Page 41 of The Summer for Us (Golden Falls #1)

WESLEY

My conversation with Cooper earlier this week helped ease some of my nerves, and I was grateful for his help. I was feeling ready for my date tonight.

A foreign excitement coursed through my veins as I drove up the gravel driveway to the cabin.

I hadn’t put this much thought into a date before, and I’d gotten so used to my routine in Golden Falls.

I didn’t date much in college or after. College usually consisted of a night out with a girl I never saw again.

The last couple of years were more of the same.

If Gretchen and I went on a date, it was always out of town and quick.

Always a secret, and she was also always on her phone.

The more I thought about our time together, the more I realized she was likely always texting her husband, even when we first met.

This date with Juliette would be different from all of that—in the best way.

We didn’t have to hide, and we could do this all summer if we wanted to.

If she wanted to because, hell, there wasn’t a doubt in my mind that I needed more dates with her.

She was incredible and unlike any other woman. I’d never felt this way about someone.

I was constantly thinking about the next time I would get to be in her orbit. She had a pull on me, and I didn’t want to fight it anymore.

I pulled up to the cabin in my truck and hopped out, making sure to grab the bouquet of flowers I’d gotten for her. I made my way up the porch steps.

I hoped this would be the best date Juliette had ever been on, but the voice in the back of my mind loved to prey on my insecurities, on what I couldn’t give her.

On what this town didn’t offer that the city did.

And not just any city—Chicago. She likely went on a bunch of extravagant dates in the past to shows, restaurants, exclusive events.

I didn’t know if I could compete with that. But I would sure as hell try. Sometimes being stubborn paid off.

I knew I could give her a night that showed how much she was coming to mean to me.

With a bouquet of colorful flowers in one hand, I raised my other to knock. I stepped back, letting out a slow exhale.

Within seconds, Juliette pulled open the door, the sweet smell of vanilla and daisies immediately overcoming me. I’d never get tired of that.

“Hey, I’m almost ready!” She waved me in. “Just need to grab my bag and get my shoes on.”

“No rush at all,” I assured her, my eyes slowly taking her in.

“You look absolutely breathtaking.” My hand that wasn’t holding the flowers flexed, desperately wanting to touch her, to pull her into my arms. Her brown hair was curled, and she was wearing a red sundress that was fitted to her lean frame.

The top of the dress was some corset style, pushing up her round breasts, and cinched in at the curve of her waist, flaring out ever so slightly.

The bottom of the dress hit below her knee.

Her eyeshadow was done, mascara coated her long lashes, and her lips were a glossy pink.

Fuck. This was going to be a long night.

Her face immediately lit up at the compliment, and she twirled. “It’s the dress I bought with your card at The Main Stitch with Lily. Thank you for doing that, by the way.” She came up to me, reaching up to run her fingers along my stubbled jaw. “You look so very handsome.”

“Thank you, sweetheart,” I murmured, smiling at her compliment. “And you’re welcome for the dress. I like spoiling you.”

Her soft touch along my jaw nearly distracted me. All I could think about was pulling her into my arms, kissing her, slowly peeling that dress she looked so good in off her body. I cleared my throat. Patience—we’d get there.

“These are for you.” I lifted the bouquet.

“I wasn’t sure about your favorite color or favorite flowers, but I asked the florist in town to put something together.

” The bouquet had pink roses and various colorful wildflowers.

Pinks, blues, oranges, and yellows. It was lively, bright, and beautiful—just like the woman in front of me. “The flowers reminded me of you.”

She looked up at me, a gentle smile on her face.

“Wes, that’s so sweet. Thank you. I love them.

” She took the flowers out of my hand and brought them up to her nose.

She closed her eyes and inhaled the floral scent.

“I love all types of flowers. I don’t think I have a favorite.

As for my favorite color…pink. I’m a simple girl,” she said with a laugh.

Juliette moved to the kitchen, putting the flowers in water. She then sat on the couch to slide on her heels. “What’s your favorite color?” she asked.

The corner of my lip tipped up. “I’ve found myself really liking green this summer.”

She nodded with a smile, looking up at me with her bright green eyes, likely not realizing the reason behind my new favorite color.

“And yellow, red, pink.”

She tilted her head to the side, looking down at her dress and then playfully narrowing her eyes at me as she stood. Her heels clicked against the wooden floorboards. “Red because of my dress?”

Once she was close enough, I set my hands on her waist, a gasp leaving her as I pulled her closer.

