I decide to take Blair on a quiet date. One that doesn’t involve people around us. Nothing that could bother her anxiety. So when I show up at her house in a pair of shorts and a T-shirt, much as I had on earlier, she's surprised.
She walks downstairs as I come inside. Looks me up and down. "I guess I'm not underdressed then." Blair's wearing a skirt with varying shades of blue and white that comes to her knees. It flutters around her as she walks. Her top is a sleeveless, white blouse with the top few buttons undone.
I hold out a dozen, long-stemmed red roses I stopped to buy her on my way over. She walks over to me, stepping close enough to take the bouquet and inhales one of the delicate flowers.
I can’t help but rake her over from head to toe. “You’re stunning,” I tell her. It takes everything in me not to reach forward and pull her into my arms.
“Me?” She scoffs. “You’ve seen yourself in a mirror, right?”
I shrug. “I’m in something similar to what I was earlier.”
“And you were hot then.”
I can’t resist anymore and step forward to place a tentative hand on her waist. “I love this side of you.”
Her eyes peer up into mine. A slight blush pinks her cheeks. “Are we really doing this?”
I chuckle. “I think we really did this earlier.” Reaching up, I drag my thumb over her lower lip. “Last chance, Blair. If you don't want to go further, say so now. I have a feeling once I get you in my arms, I'm never going to let you go."
“I could get on board with that,” she says breathily.
“Can I kiss you?” I don’t want to dive in. I need to make sure she’s comfortable. Always.
“Yes.” She places the roses on the table beside us.
With that, I dip my head and take possession of her lips. She tastes minty and sweet. The first sweep of my tongue into her mouth causes her to moan and my dick to harden. God, I want her so bad. It seems I’m insatiable where she’s concerned. When I left earlier to shower and change, I also did so because coming once wasn’t enough. I jerked off in the shower, too. Now that I know what she looks like when she comes undone, the vision will permanently be etched in my head. It drove me out of my mind to see her that way. And fuck, I want to see it again as I slip into her and drive her over the edge.
“God, Blair,” I breathe out as I break the kiss and rest my forehead on hers. “We should stop so we can eat.”
Her hands fist my shirt at my back. “I wouldn’t mind if we kept going.” She nips at my bottom lip.
“I want to feed you first. You need your strength.”
“Got plans for me afterward, Bradley?” I groan at her use of my last name. There’s something very hot about it coming from her lips.
“Baby, you have no idea what I want to do to you.”
Pulling back the rest of the way, I put space between us. Blair picks up the roses and brings them into the kitchen to fill a vase with water then places the flowers in it. When she’s back in front of me, I take her hand in mine and lead her out to my SUV. Before going, she locks the house and sets the alarm.
We slip into the cool leather of our ride and make the short drive to the falls our town is famous for. I turn off on a dirt road only the locals are aware of, and follow it through the woods until we reach a small clearing. I exit first and go to the passenger side to open the door for Blair. She accepts my hand as I lead her out. Luckily, she’s wearing flats, so it won’t be hard walking down to the river. I open the back and pull out a picnic basket.
“I had no idea you were such a romantic,” Blair says once she sees what I have.
“That’s because you’ve never seen this side of me.” I wink.
Together, we walk down a dirt footpath. The trees tower over our heads as the sounds of the falls filter to our ears. The sun is still shining brightly above. The heat of the day, combined with the humidity, is bordering on being too much. There’s a place we can sit with plenty of shade. Plus, it’s a little cooler by the water.
There are a couple of fallen trees we have to climb over and some low branches to duck under, but eventually, we break through to a grassy area near the river.
Glancing around, I note the people walking on an elevated wooden bridge above. They’re most likely tourists who stop to visit our little town. Down here, Blair and I are alone.
I tug her off to the side so no one above can see us and where the sun can’t cast its rays on us. After placing the basket down, I open it and pull out a soft, cotton throw I pulled off the back of my couch. It's thin enough that we won't sweat sitting on it but protects us from the pointy blades of the grass.
Blair takes a seat beside me as I reach in and pull the items from the basket. There are sandwiches, cut fruit, brie, and a bottle of sparkling cider along with two glasses. Blair has to take medicine for her anxiety sometimes, and I don't want alcohol to mix with it. No, I don't know when she takes it. She told me it’s on an as needed basis at this point, since she’s doing much better. However, I’d rather err on the side of caution.
We sit and talk as we eat. It’s comfortable with no forced conversation. Knowing Blair as long as I have, we can easily speak about nothing much and have fun doing it.
I start to pack up our dinner as Blair fans herself with her hand. It’s getting too hot out here. It was fine for a bit. Now I’m sweating. Noise from the trail draws my attention. I turn, and there are Parker and Tori smiling at each other as they emerge into the clearing.
