Page 57 of You've Got Male

He chuckled. “Yeah, sunshine. You do.”

She looked down at her clothes and laughed. “Don’t let Julie hear you say that or I have to pay her fifty bucks,” she explained. “She actually dressed me. In her clothes. She said I couldn’t go on a date in my work uniform.”

“You would have looked equally as stunning,” he said and meant it. The woman was as sexy all dolled up as she was in sweats sans the makeup and working in her yard.

“Thank you,” she said, and he was pretty certain she was blushing. “I wasn’t sure what to wear, since you didn’t let me know where we were going until five minutes ago.”

“I thought we’d keep it casual and fun, so I picked Everything But the Kitchen Sink.”

“When I saw your text, I was surprised.”

There were those nerves again, stemming from uncertainty. “Unless you’d rather go somewhere else.”

“Are you kidding?” Her smile was so radiant she glowed. “I love this place. I can’t even think of the last time I came here with time to peruse.”

“I figured we could check out some plants for my yard and maybe I can get you a rose bush for your garden.”

Her lashes fluttered. “You want to buy me a plant?”

“I figure all the other guys brought you roses, so I wanted to get you something, too. But something that will last.”

She nibbled at the lower lip he wanted to kiss. “You don’t have to buy me anything.”

“It’s something I’d do for my girlfriend and since we’ve been dating two weeks, I figure it’s time to start wooing you.”

“Hang on.” Without another word she raced to her car.

What had just happened? Had the plant been too big a gesture? Right as his brain was spinning with all the possible scenarios of that moment—like if she was going to come back or bail—she was back at his side.

“I have a present for you. It isn’t anything big, and I’ve been sitting on it because I didn’t know how to give it to you, but the moment seems right.” She handed over a poster-sized, rolled-up tube of paper.

“Are you gifting me your Nick Carter poster?” he teased.

She snorted. “You wish.” Her smile was shy. “If you hate it, it won’t hurt my feelings.”

Whatever it was he knew he wouldn’t hate it. Hell, even if it were a Carter poster he’d hang it above his bed. But it wasn’t a poster—it was blueprints.

“What is this?” he asked quietly.

“I had some ideas that I think would make your yard look nice. I’m nowhere near a professional landscaper, but I was just sitting at the kitchen table and this idea popped into my head. It will look like you spent top dollar but no one will know you’re on a tight budget.”

It wasn’t just an idea. It was a full-on master plan for both his front and back yards. It was gorgeous—and affordable. He hated that she had figured out his financial woes, but in a way, it felt nice to have someone to talk to about it. “This must have taken you hours.” Hours he knew she didn’t have to spare.

She shrugged it off, but he knew that this was more than just blueprints. He wasn’t sure what it meant, but it confused the hell out of him.

“You didn’t have to do this,” he said.

“I wanted to. I was so hard on you about your yard. Think of this as an olive branch.”

Oh, it was more than an olive branch, but he’d dissect that later. “Is this because you want me to kick my butt into high gear?”

“Yes and no. I did this because I wanted to. But I also have some skin in the game.”

“I knew there’s more to the story than concrete-staining pomegranates and rats in the roses.”

She looked away, guilt etched in every beautiful feature on her face.

“Spill. What’s going on? Why is this so important to you?”

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