Always you

Chapter 18

Sasha was standing in front of her mirror, applying the finishing touches to her makeup. Her soft curls framed her face, and she had chosen a dress that was both elegant and playful—perfect for a first official date. Butterflies danced in her stomach, an unusual but thrilling sensation. What has Rafe planned for tonight? she wondered. The excitement in her chest mixed with a hint of nervousness, making her hands tremble slightly as she adjusted her necklace.

A sudden knock on her bedroom door startled her.

"Sasha!" Daniel's voice carried through, light and teasing. "You've got a visitor."

She smiled to herself and opened the door. Daniel leaned against the frame, smirking at her with his arms crossed. "Rafe's downstairs waiting for you," he said, his tone deliberately playful. "And I gotta say, he looks way too polished for his own good. You might have some competition."

"Shut up, Daniel," Sasha replied, her cheeks warming. "I'll be down in a second."

Daniel grinned and stepped aside, giving her a mock bow. "Don't keep him waiting too long."

Sasha took a deep breath, grabbing her clutch from the bed before heading toward the stairs. As she descended, her eyes immediately locked onto Rafe, who stood near the doorway, looking effortlessly handsome. He was dressed in a perfectly chosen outfit—a white button-up with the sleeves casually rolled up, paired with dark jeans and polished shoes. It was casual yet sophisticated, a perfect reflection of him.

When he saw her coming down the stairs, his breath visibly caught. His jaw tightened as his eyes roamed over her, admiration evident in his expression.

"Wow," Rafe murmured as he took a step forward, meeting her at the bottom of the stairs. "You look... beautiful."

Sasha's cheeks flushed a deeper shade of pink. "You don't look so bad yourself."

Rafe chuckled softly, leaning in to kiss her lightly, his lips warm and gentle against hers. When he pulled back, his voice dropped to a low whisper. "Hi."

Sasha smiled, her heart fluttering. "Hi."

He offered his hand, and she placed hers in his without hesitation. "Ready?" he asked.

"As I'll ever be," she said, letting him lead her out of the house and to his jeep.

Once they were driving, Sasha turned to him, curiosity dancing in her eyes. "Okay, so where are you taking me?"

Rafe smirked, his eyes focused on the road. "You'll see. Just relax and trust me."

"That's not fair," Sasha said with a playful pout. "You're not giving me anything?"

"Nope." He glanced at her briefly, his smirk widening. "Trust is key, Sasha."

She rolled her eyes but smiled, letting herself sink into the anticipation.

After a short drive, Rafe pulled up to a stunning building with an elegant facade. Sasha's jaw dropped as she read the name etched above the entrance: The Paris. She had heard of this place—a chic, upscale restaurant known for its romantic ambiance and incredible food—but she had never been.

"Rafe..." she began, glancing at him in surprise. "This is... wow."

Rafe smiled, cutting the engine. "Only the best for our first date."

He climbed out of the jeep and quickly came around to her side, opening her door and offering his hand. Sasha took it, still in awe of the gesture.

Inside, the restaurant was breathtaking. Soft golden lights hung from the ceiling, and each table was adorned with delicate flowers and flickering candles. The atmosphere was intimate and inviting, and Sasha couldn't stop smiling as Rafe guided her to their reserved table near the window overlooking the water.

Throughout dinner, Rafe was the perfect mix of gentleman and charmer. He held doors for her, pulled out her chair, and even ordered a dessert he had overheard her mention liking weeks ago. His humor had her laughing so much her cheeks hurt, and his thoughtful compliments had her heart fluttering.

By the time they left the restaurant, Sasha was beaming, her mind swimming with the thought that this date couldn't possibly get better.

She was wrong.

The jeep came to a stop at the edge of a quiet, secluded part of the beach. The headlights illuminated a breathtaking scene: twinkling lanterns strung between wooden poles, soft pillows and blankets arranged neatly on the sand, and a small table set with candles.

Sasha gasped, her hands flying to her mouth as she stared at the setup in disbelief. "Rafe..."

He got out of the jeep and walked around to open her door again. As she stepped out, taking in her surroundings, he came up behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist and resting his chin on her shoulder. His voice was a soft murmur in her ear. "Do you like it?"

Sasha turned her head to look at him, her eyes wide with emotion. "I love it," she whispered.

He smiled, pressing a light kiss to her temple. "Good. Come on."

Rafe led her to the cozy setup, where they sat down on the pillows. Sasha couldn't stop admiring the effort he had put into this, her heart swelling with affection.

After a few moments of quiet conversation, Rafe stood and grabbed a large lantern from the side. He handed it to Sasha along with a marker. "Write something on it."

Sasha hesitated for a moment, then smiled as an idea came to her. Carefully, she wrote her and Rafe's names with a plus sign in the middle and a small heart underneath.

Rafe watched her with a soft smile, his eyes glinting with warmth. "Perfect," he said when she finished.

He lit the lantern with a lighter, and they both held it steady as it filled with warm air. Slowly, they released it, watching as it floated up into the night sky, joining the stars above.

Sasha's heart felt light as she stood there beside him, her eyes following the glowing lantern. "Thank you," she said softly, turning to him. "For all of this. It's perfect."

Rafe smiled down at her, his gaze tender. "It's not over yet."

Her brows lifted in curiosity. "It's not?"

Rafe just smiled, leaning in to kiss her again, a promise of more to come. As the lantern drifted higher, Sasha knew this night would be one she'd never forget.