Chapter 19
I’m Little Miss Think-Things-Through. Little Miss Hold-My-Cards-Close-To-My-Chest-So-I-Don’t-Get-My-Heart-Broken.
So, there’s absolutely zero explanation for what in the hydrangea just possessed me to declare my feelings. To. His. Face.
I have no clue what I was thinking. Mallory is literally a room away. What would she think if she walked in and saw my hands running across her brother’s chest like he’s a canvas I’m trying to fingerpaint on? Or worse, what if she heard me say that her brother is all I’ve ever wanted?
I yank my hands back, thinking of a play on one of the life lessons my mama taught me: If you don’t have anything nice to say, keep it to yourself. In this case, it’s more like: If the man is off-limits, keep your hands to yourself.
I hold onto the strap of my purse to busy my hands, so I don’t have another rare boost of confidence that ends in me snapping Connor’s suspenders against his pecs. But seriously, his chest should come with a warning label for how attractive it looks with his cotton T-shirt stretched across it.
Warning: May cause women of any age to swoon with its chiseled nature and impeccable ability to dance. Pun intended.
If my cheeks weren’t flaming red before, there’s no doubt they are now. I take a shaky breath. “Can we forget I said that?”
Connor blinks a few times as if he’s coming out of a daze. “What?”
Maybe he never heard me in the first place. That would be the ideal situation here. “Please ignore what I said.”
He runs a hand through his hair, leaving it looking mussed in a way that has me wanting to tangle my fingers in it.
No.
Bad Shayna.
No touchy.
If I have to start talking to myself like a dog or a toddler, so be it.
Connor’s eyes are full of unanswered questions, but he nods like the gentleman he is. “If that’s what you want.”
I gulp at the reference in his comment.
Truth is, I’ve always known what I want.
Yep, he definitely heard me.
“Yeah.” I nod vehemently. “That’s exactly what I want.”
He dips his chin, and sweet relief fills my lungs. I take what feels like a first deep breath after minutes underwater. “All right, then. Let’s go.”
“Go where?” I ask.
“On the date you spent a small fortune on.”
“Right, of course.” The date I won because I couldn’t stand to see that woman in the front row go out with him.
Then there’s the fact that Connor looked absolutely terrified on that stage, though that didn’t pacify all the ladies in the crowd after they saw him flex.
Especially after he literally made his pecs dance on stage like he’s freaking Terry Crews.
I follow him out to his truck and hop in the passenger seat after he opens the door for me.
Connor gets in the driver’s seat and pulls out onto the road. I don’t normally feel like I have to try and fill the silence when I’m around Connor, but today it hangs heavy in the air like an impenetrable fog.
“Are we going fishing?” I try to peek out the back window of his truck to look for poles in the bed.
“That was my initial plan, but are you up for a detour?”
Right. Of course he doesn’t want to take me on his ideal date. I can’t blame him after I just pulled a complete switcheroo. I’m probably giving him more whiplash than a wooden roller coaster. Maybe it’s for the best, though. It’s not as if he has romantic feelings for me, anyway.
“Sure.” I will my voice not to crack, refusing to sound as hollow as I feel.
We’re silent for the rest of the ride around the city, and I enjoy the opportunity to not talk and say something else embarrassing. When Connor finally pulls into a parking lot, I gasp.
“Why are we at the botanical gardens?”
“Because that’s where we’re going,” Connor says, as if it’s obvious.
But I don’t understand why he’d take me to a place he knows I’d love. If his intent was to take his date fishing, what does it mean that he’d change his plans for me? I don’t know if he’s simply being kind…but my thundering heart is trying to tell me it means more.
I get out of the truck as soon as he puts it in park. When Connor rounds the vehicle, he holds his hand back over his shoulder, locking Sulley. Something about the casual way he does it is so attractive.
Good heavens, I’m in trouble. Every little thing he does has me feeling some type of way.
Next thing I know, I’ll probably think he looks hot while eating corn on the cob at his family’s annual spring barbecue next weekend.
Spoiler: It’s literally impossible to look attractive while taking a giant bite out of a corn cob.
Butter dripping down your chin and kernels stuck in your teeth isn’t a good look on anyone, but I’d probably still find some way to find him insanely gorgeous.
Connor clears his throat. “Shayna?”
I smooth my hands across the front of my sundress. “Sorry, what was that?”
“Are you planning on standing there all afternoon?”
“And miss my thousand-dollar date?” I move past him, heading toward the entrance. “I think not.”
He jogs to catch up with me. “You were the one standing by the truck like your shoes were glued there.”
“I was letting you lock Sulley.”
“You stood there for a solid two minutes after that.”
I place my hands on my hips and turn to him with a huff. “Are you really going to force me to admit that I was captivated by your muscles?”
Connor has the audacity to look abashed. “I—I didn’t.” He runs a hand through his hair, his nervous tic. “I wouldn’t—”
I pat his arm. “Just accept the compliment, Con.” Since I’ve already gone and outed myself today, I may as well utilize it. “You know, if someone compliments you, you’re usually supposed to say something nice back.”
He pauses. “You always smell nice. Like a field of flowers or the first day of spring.”
I’ll have to thank Alyssa again for the perfume she bought me last year. “Thanks.”
Connor looks over my shoulder, unable to meet my gaze as he says, “And you look beautiful today.”
I place my hand on my chest. “Okay, if you keep complimenting me, I’m not going to be able to fit my head through the door.” I smile up at him as a blush climbs my cheeks. He just called me beautiful. “But thank you.”
As we head toward the entrance, my mind races. Connor not only took me to a place he knows I’d love, but now he’s complimenting me. I mean, the compliments were prompted, but still, he said them.
Connor blows out a breath. “I can’t believe you dropped a grand for this. You know I’d hang out with you for free.”
“I know.” I drop my gaze to my sandals as we walk through the parking lot. “But I wouldn’t be a good friend if I let that other girl win a date with you.”
“I appreciate that.” He lets out a small sound that’s almost a laugh. “I guess I just feel bad. You shouldn’t be spending your money for your business on me.”
I stop walking as we reach the sidewalk. When he realizes I’m no longer beside him, Connor turns back to face me.
“You’ve invested so much of your time in me and have saved me money with the favor you cashed in with Pat.” I look at him earnestly, wanting him to believe me. “Let me do this for you.”
Connor dips his chin. “If you’re sure.” I nod, and he opens the door for me. “Have you been here before?”
“Only like a dozen times since they’ve opened.”
His shoulders droop. “We can go somewhere else.”
“Are you kidding?” I step closer and squeeze his arm.
“You’d better not make me leave. I’ve been here so many times because it’s my happy place.
” Waterfront Botanical Gardens had their grand opening a couple of years ago, and they still have multiple phases left of areas to fundraise for and complete.
But it quickly became my favorite go-to spot to be among other people who love flowers and plants like I do.
Connor stands taller, like my words instilled him with confidence in his date selection. “Lead the way, then.”