Chapter Text
Missy stared into the bathroom mirror, her hand steadily drawing a thin black line across her nude shadowed eyelids.
She stepped back for a moment before adding a slick of black mascara to her lashes.
She had opted for a pair of denim shorts with a flannel shirt thrown over her black bra. Her long hair had been gently curled and hung loose about her shoulders.
Missy bit her lip, spritzed a little perfume onto her neck and grabbed her keys, heading for the door.
Dusk had fallen and the sounds of crickets filled the warm, summer air. The evening was perfect.
Thirty minutes later Missy pulled up outside Owen's bungalow.
Switching off the engine, she let out a long breath before checking her reflection one last time in the rear view mirror.
She apprehensively stepped out of the truck and made her way over to the bungalow, wiping down her clammy hands on her shorts as she did so.
She knocked on the door and waited but there was no answer.
Missy frowned and gazed around. The lights were on, but the curtains were drawn closed.
She knocked again. "Hello?" she out called gently.
Missy's heart pounded. He had said 8 at his place, right? Had she just dreamt that?
She stepped back and bit her lip just as a sudden figure appeared around the side of the house.
"Hey, thought I heard your voice," uttered Owen, walking around the porch to meet her.
He had changed from the outfit he was wearing earlier, now casual in black jeans and a white tight fitted tee but that same warm smile still lingering across his tanned face.
"Am I early?" she said a little tentatively, walking around to meet him. She pushed her long hair off her shoulder and looked at him with wide eyes.
Owen shook his head, gave a grin and grasped her hand slowly in his.
"No, it's just that I've set up for us around here," he uttered, tugging her around the porch.
As they turned the corner, Missy's breath almost caught in her throat at the sight that met her eyes.
On the warm grass, just in front of the beautiful moonlit lake was a picnic blanket surrounded by tiny candles in various jars and tins. They flickered gently in the evening breeze.
Missy glanced up at Owen, his fingers still entwined with hers.
"Owen-" she said, in a what was just a whisper.
He turned to her and in that moment all she could see…. all she could think about… was him. The guy who she had known all this time…
Missy gave a smile as Owen beamed back.
"Oh, I almost forgot," he said, suddenly letting go of her hand and disappearing into the bungalow.
Missy slowly wandered over to the picnic blanket. So much thought and effort had gone into this. He had seen how much she had loved the lake yesterday and now he had done this…
Glow worms danced over the placid water as Owen reappeared once again.
"These…." he uttered suddenly holding something out towards her, "….are for you."
Missy gazed down.
In Owen's hand was a beautiful, if a little crumpled, bouquet of flowers... tied with fishing wire.
The same flowers, Missy had seen the previous day under Owen's seat.
She blushed and took them from him.
"Owen they're-" she couldn't finish her sentence. She couldn't even find the right words.
She stared up at him. Were they meant for her all along?
She didn't know what else to do… But she knew what she wanted to.
She leaned forwards and brushed her lips gently against his cheek.
A moment suddenly passed between them as she pulled away. Their faces close, their bodies closer…
But Missy stepped away quickly.
She didn't want to embarrass herself. There was no way a guy like him could feel the same.
She plonked herself down onto blanket and grinned up at him.
"So," he said with a nod, as she placed the flowers beside her, "I can't say I'm a good cook, but I can make a great hot dogs."
Missy raised her eyebrows.
"What? I was expecting Nouveau cuisine, Grady!" she said teasingly. "But I guess hot dogs will have to do."
"Hey, I thought you liked them after I saw you stuffing one into your mouth on the 4thof July party last year," he said crossing his arms over his chest.
Missy laughed, covering her face with her hands. "I knew you'd seen me!" she said cringing. "I hadn't had anything to eat that whole day. I was starving!"
"Whatever you say, Missy," he uttered in a judging tone. Shooting her a mock-accusatory look.
Missy buried her head in her hands as Owen strolled back towards the bungalow laughing.
Owen and Missy spent the next hour laughing and joking, mouths full of hot dogs and potato chips. Owen had pulled out a couple of bottles of beer and now the pair were sprawled out on the blanket. Owen lying on his side with his head propped up with his arm and Missy sitting cross legged her bottle of beer cupped between her hands.
"…So before I could even do anything to stop it, she's grabbed me by the collar with her teeth and starts to drag me back to her nest," said Owen in a high pitched tone.
Missy was almost doubled over in laughter.
