Page 80 of The Best Thing He Never Wanted

Blane checked the property plan as he followed the wall around the boundary. It was in decent condition, and the couple of gates back here were both in good working order. The property itself was bigger than he’d expected, and he was curious about the shepherd’s hut Bea had mentioned. From what he could tell on the plan, it sat on a separate parcel adjoining the main property, and he started in that direction but stopped when his phone rang.

He pulled it out of his back pocket and smiled when he saw Brooke’s name on the display. He’d tried calling her earlier, after he talked to Cash, but she hadn’t answered.

“Hey, Brookie. How’s it going?”

“Blane! It’s so good to talk to you. I’m fine. How are you? What’s going on with you?”

He frowned, wondering how much Cash had told her, although Cash knew better than to give anything away. “I’m in Crete,” he said eventually, not knowing what else to go with.

She laughed. “I know. It looks amazing.”

“Oh, that’s right. Cash showed you the photos of the villa?”

“He did. Blane, I can’t believe you’re staying in a place like that. It looks fantastic, and that pool! I’d love to swim in that. And the view of the ocean. I don’t mind telling you, I’m jealous.”

He smiled through pursed lips. He really should tell her that he wasn’t staying at the villa. That might make her feel better, but then he’d have to explain why he wasn’t staying there and where he was staying instead. He glanced back over his shoulder toward the house, and the thought came out of nowhere that Brooke would like Bea. He knew she would. Where the hell that had come from, he didn’t know, and it wasn’t relevant anyway.

“I think you’d like Crete.”

Brooke laughed. “You think so? I can tell you right now I’d love it just from the photos. I’m so jealous. I wish I could see it.”

He smiled. “Maybe I should bring you out here another time, then.”

The line went silent, but he knew damn well she was still there. He frowned as he waited for her to answer. He’d said it thinking he was putting her off—another time, not now—but as soon as the words were out, he realized that wasn’t why he’d said it. He was thinking about coming back. That alone was enough to tighten his jaw. Normally, he wouldn’t even bother putting Brooke off. He’d just say no.

“Blane? Seriously? You’d let me come out there with you? It’s not dangerous?”

He closed his eyes. Of course that was what she’d think. Ever since she was small, Brooke had wanted to go places with him, and he’d never offered to take her or show her any of the places he’d been because they were too damn dangerous.

He looked around at the olive-green hillsides dotted with stone houses beneath the blue sky. There wasn’t a damn thing dangerous about this place, not for Brooke anyway.

“We can talk about it when I get back. How about that?”

“Okay.” She laughed. “I’m waiting for the catch.”

“There isn’t one, Brookie. I think you’d like it here.”

There was a brief pause before she asked, “Do you like it there, Blane?”

He looked back toward the house again and nodded to himself before he answered. “Yeah, I do. A lot.”

He heard her inhale sharply, but all she said was, “I’m glad. Oh, crap, listen, I’ve got another call coming in. I have to run, but call me again soon, okay? Or I’ll call you.”

“I’ll call you.”

“Promise?”

“Yeah, kiddo. I promise.”

Chapter Fourteen

Bea opened her laptop and stared out through the window at the garden while she waited for it to boot up. The poor thing was probably wondering why she’d neglected it for so long. This was the first time she’d opened it since they arrived. She let out a breath. She needed to stop thinking of it that way—as though they had arrived. Yes, Blane had come with her and was still here with her, and she was enjoying every moment of his company, but that didn’t make them a we. She had moved here. He had not. And as much as she kept pushing the thought away, the day would come in the not-too-distant future when he would have to leave again.

She pushed the thought away now. It was Saturday morning, and on Saturday mornings, she checked what client work she had coming up for the week. Fortunately, she only had a few clients she still worked with, but there was still that niggling obligation to check in with them. Of course, she hadn’t done it last Saturday, but she’d warned them in advance that she wouldn’t be available. She hadn’t told them she’d be spending three days at a country music concert, but still.

She smiled when her gaze landed on the potted geraniums in the corner of the courtyard. She and Blane had gone back to the garden center yesterday, and while she’d been talking with one of the assistants, he’d wandered off. She’d assumed he was bored and couldn’t have been more surprised when he came back carrying the geraniums.

In his gruff and rather sweet way, he’d explained that he liked them and they were the only flowers he knew the name of, so he wanted her to have some for her garden. And of course, when they got home, she’d found the absolute best spot for them, right there in the corner where they’d catch the first of the morning sun. It didn’t hurt that she could see them from here whenever she sat at the table either.