Chapter 5 #2
“Beautiful,” I whispered. I loved plants.
I loved trees and flowers and everything about growing something new.
I wasn’t fully into Cottagecore, but between sourdough, the numerous amounts of plants and landscaping I had, and learning how to knit, I was leaning into it just a little bit.
I got out of my truck and walked towards the office.
I wanted to meet with the owner and give her my card before I took a look around.
If I liked what I saw, maybe we could talk about a contract. Or at least a connection.
“Brooklyn, wait up.”
I rolled my eyes but waited for Dash as he came towards me. He had pushed his dark hair out of his face, and his beard was getting a little long.
I smiled up at him, and hip checked him. “Intruder.”
“What? You’re stuck with me. Lex would be here too, but he was waylaid by Mercy.” He raised a brow, and I snickered.
“Those two tend to be waylaid in the mornings daily.”
“I don’t want to think about it,” Dash said tightly.
Lexington and Mercy were still new in their relationship but had known each other since they were kids. And the number of times I had walked in on them around the office, his house, and even my house once, with their hands all over each other, was a little ridiculous.
We made our way into the office, and Dash went off to the side to check out plants or something, and I went to speak with the woman in an apron.
She had light eyes and beautiful red hair that she piled on the top of her head.
A redhead with an affinity for plants would probably bring out all my cousin’s desire to discuss Poison Ivy and the Batman universe, but for now, I couldn’t help but wipe the sweat off my palms and introduce myself.
I was always nervous when it came to things like this.
Especially with family around. They might not be judging me, but I wanted to prove that I could do this on my own.
“Hello, I’m Brooklyn Montgomery from Montgomery Construction. I was hoping I could talk with the owner or somebody in charge.”
“Hi. I’m Aly, and I’m the owner of The Plant Nook. I’ve heard about the infamous Montgomerys.” She winked as she said it, and I didn’t know if I should be nervous or not.
“Oh. Well, it’s good that I’m talking to you then.”
“Don’t worry. I’ve only heard good things. And I’m going to try to lure you to use my business.”
My shoulders relaxed, and I laughed.
“You and I are going to become fast friends then, because I am in need of a new nursery.”
“From what I hear, Montgomery Construction works with the big three around here.”
“Is there a plant nursery underground chat system I don’t know about?”
“We know all and keep our secrets.”
“I’m working with two of them, I’m no longer working with the other.”
“Please tell me you’re no longer working with Landry.” She cursed under her breath, and winced. “Sorry. I shouldn’t talk about my competition like that. Not that he’s competition,” she bit out.
“No, we’re no longer working with Landry. And I have a feeling there’s a story there on your side.”
Aly shrugged, but I saw something in her gaze.
“Maybe once we get to know each other, we can trade stories over a drink.”
“That sounds like a plan.”
“Well, let me show you around, and we can talk. I know you guys work on new businesses and restorations, and I would love to work with you.”
“We’re Montgomery Construction, not Montgomery Inc. or Montgomery Builders. Though I will always pass your information along.”
“Oh, I know about you guys. Don’t worry, our secret organization of plant people have paperwork for that.”
“What’s so funny?” Dash asked as he came over to the front counter and leaned against it.
“Hello there,” he practically purred, and I rolled my eyes. “I’m Dash Montgomery.”
“Aly.” She held out her hand, and he shook it. He didn’t lean down and leer, instead he was the perfect businessman. Like I said, my cousin could be annoying at times, but he protected our family business no matter what.
“Do you work in landscaping as well?”
“No, I’m in full contracting, but I’m here to annoy my cousin.”
“I hear there are a lot of Montgomerys.” She gave me a look, and I laughed.
“You don’t even know the half of it. But don’t worry, I’ll protect you from Dash.”
“Hey. I haven’t done anything wrong.”
“You haven’t. Yet,” Aly said with a snort.
“Well, I see the two of you are in cahoots. I’m going to go look around before I head to the project site. See you there?” Dash said.
I nodded. “Thank you.”
“Anytime, cuz.” He sauntered off, and I watched Aly watch him walk away. Interesting.
“I have a feeling he was here to make sure that you’re safe from certain people I met,” Aly whispered.
I stiffened but finally nodded.
“We’ll talk about that incident over that drink. But Dash is good people. I promise. He didn’t want me to be alone for our first meeting.”
“It’s sweet of him. I hate that you even had to think about it though.”
“Funny thing is I didn’t think about it. He did.”
Aly looked to where Dash had walked away, an odd expression on her face, before she gestured towards the other door.
“Let me introduce you to my favorite plants.”
“You are speaking my love language.”
By the time I pulled into the project site next to Reece’s truck, I was energized and had already marked a few plants for my own home, let alone an upcoming project site.
I needed to finish the landscaping today for this project, and then I wouldn’t have to deal with this owner again.
Then I would move over to Reece’s, and I’d be by his side. Daily. Making things work.
I moved to the side of the house, ready to talk to one of my team members, and nearly bumped into Reece.
He looked down at me and gripped my arms so neither one of us would fall. I had my hands on his chest, and I sucked in a breath and licked my lips. His gaze went to the action, or at least I told myself it did.
“I see you’re finally here.” His words were low and growly as usual. Yet nothing was usual.
Teeth gritted, I took a step back. We lowered our hands, and I ignored the odd feeling of sadness when he wasn’t touching me anymore. “I was checking out the new nursery. I found us a good one.”
“Better than that asshole?”
Of course Reece knew what had happened. He was best friends with my cousins who never stopped gossiping about me.
“Yes. We’re no longer working with Landry’s. But I’m going to love working with The Plant Nook. I know it.”
“That’s good.” He ran his hand along the back of his neck and then gestured behind me.
I turned, confused, until I saw Bella moving forward.
