Chapter 17 Chocolate Brown Eyes
“Alec?” I call out into the woods.
He texted me about an hour ago with instructions on where to meet him to start our date. His instructions led me to take the same path I had last week, looking for the wolf. But they stop leaving me on the dirt path once again. Rustling comes from the bush to my left. And out steps an incredible looking Alec. He’s dressed in a pair of khaki dress pants along with a dark green polo shirt, making his skin and hair pop even more dramatically. These clothes are perfectly clean, but I wish I had packed something much nicer to wear to camp. The nicest thing Beth and I could find without conjoined wardrobes is a yellow floral short sundress.
“You look stunning.” He breaths out as though I’ve taken his breath away.
I truly hope I did. He sure as hell took my breath away.
“Thank you. You look very handsome.”
The smile hasn’t left his face once. “I cleared a path for you to follow. We’re going to my house. I made us dinner.”
He gestures down the slight break in the bushes. He holds back the branches at the front of it that ensure the path remains hidden. I walk into the bushes and trees blindly trusting him.
“Just continue straight?” I ask, taking a few steps forward.
“Yeah.” He’s behind me but at a respectful distance, not that I wouldn’t mind him being even closer.
“I think this is the first time I’ve had a date clear a path in the woods for me, and you did such a good job at that.”
“I’m glad to already stand out from the others.”
“You’re not even in the same category as the others right now.” I find myself just saying the first thing that comes to mind, even though it’s cheesy, stupid, and embarrassing. He makes me let my guard down so much.
“I’m glad to hear that.” It’s quiet except for our footsteps on the soft grass.
“What did you make?” I break the silence.
Although it is calm and comfortable silence I want to hear him talk more and more.
“I made homemade lasagna. My friend cut up a salad, too.”
“Don’t wanna take credit for his part?”
He chuckles, “If I took credit, he’d find out and show up in the middle of our date. And I want you all to myself.”
The butterflies swarm my stomach at that one statement. The path ends in a large mowed grass area around a house that looks like a real cabin. We come out of the tree into the backyard, where a large picnic-style table sits near the back door. Fairy lights go from the picnic table to the edge of the house. Making the area glow softly as the sunlight recedes.
“Wow, it looks beautiful.”
The table is already set with plates and silverware sitting across from each other.
“You can take a seat. I’ll go get the food.” He gestures that the table only goes inside once I sit at the table.
I hear some clanging and a few hushed voices that stop when he comes out the back door with an obviously freshly cooked lasagna. He sets it in the middle of the table.
“Let me go get the salad.” I nod, watching him go back into the house.
I can greatly appreciate the back of him just as much as the front of him. The urge to jump his bones surprises me at how shockingly fast it comes. I look down at my plate, taking a few breaths. Don’t be so horny for a man you’re only on the first date with.
“Here we go.” He brings out a bowl and a bottle of dressing.
“Wow, I feel like I’m getting the five-star treatment.” He sits across from me, hunching over naturally before seemingly reminding himself to sit up straight.
“You deserve five-star treatment every day.”
I feel like my cheeks are going to be permanently red when I’m around him. We each get a serving of salad and lasagna, and the first bite is heavenly.
“Did you make this all yourself?” I ask.
A soft blush comes onto his darker cheeks.
“Yeah, it’s my first time making it, so I’m glad it’s good.” He watches me intensely, even while eating his own food.
A loud crash comes from the house interupting the peaceful silence around us. I jump, looking at him, concerned that something's wrong, but he looks beyond annoyed.
“Is someone here?”
He sighs, putting his fork down. “One of my friends is here. I had to use him to put the lasagna in to make sure it was ready when you got here.”
I smile at him cheekily. “You’re like a really good person, huh? Insanely nice at least.”
“It’s nice to be called nice. My friends would be losing their minds if they heard you call me nice.”
“What? Why would they lose their minds?” I ask, confused, why anyone would think otherwise of him.
“Let’s just say sometimes I can have some anger issues. But I’m a lot better now that I’m older.”
I take note of his transparency. “I understand I struggled with similar things when I was younger, but as long as you grow and fix what is wrong, you’re doing better now.”
He looks touched by my understanding. “Are you single?”
I take a drink of my water to clear my throat. “Yes, I’m not dating anyone. I haven’t really dated anyone serious for a while.”
“Why not?”
I shrug, “My parents have moved us around a lot, so I’ve dated on and off, but we’ve never stayed somewhere long enough for it to be serious, at least not that I’m old enough to date.”
He nods along, listening intently.
“What about you? Are you single, dated a lot?”
“I’m very single and have not dated a lot, self-growth remember.” He jokes.
We’ve both finished our plates, and although I can tell he’s still hungry, he doesn’t go back for seconds.
“I hope you enjoyed the food and the company, of course.”
I smile at him, resting my head on my hands. “I very much enjoyed the food, and I liked the company even more.”
“I like you, Anneliese, a lot.” He leans over the table to look at me deeply.
“I really like you, Alec.”
It’s the reply he wanted as he reaches a hand slowly across the table as though he might scare me off. I put my hand down, meeting him halfway. Our fingers go together, igniting my skin, and I can only hope he feels the same vibration. We hold hands on the table, my body buzzing as I stare into his beautiful chocolate-brown eyes. He looks back into mine. Yeah, I’ve definitely fallen in love already.