Chapter 21
My pulse skyrockets and my body stiffens. Who knew one small finger could have such a giant reaction? Not me. I guess I was never brushing pinkies with the right people before.
“I can see why you like that place so much.” Connor sounds completely calm, as if touching my pinky didn’t affect him. “It’s peaceful.”
I swallow, trying to regain composure. “More peaceful than fishing?”
“Since I’m usually fishing alone, with only the sounds of nature to keep me company, no.” I glance up at him as a ghost of a smile appears on his lips. “But it’s a close second.”
“That’s fair.” I cross my arms, holding in my disappointment that our date is already over. “Thanks for bringing me here. If you could drop me back off at my car, that would be perfect.”
“Oh, we’re not done.” Connor reaches around me and opens the car door. “Hop on in.”
My heart flutters. He doesn’t want to end our time together. “Where are we going?”
He shuts my door and jogs around the front of Sulley before sliding into the driver’s seat. “A date’s not complete without food.”
A man who takes me to see flowers and then feeds me? Swoon. You can’t have him, ladies—he’s all mine.
My stomach growls, and I laugh. “I’ll never say no to a late lunch. Where do you want to go?”
A blush creeps onto his cheeks. “I had something planned for whoever bid on me at the auction, if you trust me?” The uncertainty in his tone makes me feel like I’ve failed. Because after all the time I’ve spent with him recently, how could he not know that I trust him implicitly?
I turn in the seat to fully face him. “Of course I trust you. I’ve known you more than half my life, and you’ve never done anything to make me doubt you.”
He dips his head in a brief nod, but the blush on his cheeks deepens. “I trust you, too.” His knuckles turn white as he grips the steering wheel. “This sounds crazy, but I feel like I can be more of myself around you than with anyone else.”
Happy tears threaten to spill from my eyes at the confession. He may not feel the same kind of romantic feelings I do, but knowing that I can be a safe place for him to be one hundred percent himself is a major win. “That’s not crazy at all.”
“Holding a conversation with anyone else is hard for me, even my family. I overthink every word, so I say as little as possible. When I’m with you, though”—Connor sighs, sounding relieved—“words just come easy.”
I couldn’t hold back the tears if I tried. They fall onto my cheeks, and he leans over and wipes them away with the pad of his thumb.
“Was it something I said?” His free hand balls into a fist. “I told you, I always say the wrong thing.”
I shake my head and offer him a soft smile.
“They’re happy tears.” Even if he doesn’t see me in a romantic light, I feel seen by him.
My inner little Shayna is proud that she never gave up on liking the reserved boy, because look at where we are now.
“I’m honored that you feel like you can talk to me. ”
The lines around his eyes crinkle as his facial features soften. His usual frown is replaced by an almost smile. “I don’t think there’s anyone in the world quite like you.”
“Is that a good thing?” I hold my breath like it’s a wish that, if I let go of, won’t come true.
Connor wipes the last of my tears away and nods. “Yes, flower.”
I blow out a breath, and my lips tug into a wide grin. “I knew you called me flower before.”
He casually shakes his head as he pulls back out on the road. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Mm-hmm, sure,” I say, my tone dripping with sarcasm. “What made you start calling me that?”
Connor’s fingers rap against the steering wheel. “There’s the obvious answer: because you love and work with flowers.”
“And the not obvious one?” I don’t want to push him too far, but I’m not sure when I’ll get the opportunity to ask Connor questions like this again.
“When you started working as a florist, I learned about flower language. I always thought it was fitting for you because you represent so many things.”
My heart warms that he would take the time to learn about what I do for work, even when he wasn’t living in Louisville at the time. “Such as?” I’m not ashamed to admit that I’m totally digging for another compliment.
“You’re beautiful and strong. You’re loyal and spark warmth and joy through your positive spirit.” He tilts his head, looking thoughtful. “There’s more to you, but those are the first attributes that come to mind.” I sniffle at his kind words. “Please don’t cry again.”
“I’m sorry. I can’t help it.” I let out a watery laugh. “Since we’ll see each other more now that you’ve moved home, you’ll have to get used to it.”
“I’ll try.”
I smooth my hands across my dress. “Now I need to think of a better nickname for you than Eeyore.”
He shrugs. “I like it when you call me Con.”
“Con,” I say, and his smile is so radiant, I might need sunglasses if I look at him for too long. The moment is ruined when my stomach audibly growls.
Connor laughs, another smile spreading across his face. He turns off into the lot of a local park and pulls into a parking spot. “Let’s get you fed.”
“Yes, please.” I giggle and hop out of the passenger side, meeting him around the back of the truck. “Are there some food trucks here today?” I glance around but don’t see any.
“I’ve already got the lunch part covered.” Connor opens the tailgate and pulls out a picnic basket and a gray-and-white gingham blanket.
I blink. “You brought a picnic for your date?”
Connor shuts the tailgate and steps closer to me, entering my personal space. I don’t care one bit. He leans down and his lips brush against my ear, making me shudder. “Yes, it’s all for you now, flower.”
My eyes well with tears again. If he keeps being this adorable, I’m going to need to start wearing waterproof mascara around him.
That’s it. I can’t be the girl who holds things close to my chest to protect my heart anymore.
It’s time to be a little more subtle version of the girl I was today.
It’s time to up my flirting game with the man I’ve been falling for since I was a preteen.
If the things Connor was saying to me are any indication, then I think, deep down, he may have feelings for me, too.
If that’s the case, we’ll cross the bridge of asking for Mallory’s blessing when we get to it.
But from here on out, I’m going to be Little Miss Go-After-What-I-Want. And that just so happens to be Connor Porter.