"What did you do?" she managed to choke out, between giggles.
"Luckily they had caught me on the security cameras and about thirty of them coming running out with tranq guns," he said shaking his head. "Talk about a bad first week."
"So how about you?" he asked giving her leg a poke with his bottle. "What's your worst park horror story?"
Missy gave a smile and coked her head. "The time with the gates to the Rex paddock getting me trapped inside was pretty insane," she uttered, pursing her lips in thought. "But I think mine has to be the time with Echo."
Owen stared at her for a long moment, the smiles disappearing off both of their faces as they remembered.
"Yeah, I was pretty worried," said Owen honestly. "I didn't think you'd come back after that."
Missy glanced up at him. "Well I wasn't going to…" she said slowly, taking a small sip of beer. "But then you came to find me."
She stared deep into his green eyes for long moment before glancing away and looking out onto the water, where insects danced off the hazy surface.
She placed her bottle down beside her and came to lay on her side, head propped on her arm, mirroring Owen.
He too, placed his beer bottle down onto the grass before turning back towards her.
Both of them were silent, the only sounds were the crickets in the grass around them and the gentle lapping of the lake.
Missy's eyes fell to Owen's hand, inches from her own.
Immediately the pairs' fingers entwined gently. Missy tracing the long scar across Owen's palm as if coursing the latitude on a map.
Her eyes flickered upwards and met with his once again, glowing golden in the dim candlelight.
Her breath caught in her throat and her heart began to thud within her chest.
"Owen-" she managed to breathe as his hand left hers and moved to her face.
His fingers tracing her jawbone, gently cupping her cheek before moving to her smooth neck.
Missy bit at her lip as Owen's eyes, drawn to the movement, found them.
The pair moved closer.
"SKWAAAAAAK," came a sudden noise from the centre of the lake.
Missy and Owen suddenly jumped apart.
She put a hand on her heart, swinging around only for her eyes to lock onto a large creature, it's head sticking out of the lake, a huge bug in its mouth.
"What is that thing?!" cried Missy, jumping to her feet, knocking over her bottle of beer, causing the liquid to spill out over the grass beside them.
Owen grinned and stood up. "It's a dwarf freshwater Mosasaurus," he said laughing at the alarmed expression on Missy's face. "The guys in the labs were going to destroy it but I said why not put it in here. It's only going to get the size of a large croc at most."
Missy turned back to him, her mouth agape. "A large crocodile!" she said shaking her head.
Owen grinned and leaned in towards her. "It's a good job I didn't ask if you wanted to go skinny dipping then," he said, causing Missy to blush profusely.
She poked him hard in the ribs with her finger. "You're the worst, Grady," she teased.
Owen gave a wicked grin and suddenly made a grab for her. With one arm under her butt he hoisted her quickly over his shoulder.
"OWEN! PUT ME DOWN!" she squealed with laughter, as he strode over to the lake.
"What was that?" he said cupping hand over his ear. "You want to go in the water?"
He bent his knees so that she was hanging across the lake.
Missy let out a peel of laughter.
"Owen, don't you dare!" she managed to breathe between giggles.
He dangled her precariously over his shoulder but just before her head got near the water, he tugged her around, catching her in his arms and dropping her gently to the ground, feet first.
For a moment they both stood there, his hands lingering on her lower back and hers against his broad chest, both laughing breathlessly.
They stared at each other, grins plastered across each of their faces giving a chuckle.
"I should go," uttered Missy, after a long moment, pushing gently against his chest, breaking their contact. "It's late."
Owen gave a small nod, stuffing his hands into the front pockets of his jeans.
Missy bent down and scooped up her flowers, holding them to her.
"Thanks for these," she said gently. "They're beautiful."
Owen grinned. "No problem."
He looked like he wanted to say something else but the words didn't seem to come.
Missy headed over to her truck and tugged open the door. She paused for a moment before hopping inside. She turned to look at him.
"Can we do this again?" she asked, biting her lip.
Owen took a step towards her and gave a nod. "I'd like that," he uttered, his eyes shining.
"Cool," said Missy, breaking eye contact and hopping up into her car. She switched on the engine and wound down the window. "How about Thursday?"
"Tomorrows Thursday," he uttered with a wide smile.
Missy gave a nod. "I know," she muttered with a shrug and a smirk, putting the truck into drive and pulling away, beeping her horn as she left.