Page 82 of Speak No Claim

Slowly, I leaned against the archway, taking her in. With her messy, wavy bedhead and her pouty pink lips, still slightly swollen from sleep. Her thin cotton tank and jean overalls. She was adorable, looking the part.

There was no taking my eyes off her. I couldn’t, and I didn’t want to. She was breathtakingly beautiful standing there. Her dark hair glowed in the sunlight streaming in.

She looked like a dream.

My dream.

She didn’t turn toward me or even acknowledge I was there for the first few minutes. She was lost in her own little world as she started to wander. Her fingers skimmed the plants, talking to them in Spanish. It was a world I desperately wanted to be a part of.

I gazed at the side of her gorgeous face, willing her to say something, but her eyes remained front and center toward all the gardens and plants while mine remained on her.

I could see it in her eyes. The doubt, the insecurity, the sadness for me. On top of a new emotion that could only be described as caring for someone. All these concerns weighed heavily on my mind.

I had no idea where we went from here. There were so many what-ifs racing through my mind. So many consequences and scenarios that could happen. So many fucking choices that could be right or wrong.

Unable to help myself, I reached over and caressed the side of her face when she was standing beside me, looking at the orchids. She leaned into my embrace like she had been waiting for me to do so since the second we walked in here.

Her eyes closed, melting into my touch.

One thing I was sure of at this moment. I liked her. I liked her a lot. When I was with her, when I was stalking her, when, when, when… there was nowhere else I wanted to be.

“What is this place? Why did you bring me here?”

I glanced around the greenhouse, unsure of how to explain this place to her. I never shared it with anyone. No one knew it was on our estate. That wasn’t the point of this haven.

“I wanted you to see it.”

She opened her eyes, connecting with mine. “It’s beautiful.”

“It used to be better.”

Her eyebrows pinched together. “What do you mean?”

“Some plants are dying.”

“No.” She glanced around for a second before looking back into my eyes. “Whoever is taking care of them has done a good job.”

“I need someone who knows what they’re doing.”

“Is that why you brought me here?”

“Something like that.”

She stepped away, out of my touch, confused. “You want me to care for them?”

I shoved my hands in the pockets of my gym shorts. “You cooked for me. You’re going to make shit for my back.” I shrugged. “It’s yours if you want it.”

“Why me?”

Without thinking, I blurted, “I trust you.”

The statement hung heavy between us before she countered, “Can I trust you?”

I didn’t lie, grinning. “Not a chance in hell.”

She hid a smirk. “Your family won’t appreciate⁠—”

“They don’t have a say. There are no cameras in here or anywhere nearby. Trust me, no one comes in here except for me.”