Page 57 of Small Town Sash

Hadley chuckled. "They don't teach that in search and rescue?"

"Apparently not," Braden said, finally turning the key and bringing the truck to life.

As they drove down the winding roads of their small town, he snuck peeks at Hadley, her face illuminated by the dashboard lights.

"How about some music?" he asked, trying to fill the silence that was slowly creeping in.

"Sure," she replied, flipping through the radio stations until she found something that got her nodding and humming.

To his surprise, it wasn't pop or country but old-school rock that made her sway from side to side. With each passing moment, Hadley seemed less like a beauty queen and more like a woman he could fall in love with. Just like that, Braden felt his heart grow lighter. Maybe he wasn't so out of his league after all.

"Ready for our escape to Woody?" he asked as he pulled into the neighboring town.

"Absolutely. The less gossip, the better," Hadley replied, unbuckling her seatbelt as they pulled into a parking spot. "Plus, I'm curious about this mysterious spot you've been hyping up."

"Trust me, it's worth the suspense," he said, a smile playing at the corners of his mouth.

"Lead the way, Captain Mysterious." She smiled, a playful challenge in her voice.

"Captain Mysterious, huh?" Braden glanced at her, the humor in his brown eyes undercutting his feigned indignation. "You do realize I'm a sergeant, not a captain, right?"

"Technicalities," Hadley dismissed with a wave of her hand. "Tonight, we're both whatever we want to be."

"Then tonight," he said, the words rolling off his tongue before he could stop them, "I want to be the guy who makes you forget everything except how much fun you're having."

"Bold move," she said, a grin spreading across her lips. "Let's see if you can deliver, Sergeant."

"I'm up for the challenge," Braden replied with a wink. He got out of the truck and moved to open Hadley's door, extending his hand.

She looked at him for a moment, her eyes sparkling in the moonlight, before she finally took his hand and stepped out. "You're quite the gentleman, Sergeant. I didn't realize they taught that in the Air Force."

"There's more to us than just guns and wars, Miss Wilder. We have layers." He tapped his temple playfully.

"Just like onions." She laughed as they made their way to his secret destination.

He led her through a small, almost hidden path that opened into a breathtaking patio illuminated by the glowing moon and countless stars above. A few old-fashioned lanterns were hung between the surrounding trees, casting their warm light around the special area.

Hadley gasped at the sight. "This...this is incredible, Braden."

He gave a proud nod, looking at her reaction rather than the setup itself. "Well, it seems I'm delivering on my promise."

If the night was about showing Hadley that he could be more than just a soldier and she could be more than just a beauty queen, then it was off to an excellent start.

Braden pulled out a chair for Hadley, and the warm aroma of garlic and tomato filled the air as the door behind them opened.

"Welcome to Mama Mia's Italian Ristorante," a man with a thick Italian accent said as he came out with two menus and handed them over.

Hadley flashed Braden a thankful smile, settling into her seat as she took her menu. The candle flickering between them cast a soft glow on their faces.

"Can I get you something to drink?" the man offered.

"I'm game for some wine. Want to split a bottle?" Braden offered.

Hadley nodded. "Sounds nice."

"A bottle of your finest red wine," Braden requested.

The server hurried off, leaving them alone.

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