"Clay...it is absolutely beautiful out here. How on earth did you ever find this place?" Misty asked, turning around slowly to take in the beautiful scenery. She kept turning around until she was facing Clay. 

     "I was driving around one day and saw a for sale sign out by the gate and decided to check it out." Clay explained, looking between Misty and the scenery around them. The mountains, set against the cloudless blue sky, painted a gorgeous picture in the background. Where they were standing was on a hill, and looking down below them, Misty could see a stream, sporadically lined with trees. There were some incredibly beautiful spots on the McAdams ranch, but nothing compared to this view. 

     "Wait, so if it's for sale, are we even allowed to be out here? Aren't we trespassing right now?" Misty asked, processing what Clay said about how he found it. Part of her didn't care if they were trespassing because the view was honestly worth a warning or small fine from the cops.  

      Clay chuckled, looking down at Misty. "It's not for sale anymore."

     "Wait, it's not? So then we really are trespassing." Misty stated. 

     "No, darlin', we ain't trespassing." Clay smiled at Misty, wrapping his arms around her slim frame. "I bought it." Clay looked at the panoramic view before him. With the birds singing in the background, and the way the sunlight hit the treetops, shining down on the lush green grass, it truly looked like something out of a fairytale movie. 

     Misty straightened, looking up at Clay. "You bought this? This land is yours?"

     "Yes ma'am." Clay couldn't help but smile at the beauty in his arms. He loved when Misty looked up at him with this blue eyes and long eyelashes. "And you're the first person I've brought out here to see it." Clay added, softly caressing Misty's cheeks in his hands.  

     "Aw. I feel so special that I was the first person you brought out here." Misty said, her eyes sparkling. 

     "I used to think this piece of land was the most beautiful thing I'd ever seen, but lookin' into your eyes right now, I know that you, Misty McAdams, are the most beautiful thing my eyes have ever laid sight on." Clay's voice was deeper and quieter.  

     "Clay..." The word was breathed out in a whisper. It was the only thing Misty could say. But, since actions seem to speak louder than words, Misty met Clay's lips, silently thanking him for the compliment. 

     Clay slid his hands down from Misty's face to her waist, pulling her up to him even tighter. Misty, in an attempt to silently tell Clay she didn't want him to pull away, wrapped both her arms around Clay's neck.  

     After a few more long kisses, Clay pulled back, but rested his head on Misty's forehead. After catching his breath, Clay slid his hands slowly up Misty's back. "I've been waitin' all day to do that." Clay smiled at Misty who looked up at him as if he was a dream...a dream that made her knees go weak. She once told him that she was glad that, when he kissed her, he kept his arms around her because every time they kissed, Clay made her knees go weak.  

      "Yeah?" Misty smiled.

     "Yeah." Clay whispered out. His eyes looked down to Misty's lips before quickly deciding to kiss her just once more. 

     "I have to say, Clay Montgomery, this is a pretty good first date." Misty flirted, her arms still around Clay's neck.

     Clay's warm chuckle melted Misty. "As much as I would love to spend our date kissing you, that's not what I brought you out here for." Clay replied. Pulling back from Misty, he grabbed her hand, leading her to his truck. "I thought we could have a picnic lunch and just talk." Clay said, looking at Misty before dropping her hand to open the back door of the cab of his truck. Reaching in, Clay pulled out a thick checkered blanket and a wicker picnic basket. "Come on." Clay smiled, leading Misty back to the flat spot that overlooked the property. 

     Grabbing the blanket from Clay, Misty spread it out over the ground and sat down on it. "How did you know that I love picnics?" Misty asked, inviting Clay to sit with her.  

     "Because I haven't met a single girl who doesn't love picnics. I think it's a girl thing." Clay smiled, opening the picnic basket. "So, unfortunately I wasn't too creative with what I packed, but I did run to the store last night and got some strawberries and lunch meat to make some sandwiches." 

     "I don't care what we eat for lunch, as long as I'm with you." Misty said allowed the comment she debated just keeping in her head.

