Page 3 of A Very Grumpy Ranger (Wolf Valley: Grumps #9)

THREE

Blake

“Planning a date is a lot harder than I thought it would be,” I tell my best friend, Jade.

“What have you got so far?” she asks, then curses as she drops the phone. “Sorry about that.”

“No worries. What are you doing?”

“I’m at work. I’m hiking through the National Park, trying to find the perfect place for some new pine trees.”

Jade is an arborist. She moved here a few weeks ago and started working at the National Park. She loves plants and nature, so she’s pretty much in heaven here. Throw in that she’s now dating Meyer, her grumpy next-door neighbor, and she’s the happiest I’ve ever seen her.

Jade and I have been best friends forever. We met and instantly connected, and we’ve been inseparable since. When she moved up here to be closer to me, I was thrilled. Then she met Meyer, and we’ve barely seen each other since she got here.

“So?”

I blink. “What?”

“What’s the plan for your date? Are you going classic? Dinner and a movie? Or something more unique?”

“I have no idea,” I sigh. “Maybe it would be easier if I’d ever, you know, been on a date before.” I close the browser tab and open my email to check on work. “Where’s the best place you’ve been on a date?”

“Meyer took me for a picnic last week. It was just the two of us, beautiful weather, and great food.”

“Hmm.”

I look out the window at the clouds rolling in. “I don’t think we have the right weather for a picnic.”

“I know. We’re expecting storms all weekend,” Jade agrees.

“So, something indoors, then.”

“I think it matters more who you’re with than where you go. I mean, Meyer and I could eat mac and cheese in the kitchen, and I would still love it. It’s how he makes me feel. It’s our conversations and the connection.”

“Ugh, you two are so perfect together,” I joke.

She laughs, twigs snapping in the background as she walks through the forest. “You could have that with Luca. Don’t you think?”

“Yeah, I do. I just… Things seem to be happening so fast. I met the guy a week ago, and now?—”

“And now you’re going on a first date.”

“It feels like more than that,” I admit.

“There’s no correct timeline for falling in love, Blake. Maybe you and I are lucky it happened so quickly.”

“Maybe,” I sigh.

“He’s a good guy, right?”

I smile. “Yeah, the best. When we met, we just clicked. He gets me. Being with him is easy. You know?”

“Yeah, I know,” she says dreamily, obviously thinking about Meyer.

Thunder rumbles outside, and I scan the skyline, noting the dark clouds.

“Enjoy the journey. Trust Luca and yourself, and see where this goes,” she says wisely.

“All right,” I murmur.

I know she’s right. I’m having fun with Luca. He makes me feel safe, cherished, and seen. He’s the first person I’ve ever wanted to be with and the only guy I’ve ever been attracted to. The only one I’ve ever wanted more with.

A new email comes in, and I groan as I read it.

“Work?” Jade asks.

“Yep.”

“It’s starting to drizzle, so I’m headed back to my car. I’ll let you get back to work. Call me if you need anything, okay?”

“I will,” I promise. “Stay dry!”

“I’ll try.”

“Talk to you later.”

“See you,” she says before we hang up.

I dive back into work, creating a few new sheets of educational material for my company's latest middle school workbook. When I first started this job, I thought it would be fun. I thought I’d get to be creative and make my own schedule, but in reality, it’s none of that.

There are so many rules and bureaucratic hoops to jump through.

All of my coworkers seem miserable. Half of my managers are egomaniacs high on the little bit of power they have. Because my company is located in Virginia, I have to wake up early to log on and work the same hours as everyone else. The only good part is that I’m done early.

I work for a few more hours before I call it quits. Luca should be here soon to pick me up for our first date, and I try to calm my racing heart as I open my closet to find something to wear tonight.

Should I dress up? Are we going out? What shoes should I wear?

My phone buzzes, and I glance at the screen, smiling when I see Luca’s name.

Luca: I was planning on doing something outside, but that’s not possible now. So, change of plans. We can go out to dinner, or I can cook something for us at my new house.

Blake: That’s right! Congrats! Do you want to postpone tonight? I’m sure you’re eager to move into your new place.

Luca: No way. I’ve been looking forward to seeing you all day.

Blake: Okay, your place it is.

Luca: Sounds good. Pick you up in thirty. Dress comfortably.

Blake: See you soon.

I smile as I toss my phone onto the bed and grab my favorite shirt and a pair of yoga pants.

My heart is still racing as I get dressed, but now, instead of nerves, it’s anticipation.

I’m all in with Luca, and I know that, one way or another, I’m going to win this bet.