Page 26

Maverick

I drive to the big house to pick up the picnic basket Mabel made for my first official date with Ava.

We kind of skipped right over the whole normal start to dating, and it hasn’t sat right with me, so I’m fixing to remedy that.

It’ll be full of all the things I have learned Ava loves and a few of my favorites, like chocolate chip cookies.

Maybe if I show her all my favorite things about out here on the ranch, she’ll learn to love it as much as I do.

I can see her here, and I hope she can too.

My hands feel sweaty. Why do my hands feel sweaty?

I wipe them against my jeans before regripping the steering wheel.

And why the fuck am I nervous? I mean, sure, it’s been a while since I’ve gone on a date.

I can’t remember the last time I cared this much about how a date went.

But this is different because it’s her. It’s Ava.

I park my truck and walk into the house. Mabel stands on the other side of the counter, arms crossed, with a smile on her face that makes me feel like I’m going to regret having asked her for help.

“So you really like her, huh?” The pure glee on her face makes me want to retreat slowly out the door. How can someone who looks so sweet be such a menace?

Heavily sighing, I reply, “Whatever happened to hello?”

She rolls her eyes and plants her hands on the counter, leaning closer to me as I walk up to grab the basket. “Hello’s stopped when you stopped knocking on my door.”

I throw my hands up in the air. “That was like twenty years ago.”

“And it only took you twenty years to notice.” The smile on her face has her eyes crinkling at the corners.

Sometimes, I forget how much she’s aged over the years.

I forget her grey hair used to be brown.

I’ve spent a lot of time in this kitchen with her and her family, and that’s time I will always cherish, even if I don’t say it enough.

She pushes the basket to the edge of the counter, and I reach for it.

“Alright, give me the basket. I’m already nervous. Don’t need you making me feel like a complete idiot on top of that.” I hide my eyes from hers, snatching the basket and ready to retreat, but she grabs it before I can.

“Oh, honey, I’m sorry.” She walks over and gives me a quick peck on the cheek as she pats my back. The wicker basket is covered with a red plaid towel and stuffed to the brim with enough food to feed us for a week.

“No, you’re not.” I smile at her, unable to hold on to my faux anger. “But thanks for the food anyway.” With some extra pep in my step, I make my way toward the door.

Leaving everything but the flowers in the truck, I take a deep, settling breath before I knock on the front door.

The front door of my own damn house, but if we’re going on a real first date, I’m going to go through all motions and make this her best first date ever.

And if I’m lucky, her last first date ever.

Ava opens the front door; her cheeks have a rosy tint to them, and her long blonde hair falls in waves down to her waist. Fuck, she’s pretty.

So pretty that I find myself completely tongue-tied right now.

I’ve seen her a million times, but right now, I feel like I am seeing her for the first time.

Like I would have if we would’ve done this whole thing the right way.

“Mav, what are you doing?” Her brows scrunch in confusion with a small smile causing her lips to lift.

“Ava, not legally Ryder, but Ryder in my eyes, I am taking you on a date today.” Earlier today, I had texted her to be ready when I got home, but I left out what to be ready for.

She looks me up and down. “You’re serious.”

“If I’m going to have you be mine, we’re doing this the right way. Now, if you can go ahead and put your shoes on, sweetheart, I have some plans for you and me.” I hand the flowers to her and kiss her cheek. “These are for you.”

She immediately sniffs the bouquet of bluebells, daisies, and sunflowers. I picked the flowers from the fields around the cabin while getting ready for today. I don’t get a lot of downtime and will be gone a lot, but I want her to always know she’s worth the extra time and effort.

“These are beautiful. I’ll go put them in a vase and then be right back.” Her smile turns shy before turning back around. The sun is just setting, so we should have the perfect background. There’s nothing more beautiful than a Wyoming mountain sunset.

When Ava returns to the front door, I take her small hand in mine, intertwining our fingers, and walk us to the truck. I open the passenger door for her, and she hops in. We back out of the drive, and I can't help but notice how much better my truck looks when she’s in it.

Reaching my hand across the console, I lace our fingers together, desperate to always be in contact with her soft skin. “Alright, where are you taking me?” she asks .

