Chapter 18 #2
“I try,” he says.
He waits until I slide in and buckle my seat belt before closing the door and getting into the driver’s seat.
“You look beautiful today,” he says.
Then I burst out laughing.
“Sorry. Should I not have said that?”
“It’s just weird. You don’t compliment me.”
“I’m sorry that I—”
“Oh my gosh, Rafe, do not apologize for not complimenting me. You can be you just because we’re going on a date. Which, by the way … where are we going?”
“Where would you like to go?”
“I know you did not just ask me on a date and not have anything planned.” I fold my arms and glare at him.
“Gotcha,” he says with a grin. “I have something planned.”
“Ooh. What?”
“You’ll see.” He starts driving and turns on the radio.
I’m pleasantly surprised when I hear Ray LaMontagne’s voice.
“I love this song,” I say as “Empty” plays through the car.
“I know. He’s one of your favorites, right?”
“I didn’t even know you knew that.” I nod slowly.
“Well, you’ve talked about it with Mia so many times.” He grins. “You know, I do listen.”
“Ooh. Surprising.”
I watch as he pulls over and stops.
“Wait … what? Where are we?” I stare at the small cottage in front of us. “Is this someone’s house?”
He nods and gives me an impish smile.
“Oh my God. Don’t tell me you bought us a house. We haven’t even been on a date.”
“What are you talking about, Juniper?”
“I know men sometimes surprise women, and they take them to houses, and they’re like, I bought this house for us.”
He bursts out laughing. “Oh my gosh, Juniper. Do I look crazy?”
“No comment.”
“I’m not crazy. Of course I didn’t buy us a house. We’re here to see someone.”
“Oh … phew.”
“You didn’t really think I’d bought you a house, did you?
” he asks, his eyes searching mine. “Because if you really thought that, maybe you’re the crazy one.
” But he pauses in a way that makes me realize that even if I was crazy, he’d still be here with me.
Cos that’s Rafe. Always supportive. Always there.
“I didn’t really think it,” I say, giggling. “But it would’ve been kind of romantic.” I want to tell him that his acts of just being there for me are romantic as well, but I don’t. I don’t want him to think I’m in love with him or anything like that.
“It would’ve been certifiable,” he says. “Come on.”
“What are we doing here?”
“Do you know Mrs. Seymour?”
“No, I don’t think so.”
“Well, she has a dog, Sabrina, and Sabrina just had puppies.”
“Yay! Are we going to see puppies?”
He nods. “I’ve just come to check on them, but I thought you might enjoy meeting them as well. I know how much you love them.”
“I hate to admit this but that is so sweet. I do love puppies.”
“I can’t wait until I can get another dog … and maybe some cats … and birds.”
“You always did love pets,” he says. “At least you know if you’re dating me, you’ve got someone to take care of them for free.”
“You’ve never taken care of Lani for free.”
“Well, we weren’t dating then.”
“So, we’re dating now?” I ask.
“I guess I’m kind of rushing things a little.” He grins. “This is, I guess, our first date.”
“Yeah, honey, you’ve got to win me over on the first date before you make an assumption like that.” I start laughing, but my heart is soaring.
I don’t know where this is going, but I’m here for it. Rafe officially asked me on a date. I want to jump up and down. I never thought that this would ever happen. I need to pinch myself to ensure that I’m not dreaming. Am I dreaming?
He rings the doorbell, and we wait for Mrs. Seymour to answer. As we do, I just stare at him. Like I’m trying to memorize him for the rest of my life. Like some sort of creeper. Ugh, I hope he doesn’t notice.
“I have other plans, you know,” he says, looking at me. “It’s not just the puppies.”
“What do you mean?”
“I have dinner.”
“You have dinner plans?”
“Yeah.” He grins. “I have a picnic basket for us that I’m going to pick up in half an hour.”
“But wait … you just asked me on the date.”
“I was hopeful you’d say yes.” He grins.
He reaches out and grabs my hand, and I let him take it. He squeezes it softly.
“I’m sure you have a billion questions.”
“Well, what do you mean by that?”
“I know you, Juniper. I’m sure there are a thousand thoughts rushing through your brain.”
“Okay. Well, tell me two of them if you’re so smart.”
“One of them is, What made him decide to finally ask me out on a date?”
“Okay, I’ll give you that.” I laugh.
“And I’m sure the second one is, When is this man going to kiss me again?”
“That may be true as well.” I roll my eyes, but I smile at him.
“And maybe the third one is … What comes after the kiss?”
He stares at me, and I blush.
“What do you mean by that?”
He leans forward, and I feel his lips brush against my neck.
He whispers in my ear, “I’m sure you’re wondering, just like I am, when we’re finally going to—”
Before he can finish his sentence, the door opens, and a cute old lady stands there.
“Ah, Dr. Bishop! So glad you’re here. Sabrina and the pups are waiting for you.”
I try not to moan out loud and instead give her a wide smile. I wanted him to finish the sentence. I wanted to know what he was thinking. He offers me a wink as we step inside, and all I can think is that this is the beginning of something amazing.
And then my brain trips up thinking of the fact that I’m on a reality dating TV show. That could help me win a shit ton of money. Money that I need. And maybe I’d meet a Prince Charming that would sweep me off of my feet as well.
I don’t know what to do.
Should I just call it off?
But an inner voice inside of me says, No.
One date does not equal changing my life’s plans.
One date does not mean anything.
Maybe we’ll find we don’t even like each other.
Or maybe we’ll find that we’ve been the right person for each other all along.
That’s my dream.
That’s my hope.
But I know better than to allow dreams to take over my life.
I have to see if Rafe really is the man I hope he is.
And as I watch him kneeling down, stroking Sabrina, and holding and inspecting each puppy one at a time, my heart melts.
I know deep inside that he’s an even better man than I thought he was.