Chapter 19
RACHEL
“Hey. I’m so sorry.” I climb out of the car and pull open the back door so I can collect the groceries.
When I pulled into the driveway, Craig was already waiting to pick up the kids for a visit.
“My dad called as we were leaving town and asked if I could pick up some butter. He got chatty with the kids when we dropped it off. You know how he is.”
Craig gives a half-hearted smile. “No problem.”
“Hey, Dad.” Mason hops out of the front seat. “Just gotta grab a charger from my room.” He jogs toward the front porch, but at the base of the stairs, he comes to a screeching halt. “Whoa. When did this happen?”
“When did what happen?” Grocery bags in hand, I lean to one side, peeking around Craig.
Mason turns back to us. “The flowers.”
Flowers?
“Damn. You’ve been busy,” Craig mutters.
I frown, clueless as to what they’re talking about.
That is, until I round the rear of my car and see for myself.
The old flower beds on either side of the front steps have not only been dug up, but they’ve been planted with a mix of perennials and annuals. The colors are bright and vibrant and breathtaking. They’re also exactly what I would have picked for myself.
But I didn’t pick them out. And I didn’t plant them, either.
I can guess who did, though.
A comforting warmth spreads through me as I take it all in. “Wow. This is beautiful.”
“I bet it was Jinx,” Mason says with a grin. “He said he was going to.”
Oh god. With Craig standing nearby, that warmth turns into unease instantly.
Emma skips over to us. “He did good. I’m gonna get my book, Dad. Be right back.”
Both kids head into the house, leaving me alone with a confused Craig.
“Jinx did this?” He frowns at the flowers, then at me.
“Probably. If he told Mason he was going to.”
“But why?” He scowls, his confusion turning to irritation. “Did you ask him to?”
Oh, he’s getting ballsy with his accusations. “I’d really like to tell you yes right now.”
He scowls. “What?”
I shake my head and sigh. “No, Craig, I didn’t ask him to. But I did tell him that I wanted to fix up the flower beds someday.”
“You’re still talking to him?” He puffs up, his face an angry mask. “What the fuck, Rachel?”
Okay, now he’s pissing me off. “Mason still works with him, Craig.”
“I know that, but—”
“But what? What are you really upset about? That someone did something nice for me? A man, at that? Or is it because he did something you never bothered to do?”
He snaps his jaw shut, and fire blazes in his eyes.
“You might as well know that he’s also the one cutting the grass. With your son. Every week.” Guilt swirls in my stomach, even if I don’t regret the comments. I know I’m just stirring the pot, but I’m sick and tired of being the one to bite my tongue and hold back. God knows he didn’t give a single thought to my feelings when he started another relationship a month after he left.
“I’ll turn him in for working a minor,” Craig seethes.
A dry laugh escapes me. “Oh really? You’ll have to turn Jesse in then, too, because he’s the one who pays him.”
He lifts his chin, his jaw hard, and looks down his nose at me.
I shake my head. “I have to get these groceries inside. The kids will be out shortly.” I turn and head inside, forcing myself to count and breathe.
“Got my book.” Emma races down the hall and throws her arms around me. “Bye, Mom. I love you.”
“I love you, too, baby. Have fun tonight.”
She’s gone without another word, the screen door slamming behind her.
Mason appears just as I set the bags on the counter.
“I texted Jinx to ask if it was him,” he says, grinning at his phone. “I already know it was, though.”
I laugh softly. “You text with Jinx?”
“Uh, yeah. Work stuff.” The duh goes unsaid.
“Oh. Right.”
Mason rolls his eyes. “Anyway, I’ll see you later.”
“Yes, you will.” I pull him in for a quick hug and press a kiss to his forehead. Pretty soon, I won’t be able to do that. “I love you.”
“Love you, too.” He wriggles away and rushes to the front door, and a minute later, Craig’s truck backs out of the driveway.
I don’t wait to put the cold food away before I dig out my phone.
Me: What have you done?