     Clay didn't say anything in response, instead, he leaned over, placing a kiss on Misty's cheek. Focusing his attention back to the picnic basket, Clay pulled out plates and mugs. 

     Grabbing the paper plates, Misty teased, "You really did go all out, huh?" She held them up in the air. 

     "What happened to just being happy to be with me?" Clay teased, pulling out the lunch meat, cheese, and bread. 

     "Nothin'." Misty held up her hands. "I'm havin' a great time with you. You're just real easy to tease." 

     "Oh, I am, am I?" Clay grabbed for the paper plates, putting two pieces of bread down on each.  

     "Yes, yes you are." Misty replied, kicking out her feet and propping herself up on her elbows.

     "Well, I'm glad that I can keep you entertained. Would you like ham or roast beef on your sandwich?" Clay held up the meats in either hand, moving his hands up and down as if he was "weighing the options out."

     "Ham, please." 

     "Okay. Swiss or Pepperjack cheese?" Clay asked after putting a few ham slices down on Misty's bread. 

     "Ooh, pepperjack. For sure." Misty watched Clay as he made their sandwiches. Inwardly, she secretly hoped that all of their dates in the future could be like this. 

     Handing Misty her plate and sandwich, Clay said, "Here you go, princess."

     "I was wonderin' when you were goin' to remember that nickname. I was hopin' you forgot it." Misty said, sitting upright, her plate on the blanket beside her. 

     "What do you have against me callin' you princess?" Clay asked, putting the food back in the picnic basket. 

     "Nothing, every time I hear it, it reminds me of my dad's horse; that's all." Misty explained. She really didn't mind being called "princess," she just liked teasing Clay about it. "I'm only teasing, I'm fine if you call me it. It could be our little 'thang'."

     "Like an inside joke sorta thang?" Clay inquired, grabbing the napkins from the basket.  

     "That's exactly right." Misty smiled. 

     "Great." Clay smiled. "So, to drink, we have....drumroll, please..." Misty dramatically hit her hands against her legs as Clay pulled out a bottle from the wicker basket. "Sparkling white grape juice." Clay said in a dramatic voice. He held the bottle out as if it was a bottle of wine in a fancy restaurant.  

     "One of my favorite drinks." Misty said, grabbing a mug, holding it up for Clay to pour.  

     "I'm glad I can make you happy." Clay smiled. Holding his full mug up to Misty, Clay said, "Cheers."

     "Cheers? What are we 'cheers-ing' to?" Misty chuckled, raising her mug.

     "Cheers to spendin' this time together and...to whatever else may come."  

     "To whatever else may come." Misty smiled. 

     After Misty and Clay clinked their mugs of sparkling white grape juice, Clay said a prayer over their food, then dug in to their meal. 

     "So, you having fun yet?" Clay asked, sliding slightly closer to Misty on the blanket. 

     "I am." Misty smiled. "This whole date was planned out just so beautifully. I don't know how you thought of all of this." Misty looked around. Raising her hand, and letting it slap her thigh when she dropped it, she added, "And the scenery. I haven't seen anything like it ever. It's absolutely remarkable." 

     "Just like you." Clay smiled, stars in his eyes. He was now sitting really close to Misty; there was hardly any room between them. Placing a hand behind Misty, Clay leaned over even more until his lips landed on Misty's. It was a sweet, long kiss, but Clay didn't try to kiss Misty a second time. Pulling back from the kiss, Clay asked, "How's your sandwich?" 

     "Great. Thank you so much for providing the picnic food. It's delicious." Misty responded.

     "Of course; you will never have to pay for anything any time I take you on a date." Clay smiled, laying on his side on the blanket, propping himself up on his elbow. Looking at Misty, Clay added, "By the way, if you like the sandwiches, wait till you see what I made for dessert." With that, Clay sat up to reach in to the picnic basket. Pulling his hand out, Clay held two containers. "Strawberries and homemade oatmeal chocolate chip cookies." He said proudly, opening the container of strawberries, offering one to Misty.

