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“I did not rant.”
“What would you call it?”
Ranting. “Expressing a strong, well-validated opinion.”
One side of his mouth lifted. “Fine. But your well-validated opinion made me shut my mouth, because I, well…”
“What?” she demanded.
“I wanted you.” He stared out into the darkness. She didn’t know if he was studying the high-rises or the dark hills—or even the star-studded sky—but from the clench of his fist at his side, he wasn’t moved by the scenery. “I wasn’t trying to save the world or even your business. I barely even knew Divine Flowers existed. But I knew you had the prettiest, saddest blue eyes I’d ever seen.”
She turned her head and there was the daisy watering can. The memories it brought back made her smile—and want to cry.
“I tried to tell you that first night on the roof. Not hard,” he admitted. “But I tried. Then you kissed me, and you could’ve threatened me with water torture and I wouldn’t have done a thing to end it. I’m not proud of that, but it’s the sterling truth. I would’ve said I could shoot rainbows out of my ass to keep your mouth on mine.”
She could feel herself weakening, turning to Alexa-shaped mush. If he was just spouting lines, she had to give him credit. “And after that?”
“I fell in love with your business. As soon as I walked in your store, I saw the possibilities. And I saw how happy it made you. I wanted you to succeed. Dammit, I wanted to help you, and I knew you’d never hear me out if you knew I was Cory’s brother. It was selfish, and it was stupid, but I told myself that the end result was more important than ethics. Which is bullshit.”
“Not entirely,” she said when he walked over to the concrete railing. But he didn’t seem to hear her, and she couldn’t speak over the ball that formed in her throat at the sight of him outlined in white light.
“I never meant to hurt you. I wish that I hadn’t. But I can’t take it back, and honestly, as bad as it feels to know you probably hate me, I wouldn’t go back. Yeah, it was fun pretending to be someone else for a while. Someone with fewer responsibilities, who could fish or paint or whatever the hell he wanted with his free time.”
She stared at him. Did he really think that was the image he’d projected? “You were busy every minute. Working at the apartments. Working at the donor house. You even worked your ass off for me.”
And that was the bottom line, wasn’t it? He hadn’t had to do any of the things he’d done for her. Helping her with the arrangements, sharing his ideas—in a rather overbearing manner, granted—and offering his support. None of that had been faked. She would never believe it.
Whatever else he’d done, he truly cared. About her. About Divine. Her heart skipped. Maybe he really did lo—
“My parents are retiring, Alexa. That means I’m going to be consumed with Value Hardware and the income properties from now on, along with the charity.” His look radiated through her right down to the soles of her feet. “And you know what? I’m glad my parents can retire, knowing their sons are in control. We’ve fucking got it, and we’re not going to run the damn business they spent their lives building into the ground. I love you, but I can’t deny who I am, for you or anyone. As much as I wished I could for a while, if that meant you’d stay in my life, I can’t. I’m sorry.” His chest rose and fell as if he was sucking in a deep breath. “God, I’m so fucking sorry.”
She walked over to him and stood at the high rail, staring down at the slumbering city below. The clutch of yellow balloons on Value Hardware’s sandwich board sign waved in the breeze, barely distinguishable at this distance. But she recognized them.
“That smiley face makes me want to punch something,” she said in a low voice.
“I know.” He chuckled. “Cory, too. Now that we’re moving into more of the lifestyle end, he bitches constantly about how he’s supposed to launch a high-end magazine when Value’s logo is a damn smiley face.”
“High-end, hmm?”
“Yes. He’s working with Vicky Townsend on it. Well, if they don’t kill each other. But now that my mom’s stepping down, we’re going to need to hire consultants on the gardening end of things.” He stroked her hair, just one slow sweep down the length of it. “You’d be perfect for the job.”
As if she’d say yes.
Please say yes.
Alexa slanted him a look. “Me, work with Cory?”
At least she hadn’t discounted it out of hand. When she’d refused to acknowledge his declaration of love, he’d thought his entire plan was doomed to fail. “You could work with me more than him. It’s his brainchild, but we’re working together. Happy fucking family and all that.” Dillon cleared his throat. “Assuming working with me would be any better.”
“I’m still figuring that out.” She stepped closer and placed her hands on his stomach. He shuddered at just that simple contact. “I’ll be pretty busy with the store. Especially since I still need to hire a designer. Nellie will be going out on maternity leave in a couple months, and if business keeps up—”
“It will,” he interjected, unable to keep his hands out of her hair. The dark wavy mass spilled over his fingers like finely spun silk. “You’re going to do amazing.”
“You probably won’t have much time to help me anymore.”
“If you can even call what I did help, then yeah, I’ll help. I’ll make the time.”
She angled her head, her glossy mouth soft and wet. He started to lean in before he caught himself, then shuddered again. Such temptation she presented without even knowing it. “Aren’t I your competition?”