Jinx: You like it?
Me: I love it. The kids, too. Craig, not so much.
Jinx: He saw, huh?
Me: He just left with the kids. Wednesday night visitation.
Jinx: Ah. So you’re alone?
Me: I am.
Jinx: What are you doing for dinner?
I twist my lips and consider the food in front of me. I have lots of options, but making something just for myself is never as appealing once it’s time to actually do it.
Me: Not sure yet.
Justin: Wanna come over and share this rotisserie chicken with me?
Me: You’re done with work already? Dang.
Jinx: For now. Was thinking about going back out after I eat.
Me: I’ll come over.
No way am I letting him go back to work. Poor guy needs a break.
Jinx: Don’t play with me, Sunny.
Me: Not playing. I’ll bring a salad, and I have a bottle of wine, too.
Jinx: Hell yeah.
Me: See you in ten.
“She cameout in her robe, Sunny.” Elbows on the kitchen island, Jinx forks another bite of salad and shakes his head. Much like the last time I was here, he’s fresh from the shower and smelling delicious while his light brown hair rises in damp spikes on the top of his head. My heart stumbled over itself when he answered the door wearing a white T-shirt that complements his tan and a pair of gray jogging pants that complements everything else.
“Mrs. Janikowski is old,” I reason, though I already have a pretty good idea where this story is going.
“Oh no,” he counters. “I’m not talking about a normal robe. I’m talking about one of those silky things that barely covered her ass.”
Yep. I saw that coming. “You should see your face right now.” I laugh.
“It’s not funny. I really thought she was gonna bend over and show me the whole southern border.”
“Were you on the riding lawn mower?”
He nods as he stuffs a bite into his mouth. “Mm-hmm.”
“She was probably hoping to make you crash so she could come to your aid. You know, a little TLC. Or CPR.”
He swallows and glowers. “I would rather die.”
And I laugh all over again.
“Anyway, that was my day. How about you?”
Trying to regain my composure, I reach for my glass of wine. “It was good. The kids and I went to the lake for a while, and my dad called when we were on our way back home. He asked if I could pick up some things from the store, so we visited with him for a few minutes. By the time we got home, Craig was already there to pick the kids up.”
He gives a crooked grin. “That’s when he saw the flower beds?”
“Yep.” I pop my lips. “Fabulous timing with that, by the way.”
He chuckles and gathers another bite. “Not my intention, but hey…”
“How did you get all of that done while we were out today?”
“Connor and Jack helped me. Might’ve had some assistance from your dad, too.”
“My dad?”
He nods confidently. “Yep.”
“When did you talk to my dad?”
He lifts a shoulder. “Earlier in the week, and again today when we dug up some of the flowers from his place.”
His place? As in… “My mom’s flowers?”
The slightest color tinges his cheeks. “Yes. But don’t give me all the credit. Technically, Mason gave me the idea.”
There goes my damn heart again. “You’re kidding.”
“Nope. I asked him what kind of flowers we should get, and he said you liked the ones at your dad’s. I drove out there to take a look, and when I asked if it would be okay if I dug up a few, he insisted I take as many as I wanted.”
“Justin…” My voice cracks, and I swallow hard to fight back the tears prickling at the backs of my eyes, but it’s no use. “I don’t know what to say.”
“You don’t have to say anything.” His voice is as gentle as the hand he places on my thigh. “I didn’t mean to make you cry.”
“Oh, please.” I laugh softly while I knuckle away my tears. “You had to know I would love this.”
He tips his head from side to side, smiling adorably. “You’re right. But it was the surprise I was really after.”
“Well, you succeeded in the best way.” I slide my hand beneath his on my thigh and tangle our fingers. “Thank you.”
His eyes go a little hazy as they drop to my lips, and I don’t think twice. I lean in and kiss him.
For a moment, he’s still. And after the way I freaked out last week, I don’t blame him. But I’m sure this time.
“Sunny.” He growls my name and cups my face, his mouth finally moving against mine.
