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Arriving at an unfamiliar section of the massive forest, Nate quickly puts the vehicle in park. He wastes no time prying his seatbelt off and reaching for mine to do the same.

"Ready?" His excitement is obvious.

I swallow the nervous lump that formed in my throat.

Please don't let my crazy thoughts come true.

Please don't turn out to be a murderer.

"Yep! Let's see what special activities you have planned for me."

Nate grins before racing to my side and creaking the passenger door open. I can only presume his speed is chalked up to all these "forest runs" he claims to go on.

Once outside of the vehicle, I stretch my arms above my head and drop my upper body down to stretch my hamstrings out as well. Totally not preparing my body to take off if things get weird.

Nate doesn't seem to notice me as he begins ruffling through the trunk of his car. No doubt gathering the supplies to take me out.

"So, what are your plans?" I try my best to hide my anxious tone– but one look at the trickling sweat beads on my forehead would give me away completely.

Nate slams the trunk door, the noise causing me to jolt. In one hand he is holding a light brown woven basket, and the other hand grips a folded white blanket.

A picnic.

"Thought a dinner under the stars may be romantic." He says proudly.

I follow his broad shoulders through the forest. I try my best to count my footsteps from the car to the spot Nate has chosen.

"Can never be too careful." the constant words of warning my mom tirelessly drilled into my head come through.

I stop counting at 337 steps.

Nate abruptly ends his speed walking to spin and face me, causing the hairs on my body to raise.

"Okay turn around for like...thirty seconds." He demands.

I try not to think too deep into it, but I can't help the small bit of fear I feel as I reluctantly turn my body away from his.

I begin the countdown immediately, not wanting to have my eyes off of him for a second too long.

Nate isn't going to hurt you dummy. I continue to remind myself over and over as the numbers dwindle.

What's the phrase? If he wanted – he would have.

I swivel back around as soon as my mind ticks to 0. Not allowing myself to let out an audible gasp, I fully take in what Nate has set up in the small timespan.

The white blanket he carried with him has been spread out, creating the illusion that the hardened forest floor is really a comfortable cushion. Small tea candles surround the blanket's edges, creating a dim glow as the sun is almost finished setting. Hope those are battery-powered, Nate.

Peering into the woven basket settled onto one end of the blanket, I see an arrangement of sandwiches placed into clear baggies, and a tupperware container of what appears to be sliced fruit of various varieties.

Did he make all of this himself? I feel a twinge of admiration for how much hard work he seems to have put into this first date. Far exceeding my expectations – I mean – after all, I did think of this man as "Credits Creep" up until a week ago.

"This...it's amazing Nate." I could hear my own astonishment in my voice oozing out.

Marnie would vomit.

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Revealing a delighted smile, Nate motions for me to be seated.

I fidget with the bottom of my dress before laying my legs out to my side, being sure to now expose anything other than mid-thigh, and resting onto the soft texture of the blanket underneath us.

Looking back up at Nate, I can see him scanning me thoroughly. Taking note of every bit of my exposed skin.

I shrink back into myself until he visibly snaps out of his trance and seats himself down, fairly close to me.

Close enough for me to take in his familiar scent of...cologne? It smells like pine and fresh mint – an odd but soothing combination.

"I imagined you would be beautiful under the stars, yet you still manage to take my breath away."

If it was possible for steam to be coming off of my face for how much heat is being produced, it would be happening now.

Before I can muster a response to that, Nate is already digging into the basket and pulling out various bags of sandwiches.

"Are others joining us?" I tease as I take note of the pile of sandwiches placed before us. Next to them, he sets out the plastic bowl full of chopped fruits.

He chuckles at my response, "I just don't know what kind of meat you'd like. So I made turkey, ham, chicken and – a cheese sandwich in case you don't eat meat."

He seems to take discomfort in the last bit.

"I love meat."

Dumb. So dumb.

I immediately regret my words and hope Nate doesn't think I'm meaning that in some sexual innuendo way.

He raises an eyebrow, but doesn't comment on my statement.

Eager to put the sandwich in my mouth before I stick my foot in it again, I reach for the chicken sandwich.

The first bite feels like an explosion went off in my mouth, setting off all of my taste buds at once. I've had cold sandwiches before – being such a simple thing to make with sliced deli meat, cheese, and condiments. But something about this was entirely different.

Nate must have noticed my shock, "everything in that is homemade."

"Are you like some Gordon Ramsey of the Forest or something?" I take another bite before waiting for his response.

I'm sure I look like a pig, but I don't care. I've never been one to care what a guy thinks about me while I'm eating – it's your fault if it bothers you that I consume a lot for my stature.

He laughs and shakes his head a bit before unwrapping his own sandwich and biting a large chunk from it.

I try my best not to watch him eat, as he gave me that same treatment while I practically jizzed over the food he made.

Relaxing further into the blanket, I chuckle internally at my prior thoughts of how this evening would go. Ending up with my chopped into pieces in the back of his trunk for sure. Solidifying even more so when he led us into this forest spot.

But the night sky dipping around us, the quiet bustle of the trees, and how romantic the setup Nate worked hard on is – nothing could have made this night better. Although, I don't have much to compare it to because of the imbecile boys I have previously had experiences with.

None of them cared enough to take me on a date before insisting I put them in my mouth. Or into my gripped hand.

And now I'm being swooned by a man who has been watching me and prepping for this moment for months.

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