“The Eastorchard.”
“Ah, I see. I didn't wear yogapants.”
“It’s fine. You wore a dress. That's evenbetter.”
“You really like what's up my skirt, don'tyou?”
“Yes.”
I lean over and kiss his face as he steers us between rows and rows of apple trees. “I’ll let you up my skirt soon enough. It’s apromise.”
“I can’t wait,” he says and I know he’sserious.
Finally I see our destination off in the distance. I start to see what he’s been planning all day. I don’t believe it at first. Even when I get out of the truck and see Ginny standing in a small clearing between the rows, I’m speechless. There’s a large plaid blanket down, a picnic basket, an ice bucket with two bottles of champagne packed inside, and around this whole set up, in almost a full circle, are over a dozen pristine, overturned metal buckets, topped with large glass jarred candles. The sun is still up, but the candles cast this magicalglow.
“Silas,” Igasp.
“You seemed really stressed out so I thought we could have a nice dinner outside of the house.” I turn and I look at him. I cannot remember the last time I shed tears of joy, but I’m real close. I’m speechless. “Comeon.”
He gets out of the driver’s seat and I follow, climbing out of the truck before he can jog around and open my door for me. He’s right. The ground is still pretty wet. There are small puddles filling the dips in the narrow road as we pick out way over to the gorgeousspread.
“This was all him,” Ginny says. “I'm just here to make sure none of the trees caught on fire before you got here.” I realizes she’s standing next to a red fire bucket filled with water. Wet ground or not, you can never be toocautious.
“Smart.”
“I’ll leave you to it.” Ginny waves and starts walking back through thetrees.
“Wait, you’re walking?” Iask.
“Girl, it’s not that far. He just drove you out here to be nice,” she laughs, then keeps on her way back to the mainproperty.
“If you’d be so kind, please take off your boots,” Silas says once we’re alone. I look down at the plaidblanket.
“Oh right. Give me a hand, please.” He holds out his arm and I grip his hand while I toe out of my boots and step onto the blanket. It’s shockingly thick andpadded.
“What’s underthis?”
“A tarp, two sleeping bags and another shitty blanket,” Silas says as he leans down to untie his own boots. He’s wearing brand new white socks. I can’t handle it. “The ground is wet. And hard. Figured this would make things a little morecomfortable.”
“Okay you're cute and sweet.” I hold out my hand to him and we both sit down in the middle of the blanket. I wait patiently as Silas opens the picnicbasket.
“I ordered the family catering sampler fromAndeloni’s.”
“You did?” I say, my shocked laughter coming out with asnort.
“I thought you could try a little bit of everything and see what you like. I got sparkling cidertoo.”
“Oh! I thought it waschampagne.”
“I didn’t want either of us to be drunk when I seduceyou.”
“Oh. I see. Good idea,” I say. I let Silas walk me through my menu options and settle on a bit of the chicken alfredo and this ninety meat lasagna that’s fucking delicious. When I can’t stand to eat another bite, I lie back and put my head on his thigh. We have a perfect view of thesunset.
“This is some romantic ass shit, Mr.McInroy.”
“I’m glad you think so. I think I have this dating thing down now. I just have to sleep with a woman five times before I ask herout.”
I snort as I sit up. “Let me know how that works out for you. When does the apple harvestbegin?”