The feel of his calloused palm and the soft, sensual caress of his lips is the perfect paradox. I melt into him and slip my hands around his neck, absorbing his warmth, while the heavy thrum of his pulse beats beneath my fingertips.
I could so easily get lost in this man. And yet, when I’m with him, I feel stronger and more empowered than I ever have.
“Hey…” He pulls back suddenly and rests his forehead against mine. “What time will the kids be home?”
“Oh, um…” I glance at my phone for the time. “Probably not until ten.”
“Do you want to go for a ride with me?” He smiles, a plan of some kind clearly in mind.
“If we’ll be back in time.”
“Don’t worry, Cinderella. I’ll have you home before your carriage turns into a pumpkin.”
I give a soft laugh. “Okay, because I’d prefer not to have to walk home.”
He gets to his feet and takes our plates around to the sink. “Don’t judge me, but I am not washing these now.”
“Hey…” I hold up my hands. “I’ve already shared my deepest, darkest secrets when it comes to dishes, so you have nothing to worry about with me.”
He grins as he rinses the plates and sets them aside for later. “Did you wear decent shoes?”
“Oh, this sounds like an adventure. Good thing I wore sneakers.”
Five minutes later, with his ball cap on backward and “Feels Like Tonight” by Daughtry blaring through the truck speakers, he drives toward Copper Crossing.
“Too loud?” he asks above the music.
“Not at all. I love this song!” It takes me back to high school. “It reminds me of my first boyfriend.”
He tips his head to the side and gives me a come on glare.
I laugh. “Sorry!”
“That’s all right.” He flashes a crooked grin. “I know what I have to offer.”
Holy swoon. “Can we roll down the windows? It’s warm in here.”
He dramatically hits the power buttons, and both of the front windows lower. “Better?”
“Yes!” I throw one arm out the window and let the wind whip through my hair. “I love this.”
He chuckles as he watches me from the driver’s seat. “You need to get out more.”
“I do.” I’ve always loved driving with the music cranked and the windows open, especially on summer nights like this. It’s so reminiscent of my younger, carefree days, when my biggest worry was if I had enough money to buy fast food with my friends.
A few minutes later, he hits the blinker and turns onto a dirt road that I’ve passed hundreds of times over the years but have never been down. In no time, the trees on the sides of the road give way to massive fields, some with tall, swaying cornstalks and others that will probably be cut for hay.
“Are we still in Cole Creek?” I ask, holding my hair back from my face.
He shakes his head. “Nope. This is technically McAllister.”
“Ah. I’ve never been back here before.”
“Really? And you’ve lived here all your life?”
I huff a laugh and lift one hand. “I really do need to get out more.”
With a smile, he shakes his head. He’s quiet for the rest of the drive, only speaking again when he slows the truck and turns into a long driveway leading to a farm set back in the middle of several fields.
“You know Ty Crawford?” he asks as we pass a herd of grazing cattle.
“The cop? Yes.”
“This is his parents’ place.”
“Oh.”
Then what are we doing here?
“Just trust me.” He winks like he can read my mind.
An older man in overalls and muck boots exits one of the barns and waves as we pull up.
“That’s Ty’s dad, Lawrence,” Jinx says, turning the radio down. “Hang tight here while I talk to him.”
He hops out before I can question him about what he has up his sleeve. He hurries over to the man and shakes his hand. With his hands on his hips, he listens to Lawrence intently while they chat for a few minutes. Then the older man lifts his chin toward a two-rut road that hooks around the rear of a different barn.
Jinx claps him on the shoulder and jogs back to the truck.
“What on earth are you up to?”
“You’ll see soon enough.” He flashes a mischievous smile, and in seconds, we’re bumping along that little road, well behind the barns and headed toward a small thicket of trees in the middle of one of the fields.
And then I see the sunflowers.
“Oh my goodness, look at them!” Hand held to my chest, I lean forward to get a better view. “Is this what you wanted to show me?”
He nods humbly. “Yep. They just hit their peak growth.”
