Chapter 7
Chapter Seven
Later that morning, Emma checked her plants and was delighted to see that at least two of the buds had opened into flowers. When Kit entered the greenhouse not long after, she greeted him with a euphoric smile.
“Look! They’re starting to bloom! Come and see.”
He crossed to her side and she tried to hide her blush. He really was the most handsome man. She forced herself to concentrate on the task at hand.
Each flower had five pointed outer petals, purple at the outer edges fading to almost white in the center.
A darker amethyst ‘trumpet’ grew in the middle, the lower surface of which pouted like a lip.
A trail of white, yellow, and orange led inside the flower’s throat; an invitation for pollinating insects to come inside.
“I am certain this a new species,” she said happily. “Part of the genus oncidium, except I’ve never heard of one with lavender petals like this, nor this frilled edge to the trumpet. I found them in northern Brazil, near Pernambuco, a thousand miles north of Rio de Janeiro.”
Kit raised his brows. “I hope you’re right. I’ve never been to South America, myself.”
She slid him a sideways glance. “Have you never considered going?”
“It would be a great adventure. To be honest, after my imprisonment I never thought I’d want to go anywhere ever again, but you’ve reminded me that there’s a whole world out there waiting to be explored. If only one has the courage.”
Her heart swelled at the compliment. “Good. I’m glad.” She sent him a cheeky smile. “You know, I’m always on the lookout for burly deckhands. Plus you know how to handle a weapon. Maybe you should consider a new career as an adventurer? Or as a personal bodyguard?”
Her heart pounded as he gazed down at her.
Now that she’d voiced the idea aloud, she realized how much she liked it.
How she would love to have Kit’s company on one of her adventures.
He was strong and surly, gruff and sweet, and despite his size and fierce demeanor he had an amazing ability to make her feel safe.
The intensity of his regard heated her cheeks and she looked away, suddenly self-conscious.
“I’ll give it serious consideration,” he said.
Flustered, Emma leaned over and sniffed at the nearest flower, then drew back in surprise. “Oh, it has a scent! I had no idea! Now I’m sure it’s a new species. Orchids rarely have a perfume, but this one smells like roses.”
Kit bent and inhaled near the second flower. “You’re right.”
“See, this is why I love orchids,” Emma laughed happily. “They’re like people. No two are exactly alike.”
Kit glanced at the plant in front of him and then back over at Emma. The image of her, naked and rosy from the pool, overlaid his vision and he found himself transfixed by her eyes, her mouth. Her full lower lip had the same hint of a pout as that orchid of hers.
He grew hard.
She, however, was blithely unaware of his lascivious thoughts and sent him a friendly, open smile.
“Did you know that each type of orchid attracts its own particular pollinator? Some attract bees, while others need other types of insects. It means there’s an enormous variety in appearance between different kinds.”
Kit barely managed to grunt, and she carried on.
“I like to think that’s true of people too. That everyone has some aspect of their character or appearance that will attract a specific person to them. That there’s someone out there for everybody. An ideal match so to speak. We just have to find the right one.”
She was looking up at him with such shining optimism that Kit felt a little dizzy. He had no idea where she was going with this conversation, but his heart was pounding. Was she suggesting that the two of them might be the perfect match for one another?
No, surely he was misinterpreting her words. Hearing things he wanted to hear.
He straightened up and bowed awkwardly, keeping his hands strategically in front of his crotch to hide the evidence of her nearness. “I’m going to see Mrs. Bennington about Christmas dinner. Excuse me.”