Page 116 of Puck Me Secretly

“I’m confident I could catch on.”

I could feel the goofy grin on my face but I couldn’t stop smiling if I tried. “What’s in the bag?”

“I might have stolen something.”

“You stole something?” my eyes were wide. “What?”

“An idea.”

“I’m confused.”

“I stole a page out of the Baby Boys’ book.”

“Now I’m intrigued.”

“Do me a favor and climb on the bed?”

“With or without my clothes.”

“You dirty girl,” he teased, but his eyes darkened as they focused on my mouth. “Clothes for this stage.”

I climbed on the bed. He set the box down and put his hands on his hips. “I’ve never done this before.”

“Done what?”

He stared at me for a moment. “I brought you dinner.”

“What?”

“It’s a picnic.” He dug into the box. “Here is the wine.” He pulled out a bottle of white.

“You brought me a picnic?”

“Yes.”

That day on the plane, I had told Max that the Baby Men brought me picnics. And he had scoffed. Now he was here, looking slightly unsure of himself.

“I thought you didn’t do this kind ofstuff?”

“I don’t.”

Which made this even more meaningful. I sat on my knees and the smile on my face was huge. “Show me.”

“Fruit.” He pulled out a plastic tray of cut fruit.

“I love fruit.”

“Veggies.” Another plastic tray followed.

“I adore veggies.”

He studied a box. “Some saltine crackers.”

“How did you know those are my favorite crackers?”

“Cheese?” He held up a block of cheese. Not a Camembert or a delicately wrapped Emmental, he had bought a block of plastic wrapped marble cheese. It might be the most adorable thing anyone had ever done for me.

“My mouth is watering.”

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