Private Picnic
Private Picnic
Damien stepped out of the elevator with his phone already in his hand, rubbing a thumb across the screen as if the motion could smooth out his thoughts. The morning had been hectic, meetings, calls. It was one of those days where the world felt too tight around him.
But the moment he saw Evelyn waiting near his office door, he felt the grip loosen slightly.
She wore a soft smile, the kind that suggested she’d been standing there for a few minutes but didn’t mind. Her perfume floated lightly in the air, crisp and citrusy.
“There you are,” she said, stepping into his office behind him.
Damien dropped into his chair and exhaled. “Rough morning.”
“You look like you need a vacation.”
“I need a hundred of those,” he said with a tired laugh.
Evelyn walked further in. “So… about Aunt J’s dinner this weekend. Are you still coming?”
“I wouldn’t miss it for anything in the world,” he said.
Her eyes brightened instantly, relief loosening her shoulders. “Good. She’ll be excited. She’s already planning the menu.”
“I’m glad,” he said, smiling softly.
They talked for a bit longer, updates, plans, the usual morning catch-up then she left to handle a department briefing.
Damien checked the time. 12:07 PM.
He’s been thinking of Tessa a bit too much lately. She clouded his thoughts and every part of him. So he called her.
She picked on the second ring.
“Hello,” she breathed, sounding slightly out of breath.
Damien smiled instantly. “Hey. What are you doing?”
“Laundry,” she said. “I’m home.”
“Oh.” He nodded, even though she couldn’t see him. “Alright then. Take care of yourself, okay?”
“I will.”
There was something comforting about her voice, something that slowed his pulse. But he didn’t want to keep her from her chores. So he ended the call gently and stood immediately from his desk.
If he didn’t leave now, he’d change his mind.
He headed straight to the restaurant where they’d had dinner the last time the sleek place with the warm lights and the desserts she had been too full to try.
Inside, the staff recognized him at once.
“Can I get all the desserts on your menu?”
They moved quickly, whispering to each other as they boxed up pastries, tarts, cheesecakes, puddings, pies more dessert than any two people could realistically finish.
He paid, collected the mountain of boxes, and headed for the car.
Only then did he call her again.
Tessa had just stepped out of the bathroom, drying her hands, when her phone lit up again.
Twice in one hour? Was he missing her that much?
She answered. “Hey.”
His voice was warm, with a playful undertone. “Hello, Tessa. Are you down for a picnic?”
“A… picnic?” She raised her brows, smiling without meaning to.
“The weather’s beautiful, and I figured it would be a perfect time.”
Her heart expanded at the thought. No one had ever asked her on something as sweet as a spontaneous picnic.
“Sure,” she said. “When?”
“Now.”
She laughed, soft and genuine. “Really?”
“Yes,” he chuckled.
“Do you want me to bring anything?”
“No. I want you to come with your beautiful self and your sweetest smile.”
Her cheeks went warm. “I can do that.”
“If you text me your address I'll be there in ten.”
She hung up, texted him and exhaled, then looked at herself in the mirror. She wasn’t even fully dressed but ten minutes was enough.
……….
When Damien pulled up on her street, he saw her instantly.
His breath caught.
Tessa walked toward the car with the sun behind her, soft light catching on her hair, the afternoon breeze playing gently with her blouse. She looked breathtaking.
He stepped out.
“Tessa…” he whispered under his breath.
She gave him a shy smile. “Hi.”
“You look…” He exhaled slowly. “Incredible.”
She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “Thank you.”
He opened the passenger door for her, and she slipped inside. The car smelled faintly of chocolate and strawberries because of the desserts stacked behind them.
“Where are we going?” she asked once he started the car.
“You’ll see.”
…….
The private garden sat on a small hill overlooking the river. It wasn’t publicly open, access was by special arrangement.
Damien carried the boxes himself while Tessa walked ahead, eyes wide at the sweeping view and lush greenery.
“Oh my…” she whispered. “This is beautiful.”
“I’m glad you like it.”
He spread the blanket himself, set the dessert boxes in a neat line, opened a couple of the pastries so she could see the variety. It looked like an extravagant photoshoot spread.
Her eyes widened. “Damien… this is a feast. Be honest, did you invite the whole country?”
He burst out laughing. “I didn’t know what you would’ve chosen. You didn’t get dessert last time, remember? So I got everything.”
She pressed a hand to her chest, emotional. “This is the sweetest thing anyone has done for me.”
He looked at her quietly for a second. “You deserve sweet things.”
She lowered her gaze, shy now.
They sat together on the blanket, the quiet of the garden settling around them like a warm cocoon. Birds chirped softly in the trees. A mild breeze swept across the flowers.
Damien opened a small caramel tart and handed her the first bite.
“So?” he asked.
Her eyes fluttered shut. “Oh my God this tastes amazing.”
He smiled, satisfied. “I’ll take that as a good sign.”
They tried more desserts, laughing, teasing, debating which ones tasted better. She told him about her week. He told her about work, minus the parts involving shady business partners he didn’t trust.
“It’s been complicated,” he admitted. “I feel like I’m being pushed into a partnership with people whose values don’t align with mine.”
She listened intently. “So, what's your plan?”
“I don’t know yet,” he said honestly. “But I’ll figure it out.”
“You will,” she told him softly. “Just focus on business. It will work out fine.”
He looked at her for a long moment. “You have no idea how much peace you bring me when you talk.”
Her cheeks warmed again.
They were in the middle of tasting a strawberry mousse when her phone rang.
She glanced down at the screen and stiffened. Jordan.
He had been calling since last night. She had ignored every call, but now seeing his name again made her feel sick.
She sighed and turned the phone face down.
Damien noticed. “Who’s calling you?”
“A… friend,” she lied gently. “He wants me to help him with something, but I can’t leave now.”
“You sure? You can go if you want.”
“No,” she said instantly, shaking her head. “I want to stay here, with you.”
Something in Damien softened.
“Alright,” he whispered.
For the next hour, they talked, laughed, explored the garden paths, and took more bites of dessert than either of them intended. Tessa felt light, lighter than she had been in days. Damien’s presence was grounding, gentle, safe.
They lost track of time in each other's arms. When he dropped her off with lots of dessert boxes, there was someone in front of her door.
The hell?