Chapter 23
23
Brian had gone out on a limb and asked Tracey to come with him to the Atlanta Botanical Garden. He’d mentioned going there when he’d first moved back to Peachtree Cove to get an idea of the types of plants and shrubs he wanted to have available in his nursery and plant designs. Tracey had mentioned she’d once asked Bernard to go with her to see the Earth Goddess exhibit, and he’d said he didn’t want to go see any plants. Brian knew he wasn’t in competition with her ex, and if he were, then he’d already come out on top, but something in him made him want to take her to a place Bernard had refused to go.
He’d expected her to hesitate or say no. They’d agreed to just meet up on certain days and they’d stuck with that, but to his surprise she’d agreed. The two-hour car ride from Peachtree Cove to the botanical garden was fun. They’d talked about so many random topics, like the silly things they remembered from when they were in school and their thoughts on music and television shows. He’d always liked Tracey and her personality, but the fact that they could stay in conversation during the car ride made him like her even more.
Brian watched Tracey’s face as they rounded the corner of the pathway that led to the Earth Goddess exhibit. Tracey gasped when the twenty-five-foot sculpture of the goddess came into view. The goddess’s hair was made up of a multitude of bright flowers and her outstretched hand spilled water into a pool below. Brian couldn’t help but puff his chest a little bit at seeing the appreciation on Tracey’s face. His actions had done that.
“She’s beautiful,” Tracey said in an excited voice. “Isn’t that amazing!”
Brian nodded and took in the sculpture. “It is. The first time I saw it I thought it was great.”
She walked closer to the pond separating the visitors from the sculpture. She pulled out her phone and held it toward him. “Take my picture.”
He took her phone and took several pictures of her before he switched the camera around and stood next to her. “How about a selfie?”
She blinked at him. “You want to take one with me?”
He nodded. “Why not?” He wrapped an arm around her shoulder and pulled her to his side before holding up the phone. “Smile.”
She relaxed against him and grinned at the camera. He snapped a few pictures, ensuring he got the sculpture in the background. Someone asked if Tracey wanted them to take their picture. She nodded, and he handed over the phone, and the lady snapped their picture. They returned the favor, taking pictures of the woman with her friends, before moving on to look at the rest of the garden.
“Thank you for bringing me here,” Tracey said when they were looking at orchids in one of the greenhouses.
“You don’t have to thank me.”
“I do. I just mentioned this to you the one day, and then you made a trip to bring me. Even though we aren’t…” she shrugged “…you know.”
“We’re friends, Tracey,” he said. “Friends can hang out with each other. I wanted to come back down here anyway.”
He’d wanted to return when she’d mentioned how much she wanted to come, but that wasn’t important. They were both having a good time. They could hang out and enjoy each other’s company without any pressures or expectations. That’s all that mattered.
“Yeah, but that didn’t mean you would want to bring me along. But still, thank you. I’m having a really good time.”
“Good. I am, too.”
Tracey walked up to a bright yellow orchid and studied it. She looked sexy, as always. He wasn’t sure what prompted her to stop hiding her figure behind baggy clothes, but he wouldn’t complain. The fitted burgundy T-shirt and jeans she wore weren’t overtly sexy, but on Tracey’s curvy figure they were better than lingerie. She’d pinned back the sides of her locs, and large gold hoop earrings caressed her cheeks.
“You know, I never would have thought that I’d have so much fun with you.”
He moved to stand next to her. “Why not? Because you used to always hate on me?”
Tracey cut her eyes at him but grinned before slowly moving down the row to admire more flowers. “Nobody hated on you. You were always there when something embarrassing or bad was happening. I just knew you were judging me.”
He followed behind her. “I wasn’t judging you. I already told you that I thought you were the most confident person I knew. You never let anyone get over on you.”
“It felt more like I was always fighting against what people thought I would or should be.”
Another couple came down the small path. Brian put his hand on the small of Tracey’s back and eased her to the side. “But you always held your own. You never backed down. That’s part of the reason why I was always watching you. That, and I thought you were sexy as hell.”
She looked up at him. Her eyes sparkling with humor. “I still can’t get over that you were into me in high school.”
