Page 23 of Kiss Me Forever

“I have a feeling he was here to make sure that you’re safe from certain people I met,” Aly whispered.

I stiffened but finally nodded.

“We’ll talk about that incident over that drink. But Dash is good people. I promise. He didn’t want me to be alone for our first meeting.”

“It’s sweet of him. I hate that you even had to think about it though.”

“Funny thing is I didn’t think about it. He did.”

Aly looked to where Dash had walked away, an odd expression on her face, before she gestured towards the other door.

“Let me introduce you to my favorite plants.”

“You are speaking my love language.”

By the time I pulled into the project site next to Reece’s truck, I was energized and had already marked a few plants for my own home, let alone an upcoming project site. I needed to finish the landscaping today for this project, and then I wouldn’t have to deal with this owner again. Then I would move over to Reece’s, and I’d be by his side. Daily. Making things work.

I moved to the side of the house, ready to talk to one of my team members, and nearly bumped into Reece.

He looked down at me and gripped my arms so neither one of us would fall. I had my hands on his chest, and I sucked in a breath and licked my lips. His gaze went to the action, or at least I told myself it did.

“I see you’re finally here.” His words were low and growly as usual. Yet nothing was usual.

Teeth gritted, I took a step back. We lowered our hands, and I ignored the odd feeling of sadness when he wasn’t touching me anymore. “I was checking out the new nursery. I found us a good one.”

“Better than that asshole?”

Of course Reece knew what had happened. He was best friends with my cousins who never stopped gossiping about me.

“Yes. We’re no longer working with Landry’s. But I’m going to love working with The Plant Nook. I know it.”

“That’s good.” He ran his hand along the back of his neck and then gestured behind me. I turned, confused, until I saw Bella moving forward. She had on a hat, her hair pulled back in a ponytail, and looked a little out of place, yet freaking adorable. “I had to bring Bella here because, well, I don’t know what to do.”

My heart ached for this little girl and the father she’d just met. The same man who’d always turned me into knots—even though I hadn’t known what those reactions meant at the time. “When does art camp start?”

He named the date and I nodded, relieved Bella would have an outlet. “She wanted to come to the site and frankly, I won’t be here that long. I just wanted to show her what I do, I guess. And I don’t know, I didn’t want to leave her at the child care in the first week. I’m losing my mind.”

I reached out and put my hand on his arm. I regretted it the moment our skin touched, but I didn’t back away. “I’m glad you’re showing her part of your life, but you don’t have to work today either.”

“I don’t know what the fuck I was thinking.”

Bella came up to us before he could say anything else. I reached out and tapped my finger along the brim of her cap. “I love the Montgomery hat.”

“I’m part of the team now,” Bella said with a roll of her eyes. She turned to her father, not meeting his eyes, her chin raised. “Reece, do you think I can sit in your truck? I just want to draw or something.”

He studied her face. “Sure. We can make that happen. Or we can go somewhere. We don’t have to stay here.” He sounded so lost, that I couldn’t help but step in.

I was probably making a mistake, but I wasn’t going to let my friend flounder. “How about this, do you want to volunteer to help me work on a few of the flower beds? We’re almost done over here, and I can show you a little bit about planting. And I say volunteer, because of, you know, the whole child labor law thing.”

Bella’s eyes brightened, and she looked over at Reece for a moment before glancing back at me. “Really? That sounds fun. Mom and I used to plant posies sometimes. But she would always kill things, and I don’t know what I’m doing.”

“I can totally teach you. If that’s okay with your dad.” I paused. “I mean, Reece.”

Reece cleared his throat, before reaching out and squeezing my shoulder slightly. I ignored the burn of his touch, and the fact that he was touching me at all. “Give me about an hour to finish this up, and then I’ll come out with you. Maybe Brooklyn can show me a thing or two about planting. I’m not great at it.”

“But you have flowers in front of your house,” Bella said, confusion on her face.

My ears heated, and I knew they were bright red. “I planted them. His front lawn looked so sad, so one day I just came by and did it without asking. I’m a terrible friend.”