Chapter 12
12
KELLI
T he next morning, I get up early to train with Josh again. I’m already sore from our first day of training, so he focuses on takedowns and escape techniques. When my arms completely give up on me, he makes me run on the treadmill for thirty minutes. I don’t know that I feel as giddy about these workouts anymore because I really hate running. When we meander upstairs, I use Logan’s shower again, reveling in his scent. As I’m about to step out of the shower, I hear Brian holler in the room that he is running a quick errand and will be back soon. I’m not sure if that was meant for me or Logan, so I don’t answer and keep drying off.
Logan is downstairs making bacon and eggs when I make my way back down, grabbing myself a cup of coffee. “Brian is running an errand this morning. He yelled it into your room, but I was in your shower so I think he thought it was you in the shower.”
“He found me on his way out. He should be back within the hour, I think he has something planned for you guys today.” He says flipping the bacon in the pan.
“Is it bad if I’m scared to ask what this plan is?” I pour some creamer in my coffee before sitting at the island.
“I think it’s an apology plan. I know he feels bad about being a little overbearing with you.” Hmm, well I do like apologies. I sip on my coffee, watching Logan move around the kitchen with ease. I never thought a man cooking could be such a turn on, but he makes it look good. He’s shirtless this morning, honestly a bold choice while frying bacon, but I’m not going to ask him to put a shirt on. His muscles are delicious, my mouth is watering. I’m not sure if it’s from the smells or the view.
When everything is done, he plates up some for both of us and joins me at the island, leaving a plate to the side for Josh, as well. He buries his nose in my hair taking a deep breath. “You smell like me again. As much as I like it, I think I miss your pretty scent.”
“I need to stop showering at the same time as Josh. All my stuff is in our bathroom.”
“Hmm, maybe. I have another possible solution, too.” He hums around bites of bacon. Before I can ask what his other solution is, the door to the garage opens. Brian comes in with a small grocery bag, setting it on the counter.
“Can I get your help when you’re done, Logan? And Kel, can you change into something you don’t mind getting a little dirty?” He asks, taking out a new pair of purple gardening gloves.
“I’ll take care of the dishes then get changed. Are we gardening, B?” The excitement is radiating from me.
“Yeah, if you are up for it. It’s overdue. I got some new things for us to plant.” His grin is sheepish and adorable. I can’t believe he did this for me. I love to dig around in the dirt.
I fill the dishwasher and wash the pans before heading upstairs to throw on a black tank and some running shorts. On my way back down, I grab the purple gloves off the counter and slip them in my pocket before heading outside.
I step out to the back deck as Logan steps around the side of the house, carrying a flat of beautiful flowers in a range of colors. When he sees me standing there, he smiles and sets the flowers down, nodding to the ground, “this is some apology.” It’s then I notice the four other flats overflowing with little flowers. Logan’s already walking back around to the front before I can ask how many more there are.
I walk down to the yard, bending to get a better look at all the flowers when Brian comes over, pushing a wheelbarrow with four rhododendron bushes in them. “How many flowers did you get for us to plant?” I ask, standing to help him unload them.
“You like flowers, so I got a mix of ones that will look good in the garden now and ones we can plant so you’ll have fresh flowers in the fall, too. You know, in case you’re here or want to visit or something.” He rubs the back of his neck uncomfortably.
“That’s really sweet, thanks, B. I can’t wait to get started. Do you have a place in mind for all of these, or are we winging it as we go?”
“I figured we would wing it. I still have another load to get from the truck if you want to start looking around at the flower beds back here and get an idea. We have a few flower beds by the front porch, too, that could use some color.” He pulls the last bush from the wheelbarrow before making his way around the front again. My heart beats faster watching his forearms flex as he shifts it over the grass. We never got more than a tiny taste of each other, and with his kind gesture and popping muscles, I am really wishing we could try for more.
When the truck is finally empty, Logan heads back inside while Brian and I plan out the flower placement. “I think I like the little flowers in front, maybe mix some pinks and oranges. Then the rhododendron bushes spread out in the back so they have space to grow and the rest of the flowers spread out so there is a little color everywhere. What do you think?”
“I think you have the better eye, so what you say goes.” Brian grabs the pink and orange flowers and brings them to the front yard, where we start spreading them out and planting them. “Remind me to take a picture when we are done to send to my mom. She will be so proud of us.”
“Does she know I’m here?” I ask, placing a little flower into the hole I dug.
“Yeah, Danny told her yesterday. We don’t want anything about you being here said over the phone so he and Alex went to dinner there last night. She’s worried about you, but is glad you’re here.” His large hands are so careful when planting the dainty flowers. It reminds me so much of when we were kids. It feels full circle, seeing him as this built, battle-hardened man being cautious to not squish any petals.
