“You put a lot of thought into this.”
I blow out a long steady breath before giving her a little wink. “Nah, just threw some stuff together.” You’re damn right I put a lot of thought into this date. I don’t think I’ve ever wanted anything to be more perfect than the day I’m going to spend with Ivy.
She glances down at her Timberland clad feet. “Well, I now understand why you asked me to wear these.” When her eyes slice back up to mine, there’s just a hint of a mischievous sparkle held within them. “I was thinking maybe you had some kink to you.”
Unable to help myself, I start laughing before tilting my head as if I’m assessing just how hot Ivy would look in hiking boots and nothing else.
I have to admit it’s actually kind of a turn on.
Instead of responding to that, I merely say, “Don’t want those dancing feet of yours to get blistered.” If I start imagining Ivy without any clothes on, the rest of the day isn’t going to go well for me. Needing a distraction, I head into the kitchen before grabbing two bottles of water from the fridge. Handing one to her, I snag her fingers. I love the way they fit perfectly within mine. “Ready?”
“Yep, lead the way.”
For the next hour and a half, we tromp around on the trails that run through the twenty acre property my dad has owned for the last ten years. I have fond memories of coming out here as a kid. When my parents divorced, this is where my dad came to live until he bought the house near Barnett.
I never really imagined sharing this place with a girl before. But being here with Ivy, enjoying the woods and the sunshine that is spearing down through the leafy canopy above us, just feels right. I’ve always liked being outdoors. Hunting, fishing, swimming, hiking, playing football...
And being with her is so damn easy. I never imagined it could be this way.
We just shoot the shit as we hike our way over the trails. We talk about our childhoods. Our hopes and dreams for the future. Surprising me, Ivy opens up about her mother. She’s never done that before. I just listen quietly, holding her hand as we go. I hate the thin tremor that runs through her voice as she tells me how much she still misses her. Like a hole in her heart that refuses to fuse together again.
By the time we make it back to the cabin, I feel like I know so much more about her. And it’s not bullshit surface crap either. But stuff that actually matters. The stuff that makes Ivy the woman she is today. I can’t help but pull her slowly into my arms before kissing her gently on the lips. I wish I could take away all the hurt pulsing through her.
Once we pull apart, I grab the cooler from the back of the truck before heading down to the small wooden dock. A red canoe is beached in the sand near the shoreline. I set the cooler of food down on the middle bench before instructing Ivy to sit up front so I can take the seat at the back of the canoe. As she stands in the middle of the boat, I hand her an oar. When she’s finally settled, I grab another paddle before carefully making my way to the back bench. Using the oar, I push the boat off until we’re steadily gliding through the water.
“Okay, we’re just going to head towards the middle. You start paddling on the right side and I’ll paddle on the left and then we’ll switch.”
Just like our entire relationship, we easily find a rhythm until we’re in the center of the glassy surfaced lake. The breeze is slight and the sun is high in the cerulean colored sky. There are a few white puffy clouds that float by. Frogs croak near the shoreline. Bass jump at the edges of the lake where the waterlilies are. There’s a gray egret standing in the swallows where the cattails grow. It’s completely serene out here which is one of the reasons I wanted to share this place with Ivy. I love being here. It’s one of the few escapes I have.
“Okay. Let’s stop right about here.” I lay my paddle lengthwise in the canoe and Ivy does the same. “Why don’t you turn and face me and then we can dig into our lunches.”
Carefully she swings her gorgeous legs around as I pull out two sandwiches, a big bag of chips, two more waters, along with some fresh fruit.
She looks surprised by everything I’ve pack for us. “This is really nice, Roan, thank you.”
I grin at her, secretly thrilled that she thinks so.
“Hungry?”
She takes a massive bite out of her sandwich and I have to admit that I like the fact she’s got a healthy appetite which is hilarious because looking at Ivy, you wouldn’t think she eats anything at all. Her body is tight and athletic looking. I’ve been with a lot of different sized girls but the majority of them end up being super curvy with a lot going on up top and a good size ass.