The only thing missing is Liam. Someday I’ll get him in here with me.
I sink into the water, letting pure bliss wash over me. If this is what surprises from Liam are like, count me in.
My chest flutters in anticipation as I approach Liam. He’s waiting for me near the back door as promised.
His eyes rake over my body from head to toe and back. “You look beautiful.”
I glance down at my white sundress with the delicate blue flowers, trying to see it through Liam’s eyes. “I look the same as I always do.”
“You’re always beautiful.”
My breath catches in my throat at the sincerity in his voice.
Weaving our fingers together, Liam guides me outside and tugs me through a thicket of trees. The moonlight glows faintly between the branches, casting shadows on the forest floor. My eyes stray to where our hands are joined. When will this dream end?
Liam stops when we reach the clearing I’ve only seen glimpses of from my bedroom window, and the air whooshes from my lungs. It’s more magical than I could’ve imagined. There’s a canvas tent set up on a raised platform, with candlelit lanterns scattered throughout the area, and string lights hanging between the trees. A small campfire flickers in the middle of the grove, its cascading warmth enveloping everything around us, easing the chill of the crisp autumn breeze. My guitar is leaning against the side of one of the log benches, and Liam’s battered vintage Taylor is there, too.
He truly thought of everything. I press a hand to my chest. “You did all of this?”
Liam’s palm touches the small of my back, and my skin tingles beneath his touch. “I’d do anything for you.”
I feel like I’ve walked right into a fairytale—one I never want to end.
“Wait here.” He disappears into the tent, returning a few minutes later with two insulated cups. He hands me one and motions for me to take a seat on one of the long log benches.
Liam joins me and wraps his arm around my back, pullingmy body flush against his side. I watch the embers crackle in the stone pit as the flames dance into the night sky, and a quiet peace settles over me. I take a sip of my drink, smiling when I recognize the flavor of my favorite boxed wine.
“What are we doing here?” I ask.
“Thought that was obvious. This is a date. I’m not sure if you’re familiar, but it’s when two people spend time together in a romantic setting.”
I elbow him in the ribs, and he splutters into his wine before quickly composing himself, swiping a hand down his face.
Sensing there’s more he’s not saying, I ask, “Why here?”
“I’ve always loved camping,” he says. “The world can be a cruel and unpredictable place, but out here, I have control of my surroundings. I can anticipate danger and act accordingly. I can protect those I love from the dangers lurking in the shadows. People aren’t like that—they can change on a dime. I guess you could say this is where I’m most comfortable.”
“Another sanctuary.”
“Yeah, but there’s one thing missing.” He takes the wine from my hand and sets it down on the ground. “Play for me.”
Without an ounce of hesitation, I pull my guitar onto my lap and begin to play. Liam sits across from me on one of the shorter logs, waiting for his time to join in. When the first chords ring out from his guitar, in perfect time with my own, something clicks into place inside my chest, like a skeleton key finding the right lock after years of searching.
We lock eyes as the tempo slows, humming along to a melody I haven’t figured out just yet, and Liam follows along seamlessly like we were always meant to be a team. His deep timbre joins in alongside mine, and suddenly the words are within reach, playing like a movie reel in my mind. For the first time in a long time, I feel wholly myself. No glitzand glamour, no spotlights or smoke machines. Just Ruby and the man she loves, weaving the most perfect melody.
There’s something freeing in being with Liam that I’ve never felt before, and I know I’ll never feel it with anyone else. He sees me—all of me—and he doesn’t look away.
I see him, too, despite how he tries to keep himself guarded. I see the hurt behind that stoic exterior. I see the fierce protectiveness and the unwavering loyalty. In spite of all the hardships he’s endured, he’s never let them turn him cold. He might like to think he’s a hardened man, but I see his softness, too. I always have.
A part of my heart has belonged to him since I was eighteen, sitting on his tailgate writing lyrics to a song that still haunts my dreams, and he’s taking another piece as we sit in this small clearing writing lyrics to a song that might tear open the very heart of me… and I’m going to let it.
Liam
I can’t help staring as she loses herself in the music, every detail of her soft features highlighted by the faint glow of the moon and the string lights hanging between the trees. The fullness of her lips, the way her eyes sparkle even in the dark, and every soft curve and dip of her gorgeous body. She’s perfect, and I almost lost her. I can’t let my fear ruin this thing we have. For better or worse, I’m hers.
I lean my guitar against the tree and sit behind her, caging her between my thighs. She glances over her shoulder, a soft smile on her glossy lips. I let my instincts take over from there.
I’m not a soft man, but I can be soft for her.