We work side by side, finishing up the rest of the front flowers before moving to the back of the house. “Are you comfortable here?” Brian blurts out as we set out where the rest of the flowers will go.
“Yeah, it’s a beautiful place and the guys are really nice. I miss my home, but it has lost a little of its appeal with everything going on. I feel comfortable here. Why do you ask?”
He pauses, sitting back on his heels to look over at me. “It’s just important to me. Your safety is my biggest priority, but I want you to be happy here, too.”
“I’m happy, B. Are you happy? With your life, where you’re at?”
“I’m happy enough. I love this little slice of paradise we have built for ourselves.” He doesn’t look at me, still just digging little holes to put the flowers in. I want to ask about our past, about where things are with us, but I don’t want to ruin this little bubble we are in right now.
“Are any of you guys dating anyone?” I pull the last flower from my flat and put it in the ground.
“No.” Okay then, I guess that’s all I’m getting on that conversation. There’s a dying rose bush next to where I’m planting, so I start snapping off the dead growth.
“Do you have pruning shears for this?” I look over to him to ask right as a thorn pokes through my gloves, making me wince.
Brian is off his knees and next to me in an instant, gently pulling my glove off. “Are you okay? You know you shouldn’t prune roses without the leather gloves.” There are a few drops of blood dripping from my finger and before I can pull my hand from him to wipe it on my shorts, Brian sucks my finger into his mouth. I sit stunned and a little breathless as he keeps my finger in his mouth, sucking the blood from it. It’s a hot and possessive move, giving my body all sorts of ideas of where else his mouth might feel good. He plucks it back out of his mouth, licking his lips. “All better. Let’s take a break and get a band-aid. I picked up a surprise while I was in town.”
Without dropping my hand, he helps me up and walks me into the house. My feet follow, but my brain is still a pile of mush on the ground. He has been so hot and cold since I got here, but damn when he is hot, he is on fire. When we get into the kitchen, he lifts me up, placing me on the counter. “Don’t move.”
He comes back in a moment with an antibiotic ointment and band-aid that he carefully puts onto my finger like it is some huge injury and not a tiny prick that has already stopped bleeding. I finally find my voice, “You do know that I’m a nurse, right? I can handle a cut finger.”
He drops a kiss to the top of the band-aid when he is done. “I know, I just don’t care. I took care of it for you.” When he turns around to throw away the trash, I hop off the counter only to have his hand land on my hip squeezing it in place. “I didn’t say to move, Kel. Get your ass back up there.”
A shiver runs down my spine at his words. I think I like this version of his overbearing. “Yes sir,” I mumble under my breath, as his spine straightens at the words. He opens the fridge, pulling out a large glass jug of lemonade. It’s what his mom used to have for us every time we helped her. “You made us lemonade?”
“Nah, I don’t have that skill. But there is a lady in town that makes juices and pies for some of the local restaurants, so I picked up a jug from her.” He says like it’s no big deal as he pours both of us a glass. But it is a big deal to me. He’s a nurturer at heart, a protector, too; it’s just been a while since I’ve seen this side of him. He hands me a glass then takes a big sip of his own.
“Thank you, this is amazing.” We drink in silence, then he places our empty cups in the sink. He grabs me by the hips to take me off the counter and sets me on the ground. I roll my eyes at the possessive move, but really, I am relishing in his touch. He takes my hand and leads me back out to the yard where we plant the rest of the bushes and prune the roses together. When the last rose bush is done, I lie back in the grass, enjoying the cool breeze over my sweat-slicked skin. Brian lays down next to me, picking up my hand.
“How’s your finger?” He asks inspecting my hand like it’s at risk of falling off.
I pull my hand away and slap his chest. “It’s fine, ya brute. It was a tiny prick.”
“I worry about you, Kel. Even the little things like a few drops of blood. You have to know that,” he says as his eyes find mine, full of honesty.
“I know, you just sometimes have a funny way of showing it.” I tell him honestly. “Any chance you can show me how to use your riding lawn mower?” I ask, changing the subject.
“Why?”
“I’m already sweaty, and I’ve always wanted to ride on one. Might as well mow the lawn while I mark it off my bucket list.” I shoot him a genuine smile. I do really want to drive one around, but mostly, I want to help Josh out.
Brian pulls my hands, helping me to my feet. “Alright, I guess. I’m bringing you out the rest of the lemonade, though.”
“And a snack, too?” I flutter my lashes at him.
He drops a kiss to my curls, “Yeah, I’ll get you a snack, too.”