Page 26 of No Bed Of Roses

Everything about the scene made him feel content. It was like coming home. Being at peace.

Isla looked up and saw him. Her smile was instantaneous and had him picking up his pace. He leapt the fence which made her roll her eyes.

She was laughing when he strode into the greenhouse, and he captured it with his mouth. Pure sunshine.

It took an effort to pull away. Her hands were still in a pot of soil as her eyes fluttered open. “Hey.”

He kissed her nose. “Hey yourself, gorgeous.”

That had her laughing and scrunching her nose. “That’s me. Wellies, overalls, and a hoody. All covered in dirt.”

He looked her over and nodded. “Exactly.”

She pulled her hands out of the pot and brushed them off as she rolled her eyes again.

He checked out her worktable. “Anything that can’t wait? Troy and the others are going to start demolishing some buildings in the town square today, and they’re looking for extra hands.”

Her lips rolled in, and her hands twisted together.

He took them in his own. “What is it? What’s wrong? We don’t have to go if you don’t want to.”

Her eyes widened. “It’s not that. I’m not always good with new people. I’ve only met a few people in town.”

“I get that, but I’m guessing Tansy and her friends from Midnight Lake will be there. Definitely Sean and Branna. But no pressure. If it makes you uncomfortable, we don’t go. No big deal.”

She sighed. “Yes, it is. I’m being silly. Everyone here has been so nice. I’d like to give back.” She closed her eyes and drew in a deep breath. When she opened them again, he saw determination in her gaze. “Give me a few minutes to clean up and change.”

“I think you’re perfect the way you are, but go ahead. I have to grab my work boots and some tools too. How about I drive back and pick you up?”

Her grin was back. “Okay.”

She moved to the cottage and unlocked it. Levi didn’t hop the fence until she was inside. It would be good for both of them to mingle with the people from town. He didn’t need a big social circle, but the more people in town who got to know Isla, the more people who would watch her back.

As he jogged through his field, Levi realized that while he’d kissed her breathless many times this week, he hadn’t even thought to take her on a date.

Now here he was picking her up to demolish a building.

Definitely time to up his game.

Isla looked down at her jeans and sweatshirt. They were clean and a step up from her overalls, and that was probably as far as it went. Her wardrobe ran more to dig in the dirt clothes than date clothes.

Although this wasn’t a date.

In the time she’d known Levi, she hadn’t worn anything sexier than her wellies and overalls. At least she knew he liked her for who she was and not for anything superficial.

But her surface could use some work. She’d never been much of a girly girl, which was another reason for her father’s disapproval. He figured a woman’s job was to support a man and provide heirs of the male variety.

She tried to shove thoughts of him to the side, but he’d been cropping up in her thoughts more often since the ladder incident. She knew he wouldn’t have been behind that. He probably hadn’t thought of her in years, so why was she thinking of him?

Was it time to make contact? She was in a place she liked. She was comfortable with the future she was planning. Maybe it was a good time to reach out. She didn’t want anything material, and she didn’t need a relationship with the man who’d tossed her away, but she wondered if it would be possible to build one despite the past. Besides, clearing the air was supposed to be good for the soul. Forgiveness was hard. Could they forgive each other?

Isla grabbed her work boots with a grin. Her father would never understand her choices. The simple pleasures of growing things and working hard. He wanted to be surrounded by what he considered the finer things in life, and he wouldn’t consider her work boots one of those things. She did. Isla tied them up and smiled. Her choices made her happy, and she wondered if her father felt the same about his. She was surprised to realize she hoped he did.

Either she was learning to deal with her issues, or she was finally growing up past the hurt. The thought had her smiling as Levi drove up in his truck. “Come on, Hopper. Let’s see if my new attitude can help me deal with meeting new people.”

Levi hopped out of the truck and moved around to open the passenger door. Her cheeks flushed, as no one had ever done that for her.

He guided Hopper to the back seat and then leaned down to kiss her. “I want to take you on a date.”

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