Page 11 of Fern's Date with Destiny
She wanted someone to hold her hand.To kiss her like Cody just had.As if the world might disappear if he didn’t.
Her heart fluttered hard as he traced his thumb along her jaw again.He looked as if he might say something serious.
“You know,” she teased softly, “I always thought destiny was stubborn, but this is a record, even for her.”
He laughed, warm and low.“Couldn’t avoid it forever.”
She tapped her fingers on his chest.“So.Now what?”
Cody drew back just enough to look at her properly.Even in the faint glow from the pub’s window, the wicked glint in his eyes flashed at her and did dangerous things to her resolve.
“Now,” he said, voice firm and gentle at once, “I’m going to take you out.”
Fern blinked.“Take me out.Like a date?”
“Yeah, darlin’.A real date.Something more than me pressing you up against a wall outside a bar.”
Heat flared in her cheeks but she couldn’t stop smiling.“Hmm.The date sounds suspiciously wholesome.”
He chuckled, leaned in to nip at her lower lip.A quick taste that made her toes curl inside her boots.“Doesn’t have to betoowholesome.That’s up to you.”
If anything, Fern flushed harder.But that too was a good thing to know.“What’s the agenda for the date?”
“You’ll find out when it happens.”Cody eyed her earnestly.“I want to surprise you.”
“Oh?”She poked a finger into his chest, making a face as she considered.“Okay, fine.But can this surprise involve horses?”
“It can.It will,” he promised.“You still off both Mondays and Tuesdays?”
“Mm-hmm.”Because after a year of being friends, they knew each other’s schedules and so much more.
“Good.Tuesday morning.Be ready.”
She arched a brow.“How ready are we talking?Lip gloss and out on the town ready, or full-on field work ready?”
He grinned, teeth flashing white.“Somewhere in between.But dress warm.I’ll pick you up at seven.”
Fern’s jaw dropped before she could stop it.“Seven?In themorning?”
His lips quirked, mischief in his eyes.“I can make it six.”
She smacked his chest lightly, earning another quiet laugh that made her insides flutter all over again.God help her.She was so ready to fall fast.
He glanced past her shoulder, and she followed his gaze.The power was back on, and lights danced onto the sidewalk and street through the open doors of the pub as people returned to the floor.
All of them oblivious to the world-shifting moment that just happened in the shadows outside, Fern thought with amusement.
Her friends would be…
Her family…
Oh dear.
She groaned under her breath before offering Cody the brightest expression she could muster.“What do you say to the idea that we keep this to ourselves for a little while?”
He hesitated, smile fading slightly.“You don’t want people to know we’re dating?”
She hurried to reassure him.“Not because I want to hide—” Fern stopped dead.She wasn’t about to lie, and secrecy was exactly what she was hoping for.“No, I reallydowant to hide this from everyone, just for a little while.”She met his gaze straight on.“I have a very large and loving family who like to meddle.This thing between us, it feels special.I want to keep it between us for as long as we can.”