Giving her hand a quick squeeze, I shoot her a smile. “You’ll see when we get there. You just sit pretty, and I’ll take the rest.”

She rolls her eyes but relaxes back into the seat. “Whatever you say, cowboy.”

When we pull up to the entrance of the meadow, she straightens in her seat and looks around.

I can’t blame her for perking up at the sight.

It’s beautiful. The flowers have bloomed, leaving little bits of color all around, and the wild grass is growing green and tall, but not so long that we can’t enjoy a picnic.

She looks over at me, the furrow in her delicate features tells me she’s trying to figure out what I’ve planned.

“Because I know the anticipation is killing you, I packed us a little picnic and have some Wyoming stargazing planned.”

“Seriously?” I almost feel a bit offended at the look of utter shock on her face.

“What are you saying? That you didn’t think I could be romantic?” The look she sends me before I even finish my sentence answers my question. “Baby, I could romance you all day long.”

Her eyes brighten as a playful smile dances on her lips. “Oh, so you packed this whole thing yourself?” She nods to the picnic basket sitting between us.

“Okay, small confession,” I hold up my finger, “I did outsource the picnic portion, but the original idea was mine. Give a man some credit.”

We arrive at the center of the meadow that overlooks the mountainside.

It’s one of my favorite places on earth with its views.

The snow-crested mountain peaks never get old.

I set up a dining station as the sun starts to set.

Wanting this to be the best picnic ever, I went a little overboard.

A blow-up mattress covered in blankets so we don’t have to lay on my hard, metal truck bed and a lantern for some extra light just in case.

We take our seats and dive into the food.

Ava has her legs tucked under her. She dips a strawberry into the whipped cream as she looks around, wisps of her blonde hair blowing over her shoulder.

The summer breeze spreads hints of the sweet smell of bluebells.

The sun starts to dip down beneath the mountain peaks.

Everything about this night is perfect, especially who I am spending it with.

Seeing that gentle smile on her face, free of worry and stress—this is exactly what our first date should have been.

Night falls quickly up here, the stars start shining their light down on us.

As we look up at the stars, I can't remember a time when I felt like this. So completely enraptured with someone. Happy and truly content. I’ve chased this feeling my whole life, thinking I would find it in rodeo.

But no, I found it in her. I turn my head to look at Ava, and she’s completely transfixed by how beautiful a clear Wyoming sky is, while I’m completely transfixed by her.

She must feel my stare because she turns her head toward me.

I study her beautiful face, the moon providing just enough light to see the details of her features.

From the smattering of freckles across her nose to the dark spot in her left iris, she is exquisite.

A flush rises in her cheeks the longer I watch her.

My eyes drop to the fullness of her pouty mouth, and I’m overcome with the need to taste her lips.

Cupping my hand under her chin, I bring her face a little closer. I lean down and capture her lips with mine, kissing her slowly and savoring the taste of strawberries and cream that comes off her lips. My hands thread in the back of her hair. Her hand fists at my button-up shirt .

The air mattress underneath us dips as she rolls over and straddles me.

God, she looks perfect from this view. My hands glide up and grab her waist; she leans back down, and her kiss is instantly demanding.

My hands wander down to her tight ass, and I squeeze the second I get a handful.

Her hips start grinding against me, no doubt feeling the evidence of what she does to me.

All intentions I had of a sweet evening come to an end because when it comes to Ava, I have no control. I never have.

My hands pull at the hem of her blue shirt, and I lift it over her head.

The view of her tits in the thin lace bra snap my composure.

My hands roam up and she meets them halfway as she guides them to her tits.

I squeeze and the moan that escapes her has my cock throbbing.

My hands wrap under her and I roll, pinning her underneath me.

“Fuck, did you wear that for me?” My thumb grazes against the soft lace, causing her to arch into my touch.

“Do you like it?” she asks, looking up at me with doe eyes, and fuck, if she isn’t the sexiest thing I’ve ever laid eyes on.

“I like you in anything, sweetheart.” Or nothing. I really enjoy her in nothing.

“Then you’re really going to like your next surprise,” she taunts.