     "Thank you." Misty smiled, taking a bite out of her strawberry. "These are so good. I love strawberries." 

     "Here." Clay held out a bright red strawberry, feeding it to Misty. After she took a bite, he took a bite himself, finishing off the strawberry. 

      "These are so juicy, too." Misty chuckled, wiping her lips free of some sticky strawberry juice. 

     "You missed a spot on your lips." Clay chuckled as well, leaning closer to Misty. "Here, I'll get it for you." Licking his finger, Clay reached out, wiping the spot off the side of Misty's lip where there was a small splotch of strawberry residue. 

     Misty leaned closer to Clay as he wiped his thumb over her lips. "Did you get it all?" Misty asked, her face just a couple inches from Clay's. 

     "Mmm. No, I don't think so." Clay played along, smiling as he leaned into Misty's kiss. Three kisses later, Clay pulled back. Looking down at Misty's lips, he said, "Yeah, I think I got it all now." 

     Misty teasingly slugged Clay's arm. "I wanna try these cookies now." She said, grabbing one from the container. 

     "I hope they taste alright." Clay said, grabbing one himself. 

     "Why wouldn't they taste alright?" Misty said, pulling the cookie away from her mouth. "Did you put in baking powder instead of baking soda or get eggshells in them or something?" 

     "No, nothing like that, but I accidentally burnt them some, and they seemed hard when I packaged them this morning." 

     "I'm sure they taste fine." Misty smiled, taking a bite. She spoke too soon. "They don't taste bad, but they are a little crunchy, to be honest." 

     "Wow. Yeah, they're horrible. You do not have to sugarcoat that for me. Ugh." Clay threw his cookie back in the container, telling Misty what he thought about them. 

     "Really, they aren't bad, they're just a little over done. But I'm impressed. Oatmeal cookies aren't the easiest cookies to make." Misty smiled. "And I appreciate the thought you put into making them. How did you know that they are my most favorite cookie?" 

     "Darlene told me." Clay explained, laying down on his side again. He stared at Misty as she put away the empty strawberry container and their mugs. "You're beautiful...you know that, right?" Clay's voice was quieter, telling Misty he was serious. 

     Misty stopped what she was doing to look at Clay. "You're sweet, Clay." A smile played on Misty's lips, but she shook off the compliment like it was nothing. 

     "I'm serious, Mist. There's somethin' about you..." Clay's serious expression turned to one of teasing. "You're like a dream. You're my...my princess." There was that cock-eyed grin that took over Clay's face. 

     "You little-" Misty laughed, throwing one of Clay's burnt cookies at him. 

     "I thought you said you don't mind me callin' you princess?" Clay said, grabbing the cookie and pulling back his arm, ready to launch it back to his attacker. 

     "Don't you dare throw that cookie at me, Clay Montgomery." Misty said playfully, pointing a finger at Clay. She tried to keep a straight face, but that didn't last for long. 

     When Misty got hit on the shoulder by a flying cookie, Clay said, "Oops, sorry. My hand slipped." 

     "You are such a jerk." Misty laughed, lunging forward, cookies in her hand for ammo. 

     Somehow, her and Clay got into a cookie wrestling match. Misty thought she was winning until Clay grabbed both of her wrists, wary of her sprained right wrist. She was no longer able to fling crispy, burnt cookies at Clay. "I gotcha." Clay laughed as he held Misty captive. 

     Just to show her how serious he was when he said she was beautiful, Clay silenced Misty's giggles with a passionate kiss, followed by two more. When Misty pulled back, she looked into Clay's eyes, almost asking for an explanation. "I meant it when I said you're beautiful." Clay answered Misty's silent question. With one hand, he still held both of Misty's wrists; the other was used to prop himself up over top of Misty. When Misty stared at Clay's eyes, Clay said, "Come on, sweetheart. Smile, I just gave you a compliment. You..." Clay bent his head down, placing a soft kiss on Misty's lips. "Are. Absolutely. Beautiful." With each word, Clay placed a kiss on Misty's lips. Giving Misty a look, Clay said, "I ain't gonna let you go till you smile and accept the compliment." 

