Free The Price of Power (The Price of Secrets Series Book 2) by Ashley Drake

Holding it with the cloth barrier, it looked like a regular, gorgeous but regular, crystal. It was when I picked it up bare handed that it showed it’s magical form.
        “I’m so giving this to Jaycee and claiming it as my birthday AND Christmas gift to her.”
        “Who were you talking to in there?”
        I looked at the time on the dash. “I’ll tell you on the way to our next stop.” I reached over and kissed one of his delicious dimples before finding his lips. “We will never be able to say that we have a boring relationship.”
        “Not if you keep kissing me like that.”
     
      Our next stop was to the Cherokee Museum. I can’t describe the joy that I had just watching Daniel explore the history of his heritage. In all actuality it’s mine too, even though I’m only one eighth Cherokee. Or is it one sixteenth? Either way I wouldn’t be here had it not been for my Cherokee ancestors. The log cabin feel to the museum only added to the experience. It was filled with ancient artifacts, artwork, hand carved life size statues, and dioramas- which I learned were miniature 3D scenes. We ended up spending over an hour in there and now I’m off of the time table I had scheduled out for the day.
     
        It was a beautiful December day. The temperature was fifty two, so instead of going to a restaurant like I had planned, I decided to hit up a drive thru burger joint and take it to the last stop on my list, the park. It wasn’t just an ordinary park, the scenery here was breathtaking. It was a panoramic view of mountains with rushing water, white tipping over large rocks, at its feet. I placed my purse with the crystal in it securely in the trunk of my car, making sure the keys were in my pocket before shutting it.
        Daniel grabbed the blanket from my backseat. Instead of sitting at a picnic table, he laid it down on the grass. “After you.” Daniel held his arm out toward the blanket.
        “What a gentleman.” I joked.
        We ate in content silence, taking in the spectacular view. There is no other place like North Carolina. Not only is it, in my opinion, the prettiest state but it also has the friendliest people. Plus, you can go from the mountains to the beach without ever leaving it.
        Daniel broke the silence. “Thank you. This has been the best birthday gift ever.”
        “I doubt that.” For some reason I don’t take compliments well. It makes me feel self conscious.
        “For real, I’m serious. Not only did I get to spend the day with my sexy girlfriend, but you  took the time to plan this out for me. You’ve made me feel special...loved.”
        Wait, what? Cause I missed everything after sexy girlfriend. A little song from a movie, my mom made me watch with her, started singing in my head. You think I’m sexy, you want to date me, you want to love me, you want to kiss...  
        “I love you Hannah. No matter what happens between us in the future, always know that I’m grateful to have known you. And that I’m lucky that you were my first, and hopefully last, love.”
        “Wow.” After that heartfelt speech THAT was the best I could come up with? I know that I have always, secretly, said I was saving myself for Harry Styles, but right now Harry doesn’t have anything on this guy in front of me. Of course, Jaycee would add that it’s a good thing since Harry doesn’t even know I exist. I wonder if I’m the only one that has the stupidest thoughts running through their head, or if I should get mine checked.
        “I don’t know what to say. That is the sweetest, most romantic thing you could have ever said to me. You know I feel the same way right? Every night when I say my prayers I thank God for you.” I scooted over closer to him and took his face in my hands. “And you can forget about all that talk about not knowing what’s gonna happen to us in the future, cause you’re stuck with me birthday