Page 67 of Falling for the Grumpiest Protector

"Yes?"

"Thanks for showing me all of this."

"You're welcome."

"Can I come back?"

He looks at me. Something about asking suddenly feels more vulnerable than it should. Then he nods.

"Of course. Anytime, Hart."

Warmth settles somewhere beneath my ribs. I cover it quickly.

"You're going to regret that."

"Probably."

I smile. He does too. We continue toward the barn.

Just before we reach it, I glance back at the rows. The tomatoes. The squash. The herbs. All of it growing because someone understood what it needed and cared enough to get it right.

I look at Martinez beside me. There is so much more to this man than I thought. And I hate how much I want to know the rest.

We reach the truck, where Emma is waiting. She takes one look at my boots, then at my hands, then at my face.

I point at her.

"Not one word."

She presses her lips together.

"I didn't say anything."

"You were about to."

"I was thinking it."

"That counts."

Emma laughs and unlocks the truck. Beside me, Martinez gives a quiet chuckle. I look at him.

"You're not helping."

"Wasn't trying to."

Of course he wasn't. Atlas settles beside him as Emma opens the driver's door.

"See you later, Javier."

"See you, Emma."

Then his eyes meet mine.

"See you around, Hart."

"See you, Martinez."

I climb into the passenger seat, and Emma gets behind the wheel. As we pull away, I glance at the side mirror. Martinez is still standing beside the road with Atlas. Looking at me. For a second, neither of us looks away. Then the truck follows the curve, and I watch him turn toward the fields, Atlas falling into step beside him. A few seconds later, the farm disappears behind the trees.