She had on a hat, her hair pulled back in a ponytail, and looked a little out of place, yet freaking adorable.
“I had to bring Bella here because, well, I don’t know what to do. ”
My heart ached for this little girl and the father she’d just met. The same man who’d always turned me into knots—even though I hadn’t known what those reactions meant at the time. “When does art camp start?”
He named the date and I nodded, relieved Bella would have an outlet. “She wanted to come to the site and frankly, I won’t be here that long. I just wanted to show her what I do, I guess. And I don’t know, I didn’t want to leave her at the child care in the first week. I’m losing my mind.”
I reached out and put my hand on his arm. I regretted it the moment our skin touched, but I didn’t back away. “I’m glad you’re showing her part of your life, but you don’t have to work today either.”
“I don’t know what the fuck I was thinking.”
Bella came up to us before he could say anything else. I reached out and tapped my finger along the brim of her cap. “I love the Montgomery hat.”
“I’m part of the team now,” Bella said with a roll of her eyes. She turned to her father, not meeting his eyes, her chin raised. “Reece, do you think I can sit in your truck? I just want to draw or something.”
He studied her face. “Sure. We can make that happen. Or we can go somewhere. We don’t have to stay here.” He sounded so lost, that I couldn’t help but step in.
I was probably making a mistake, but I wasn’t going to let my friend flounder.
“How about this, do you want to volunteer to help me work on a few of the flower beds? We’re almost done over here, and I can show you a little bit about planting.
And I say volunteer, because of, you know, the whole child labor law thing. ”
Bella’s eyes brightened, and she looked over at Reece for a moment before glancing back at me. “Really? That sounds fun. Mom and I used to plant posies sometimes. But she would always kill things, and I don’t know what I’m doing.”
“I can totally teach you. If that’s okay with your dad.” I paused. “I mean, Reece.”
Reece cleared his throat, before reaching out and squeezing my shoulder slightly.
I ignored the burn of his touch, and the fact that he was touching me at all.
“Give me about an hour to finish this up, and then I’ll come out with you.
Maybe Brooklyn can show me a thing or two about planting. I’m not great at it.”
“But you have flowers in front of your house,” Bella said, confusion on her face.
My ears heated, and I knew they were bright red. “I planted them. His front lawn looked so sad, so one day I just came by and did it without asking. I’m a terrible friend.”
Bella began to laugh, and Reece let out a sigh. “Yes, the nighttime gardener. You never know when flowers will just pop up in your yard without permission.” He snarled at me, though his eyes were dancing.
It had been at the beginning of spring after the last frost, and I knew he only let me do it because I had still been wallowing in my own grief.
I was better now, I didn’t think about Duke every moment.
The fact that I had even looked at the notes today was a surprise to me.
I wasn’t the broken, shattered person I had been before.
And it was because of small things—like Reece letting me attack his yard without permission.
We met each other’s gazes, and I had no idea what was in those beautiful eyes of his, until finally Bella touched my arm. “Brooklyn? Are you okay?”
I blinked, tearing my gaze away from Reece, wondering what the hell was wrong with me. His daughter was right next to us for fuck’s sake.
Not that anything was happening. It was just so not the time.
“Oh, I’m fine. I just need to get my hat because I’m a little overheated.”
Reece grunted something, and I ignored him. It was best to do so.
“See you in an hour?” I asked Reece.
“If you’re sure...”
“I really don’t mind, Reece. I like Brooklyn,” Bella answered.
I didn’t know why that made me so happy, and I couldn’t read Reece to see what he felt about that.
“That’s good. Today’s a weird day, Bella. I promise I won’t leave you to walk around a job site like this again. We’re just figuring things out.”
“I know. And you guys got me back into camp.” She brightened up, and I couldn’t help but see Reece in her.
“I’m glad it all worked out,” I said.
“Thank you. Seriously.” Bella wrapped her arms around me, and I let out a shocked gasp before I hugged her back.
It was a quick hug. One moment she was there, the next she was gone, looking a little embarrassed.
But I had to blink back tears. I risked a look at Reece, and once again I couldn’t read the expression on his face.
Was he happy that Bella and I were bonding?
Or did he resent it? Or maybe I was thinking too hard.
“We’ll be right around the front, don’t worry. I’ll keep her safe.”
“I know you will, Brooklyn.” He cleared his throat at that announcement that nearly sent me over the edge—of what I didn’t know—and turned to his daughter.
“Listen to Brooklyn. And stay within her eyesight of her at all times. I know you were doing so with me already, and I’m grateful. But please, be safe. From now on, I won’t take you to a place where you can get hurt. Okay? Not that you can get hurt here. Hell.”
He was so cute when he rambled. And that was enough of that line of thought.
“It’s fine, Reece. I like seeing where you work.”
I think Bella was surprised at that admission, as was Reece. And instead of letting them wallow in their discomfort, I moved forward and held out my hand.
“Come on, Bella. Let me show you the wonderful world of flowers. Of course, you had to miss the day where I had to dig a trench and plant trees, but maybe next time. I could use those muscles of yours.”
“You planted trees? But you’re so small.”
“She’s stronger than she looks,” Reece said, and I nearly tripped over my feet.
We waved goodbye to Reece and walked towards the front of the house.
I had no idea what to do about Reece Fox.
I had a feeling anything I did was probably the wrong thing.
No matter what, the only thing that mattered was the little girl at my side.
The little girl who was nearly my height to be honest. She was hurting, scared, lost, everything I felt a year ago.
Like me, she wasn’t alone. We weren’t going to let her feel that way.
She had Reece, his family, and she had the Montgomerys.
As long as I remembered that there was another person in our lives who could be hurt as well.
And I wouldn’t think about Reece in any way again.