     Misty smiled at Clay, just to make him happy. She wasn't sure why, but she had never been good at accepting compliments. However, whenever Clay said that she looked beautiful, Misty usually believed him because he made her feel that way, without him even needing to say anything. "Thanks, handsome." 

     "You're welcome." Clay said, letting go of Misty's wrists. He rolled over so he was no longer hoovering over Misty, instead, he laid back down on his back, stretching out his arm, welcoming Misty to lay next to him. 

     Obliging, Misty cuddled up next to Clay. Wrapping his arm around Misty, Clay placed a kiss on her forehead. 

     The two just laid there on the picnic blanket for a while in silence before Misty broke the ice. "So, Clay, this has been botherin' me since the roundup...but...you asked me what Jace and I were fightin' about the other day? Well, I already told you that he thinks that we don't know each other well enough to be kissing and goin' on a date...and..." Misty shifted slightly so she could better see Clay's face. "I've got to thinkin' that maybe he is right...we really don't know that much about each other. I mean, how do I even know your real name is Clay Montgomery?" Misty asked, suddenly feeling nervous. She knew that this conversation could take a bad turn if she wasn't careful. 

     Clay chuckled. "It is.My full name is Clay Evan Montgomery. I have four siblings. I have an older brother, an older sister, and a younger sister and brother. My older sister has a two year old daughter. I graduated a month ago with a bachelors degree in Livestock Science with a minor in Agriculture. My favorite color is blue. In my free time I love to be outside and be around cattle or horses. When I'm home, I enjoy spending time with my family and friends. I miss competing in my local rodeos back home, but I wouldn't change these last two years of my life living on your family's ranch for anything." Clay paused. "Oh, and the most important thing about me that you should know is that I think you're beautiful and I really like you. Any other questions?" 

     Ignoring his last comment, Misty asked, "Yeah. What about Aubrey?" Misty asked, looking down at Clay's waist where her hand was nervously fiddling with the fabric. 

     "Aubrey?" Clay's eyebrows were pushed together in question. "Oh, Aubrey Lewis-the barrel racer? Yeah, what about her?"

     "Well...do you like her?" Misty looked back up at Clay. They were talking...this is good...she just hoped that Clay's answer would also be good. 

     Clay let out a warm chuckle. "She's dating my little brother."

     "She is?" Misty asked, surprised. "So you don't like her?" She asked, just to make sure.

     "No, darlin', I do not like her. Why would you think that?" Clay asked. This time it was him who's fingers toyed with the shoulder of Misty's shirt.

     "I don't know. I guess because for the first year or so that you started workin' here, I would see you talkin' to her at the rodeos and livestock auctions, and wherever else she was and it always seemed like y'all were flirting with each other...and...I mean, she is really pretty and her family is really well known...so I mean it makes sense if you like her." Misty realized that she was rambling; she knew she was nervous, otherwise, she never would have brought up the Aubrey Lewis situation.

     "Aubrey Lewis' family is close to my family on a professional and friendship level. Her and my brother have been dating for almost two years now, so any talkin' or interaction that you may have seen between Aubrey and I was strictly friendly. And, as far as her being 'really pretty,' sweetheart, she doesn't even hold a candle to you. You're stunning...naturally. Aubrey has to try to look attractive, and no offense to her, but it don't work." Shifting to get a better look at Misty, Clay said, "You seem a little jealous. You're awful cute when you're jealous." Clay flirted, tapping Misty's nose. 

     "I am not jealous!" Misty defended. "I'm just tryin' to take Jace's advice and find out more about the guy who I really like." Misty smiled at Clay. 

     Clay grinned. "I'm glad we are finding out more about each other. Do you have any other questions for me?" 

      Misty snuggled up closer to Clay. "No...all questions have been answered. Now, I really just want to lay here with you and enjoy this paradise."