Page 65 of Stealing Forever

Our conversation flows easily as we spend the next several minutes traveling out of Bridge Point and into the countryside of Deerbrook Valley, where Gareth Fox’s family owns a picturesque lakeside ranch.

Wanting a unique place for our first official date, I called in a favor.

She has no idea I have a full picnic dinner in the trunk, or that Hartley packed an overnight bag for her, just in case we decide to stay in the guest cabin instead of going home.

The road turns from smooth asphalt to bumpy gravel as I turn down the unmarked road. Up ahead, an archway with a sign reading Fox Den Ranch acts as a beacon on where to go.

“Maybe I’ve watched too many true crime shows, but is this the part where you murder me, Declan?” Hailey asks, her fingers floating up to the blindfold, preparing to lift it.

“We’re almost there, keep that on.” I touch her gently, lacing our fingers together before I bring the back of her hand to my lips.

“Okay.” Her voice is small, but she bites her lip, suppressing a smile.

When I pull my car off to the side of the lake, the sun’s beginning its descent to the horizon. The timing couldn’t be more perfect.

Hopping out, I pop the trunk before walking around to Hailey’s side and opening the door. I grab her hand and help her out, then guide her with my palm against the small of her back.

We walk down to the dock, where two wooden rocking chairs wait for us.

Before I lift her blindfold, I kiss her deeply. She sighs in contentment, then I take a step back.

Lifting the black silk from her eyes, I watch as they light up while she takes in her surroundings. “Where are we?” she asks in wonder.

“Fox Den Ranch. The Fox family owns it.”

She’s quiet as she takes in our surroundings, and for some reason, that makes me a little unsure I made the right decision in bringing her here for our first outing alone. “I know it’s not the traditional dinner and a movie?—”

“It’s perfect,” she cuts me off. Turning toward me, she wraps her arms around my middle. “Have you heard of the love languages?”

My brows raise to my forehead. “Uh, I don’t think so?”

“There are five love languages, and each individual person tends to favor one or two. Words of affirmation, physical touch, acts of service, receiving gifts, and quality time.”

“Your love language is words of affirmation.”

Hailey tosses her head back and laughs. “I think that’s only withyou, but yes, that’s a newly discovered love language. Quality time has always been my number one.”

I tighten my hold on her waist, then kiss her cheek. “Then I guess I planned a pretty good first date after all. Because it’s just you, me, and the lake for the rest of the night.”

“I love that.” She beams, and it’s prettier than the rays of the golden hour sun reflecting off the lake.

I leave her standing on the dock and go back to the car to grab the supplies out of the trunk. After setting up the picnic blanket near the side of the lake, I pull out the cooler I packed and begin arranging our food options—a charcuterie board I puttogether, since she liked the last one I made so much, and a few drink options, not knowing what she’s in the mood for.

When she joins me, she finds a seat on the blanket, then nudges my backpack with her foot. “You really do bring this thing everywhere you go.”

“A guy has to have some way to cart all his crap around. This time it’s packed with your stuff, though.” I start making her a plate, putting a little bit of everything on it.

“My stuff?” she questions as I pass it to her.

“Yeah.” I grin, picking up a plate for myself. “Rented the guest house for the night, so if you decide we should stay, we’ll stay. But if you’d like to go back, we can do that instead. Or if you get cold, you have a change of clothes.”

“You thought of all that for me?” Hailey looks stunned, and it makes me wonder something.

“I thought of all that for purely selfish reasons. Has a man ever taken you on a getaway, sweetheart?”

Her eyes widen for a second before she looks down at the plate in her hands. “Nope. Never.”

The familiar feeling of possessiveness sparks within me. “Lucky me. I get to be the one who shows you how a real man treats a woman.”

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