Page 3 of Flirty Situationship

“I haven’t met them yet so I can’t promise anything.” She lets out a laugh. “It wouldn’t hurt you to take a look around for a lumberjack of your own.”

“Thanks for the reminder.” I roll my eyes and shake my head. “That won’t be happening any time soon. I’ve got actual work to do if I’m going to get this place up and running. I’m going to figure out how to set up this point-of-sale system in the back. Try to keep it in your pants while I’m gone.”

“No promises,” Ash laughs.

I’m one to talk. I haven’t thought about how lonely life in the city is since the moment I met Winston. I’ve been too busy thinking about… climbing him. I’m trying to keep it uncomplicated while I’m here, but the man is breathtaking. He’s one hundred percent pure muscle with a heart of gold. The heat between us is building and I don’t know how much longer I can take it before I erupt.

I’ve made up the most useless tasks to get him back in here and today is no exception. I check the clock over and over again willing time to speed up. I step into the bathroom and give myself a once over, reapplying my lipgloss. When the clock finally hits four, I leave the shotty excuse for a cash register and head out front. I’ve got to get Ash out before Winston strolls in.

When I step out of the backroom, I see Ash through the window. She’s between the treeline and ourStump and Stem Plant Shoppesign. As I get closer I find she’s dragging a tray of seedlings into the plant rehab area inside of our greenhouse.

“Hey, are you taking off for the night? You know, call it a day early, have some Netflix and chill time?” I pull my hair out of the tight bun and smooth it behind my ears.

“I’m enjoying the scenery, but yeah, I’m going to head out. But first, what about him?” Ash points to a large man in jeans and a yellow safety vest.

I take the tray from her. “That’s the last thing I need. If this situation with my Mom wasn’t… what it is, then I wouldn’t be here in the first place. Soon this little Stump and Stem PlantShoppe will be up and running with a full staff and I will be sitting on a beach looking for my next adventure.”

“More like burying your head in the sand.”

I shoot her a look. “Thank you for your help.”

“I’m just wondering if you’ve talked to her yet?” She clears her throat. “Like, have you physically seen her?”

Her question knocks the wind out of me and I swallow hard. “What, did my brothers put you up to asking that question? No, I have not gone to see her. I will deal with it in my own time. Right now I have a plant shop open so that I can continue to afford my life.”

Ash holds up her hands in defense. “Got it, I’m going to leave you to it. I’m just going to say before I leave, you’ll feel better once you stop running and actually face it. Okay, I won’t bring it up again, don’t kill me, remember I’m taking my precious weeks of non-kid time to be here helping you. I love you.” Her voice goes sing-song at the end.

“Thank you. I love you too. Get out of here, see you tomorrow.”

Ash disappears out of the front door and even Trouble is relieved that she’s gone. The grump lets me stroke his fur for a full fifteen seconds before scampering off into the corner and taking a full mouth bite of cobwebs.

The last thing I need to do is open a can of worms I’m not ready to deal with. But just the mention of my mother’s situation has me in a mood. All I want to do is forget about the real reason I’m here. Ten minutes pass and I’m still shaking myself out of it when Winston opens the door.

“Hey.” He looks sexy as ever in a black T-shirt and his work jeans. His mouth pulls into a slow-growing grin that sends electricity whipping through me.

“Hi, thanks for coming by today.”

“Best part of my day.” He leans against the countertop and runs his fingers across Trouble’s back. “Is everything okay? I know you’re only about a week away from opening. What can I help you with?”

“You can help me forget.”

His eyebrows furrow in confusion as I press my body close into his chest. His heartbeat pounds so intensely that I can feel it in my own chest. Winston doesn’t say anything. He holds me and I disappear into him. I look up at him and when I lean even closer his eyes darken.

I rock up onto my toes and press my lips to his. The kiss sends fire coursing through me. I put a hand on his cheek and nibble at his bottom lip. It seems to light a fire in Winston. His hands lock on my hips and before I know it, he’s parting my lips with his tongue and taking my breath away.

The heat is intoxicating and I’m desperate for more of him. I run my hands under his shirt and up across his rock-hard stomach. But Winston pulls away from me, lips pink from the kiss and out of breath.

“Sorry.” The word rips out of me before I can stop it. “I put you in a weird spot. You don’t want to do this and I don’t even know anything about you. Oh my god, you’re probably married. You are married, aren’t you? I’m gonna be sick, I?—”

He puts his hands on my shoulders. “Stop it. No, I’m not married. “I want to do this. You have no idea how much I want to do this, but you don’t know what you’re getting into with me… I have a kid. He’s fourteen and a handful.”

“Okkkaaayyy.” I search his eyes looking for the problem. “You have a kid. Is the kid here?” I look over his shoulder.

“What? No, of course not. He’s staying with his grandparents after school.”

I lean away from him, folding my arms across my chest. “Ah, you have a kid and you're looking for someone to be his full-time mom?”

Winston lets out a chuckle and shakes his head. “No, he’s got a mom and a good one at that. There isn’t anything between us anymore. We were young and dumb. She wasn’t a good wife, but both of us have this parenting thing as a top priority. I just want you to know upfront what you’re getting with me. My life is chaotic because I’ve got to make every decision a serious one, it isn’t just me. I know you’re leaving at some point and that isn’t an option for me. You’re beautiful and you’re all I’ve thought about since the moment we met. But I’m not that kind of guy. I don’t want to do this and you end up getting hurt.”

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