“I can’t believe you did this.” I turned to him and smiled. His blue eyes looked darker in the light that was reflected off the greenery around us.
“Don’t you know by now, Poppy? I would do anything for you.” He took a step closer to me.
“You would?” I asked, slipping under his spell.
“Come.” He put his hand out, and I took it.
We walked through the greenhouse; the air was thick and heavy, and all the plants were covered in a warm, wet glow. Streams ran through the dense greenery, and the sound of rushing water and crickets made the place seem alive with a kind of natural magic. Huge ferns and Elephant’s Ears and bright red Anthurium. Palm trees and candy-colored orchids and small rock pools filled with golden-colored koi. I walked down the path, touching the plants as I went.
“My mother would have loved it here.” I leaned forward to inhale the intoxicating scent of sweet frangipani. A bright, aquamarine-colored butterfly landed on the flower in front of me.
“Come and look,” I said to Ryan.
He moved closer to me.
“It’s beautiful,” I said.
“You’re beautiful.” He wrapped his arms around me and put his head on my shoulder.
“That was so smooth,” I chuckled.
“Smooth, but effective?” He nuzzled into my neck.
I held my hand out towards the flower and the butterfly climbed on top of it.
“Look, look,” I said excitedly.
Ryan lifted his head and looked at my hand. I brought it closer to us, slowly. The butterfly flexed its wings but didn’t move off my hand. Its wings looked like they’d been doused in glitter, and they shimmered in the light. And then, suddenly, it flapped its wings and flew away. We both looked up and watched it disappear into the palm tree above our heads.
“I love it here.” I tilted my head back and looked into Ryan’s eyes.
“And I love you.” His voice came out fast and shaky, and it made me feel as if every single butterfly was now inside me, fluttering its wings.
“You . . . you . . .”
“Love you,” he said again. “In case you didn’t hear me the first time.”
“I heard you. I . . . I . . .” I stuttered as the butterflies were replaced by birds. I could barely breathe now.
“Um,” he looked at me and raised a brow. “I’m kind of hoping you’re trying to say it back to me?”
I nodded, fast. “I am. I am, I’m just . . . uh . . .”
“Stuttering?”
I nodded again, smiling. A smile so wide that it felt like my mouth would rip open.
“So?” he asked.
“Me too,” I blurted out and wrapped my arms around him.
He pulled me into a hug.
“I love you too,” I said.
Because I did. Somewhere along the way I’d fallen in love with this man. And now, I felt like I’d finally come home. I had a place I belonged. And that place was with him, and Emmy.
CHAPTEREIGHTY-SEVEN
