Lakeside Love (A Mill Creek Crossing Romance) by Angelina Rose Page A

neckline.
     
    “Wow,” Dylan said as she answered the door. He was holding a bouquet of flowers in beautiful pinks and reds. Wearing a gray t-shirt and jeans, she’d never seen a finer looking male specimen. “You look stunning.”
     
    Erica had curled her long brown hair that flowed just past her shoulders and put on more makeup than she had in years. “Thank you,” she said trying to stifle the world’s biggest grin.
     
    “These are for you,” he said handing her the bouquet. She couldn’t remember Max ever having brought her flowers. How had she missed that?
     
    “They’re beautiful,” she said taking them and walking back into the kitchen to put them in water. Dylan followed her and sat on a bar stool watching as she filled a glass with water since she didn’t have a vase on hand.
     
    “Nervous?” he asked her as he tapped his fingers on the countertop.
     
    “A little. And you?” she asked laughing as she pointed at his furiously tapping fingers.
     
    “A lot,” he admitted.
     
    “Why?”
     
    “I’m not sure really. It’s not like I haven’t dated before. But this time it seems so much more important,” he said staring into her eyes from across the room.
     
    “Well, I’ll be gentle with you then,” she said softly as she walked behind him and put her hands on his shoulders. She wasn’t sure why she did it, but it just felt natural to touch him that way.
     
    He stood and turned to her, which surprised her. “Erica, I am so looking forward to getting to know you better tonight.” His honestly caught her off guard. She wasn’t used to a man being so open with what he was thinking or feeling, but she could certainly get used to it.
     
    “Me too,” she said pressing her hands across his shoulders to flatten a wrinkle or two. She caught a whiff of his masculine cologne, and it made her toes curl.
     
    “Ready?” he asked as if he needed to get away from her quickly.
     
    “Absolutely,” she said as they walked toward the door. Grabbing her purse, they walked outside and locked up.
     
    “Erica?”
     
    “Yes?” she asked turning around. She really thought he might kiss her right there and then.
     
    “I’ll have to touch your butt again.”
     
    “Excuse me?” she asked with a shocked look on her face.
     
    “To get in the truck. I just wanted to warn you,” he said smiling.
     
    “Oh. Well, thanks for the warning,” she said giggling as she stepped up and felt his ever-present hand on her rear end. She could definitely get used to that.
     
    As they drove, they chatted about all kinds of things, from their families to where they went to college to pet peeves. Erica was amazed at how easily they talked and connected. She realized she wanted to know everything about this man, and he seemed to want the same. None of their conversation was forced; it felt like they’d known each other forever.
     
    After about thirty minutes in the car, Erica realized they were going pretty far from Mill Creek Crossing.
     
    “Mind if I ask where we’re headed?” she finally asked.
     
    “Well, it’s hard to explain. It’s better if I show you,” he said with a smile as he turned down a gravel road leading up a steep incline. “Don’t be nervous. I’ve driven this a few times…” he said reaching across and patting her leg. She was terrified of the incline and slid closer to him for protection. It seemed like hours to get up the sharp hill, but it was only a couple of minutes. “Here we are,” he said as they pulled into a small, flat clearing.
     
    “We’re here?” she asked confused as she started to slide back to her seat.
     
    “Yep. Come on!” His excitement was palpable, so she couldn’t help but be intrigued by what he had planned. Dylan reached into the bed of the truck and grabbed a big picnic basket before coming around to help her out of the truck. With one hand on the basket, he reached up and grabbed her around her waist, pulling her down onto her feet.