Page 126 of Trick or Tease

As I approached the entrance, I noticed something different. The scarecrow we’d positioned at the mouth of the maze was holding a new sign, painted in Garrett’s handwriting: Come find me.

I stared at the sign for a long moment, then looked down the first pathway into the maze. More signs were visible along the route, each one positioned where they’d catch my eye as I walked.

Curiosity won out over anger. I stepped into the maze.

The first sign made me stop in my tracks: I love the way you throw yourself into everything you care about.

The second one, positioned at the first turn: I love how you make everyone around you feel like they matter.

By the third sign, my eyes were starting to burn with unshed tears.

Each turn in the maze brought another message, another piece of what felt like Garrett’s heart laid bare on painted wood.

He was killing me one sentence at a time.

I love your stubborn streak, even when it’s directed at me.

I love how you fight for the people you care about.

I love that you believe in second chances, even for idiots like me.

By the time I reached the center of the maze, I was crying freely. Not the angry tears I had shed last night, but something deeper and more complicated.

Damn him. Why did he have to be so sexy and convincing?

Because he was a damn lawyer. Convincing people was what he did.

I finally made it to the middle of our corn maze and there was another scarecrow. It was wearing my clown mask and holding a bouquet of beautiful flowers.

48

GARRETT

As soon as she reached for the flowers, I stepped forward. The mask made it impossible to see clearly, but I caught the exact moment she jumped back, her eyes going wide with shock.

I pulled off the clown mask and held out the bouquet toward her.

“You really think it’s a good idea to scare me if you want to talk?” she asked, but I caught the amusement in her voice despite her attempt to stay stern.

I was going to pour on the charm. That was one thing I knew I had in spades. “For most women, no,” I admitted, taking a cautious step closer. “But for you? I figured you would appreciate the attempt. I’ve been hiding from you all week, and I’m done with that.” I waved the mask. “I’m taking off the mask, literally and figuratively.”

She shook her head, but I saw the corners of her mouth twitch upward. “Okay fine, I’m listening.”

I took a deep breath, knowing this was my one shot to get it right. “I’m in love with you, Sabrina. Head over heels, can’t think straight, completely gone for you. And knowing that I hurt you, that I betrayed your trust when you were brave enough to let me in, it makes me sick.”

Her expression softened slightly, but she didn’t move to take the flowers.

“I spent years thinking I knew what I wanted,” I continued, the words pouring out of me. “Success, money, respect in the corporate world. But none of that scared me the way this does. The way you do.”

“I scare you?” she asked quietly.

“You terrify me,” I said honestly. “Because for the first time in my adult life, I found something that actually matters. Someone who makes me want to be better than I am. And the thought of living without you in my life? That’s the only thing that really scares me now.”

I saw her walls starting to crumble, saw the way her shoulders relaxed just slightly. I couldn’t stop now. I had to keep going.

“The partnership papers, giving you ownership in the farm, isn’t about me trying to buy your forgiveness. That’s me making sure you never have to worry about someone like me coming in and destroying what you’ve built. You deserve security, Sabrina. You deserve to know that this place, this life we’re creating together, is yours to keep.”

She was quiet for a long moment, studying my face like she was trying to decide whether to believe me. I could see the walls going back up.