There was a time in my life when I was jealous of the bond they shared. I wanted that. I wanted to love and be loved so badly. Now I might have that chance with Blair. There’s no jealousy left. All I see and have seen for some time when I look at Parker and Tori are two people madly in love, no matter how many years go by.
Parker turns, and his eyes land on me. "Bradley, what are you doing here? Got some hot date?" Blair stands from behind me, revealing herself to Parker. "B?" Parker's eyes move from her to me and back again. “Are you two on a date?” He looks like a deer caught in headlights.
Blair briefly touches my shoulder before walking over to Parker and Tori. Parker is stunned looking at Blair, while Tori is smiling wide.
“Parker,” Blair says softly.
“Are you dating?”
“This is our first date, yes.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?” he asks in the most dejected tone I’ve ever heard.
“I would have had you given me time. This is new. Only happened this afternoon.”
I keep glancing up as I pack everything away and fold the blanket to return it to the basket. From what I can tell, Parker isn't angry. Not that I thought he necessarily would be, but who knows? Back in the day, he wanted to rip my throat out because I went on one date with Tori when they weren't even together.
I walk in their direction as they stop talking and turn toward me. Blair smiles, and damn, it does something inside me.
“Okay?” I ask. Blair nods.
“I wish I would have known,” Parker says sulkily.
Tori smacks him lightly on the chest. “Would you stop? Blair doesn’t have to tell you everything that goes on in her life." Parker cocks an eyebrow. "Okay, she doesn't have to, but she usually does. You didn't even give her a chance to get through the date."
“Fair point,” he mutters then turns to me. His gaze becomes hard and serious. “If you hurt her—”
“I know. I know," I reply. "But I would never do that. She's everything to me, Parker." Something in my eyes must let him know I'm telling the truth. He nods then turns to Tori, who gives him a quick kiss.
Blair slips her hand into mine, and I smile at her. We say our goodbyes to them and make our way back to my SUV. Inside, with the basket in the back seat, I crank the air-conditioning. The cool air feels good against my skin.
Blair rests her head back on the seat and smiles over at me. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. I know it wasn’t much, but I thought you’d like it more than going out somewhere.”
She reaches up to run her finger along my cheek, down to my jaw. “I did. You know me so well, Finn. There’s no awkwardness with us.”
“There isn’t.”
She bites her lower lip then releases it. “So, are we dating?”
“I’d prefer it if we were exclusive.” I lean in so I’m only a breath away. “I don’t want anyone else. Only you, Blair.”
“I don’t either.”
I lower my lips to hers and kiss her softly. There’s heat behind it, but not enough to get us both to the point that we’re going to fuck in my Porsche. Although I'd love to do that one day.
I pull back with a smile, adjust my dick, and start the short drive back to Blair's. There have been times when she's come to my place. I have a penthouse apartment in the city that I love, but Blair is more comfortable in her own space. In truth, I love it where she lives. I love Arrow Falls. From a business perspective, it's easier for me to live near where I work. Although, there have been plenty of times I've slept at her house—on her couch or in her spare room—and driven in when I woke. I also can work from pretty much anywhere, unless I’m needed on site for something. When I stay at home, I go to the restaurants and the club more to check in. Even though I have people running each location, I’m very hands on. I’ve also been actively looking for my next business venture. I’m not sure if I want more restaurants or not.
Back in Blair’s home, she excuses herself to go upstairs and get comfortable. Wearing skirts isn’t her typical thing. She’s more of a cotton shorts and tank tops in the summer and leggings and comfortable shirts in the winter type of woman.
Blair returns five minutes later with her hair swept up into a ponytail, a pair of black cotton shorts on, and a T-shirt with the name of my club on it. Every time I get new merchandise, I bring shirts for Blair. She loves them a size too big.
Walking over, she sits beside me on the couch and leans into my side. I instantly put my arm around her and begin tracing small circles over her upper arm. God, I love this. I can sit on the couch in comfort with my arm around the woman I love. There isn’t much that’s better.
I have to keep the words of affection inside for now. I'm afraid I'll scare her off if I say them too soon. No, it's not like we're newly acquainted, but this whole relationship thing is new to us.
“I could get used to this,” she says.
I chuckle. “You should be used to this. I’m surprised there isn’t a permanent indent from my ass on your couch. I’m here all the time.”
“Hey,” she smacks my stomach lightly. “I happen to like that indent. It cradles me nicely.”
I turn to peer down at her. “Oh? You like sitting in my spot?”
“I will say no more.”
“I like you everywhere I am, Blair.”
Her lips quirk up. “Is this crazy? Us?”
“Not at all.”
“It’s fast.”
“No, it’s not when you think about how long we’ve known each other.”
“Yeah, but to go from friendship to boyfriend and girlfriend so fast.”
I cup her cheek. “Who’s to say what’s too fast or too slow? No one out there can judge us. The only people who matter are the two of us, and I love everything about being with you."