“Green because of your eyes. Yellow because of that goddamn bikini you were tanning in. Red because of your dress tonight. Pink because of your lips—and because you love it.” I watched the thin column of her throat bob as she swallowed, her lips parting ever so slightly. I loved making her speechless.

“So,” she said breathlessly, “is this your favorite dress, then?”

My grip on her waist tightened, the soft fabric bunching underneath my fingers. Her cheeks immediately flushed pink, and I could feel her nipples pebble through the thin fabric, which meant no bra. Again. Was this woman trying to kill me? “It’s one of my favorites, yeah.”

Juliette leaned forward, pressing her lips softly to my neck, kissing up to my jaw. She smiled against my skin. “One of them? Which one is your favorite, then?”

“The yellow one. With the thin straps that tie into bows.”

She paused, pulling away enough to look up at me. Her forehead creased ever so slightly. “I know which one you’re talking about but…when did I wear it?”

“Dinner at my parents’ house in June.”

Recollection dawned on her. “Oh, right! Wait, but that was the start of summer. We weren’t—well, you didn’t like me back then. You noticed the dress I was wearing?”

“Baby, I noticed everything about you that night—and every night in between. You’re impossible to look away from.” I reached to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear. “I can’t get enough of you.”

She looked up at me, and we stayed like that for a moment. Just looking into each other’s eyes like we had all the time in the world.

The corner of my lip tipped up as soon as I noticed her gaze start to shift to my mouth.

She tugged on her bottom lip with her teeth, looking back up at me but this time with hooded eyes. “Maybe we should?—”

“Don’t you dare finish that sentence,” I interrupted with a chuckle. “Because I don’t have enough self-control to say no to you, and I’m taking you on this damn date.”

“But your note…”

“Patience, sweetheart. We’ll get there.”

Juliette nodded with a playful sigh, getting out of her daze. She beamed at me, and I knew I would never get tired of the sight. “Let’s see what you have planned, then, handsome.”

“You’re in for a treat, city girl.”

I drove Juliette to my favorite spot in Golden Falls, right on the edge of town by the lake.

It was a picture-perfect lookout spot that was tucked away from everything and everyone and, in my opinion, had the best view of the sunset.

I had initially thought about having a picnic dinner with Juliette by the lake, and we would wrap up by watching the sunset, but Cooper told me there was a rare geomagnetic storm happening tonight—which meant we would possibly see the northern lights.

So, instead I picked Juliette up just before sunset, which this time of year was around 8:30 p.m. It would be completely dark by around 10 p.m.

I had blankets and pillows ready in my truck bed for stargazing once the sun set, plus a couple of dips, chips, and a bunch of Juliette’s favorite snacks.

Lily also made us cookie dough brownies—a recipe she’d been trying out.

Juliette always gravitated toward Lily’s chocolate treats when she stopped by Purrfect Blend.

“Oh, Wes, this is beautiful,” Juliette marveled as she hopped out of my truck.

I backed in when I parked so we could sit in the truck bed and see the water. I grabbed the paper grocery bag, blankets, and pillows from the backseat and rounded the vehicle, opening the tailgate with ease. I had the radio on, too, soft music playing through the windows.

I hopped up in the truck bed and extended my hand to Juliette, helping her up.

“What makes this spot your favorite?” she asked as we got the various snacks, blankets, and pillows set up.

“It’s always been a great spot to come to think and unwind.

I’ve never seen anyone else here. Parts of town and the lake can get so busy, so it’s nice to know I can come here to get away from it all.

This view is why I love Golden Falls so much.

The trees, the water, the birds chirping, and various wildlife running around.

I don’t want this town to lose that, even as more people are coming here. ”

“It’s beautiful. There are so many spots in town that would go perfectly on a postcard, but this is my favorite one so far.

Don’t worry—I won’t share your secret spot with anyone.

” She looked down at the cheeses, crackers, dips, brownies, and gummy worms I had bought and eyed me skeptically.

“Do we have the same taste in snacks or did you buy literally everything I love?”

“A little bit of both…but mostly the second one.”

She gave my arm a gentle nudge. “This is supposed to be our date. You can’t just buy everything I like.”

I scoffed. “Says who?”

Juliette laughed, playfully rolling her eyes. “This is already the best first date.”

She scooted closer, and I wrapped my arm around her, pulling her into my side and kissing the top of her head.

I could stay like this forever.