Page 27 of Smarty Plants
All the proposed destinations feature incredible gardens, so they know I’m on board. It’s wonderful to learn about the flora of other regions. Discovering new plants can inspire fresh ideas. It’s something we’re teaching the little ones every chance we get.
“Ivy, will you please move Forest away from the dirt?”
“Sure, Gramma.” She drags him away from the raspberries to plop him in front of some ornamental grass swaying in the breeze. After a moment he reaches out to shake a fistful, helping it along.
Just like plants, families and good people will always grow.
If you’re enjoying the city of Kingsville, please also check out
Fake Summer Boyfriend
Mr. Right…As Rain
and Unlikely Match
Keep reading for a preview of
the Dirty Brothers…
Griffin
"Do you like pizza?"
Harper’s beautiful, full lips pull into a smile. "Who doesn't?"
"Well, you obviously don't know this yet, since you're new in town. But there's a law that on Monday nights, women aren't allowed into the pizza shop unless they're escorted by a local man."
Her lips press firmly together in a mild scowl. "Really. That sounds like an odd rule."
"Well, it's an odd town." I turn off the road onto the long driveway toward the house. "So, may I take you to dinner tomorrow night?"
It's nearly dark now, but I catch the flash in her eyes by the dim porch light. "Because it's the law, and you need me to try your wild mountain pizza?"
"Partly that, yes. Maybe I'm also the one-man welcoming committee around here." I park, then turn to face her as we slip our seatbelts off, my fingers slowly gliding through hers. She doesn't pull away from me, instead leaning closer, and squeezing my hand back.
"And maybe I've never seen a girl as pretty as you before, and I need to find some way to make you like me fast before some manure-covered farmer or splinter-filled lumberjack wins your heart."
Her mouth falls open as her eyes grow wide. Leaning in, my lips brush the shell of her ear as I whisper, "I'm just teasing. All the guys around here are pretty decent. Which means I'm going to have to make you fall for me before you meet any of them."
It's killing me not to kiss her, but I resist. Instead, I race around to her side and help her out, then walk her to the door. "I'll need your number, please." She watches as I enter itinto my phone asHarper Lovely&Sweet. "Thanks. I'll text you tomorrow.”
Her smile is tentative, and the faraway look in her eyes makes me melt. Did I wish so hard for her to appear that she actually did?
My step forward is barely a shuffle. "Should I let you go inside, or can you stay another minute so I can tell you something really important?"
"Well, I'm still learning about this town, so I guess you're going to have to tell me everything."
My hand presses to her lower back, bringing us slowly together. "Out here in the forest, sometimes when we need to do uncivilized things we blame it on all of this wilderness and nature."
Harper leans closer. "Uncivilized in what way?"
"Oh, you know. Things like kissing the most beautiful woman I've ever seen when I don't even know her last name."
You’re going to love these three rough, sweet, hilarious brothers! Meet Griffin, Carson, and Walker Dirty in the
Dirty Brothers on Wolfe Mountain
