Chapter 20
Kade
Me: Are you free tonight?
Liv: I could be convinced to be free…
Me: Could a date with me be convincing enough?
Liv: Depends.
Me: On what?
Liv: Where you’re taking me?
Me: Well, that's a surprise.
Liv: How will I know what to wear?
Me: Wear something comfortable. Good shoes, maybe boots? I’ll pick you up at six.
Liv: I’ll be the one in comfy clothes and good boots.
Me: Can’t wait.
Ihaven’t stopped thinking about that conversation all day.
This morning, I buried myself in anything that would keep my mind off Liv and the date I’ve been planning since the second she said yes.
I stayed out on site, purposefully avoiding the office.
Part of it was to keep things professional.
The other part? If I saw her, I’d probably say too much.
Or worse, drag her into my office, shut the door, and kiss her up against it until we both forgot what professionalism even meant.
Not ideal. Especially with Brandon already watching me like a hawk. He’s skeptical enough as it is.
So, I kept my distance. Worked harder than I needed to. But none of it helped—not really. Because no matter what I do, my head still ends up in the same place.
Liv.
And how badly I don’t want to screw this up.
A date with her has been on my mind longer than I’d admit—definitely since before Cameron Hollis, and absolutely after hearing how bad that night went. But after the drinks at The Rig, after our kiss, I knew this was my moment.
I called in a favor from a buddy who owns a small ranch just outside town. I helped him rebuild his stables a few years ago, so I figured he owed me one. When he offered the horses and the trail with that perfect overlook, I knew it was exactly what I wanted for her. For us.
Now I just have to hope she thinks so too.
By the time six rolls around, I’ve changed my shirt twice, debated shaving, and cursed myself more times than I can count for acting like a damn teenager before his first date.
I grab my keys, head out the door, and try to talk myself down.
It’s just Liv.
It’s not like I haven’t spent time with her before.
Except—it’s not just Liv.
And this isn’t just time.
It’s a date. A real one.
The drive to her place is short, but my nerves don’t care, and when I pull up to the curb and kill the engine, I rest my hands on the wheel for a beat to try and calm myself down.
Alright Jenkins. Let’s not fuck this up.
It’s all the pep talk I need as I climb out of the truck and walk up the pathway toward her front door, and just as I’m about to knock, it opens.
I freeze. Completely caught off guard by how beautiful she looks.
Liv has that kind of beauty that doesn’t need effort; it’s natural, quiet, and completely disarming. She doesn’t need makeup to steal your breath; she just exists and somehow does it anyway.
She’s wearing tight black jeans that hug every curve and a cropped green T-shirt that shows just enough skin to set my thoughts on fire.
She’s fucking stunning.
And when our eyes meet, I know I’m done for. No use fighting it.
Her green eyes catch the last of the sun, golden flecks sparking to life, and for a second, I forget how to speak. I just stare, caught in that light. In her.
I clear my throat, dragging my gaze away just long enough to say, “You look…” I shake my head, a quiet laugh slipping out. “You look incredible.”
She gives me that soft, uncertain smile, the one that wrecks me every time.
“What?” she asks, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. “Is it too much? I wasn’t sure what we were doing, so I just—”
“It’s perfect,” I cut in gently, letting the truth sit between us.
A flush rises up her neck and spills onto her cheeks, and then she smiles—really smiles. One of those rare, heart-stealing smiles that hits you right in the chest.
“Ready?” I ask, still trying to keep my voice even when all I want to do is kiss her again.
She nods, brushing a loose curl behind her ear. “Yeah. I think so.”
We walk back toward the truck, our steps falling into an easy rhythm. The silence between us isn’t awkward, it’s charged, humming with quiet anticipation.
At the passenger side, I step ahead and pull the door open for her.
She glances up at me with a soft smile and the faintest blush coloring her cheeks. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome,” I say, offering my hand.
She takes it, and I steady her as she climbs in. Once she’s settled and buckled up, I close the door and head around to the driver’s side.
Sliding in beside her, I can’t help the grin tugging at my mouth. She’s here. She said yes. And this night—it’s only just getting started.
I tear my eyes away long enough to shift the truck into gear, the engine rumbling to life beneath us, and as I pull out onto the road, I glance over and catch the smile etched across her face. It lingers there, soft and unguarded, just before she breaks the silence.
“Still not gonna tell me where we’re going?” she asks, her voice playful.
I grin, eyes still on the road. “Nope. You’ll see soon enough.”
She shakes her head, but there’s a spark in her eyes, an excitement she’s not even trying to hide.
Yeah. This is already worth it.
After an hour's drive, my tires hit the gravel road leading up to the ranch, and Liv’s eyes light up. She sits up straighter in her seat, taking in the wide-open space as we pass the main house and head down toward the stables.
“Oh my goodness—are we riding horses?” she asks, her voice filled with excitement.
I cut the engine just as Ethan steps out of the stables, two horses already saddled and waiting. Liv lets out a squeal and throws open the truck door before I can even respond.
I chuckle, watching her climb out with that carefree, happy energy that’s so damn beautiful to see.
A quiet breath of relief slips out of me as I walk around the front of the truck to meet her, my hand instinctively finds the small of her back, guiding us toward Ethan and the horses.
“Ethan,” I call out as we approach, nodding at him.
He grins, giving one of the horses a gentle pat before looking between us. “Kade. Been a while.”
“Yeah, it has,” I say, then glance at Liv, who’s practically glowing beside me. “This is Liv.”
Ethan offers her a warm smile and a nod. “Nice to meet you, Liv. You ever been on a horse before?”
She shakes her head, eyes wide as she takes in the animals. “Never. But I’ve always wanted to.”
“Well,” Ethan says with a chuckle, “today’s your lucky day. These two are as steady as they come. You’ll be just fine.”
I glance at her again, watching her take it all in—the breeze lifting her hair, the sun catching the awe in her eyes—and I know I made the right call.
“You’re not coming with us?” Liv asks Ethan, a hint of nervousness in her voice as her eyes flick between the two of us.
“It’s a short trail,” he says with a reassuring smile, giving the horses a final check. “Kade’s been out here a few times. He’ll guide you just fine.”
I slide an arm around Liv’s waist, pulling her gently into my side, hoping the touch brings comfort and not pressure. Leaning in close, I lower my voice just enough for her to hear.
“I’ll keep you safe.”
Her eyes meet mine, wide and uncertain, but there’s trust there too, just beneath the surface.
Liv takes a slow breath, nodding once, and I can tell she’s trying to steady herself. I give her a small, encouraging smile before turning to the horses.
“This one’s yours,” I say, motioning to the gentler of the two. “Her name’s Sage. She’s calm and easy going, perfect for a first ride.”
Ethan holds the reins steady while I guide Liv to the saddle. She hesitates for a second, then places a hand on the pommel and swings her leg over, a little awkward but determined. I steady her with a hand at her waist, just in case, and when she’s seated, she lets out a breathy laugh.
“Okay,” she says. “I’m up. This is real.”
“You’re doing great,” I say, unable to keep the grin off my face.
I mount up beside her with ease, and once I’m settled, I glance over to check on her. She’s gripping the reins a little too tightly, but she’s holding her posture steady, eyes wide with a mix of nerves and wonder.
“You ready?” I ask, my tone gentle.
She bites her lip, then nods. “As I’ll ever be.”
With a soft nudge, we guide the horses toward the start of the trail. The gravel crunches beneath their hooves, and the early evening sun casts golden light through the trees ahead.
I glance over at her again, watching her sit tall, her hair catching in the breeze, and something tightens in my chest.
This isn’t just a first for her. It feels like one for me, too.