Luke chuckles, and I realize I made that sound out loud. Oh well, because it was accurate.
“I was kind of nervous there for a minute, Little Minx.”
“What could you possibly have to be nervous about?” I ask, continuing to check out the goods.
“It took you almost ten minutes to open the door. I thought maybe you’d changed your mind.”
Say what? “Oh my God are you serious?” He nods his head and I feel awful. “Luke, I’m so sorry. I had no idea. I was doing this deep breathing thing, trying to calm my nerves. I thought it was only a few seconds, but now I see it wasn’t and I’m sorry. I was just so nervous because I had worked this up in my head, and I haven’t ever been on a date before so I don’t know what the protocol is. And I’m rambling. Yeah, I see that now.”
A full grin splits his face as he lets out a deep chuckle before leaning in to plant a chaste kiss on my cheek. One hand has remained behind his back this whole time, and I feel like he’s hiding something. Just as I’m about to ask, he pulls the hand around in between us, and inside his grasp is a beautiful bouquet of flowers. Not just any bouquet of flowers, but the same wild flowers with a yellow rose in the center, just like the one he brought me back in the compound. They’re beautiful, and I’m having to force myself not to cry because…
“Luke,” I sniffle. “I know you don’t know this but, the day you brought me the flowers at the compound, that was my birthday. They don’t celebrate birthdays, and Ash is the only one that had even mentioned it that day. So the flowers meant more to me than you can ever know.” I let out another sniffle as Luke encases me in his arms.
“Oh, Little Minx, I’m so glad.”
Luke holds me for the longest time, and then I finally pull back, giving him my best smile before taking the flowers and laying them carefully on the dresser. I’ll need to ask Emily if she has a vase I can borrow later.
Making my way back to Luke, he offers me his elbow, which I take, and then shutting the door, the two of us make our way downstairs before walking out the front door onto the wooden walkway. I’m not sure where we’re going. I guess I had assumed Emily would have just made us dinner, but it looks like Luke has something else planned as we make our way to the end of the street. I want to ask him, but part of me wants to be surprised. I’ve never been on a date, and had I not met Luke and left the church, I don’t think I ever would have. So that part of me wins out, and leaning my head on his shoulder, I let him lead me away.
Once we make it to the end of the main strip, Luke turns right, and I see a charming horse drawn carriage. Not a wagon, like I’m used to. This is more like an enclosed wagon, with doors on both sides, along with several windows. It’s a deep blue color, almost matching Luke’s suit, and the windows are lined with white satin curtains.
I’m practically bouncing on my red bottom heels when Luke opens the door for me and helps me in. There’s a cushioned seat on either end of the carriage, and the walls are lined in navy satin behind our heads. Luke takes the seat next to me before reaching his hand out one of the windows and banging on the top, letting the driver, which happens to be Easton, know we are ready to go.
The carriage ride lasts a good half hour, and the two of us talk and laugh the entire way. When we come to a stop, I almost wish it wouldn’t end. I don’t know if this is the end of the date, but I sure hope not.
I see Easton pass the window before opening the door, and Luke steps out reaching his hand back to help me out after him. Ducking my head so I don’t ruin this amazing night, I step down and take in my surroundings. Yup, I’m gonna cry.
There are trees all around us in a perfect circle, except for the small opening the carriage came through. In the center of the circle is a cleared area with a round table covered in white linen, and a metal bucket on a stand with a bottle of some sort perched inside. Off to the right is a long table with a similar linen covering it, trays with covered lids lining the length, and behind it stands Emily. So she is going to make our dinner tonight just not back at the hotel. As amazing as all that is, it doesn’t compare to the lights. Little twinkling lights fill the tree’s, and since the sun set just a few minutes ago, it makes for an ethereal effect.
I’m not crying, you’re crying.
Luke brushes several stray tears from my cheek and nose, pulling me to him before starting a kiss that can only be described as breathtaking. My eyes flutter closed and I almost feel like I’m floating. I forget that Easton is behind us, and that Emily is off to our right. I forget about everything except for Luke and this kiss. This moment.
I don’t know how long we stay like that, and I’m not even sure who pulls away first, but the next thing I know we are both seated at the table and Emily is pouring us each a glass of what
