Page 72 of Small Town Sizzle

“Sorry to keep you waiting,” she says, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear as she steps down the porch steps. Her voice has that soft lilt to it, one that makes you lean in just to hear it better.

“Worth the wait,” I reply, the words coming out before I can stop them.

She laughs, a light, melodic sound that immediately eases some of the tension in my chest. “Smooth, Garrett. Very smooth.”

“Not trying to be smooth,” I say. “Just honest.”

“And corny,” Alex interjects, he changes his voice to adopt a deep Southern drawl. “You two kids have fun now, ya hear?”

He laughs at himself, shaking his head as he walks away.

“You’re such a dork, nephew,” Maya teases.

“Take after my aunt!” he calls over his shoulder.

Maya rolls her eyes as she laughs and gestures that she’s ready to go. Her cheeks flush, and she ducks her head slightly as I lace my fingers through hers and lead her out to the car. I open her car door and help her inside before crossing over to the driver’s side.

Once I’m in and the engine rumbles to life, she glances at me, a mix of curiosity and amusement in her gaze. “So, are you going to tell me where we’re going finally, or is this some sort of mystery date?”

“Mystery,” I say, smirking as I shift the truck into gear. “But I promise, it’s worth it.”

She leans back in her seat, crossing her legs as she watches me. “You’ve got a lot of confidence in this plan of yours.”

“I’m a man who knows what he’s doing,” I tease.

“Is that right?” Her eyebrows lift, and there’s a spark of challenge in her tone.

“That’s right,” I reply, glancing at her briefly before focusing back on the road. “You just sit back, relax, and enjoy the ride.”

We drive out of Hicks Creek, leaving behind the small-town lights and the ever-watchful eyes that come with them. The further we go, the quieter it gets, the hum of the tires on the road blending with the occasional soft chuckle from Maya as we banter back and forth.

Eventually, we pull off onto a dirt road, the headlights cutting through the darkness as I navigate the winding path.

“Garrett, are you taking me to the middle of nowhere to murder me?” she asks, her voice playful but laced with mock suspicion.

I laugh, shaking my head. “If I was, would I really tell you?”

“That’s not reassuring.”

“Relax,” I say, glancing at her with a grin. “I think you’ll like this.”

The road opens up to a cabin and a clearing by a lake, the moonlight reflecting off the still water like silver. There’s a small picnic table set up near the shore, with a cooler and a few blankets I’d set up earlier in the day. Off in the distance is a small hunting cabin that my dad built when I was around five years old. Ethan and Mason come out here a lot, but otherwise it’s usually vacant.

I chose this spot because I didn’t want to make her uncomfortable or lead her to believe I was hoping for a Netflix-and-chill kind of night. It’s a quiet place, off the beaten path, where we don’t have to worry about gossip or being bothered. It also allows me to give her the space she needs without making her feel uncomfortable.

I would love nothing more than to go inside the cabin, take her to the bedroom, and make love to her all night long, but I don’t want this to move faster than either of us is ready for.

Her eyes widen as she takes it in. “You did all this?”

“Didn’t want to deal with interruptions back in town,” I say, parking the car and turning to face her. “Figured we could use some peace and quiet.”

She looks at me, her expression softening. “It’s… perfect.”

We climb out of the car, and I grab the cooler and blankets, gesturing for her to follow me to the table. The night air is cool but not cold, and the sound of crickets fills the quiet.

As we settle in, I open the cooler, pulling out a bottle of wine and a couple of glasses. “Hope you’re okay with wine. I’m not much of a mixologist.”

“Wine’s perfect,” she says, watching me as I pour. “You thought of everything, didn’t you?”