Chapter 11
11
JASMINE
A fter spending another hour lost in thought, I stop and stare out the back window for a moment. It’s a perfect sunny day, with just a few little fluffy clouds breaking up the bright daylight.
Which means it’s a perfect time to take light readings of Alex’s space. Whatever tension there might be while I figure things out, I should put work first.
Twenty minutes later, I’m meticulously cleaned up and already walking to his office when I send a text.
Hi. Can I come over right now and take some light readings? The sun is perfect.
I’m nearly at the building when he replies.
Alex: Yes. Carol will let you in. Dealing with test gone wrong, sorry.
For a moment, I hesitate. I really want to see him. But I also want to do a great job, and I can’t really start until I know what I’m dealing with. And the light really is perfect.
Carol answers the intercom and leads me to the reception area. “Can I help, or should I just stay out of your way?” she asks.
“Oh, I’ve got it, thanks.” I take readings from my light meter at five different points across the space.
“Are there any other areas?” she asks.
“Alex’s office, and your desk. And the lunchroom.”
Her eyes widen as she leads me to her area. “I didn’t realize that this project included me.”
“Oh.” I take readings from the side of her desk. “Shoot, I’m sorry if I’m ruining a surprise. We thought that a few plants on a stand right here would be nice. I was thinking something tall and dramatic, then some fluffy air cleaning plants like a large Boston fern, and maybe a spider plant? When they start to put out little spiderettes it’s super cute.”
Her expression softens. “That sounds lovely. Would it be all right if I brought in one of my African violets from home for the other side of my desk?”
“Of course. Or...” I smile. “I can bring you one from the shop – pink, purple, or white?”
“Oh! White. Thank you.” I make a note, then Carol looks around to make sure we’re alone before whispering, “I’m sure you’ve seen how uptight Alex can get. Don’t let that shake you. He’s a great man. Just a bit…” Her finger taps her temple. “All up in his noggin most of the time.”
“Yeah, I’ve noticed.” What else can I say? They’re coworkers, so I really shouldn’t say anything too personal.
“His office and the lunchroom, you said?” Carol leads the way to Alex’s huge sundrenched space.
I take readings all across the window area and in the far corner by the door, where there might be room for a lemon tree, or maybe a fiddle-leaf fig. Then I follow Carol, taking readings and the measurements of the lunchroom window area.
“I think that’s it.” I put my meter and notebook back in my shoulder bag and smile at Carol. “Thanks so much.”
“Anytime, dear.” She walks me out halfway to the front door, then a phone rings on her desk. I wave goodbye and keep going, not wanting to delay her any further.
Just as my fingers reach the door handle, I hear my name echo down the long corridor. Alex races to me, pulling me into his arms. “I’m so sorry, there was an emergency,” he murmurs, before kissing me gently.
“It’s okay,” I whisper, not sure if we should be doing this right by the front door during business hours.
He gazes into my eyes. “So beautiful.”
The next kiss is much, much different. He holds me close, every inch of our bodies pressed together as his mouth consumes mine.
Oh. My.
His hand skims up my ribs to right below my breast, just close enough to tease. Our kiss deepens, my core heating up in a flash as Alex’s intensity literally takes my breath away. His lips are urgent and hungry on mine as my fingers grip his thick biceps.
His phone beeps, and he backs away with a sheepish grin. “Sorry. Gotta go.” After giving me one more peck on the forehead, Alex takes off down the hallway at a jog.
I’m in a daze as I make my way back to the shop. What the heck was that?
Two hours later, my head is still spinning from the intensity of that kiss. From the way Alex makes me feel, for the most part. There’s still a teensy little warning light blinking in the back of my mind. Is he going to give his head a shake and change his mind about me when he comes to fully realize how much of my world is centered around all kinds of soil?
I really don’t need to be this aggressive shredding the coconut coir brick for a new potting mix, but tearing things and working my hands into the damp mess feels good right now. My sisters are both out front helping Mom rearrange some displays, so I have some alone time, thank goodness.
I think I’ve already screwed things up with Alex.
Did I ruin everything by being a bit slow to read him? I’ve been running on pure physical lust, with no time to think things through. At the end of the day, I just don’t know if I would be a good girlfriend for him.
Researching new plants before I select them for a project is automatic. I determine what kind of light they like, what kind of soil, their watering needs. Only then will I decide to use them in a particular planter.
I was so head over heels for Alex that I didn’t think about his needs.
Given that he’s clearly fussy about cleanliness, my career does not work for him. But changing my career is not an option. I love my job. It’s part of who I am. Even if I wasn’t working for and with my family, this is exactly what I’d want to be doing with my days.
The brick is sufficiently shredded in my large gray tub. I reach down for the bag of perlite; there’s only about a cup left. I dump it into the tub, scrunch up the empty plastic bag, and fling it into the trash. Yes ! I have excellent aim after doing this for years and years. Then I turn my attention to a row of freshly potted snake plants standing along the edge of the workbench, waiting patiently to be watered.
“Knock knock.”
I spin, shocked to see Alex standing in the doorway between the shop and the workroom. “Hi. What are you doing here?”
I shouldn’t be staring at him open-mouthed, but I can’t help it. That grin! And the way he’s looking at me sends all kinds of prickles through my lower belly.
Alex steps closer, and I lift my hands. “I’m covered in muck.”
He doesn’t flinch, stepping closer. “I just need your lips for a split second.” His fingers tangle in the back of my hair, and he gives me a light, dreamy kiss that sends my heart soaring.
He steps back, clearly pleased at the effect this has on me. “While I do appreciate a kiss,” I say, “that didn’t exactly answer my question. What are you doing here?”
Alex chuckles. “All the work you’re going to be doing, and I haven’t even paid a deposit yet. I needed to go for a walk anyway, so I just made a payment with your mother. She’s lovely, by the way.”
“Oh. Thank you.” I want to reach for him. To find out if the heat between us will melt away my nervousness. To ask him if my innocently dirty career will freak him out in the long run. “I was just about to grab a couple of bags to finish mixing this soil, then I can scrub up.”
“Shall I wait here?”
“Sure. Take a look around at the plants, see if there’s anything that catches your eye.”
I hurry out the back door to the shed and grab two bags, stacking them in my arms. The potting soil is kind of heavy, but perlite weighs almost nothing, so it evens out.
As I approach the door to go back inside, I hear a thump, followed by a muttered, “Oh shit. No. ”
I shoulder the door open, then shuffle inside to find out what’s wrong. I don’t see Alex. When I turn the corner around the largest shelf, I drop the bags to my feet and blink in surprise.
Alex is on his knees on the dirty workroom floor, gently pressing spilled soil back into a snake plant pot. He’s not hesitating in the slightest, really digging his fingers in. Getting dirt under his nails.
The sigh of relief rolls out of me in waves. He’s not a hardcore clean freak or germaphobe at all.
There’s a chance he can get past my slightly unusual but amazing career. And that means…
There’s a chance for us.