“I don’t know why. I was always watching you.” His hand on her back slid down to her hip. The pulse at the base of her throat fluttered. Brian licked his lips, imagining the taste of her skin.
“Like I said, I didn’t catch the signals.” Her gaze lowered to his lips then moved to focus behind him. He turned and saw that the couple who’d passed them were watching.
Tracey turned and walked to the exit. Brian kept pace beside her. Once they were outside, he placed his hand back on the small of her back and directed her around a group trying to enter and toward a bench.
“I can’t get over that you don’t realize how sexy you were.”
She lifted a shoulder. “I know I’m cute.”
“You’re more than cute, Tracey.”
She was quiet for a second before her shoulders straightened. “I know that. I mean, it’s been so long since I felt sexy, strong or even smart. I know I have all those qualities. But when you stop remembering that, it’s easy to believe that you’re not.”
The wind rustled the trees, and a leaf fell in her hair. He reached over and pulled it out. “I hope you don’t stop remembering all of the good things about you in the future.”
“Trust and believe, I won’t. I’m going to do the things I want and not be afraid to dream big.” She turned to him on the bench. “I’ve picked out the kinds of cabins I want to build on the property, and I’m working with my brother to get the construction plans together.”
He’d listened as she worked on the plan during their course at the technical college and had thought the idea was fantas tic. “You’re going to do it? The plan you put together in the class we took?”
She gave a sheepish smile before nodding. Something she wouldn’t have done when they’d first started sleeping together. She’d always been guarded around him. He liked that she was comfortable enough to show her excitement around him.
“Yeah. I asked Devante to help me, and he came through. I can’t believe everything came together so quickly. A part of me thinks everything will fall through. Or that something will ruin it.”
“Why?”
“I don’t know. It’s just the pessimist in me. So much stuff would go wrong when I was a kid, you know. My dad wouldn’t stay sober. My mom would be gossiped about. Somebody at school would try to shame me. The guy I married wasn’t as perfect as I thought he would be. But you know what?”
“What?”
“I also realized all those things that went wrong helped to make me stronger and who I am today. So even if something goes wrong with the cabins, I’ll be okay. I’ll still find a way to make them happen. I’ll still find a way to keep the inn growing and successful. No matter what, I won’t be giving up on my dreams.”
He’d always known she was a fighter. Her resilience and confidence was something he would always appreciate. It was the thing about her that attracted him to her the most. He loved the fight in her.
He ran his fingers across her bared forearm. “Good. I’d hate for you to give up and I lose my best client.”
Her eyes narrowed, but her lips twitched. “Keep playing and I’ll find a new nursery to work with.”
“No, you won’t.”
“Oh, you’re sure of yourself, huh?”
“Hell yeah. No one gives you service like me.” He leaned in and kissed the side of her mouth. Her breathing hitched, and her gaze heated. “You ready to get out of here?”
“And head back to Peachtree Cove?” She didn’t pout, but there was disappointment in her voice. “This is the most quiet I’ve had since my mom moved in. I was looking forward to spending the day with—” She snapped her mouth shut.
He raised a brow. “The day with what?”
She turned her head away. “Just spending a day in Atlanta. That’s all. I finally have help at the inn. Imani is wedding shopping with her mom, and Halle is off on a family reunion trip with Shania and Quinton.”
Brian placed a finger on the side of her chin and turned her to face him. He trailed his finger down the side of her neck to where her pulse fluttered. “I was looking forward to spending the day with you, too.”
She sat up straight, her mouth opened. He waited on the denial to come next, but then she sighed. “Okay, good. I’m not trying to make this thing weird. We’re still just friends. Right?” Uncertainty filled her gaze.
For some reason the words settled uncomfortably around him. They were friends, but they weren’t just anything. He wasn’t ready to explore the idea of that. Not right now, maybe not ever. He pushed the unsettling feeling aside and nodded.
“I got a room. If you’re good with that.” He prayed she was good with that. This was not a romantic getaway or a date. It was two friends hanging out and him providing a space where they could enjoy the benefits of being together. That was all.
The uncertainty left Tracey’s eyes. She relaxed and squeezed his thigh. “I’m more than good with that.”