“And daisies,” he said gently. “Of course.”
She glanced up, smiling with her eyes. “You have every flower my mother planted. How did you remember?”
“I’m just that good.”
She squinted, unconvinced.
“Fine,” he admitted. “When I dropped Amelia at your parents’ a few weeks back, I asked your mom. She gave me the rundown.”
“Why’d you do it?” Her voice felt fragile.
“You loved that garden. And the studio… I just wanted to give you a piece of your home back,” he said. “Something here that’s yours.”
Daisy shouldn’t have been floored, but she was. He’d made his intentions clear, and now he was showing them. He wanted her to be his home, and he wanted this place to be hers.
Shoulder to shoulder, Daisy lifted a hand to his face. She brushed a gentle kiss against his cheek and whispered, “Thank you.”
Before he could reply, Amelia’s voice ricocheted across the lawn. “Mom! Dad!”
“We’re back here, sweetie!” Daisy called.
Amelia skidded to a stop, eyes wide at the riot of color. “It’s so pretty. It reminds me of Nani’s backyard, but… better.”
“It sure does,” Daisy said.
Amelia picked a single daisy and tucked it behind her mother’s ear. “Nani’s favorite,” she said proudly.
Daisy’s throat tightened. “She’d love that.”
“Can I pick some for her? We can bring them to her birthday dinner tomorrow.”
“That’s a great idea, honey. Go for it.”
As Amelia skipped off among the blooms, Jameson said softly, “Amelia’s birthday is coming up, too.”
“Sure is. I can’t believe I’m about to have a nine-year-old.”
“If it’s all right with you,” he ventured, “I’d like to be involved in her party.”
Daisy turned, surprised by the careful hope in his eyes. “That would be wonderful. Where were you thinking?”
“Here. It would be our first gathering in this house. It has everything we need, and I can have my event planner—”
“Whoa there,” Daisy laughed. “No party planners. I’ve always done her birthdays, and I want to keep it that way. It’s special to me.”
He nodded, not offended. “Of course. And feel free to put me to work. I want to help.”
Daisy chuckled and took in the expanse of the property.
“Uhh, you better!”
He joined in.
When their giggles faded, he asked, “So you’ve got your mom’s birthday this weekend, but what about next? Are you both free?”
“We should be.”
“Good, because I have some news.” His words came a little faster.
