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My body aches beneath my worn jeans and faded red t-shirt, the chest blazoned with a band name I don’t listen to anymore. Every time I shift, my tired muscles cry out, complaining about how these last few weeks have been way more exercise than I’m used to.
Still, it’s a good feeling. Like my body’s waking up after a long, deep sleep. I’m more aware of muscles I’d forgotten; when I need to sip water; and that tightness in my hips which means I need to go for a walk. And that’s just from all the digging and pruning, never mind the parts of me which Kai has woken up—
“Eden!” His low, melodic voice floats on the morning air, as the Kephart College truck rumbles up a dirt track. He’s got the driver’s window wound all the way down, his tanned elbow leaning out, and Kai beams like he’s honestly thrilled to see me this early.
It’s nuts. At the very least, this man should be kind of tired of my nonsense—not parking haphazardly in the greenhouse lot then leaping out and jogging to my side.
“Excited to get going, huh?”
I start to nod automatically—then stop myself. Take a deep breath.
“Y-yes.”
The word is ghostly quiet, almost as faint as the distant crash of waves, but Kai throws back his head and laughs like it’s the best thing he’s ever heard.
“There she is. Alright, Eden! Oh, this is gonna be a good day, I can feel it.”
Shuffling out of his way, I watch the muscles flex in Kai’s arm as he unlocks the greenhouse door and shoves it open. He’s in his standard uniform of a navy Kephart College t-shirt, battered old jeans, and dusty hiking boots, and honestly, I don’t understand why men would ever, ever wear anything else. He looks so freaking good, especially with the morning sunshine glinting in the caramel streaks of his hair, half tied back like usual.
Those aren’t dyed highlights. Those are what happens when a man spends hours and hours outside, tanning and moving his perfect body—and jeez, I need to put my tongue away. Does Kai hike? Rock climb? Surf?
I’m betting surf.
“D-did you s-sleep well?”
Kai’s as patient as a saint as I force the question out, tripping over my words and practically chewing off my own tongue with frustration. He smiles gently as I duck under his arm, pushing my way through the hanging strips of plastic.
Just like always, the heat hits me like a damp cloth. This smell of soil and wet moss is my favorite smell in the whole world—except maybe Kai’s citrus scent.
“Nope,” the gardener says cheerfully, following me inside. The door whooshes shut behind him. “Tossed and turned all night, so much I barely slept a wink. But that was yesterday, am I right? And today is a brand new day, sweetheart.”
Sweetheart.
I blink at the pet name, inwardly thrilled—and honestly, even though he said it, Kai seems as taken off guard as I feel. He clears his throat, a flush creeping over his cheeks, and nods at the lockers. “Go on and sort yourself out, then we’ll get started. Jeremiah can join when he gets here.”
But I don’t want to start work yet.
Don’t want to walk away to those lockers.
I want to push my luck and say another whole sentence to Kai, and maybe, just maybe, hear that pet name again.
“I–it’s a st–stammer,” I say, sounding out each word like I haven’t had to do since I was a kid in speech therapy. “I’m not n-normally like this.”
Kai’s face falls. “Just with me?” he says, bracing like he’s dreading the answer.
Already exhausted, I shrug.
“Shit.” The Head Gardener curses quietly, but with feeling. He scratches his jaw, his short beard rasping. “That’s what I was afraid of. Well, if there’s anything I can do to make you more comfortable, Eden… any less scared…”
Scared?
Wait. What?
But Kai’s backing up, palms raised like he’s trying to soothe a skittish deer. Like he thinks I don’t want him too near to me—and oh god, that’s the worst joke I’ve ever heard. That is the exact opposite of what I want. I’d curl up and live in this man’s armpit if I could.
Shaking my head, I step forward and grab Kai’s raised wrist. His skin is warm and soft and alive under my palm, and his wrist is so thick, my fingers wrap all the way around but don’t meet.
His eyebrows shoot up.
