Page 55 of A Cowboy's Trust
Tansy slid into position at his side, and they headed for the door at a quick pace. “Don’t wait up for us,” Tansy called over her shoulder as she nabbed a coat off the side hooks and all but dragged Jake out the door.
“Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do,” Sydney called.
“That sentence is such a waste of air,” Petra complained. “Some time you’ll have to make an actual list of what you wouldn’t do so we can explain this to you in detail.”
Jake pulled the door closed on the friendly teasing and put his attention back on Tansy. “Now that we’re alone, can we try that again? Hi, Tansy. You look beautiful.”
“Thank you. I’m looking forward to spending the night with you.” Tansy followed willingly as he guided her to the truck and popped her into the driver side door. She slid to the middle seat and stayed there.
Spending the night. Thank goodness and thank God. He didn’t want to assume, but he really hoped that meant he got to wake up with her in his arms.
As usual, she waited until they were on the highway before starting the inquisition. “You didn’t turn toward Heart Falls. I assume we’re headed out to Diamond Valley?”
“Nope.”
Tansy leaned to the side and peered into his face. “Curious. Well, since this is the master-planned date of excellent dates, I trust you. Although, I have to say Sydney spilled the beans that my friends might have tried to give you dating advice over the past couple of days.”
Dangerously true. “It’s a good thing I think they like me. I can’t imagine what they would have suggested if they were trying to warn me off.”
Tansy groaned. “Like what?”
“Sydney insisted you are secretly afraid of the dark. Under no circumstances should I ever let you be anywhere without the lights on as bright as possible.”
“I don’t mind doing things with the lights on. Sometimes,” Tansy teased.
Anticipation just might kill him. Then again, Jake planned to enjoy every step of the night including these little moments of torment. “Petra gave good and bad advice. She had a whole collection of candles, and she wanted me to pick out one so I could offer it as a gift.”
“I like candles,” Tansy informed him. “Not as much as Petra, but I do like them.”
“Nearly every candle she offered had some reference to dicks.”
A snicker escaped her. “Of course, they did. I know she’s got a candle from your brother that’s labeledBig Dick Energy.”
“And that’s a thing I didn’t need to know.”
Tansy beamed at him. “What other bad advice did you get?
“Kelli told me to make sure that I dressed right. That you really appreciated a man who was comfortable in bold-coloured clothing.”
She leaned away far enough to look him over. “I take it you decided that advice was for the birds. I mean, while you look very dapper in your black jeans and black and gray shirt, neither are very bright or bold.”
“I just smiled and nodded when she gave me her whole line of suggestions. I think she needed something to entertain her.”
“Yeah. She’s due any day. How did she look?”
“If I say like a bubble about to pop, am I edging into too-rude-for-words territory?”
“As long as you say it to me and not her, you’re okay,” Tansy assured him. She twisted to peer out the window because he’d pulled to a stop at their destination. She glanced back, a frown creasing between her brows. “We’re at the lookout for Heart Falls waterfall.”
“Appetizers al la fresca,” he informed her as he pulled her out his side of the truck and reached into the truck bed for the picnic basket he’d prepared ahead of time. He tossed a blanket over his shoulder and took her hand and guided her along the trail toward the bench seat less than a five minute walk away.
He’d been out earlier in the day and cleared both the walking path and the bench seat, so all he had to do was throw the blanket on the seat as a cushion and guide Tansy onto it.
“Hold this for a sec.” He passed her the basket and reached behind the bench for the folding table he’d stashed there.
Moments later he had the table in front of them arranged with a tablecloth, two small mugs, and a lit candle.
Tansy leaned forward then snickered appreciatively. “Come On, Baby, Light My Fire.”
