A picnic sat out on an old bridge, I watched as he removed his boots, then my shoes, reaching into the basket handing me a long neck beer,
"Ooh! You wonderful man!" I said opening the beer, taking a long pull from it, "What is this?"
"Dinner, this was where my Daddy proposed to my Momma," I looked at him my beer to my lips, "Now don't give me that look, I aint proposing," I gave a grunt as I took another pull from my beer, "He also brought her out here to see a show,"
"A show?"
"Mm-hum," He said as he took a long pull of his beer,
"What kinda show"
"You'll see, patients is a virtue,"
"Not for me,"
"Just trust me, okay,"
"You say that a lot,"
"Well I aint never had to convince a stubborn woman to do so,"
"I'm not stubborn," I pouted.
"Okay," He chuckled.
We sat out there for a while, and talked, mainly about each other, I learned a lot about his brother, which was something I wasvery curious about.
"You'll meet 'em this weekend,"
"Meet him? Shouldn't we go on more dates before I meet your family?"
"He's a good Kid, you'll love him,"
"That's not what I'm afraid of,"
"Then what ya 'fraid of?"
"Edward you have only known me a couple days, and now you want me to meet your little brother, what if he hates me?"
"I doubt it, Jasper is a pretty laidback kid, he don't judge,"
"I hope not," I heaved a sigh as the sun began to set,
"Look, there," I looked where Edward pointed, as the sun began to go down, and a beautiful display of orange, red, and purple played out in front of me,
"Oh wow, it's beautiful," I whispered,
"So are you," I almost didn't hear him, our eyes met as he leaned in and kissed me softly, his lips were soft and careful, his thumb stroked my cheek softly as we pulled apart,
"What was that?"
"I told ya, I never kiss on the first date, this is the second,"
"So you kiss on second dates?"
"I figure, if I like ya enough to take ya on a second date, than I'm gonna like ya enough to kiss you,"
"Makes sense,"
"I wanna kiss you again,"
"Are you asking for my permission?"
"Do you I need it?"
"No, you don't,"
"Good, because I'm gonna do it anyway," I smiled as our lips met again, in a deeper, more sensual kiss, a kiss that I didn't want to stop.
After the sun had set completely, we went inside, getting ready to do the nightly feedings of the horses. I had already fell in love with each and every one, and I could almost name every one of them, ALMOST.
After the feeding was done we went back inside, looking through the kitchen as Edward went to shower, I hummed to myself as I grabbed some chicken to fry up my specialty of fried chicken, mashed potatoes, with some corn and of course some of my homemade biscuits.
By the time, he had come down stairs, I had everything in full swing.
"What are ya doin'?"
"I'm cooking you supper,"
"So the picnic wasn't enough?"
"I have a hollow leg, I eat a lot," I giggled,
"Are ya not hungry?"
"No, I am, it's just weird seein' a woman in my kitchen,"
"I'm not gonna mess up your bachelor pad,"
"My what?"
"Never mind," I smiled, as Edward walked to the radio that sat on the kitchen table, placing a cd in the cdplayer, one of my favorite albums by Luke Bryan played from the speakers. I began to dance around the kitchen, oblivious that Edward was there, I mean, I knew he was there, but I kinda forgot, if that makes sense?
As I wiggled my hips and danced around, sure I looked like an idiot on all accounts, my childhood kinda made a reappearance, as I made up my own choreography to the song. Still cooking as I moved around, I turned, looking up, Edward had jumped up on the counter his green eyes on me, a smile on his face.
I stopped, embarrassed as I pushed my hair from my face,
"Don't stop on my account, I was enjoyin' the show,"
"I uh-yeah-uh,"
"How long were ya a dancer?"
"Since I was five, I kinda stopped a few years ago,"
"Why? Ya obviously have some damn good rhythm,"
"Yeah, the music kinda takes me over,"
"Babe, ya should go back to it,"
"What did you call me?"
"I called ya 'Babe' is that a problem?"
"No, no, I just didn't know we were at endearments already," He jumped off the counter and walked to me, tucking my hair behind my ear, cupping my cheek, his green eyes baring into my brown ones,
"Let me in," He whispered, "I'm not yur ex-boyfriend, okay," He continued to whisper, his eyes never leaving mine, "I dunnowhat ya have been through, what he did to ya, but please, please, don't make me have to suffer for his mistakes, he's an idiot for letting ya go, and I am so grateful to him for it,"
"Why are you talking to me like this?" I whispered back,
"Ya need to be cherished, to be treated like the rare jewel that ya are,"
"How can you say that?"
"Yur eyes tell me everything I need to know when ya look at me,"
"Which is?"
"The same thing I know ya see when ya look at me….someone who is falling completely and entirely in love with a stranger," I swallowed,
"I'm scared," I couldn't hold back the tears anymore. Not sure why I was crying to begin with,
"I know," He wiped my tears with his thumbs, "I'm gonna take care of ya,"
"That's what scares me, it's been just me since I was 16 years old, I dunno how to let someone take care of me,"
"I've been takin' care of someone since I was 19 years old, I know what I'm doin',"
"Why me? There are women all over this town, why, why me?"
"Cause, ya aint like them, I aint sure what is so different but, there is something different,"
"I will be whatever you want, all I ask is that you don't let me down,"
"I promise you, I won't, as long as ya don't burn down me house," I gasped as I looked over at the stove,
"Oh no! I'm sorry!"
"Baby, Baby, stop, it's fine, okay,"
"I really am a good cook,"
"I have no doubt about that, my stove is tricky, lemme show you,"
That night, after I cooked for him, the cdplayer still playing the Luke Bryan cd on repeat, as we danced around the living room, on that beautiful pine floor. I think at that moment, with my head on his shoulder, my hand in his against his chest, was the exact moment that I fell head over heels in love with him…