“No? Well, I guess we’ll have to do that tonight.”
She shakes her head and turns to look out the window. We’re almost to our destination, so I let her have this moment. I’ll give her this time to think about what I’ve said, and maybe tonight will be the night that she opens up to me. Regardless, I’ll be here ready and waiting. In the meantime, I’ll keep working to show her how special she is to me, and that I take the boyfriend title very seriously. I want to show her what it’s like to have the affection of a man who cherishes her. Because I do. In just a short span of time, she’s become everything.
Chapter 12
Aurora
“We’re going to your parents’?” I ask as soon as we turn onto their road.
“Yes, but not to hang out with them. I have more game than that,” he says, glancing over smiling.
“Of that, I have no doubt.”
“Okay.” He pulls up to the barn. “This is where we change vehicles, and I’m going to need you to wear this.” He hands me a blindfold.
“You want me to wear this blindfold and let you drive me out into the wilderness in the middle of February?” I ask. I’m only half teasing. I know putting this much trust into someone I’ve known for a matter of weeks is probably not a great idea, but with Grant, I always feel safe.
“Yes.” He turns to look at me, his face more serious than I’ve ever seen him. “You’re safe with me, Aurora. Always. I won’t stop until I erase everything he did to you. I’d never hurt you. Never.”
“He didn’t hit me or touch me at all for that matter.” The small confession slips before I can think better of it.
He nods. “You have my word, but if it makes you feel better, text Aspen and tell her where we’re going to be. Better yet…” He pulls his phone out of his pocket and taps on the screen, holding it out in front of him.
“Son?” His dad answers.
“Hey, Dad. I have Aurora with me.” He turns the phone so that his father can see me sitting in the passenger seat.
“Why in the hell are you calling me if you’ve got your girl sitting next to you on Valentine’s Day? I thought I taught you boys better than that,” Stanley says. I can hear the disbelief in his voice.
“I just wanted you to know that we’re here, and we’re taking the ranger.”
“This is information I already know, Grant. Are you feeling all right?”
Grant laughs. “Yeah, I’m good. I just wanted her to feel safe. You know, a man taking her into the wilderness.”
“Haven’t you already done that?”
“Yeah, but everyone knew.”
“We all know,” Stanley counters with a deep chuckle.
“Well, I wanted her to have the reassurance that I’m not a serial killer.”
“He’s good, Aurora. Maybe a little crazy chatting with me when he’s got you within reach, but we can only teach our children the skills they need in life. What they do with them is altogether different.” I can’t help it. I throw my head back against the seat, laughter spilling from my chest. “Now, hang up the damn phone and go canoodle with your girl.”
“Sure thing, Dad.” Grant laughs, ending the call. “Now, call Aspen and let her know where you are.”
“No. I don’t need to do that.”
“Maybe not, but it will give you peace of mind.”
“He’s right. I’ve already ridden the land with you.”
“That doesn’t change the fact that you feel different this time. Call her, babe.”
I know I’m not supposed to, but I can’t help but compare him to my ex. There is just something about Grant and his constant confidence and reassurance that’s endearing. He didn’t have to call his parents, but he wanted me to be comfortable. He’s doing this for me, and that makes the butterflies take flight. Retrieving my phone from my purse, I pull up her name and call her, just like he did his dad. “What are you doing calling me? You’re supposed to be on a date with your boyfriend,” Aspen answers.
“I just wanted to let you know where we are.”
“Aurora.” I can hear the emotions in my sister’s voice, and it has me swallowing back my own.
“We’re at his parents’ place. We’re going out on the property.”
“To the lake,” Grant speaks up.
“Okay. Thanks,” Aspen says. Grant can’t see her face on the screen, but I know he can tell by the sound of her voice that my sister gets it. She gets me. I wish I could get past this. Past the worry. Maybe one day.
“Grant?” Aspen says. I turn the phone so that she can see him. “Take care of my sister.”
“With my life,” he says. The conviction in his voice would bring me to my knees if I were not sitting in his truck.
“Now, hang up and go enjoy your date. Love you, Rory.”
Tears fill my eyes. “Love you too.” I end the call and slide my phone back into my purse. “I’m sorry. I don’t know why I even started this. I know I can trust you.”
“You didn’t start it. I did. I didn’t want you to have a shed of doubt. If you don’t like how the night is going, tell me, and I’ll take you home.”
“Just like that?”
“Just like that. We’ve been to dinner a few times a week since we met. I know that I’m determined, and I can be a lot to take on, but, babe, I would never pressure you into anything you don’t want.”
“No. It’s not that I think that you will. I-I don’t really know what’s going on with me,” I confess. “I like spending time with you.” The confession slips past my lips without thought.
His smile is wide. “Well, I know what’s going on. You and I are going to get this Valentine’s Day date started. Stay there.” He grabs his keys and climbs out of the SUV. When my door opens, he surprises me, sliding his hand behind my neck and leaning in so that our lips are barely a breath apart.
“Happy Valentine’s Day, Rory,” he whispers, ghosting his lips across mine.
“You called me Rory,” I say when he pulls back. He nods. “Why?”
“I got the impression only those close to you do. Those that you hold in here”—he places his other hand over my heart—“call you that.” His blue eyes bore into mine. “I care about you. Hell, I’m fucking crazy about you.”
“I like it. I mean, I like you calling me Rory. It’s something I haven’t heard in a while, and I miss it.”
He nods. “Come on, baby. Dinner is going to get cold.”
“Are we eating outside?”
“Kind of. Come on.” I turn in the seat, and before I can start to move, his hands grip my hips, and he lifts me from the seat, setting me on my feet. He leads me to the Ranger, the same one we took out the first time I was here. Inside is the same quilt I covered up with, and an extra, plus a thermos. “Mom.” He smiles over at me. “I might have left work early today to get set up and recruited my parents for help. Well, I recruited my dad. Mom found out and added her own touches.”