To the Ends of the West

5. The Still of the Night

Morgan chuckled, his eyes sparkling with mischief as he led Lottie away from her house. "Trust me, you're gonna love this."

Lottie walked beside him, her curiosity piqued. "You say that, but you won't tell me where we're going. I mean, what if you get me killed or something?"

He glanced back at her, the moonlight glinting off his dark hair. "If I wanted to take you somewhere dangerous, I'd have told you. Besides, if it were that bad, do you think I'd risk my pretty face?" He grinned, giving her a playful wink.

Lottie rolled her eyes, the corner of her mouth tugging up despite herself. "Your pretty face? You must be mistaken, Morgan. You mean your arrogant face."

He feigned offense, placing a hand on his chest dramatically. "Arrogant? Me? I'll have you know that I'm simply confident in my undeniable charm."

"Confident? More like conceited," she shot back, laughing lightly. "What makes you think I'd trust you with anything if you're so full of yourself?"

"Because deep down, you know you can't resist me," he teased, walking backward for a few paces, eyes locked on hers. "I mean, look at you sneaking out of the house like a rebel. That's not something a good little girl does, is it?"

"Good little girl?" she scoffed, pushing his shoulder playfully as they walked. "More like a trapped little bird. If you think this is rebellious, you should see me in my element. But for now, I'm just trying to figure out if I'm going to enjoy whatever hidden danger you've planned for me."

Morgan laughed, the sound echoing in the quiet night air. "You really think I'd take you somewhere dangerous? You should know by now I'm a gentleman."

"Gentleman? Please! You just tried to climb up a ladder to sneak into my window," she shot back, a playful challenge in her voice. "That doesn't exactly scream 'gentlemanly behavior.'"

He grinned, turning to face forward again. "That was a bold move, wasn't it? But it worked, didn't it? Here you are, out with me, and who knows what kind of fun we're about to have?"

Lottie huffed, trying to hide her smile. "I suppose you have a point. But seriously, can you at least give me a hint about where we're going? Just a little one?"

Morgan pretended to ponder her request, his brow furrowing in mock seriousness. "Hmm, let's see. It's a place where the stars shine brighter than anywhere else. Where the world feels far away, and it's just you and me."

"Sounds romantic," she said, rolling her eyes but unable to hide her grin. "But that doesn't tell me anything!"

"And that's exactly the point, sweetheart," he replied, shooting her a cheeky look. "You've gotta trust me. Besides, I think the surprise will be worth it."

Lottie felt a warmth spread through her at the endearment. "Sweetheart? Is that your new favorite word, Morgan?" she teased, a playful glint in her eyes.

"Just trying it out on you," he said, his smirk widening. "You like it?"

"I suppose I could get used to it," she replied, her voice lighter than before as they continued down the winding path, the trees thickening around them. "But only if you promise not to overdo it."

He chuckled, glancing sideways at her. "I'll consider it, but only if you keep sneaking out at night. Makes it all the more fun to use it."

"Fine, but if I end up in trouble, I'll hold you responsible," she shot back, her heart racing with excitement as they walked deeper into the night.

As they continued down the winding path, Lottie couldn't help but enjoy the feeling of being with him. The air was cool and crisp, and the smell of the earth after dusk filled her lungs. Each step brought her closer to wherever Morgan was taking her, and despite her attempts to act annoyed, she felt a flutter of excitement.