The Bad Boy Next Room (Charlie and Taylor)

"Hey Taylor, here's the food you requested," a young worker named Omar met them at the base of the tree. "Enjoy your date."

"Thank you, Omar," Taylor said.

After leaving a picnic basket with Taylor, Omar rushed to another truck and left. Taylor then urged Charlie, "Let's go."

"I'm not going," Charlie protested. She looked up, reasoning, "It's completely open. We are not groping each other up there!"

Taylor burst out laughing. He looked so amused that his eyes watered. He stretched his hand to her, saying, "I was only joking, okay? Let's go up."

Inner Devil: 'Why did I even get my hopes up?'

Charlie eventually followed Taylor up the tree. They went straight to the second level, which offered a perfect view of the plantation. As the breeze brushed against her skin, she smiled. "This reminds me of when Dad took us to the mountains, but I think I like this better. The air feels perfect up here."

A small wooden table was built into the treehouse. Taylor set the food individually, saying, "Let's start with a sandwich, Babe. The salad barely filled my stomach."

In the basket, different fresh juices were packed in sealed bottles. There was a huge steak sandwich and a seafood pasta. Of course, since they came from the store, Taylor had packed away three different nut spreads and some crackers to go with them.

Charlie squatted on the wooden floor, facing the view of the orchards. Taylor soon sat beside her and offered her share of the sandwich. They ate together for the next few minutes while occasionally pointing out parts of the farm.

"Are those bushes around the walnut plantation?" Charlie asked with her mouth full.noveldrama

Taylor nodded. "Blackberries."

Charlie's eyes lit up. "I love blackberries!"

A chuckle left Taylor's lips. He wiped a mustard off the corner of her lips, expressing, "You are just so fucking adorable; I want to eat you."

Excitement bubbled inside her, but she quickly moved on. She pointed to some bars standing vertically on the plantation, asking, "What are those?"

"Irrigation system. Walnuts need moist soil," Taylor shared.

"Good to know," Charlie acknowledged. She passed him the remaining of her sandwich. "I can't finish this. I want to eat the pasta."

"Wow, more for me. I like how you are sensitive to my needs, Babe," Taylor suggested, and it made Charlie laugh.

They shared the pasta next and enjoyed the fresh juice. Then, Charlie began taking pictures of her surroundings.

"Do you want me to take a picture of you, Babe?" Taylor offered.

"Yeah! With the view, please, Babe," Charlie begged. She made various poses and was excited to see the pictures.

"Let me see!" She took back her phone and inspected the photos. At first, there were amazing photos of her and the view. Then the images shifted to Taylor's face! There were lots of them!

So, while Charlie was doing acrobats, posing for the shots, Taylor was taking pictures of himself!

Taylor laughed even before Charlie reacted. He said, "I thought I'd do you a favor and give you more photos of me. Better yet, we should have more photos together."

Well, Charlie did not object to that. Her next selfies included Taylor, and honestly, she wanted to post them on her social media, but she has yet to announce their relationship to her family.

"I want to show you something, Babe," Taylor said, getting up and offering his hand.

Charlie followed, going down to the second level of the treehouse. On the tree's trunk was an engraving. Taylor said, "Check this."

She studied the markings on the tree and realized that Taylor's grandparents had carved them! It read: [Doug & Sam 4ever.]

"That's so sweet," Charlie remarked, smiling.

"Yes, my grandparents were already married when they had carved this. So, this tree is extra special to them," Taylor revealed. "They say a black walnut tree can last over three hundred years."

Taylor touched the carving on the tree, expressing, "Although I know my grandparents will not live for three hundred years, I do hope their love does, through us, their legacy, and through this farm."

What Taylor said made Charlie feel so sentimental that she hugged him outright.

He hugged back without saying a word and leaned down to kiss her.

"Actually, Charlie, each of us had a black walnut tree planted in this area," Taylor shared, pointing to the younger trees on the hill. "That one is mine. The next one belongs to Tristan, then Mom's, Dad's, and so on Let's go check it."

They climbed down the treehouse, bringing the picnic basket with them. When they made it to Taylor's tree he cleared his throat, took out a wood Carving knife from the picnic basket, and handed it to Charlie. "You first."

"What?" Charlie was shocked. She laughed so hard just at the fact that Taylor

came prepared with a carving knife!