“Can we get out? I want to take pictures.”
“Of course. Let’s go.”
We meet in the front of the truck, and he takes my hand and guides me across the uneven ground toward the rows upon rows of tall, stalky flowers with crowns of golden petals and bold bronze centers.
“Why would they plant these way out here?”
“To keep people like us from stopping to ask if they can see them.”
“Oh.” I laugh softly. “Okay, then.”
“I have special privileges.” He winks.
“How is that?”
“I helped plant them.”
I face him fully and study him in the fading light. “Did you really?”
He dips his chin. “Yep. For the last few years, I’ve been helping them plant. In return, they give me seeds for the gardens I plant around town.”
“Is that an even trade?” It sure doesn’t seem like it.
He chuckles. “Not really, but I don’t mind. I’ve been friends with Ty since elementary school, so the Crawfords are like a second family.”
“That’s really sweet.” Every time we’re together, I learn a little more about this man, and each time, I’m a little more impressed with him. “Can I be really cheesy and ask you to take a picture of me with the flowers?”
“Babe, I got you covered.” He pulls out his phone and ushers me closer to the beauties.
It isn’t until I’m right next to them that I realize they’re taller than I am.
“I had no idea they actually got this big!” I prop my hands on my hips and flash a smile.
After he’s taken a couple of photos, I throw my hands in the air and twirl. He snaps away while I live out my runway model dream in front of a field of sunflowers.
“Damn, babe, you’re a natural,” he teases.
I laugh, and then remember. “Wait. One more!” Closing my eyes, I turn my face up to the setting sun and pull in a deep breath.
“Ah, fuck, that’s perfect.”
It really is. This night and this trip. These little moments that probably seem silly to him but feel like so much to me.
“Hey…” He’s beside me when I open my eyes, his big hands sliding around my waist and pulling me into him. “Do you have any idea how beautiful you are?” he asks, peering down at me with those crystal blue eyes.
“You’ve told me a time or two.” I toe up and press my lips to his. “Do you have any idea how handsome and amazing you are?”
He gives a crooked grin. “Amazing, huh?”
“So amazing.” I kiss him again, wishing I could somehow get closer. Right now, kissing isn’t enough. I want to wrap myself around him, and I want him to do the same to me. I want him to feel my heartbeat and know that it beats a little stronger these days because of him and all the selfless things he’s done for me and my babies. I want to feel his heart and hope that, in some way, we’ve made an impact on him, too.
He breaks the kiss and pulls back, holding up his phone again. “I want a picture of us. If that’s okay.”
It’s more than okay. “Only if you send me a copy, too.”
He grins, and we tip our heads together for the picture.
“One more.” I press up and kiss his cheek, and he snaps one last shot.
“Look at that.” He shows me the image.
God, we look so perfect together that my heart aches in the best kind of way.
With a kiss to my temple, he murmurs, “We’re a good-looking couple.”
I swallow against the pressure in my chest. “We are, aren’t we?”
He tucks his phone away, gathers me against him, and nuzzles his nose into my hair. “I don’t want to rush you, Sunny,” he says softly. “In fact, I think it’s best if we take our time. I don’t want you getting sucked into something you’re not sure you really want all over again.”
Fisting his T-shirt against his back, I nod against his shoulder. What I really want to do is tell him that I already know he’s what I want. But that’s fear talking. That’s fear of losing what already feels so good and so right between us, because it’s been such a long time since I’ve felt anything remotely close to this.
But he’s right. The last time I fell for a man, I was seventeen. I thought he was everything I ever wanted. And I was wrong. So, how can I trust that I know what I want now?
“I have one more small surprise.” Jinx places a quick kiss on my temple and then produces a small pair of garden shears from his back pocket. “Pick out the ones you want to take home.”
I barely contain a delighted shriek. “Really?”
“Gotta give you something to make you think of me when I’m not around.”
Oh, Justin Enders, I don’t need a reminder. You’re already unforgettable.