Page 78 of Arranged To Be Mine

“Flattery will get you nowhere.”

“It got me invited into your garden. I’d say it’s working pretty well.”

I rolled my eyes but couldn’t quite suppress the warmth spreading through my chest. This was dangerous. All of it.

I’d told him I needed to keep things professional. I knew without a doubt a relationship would complicate everything. And I’d meant it. The board meeting today had reminded me exactly how much was at stake. One wrong move and everything I’d worked for could disappear.

“Do I get to see your berries now?”

I chuckled. “Yes. I might even let you sample them.”

His grin was huge. “Now we’re talking.”

I realized what I said a second too late. He was like a teenage boy being promised to check out a dirty magazine.

“Come on.”

I led him along the stone path that I had put in myself. The sun was on its way down and the lights I had placed around the garden were slowly coming to life.

I opened the door and gestured for him to go inside. I turned on the lights and there they were. My strawberries hanging from the elaborate systems I helped the contractor set up.

“What the hell?” Beau asked.

“It’s a different way of growing them,” I said. “And I grow them in here so I have fresh strawberries all year round.”

He reached out, his fingers touching one of the ripe strawberries? “Can I?”

“Sure.”

He plucked it and popped it in his mouth. He nodded as he chewed. “So sweet. So much better than the ones at the grocery store.”

“I know.”

“Damn, this is so awesome. You can just come out to your backyard and pick breakfast.”

“That’s the goal,” I said.

He looked at the tomatoes and peppers that I had growing in large containers in preparation for the weather to turn.

“I should let you get cleaned up,” he said, brushing soil from his knees. “Early day tomorrow?”

“Always.”

I walked him back through the house to the front door, hyperaware of every inch of space between us.

“Thanks for dinner,” I said. “And for the help. Even if you did almost murder my petunias.”

“They survived. That’s what matters.” He paused at the door, turning to face me. “I’ll text you about the beach. We can figure out a day that works.”

“Sounds good.”

He didn’t move. Neither did I.

His eyes dropped to my lips for just a second before meeting mine again.

“Goodnight, Darcy.”

“Goodnight, Beau.”