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It could wait.
“Meet me out the back door in two minutes.” I shoved to my feet and rushed as quietly as I could out of the library.
It bothered me that almost all our moments were stolen, that something important was building in pockets of time we had to hide away. But I also didn’t want it happening in front of the world either.
I’d promised Steven I’d leave her alone, but that had been years ago. We were stuck together in the same house, on a dating show, for crying out loud. Every feeling I’d ever had for her spread like wildfire. I couldn’t continue to keep that promise as long as she was here, and I surely wasn’t about to send her home.
I was at an impasse.
She met me at the back door in less than two minutes, her snow boots that she’d left by a door out of habit shoved on her feet and hastily tied.
We got her into my jacket at record speed before hightailing it the few blocks that separated the inn and her café. Sometimes I forgot exactly how small Pine Cove Springs really was. Most businesses were nestled tightly together, a central congregation area where everyone could visit and melt together like a giant family.
I breathed a sigh of relief when I saw the sign for her shop. It had seemed like a genius idea when I’d suggested it, but I’d forgotten just how deep the cold could dig down into the bones. I kept moving, partly to keep myself warm, and partly from nerves as she unlocked the door, looking both ways before darting inside.
Without speaking, she power walked to the register behind the counter and flipped through a stack of papers beside it.
“Everything okay?”
A shiver traveled down my spine as my body adapted to the abrupt change in temperature.
“I knew I shouldn’t have agreed to this.” She sighed, running a hand across her forehead.
“What’s wrong?”
She glanced at me, a curly strand of hair falling over thick lashes.
“I knew this was too much for Logan to handle. Even with Madison helping where she can, it’s too much. I’ve got an order I’ve got to get fixed, and I have no idea how I’m going to get it done. I still have to pull roses for the ceremony tonight.”
A lump formed in my throat. She had to pull the very roses I gave out and then stand there wondering if she would get one or not.
I had no reason not to give her one. If it were up to me, I’d pick her and be done with the whole thing.
But did she know that?
Frustrated, I rubbed my temples and tried to refocus. One thing at a time.
“What do you need to do for the order? How can I help?”
She raised an eyebrow at me. “Do you know what hypericum is?”
“I—uh, no. Sorry.”
“How about ranunculous?”
I rubbed the back of my head uncomfortably. “No.”
“Well then, there’s your answer.” She threw her arms up.
“Come on, buttercup. There has to be something.”
For a second, her eyes widened, her mouth falling open before she recovered herself.
“Youdoknow what evergreen is, right?”
“You’re hilarious.”
“Follow me.” She spun on her heel and stalked toward the back of the building, passing through a door that separated her storefront and café from her work area.
