranging the flowers inside of it. “There you go.”

He sets it on the island and I beam. “Thank you, Atlas. I love them.”

His thoughtfulness is unparalleled. When I was a kid, my dad would always find something for Mom any time he and I did something just the two of us. Whether it was a flower, a trinket, a candy, or a card—she was always at the forefront of his mind.I remember one time I asked him why, and he said “it’s the little things that matter the most,”and Atlas is proving to me day in and day out just how right my dad was.

“Hopefully you love the rest of what I have planned just as much.”

“I know I will.” I rise up onto my tippy-toes to kiss his lips. “But I wouldn’t be mad if you wanted to give me a hint.”

“No can do, pretty girl. But grab your jacket and we can head out.”

Anticipation flares to life inside of me as I follow his instructions. I may not be sure what he has planned, but Atlas is easily the most attentive and thoughtful person I know—which means no matter what, tonight will be perfect.

CHAPTER 28

ATLAS

Ihelp Nora into her coat, and then into my truck. “Sit by me.” I pat the middle section of the bench seat. “We’re not going far.”

She raises her brows in suspicion. “How far is not far?”

Smirking, I shrug and crank the engine, driving us toward the tree line at the back of the property.

“The road’s the other way.”

“Oh, is it?” I ask, feigning confusion. “I didn’t notice.”

“Smart aleck.” She knocks her knee into mine, smiling.

I bring my hand down onto her leg, curling my fingers around her thigh, squeezing softly. “I was going to take you out somewhere fancy, dinner and a movie and all of that.”

A small, and I mean microscopic, part of me is still worried she’ll be disappointed by what I have planned.

“What made you change your mind?” There’s a softness in her voice though, and it tells me she doesn’t mind one bit.

“This is our first date—yourfirst date. I don’t want to share this with anyone.” I come to a stop a few feet away from where I have everything all set up and shift my truck into park. “Want you all to myself tonight, Pip.”

“Well.” She twists around to face me. “You have me.”

“Damn straight.” I skim my knuckles along her jawline, just barely resisting the urge to kiss her. “Now, wait here.”

I jump down from the truck and make quick work of a few last-minute details before returning to my truck for Nora. “You ready?”

She bounces in her seat and then scooches toward me, allowing me to help her down. “Yes.”

A small gasp slips past her lips as we round the back of the truck. “Atlas!”

I glance her way, pleased to see her eyes are wide with wonder.

“You did all of this for me?” she asks, taking in the set-up. Her pretty hazel eyes bounce around, not knowing where to look first.

There’s a fire going in the pit, with a pile of soft blankets a safe distance away. All the fixings for s’mores are in a basket, and there’s a full-on picnic set up buffet style along my truck’s tailgate, complete with a few bottles of water to wash everything down.

Her voice is tinged with a mixture of awe and disbelief as she takes it all in. She deserves all of this and more, and knowing that I’m the man who’s going to give it to her? It makes me feel like I’m on top of the world.

It also makes me want to keep this up for eternity—to constantly find little ways to show her how much she means to me, so that she never forgets just what she means to me.

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