Page 69 of The Protégé

Laughter gleamed in his eyes, but he didn’t show any signs that he thought my question was testing his intelligence.

“I see three pots of dandelions. This one only has leaves, the second pot has bright flowers.” He tapped it. “It reminds me of you.”

I snorted. “I’m a bright weed?”

“A wildflower with healing properties.” His lips tilted just enough that it made the muscles in my stomach slide, contort, and do all kinds of spectacular things.

I’ll show you how wild I can be, was what ran through my head. But I didn’t share that with him.

“You’re looking at the lifecycle of a dandelion. Most people would dismiss a dandelion because it’s a weed that takes over their manicured lawn. Personally, I like them scattered in my yard. Dandelions have a cosmic symbolism.” I gestured to each pot. “They represent life and how we’re connected to the sun, moon, and stars.”

“Tell me more.” Intrigue splashed onto his face.

I grabbed the pot with the dandelion puffs. “Follow me.” I opened the sliding door to the back deck and stepped out. The motion sensor lights flickered on, revealing the lawn that desperately needed maintenance.

“You need to mow your lawn,” he said.

“Been meaning to. Haven’t had time.”

“I don’t meanyouliterally. Do you use a lawn care service?”

“I can do it. Saves time and money. I have a mower.”

“You know how to use it?”

I rolled my eyes. “Yes, I do. My dad taught me, and I’m pretty good at it. Time has gotten away from me lately.”

He studied me, and I changed the subject before he asked questions that would eventually require me to share my financial predicament. I wasn’t ready for that yet.

“So the yellow dandelion represents the sun. The dandelion puff symbolizes the moon.” I plucked one stem from the pot and offered it to him.

“It’s a full moon on a stem.”

“Exactly.

“And the seeds are the stars.” I blew at the puffs in the pot, watching them fly out into the night.

He held up his puff, examining it. “After all these years of looking at the stars, I missed the most beautiful symbolism. It’s so simple.” He twirled it around. “I’ve been so focused on developing innovative software and finding new ways to expand my business that I’ve blocked out the beauty that exists in front of me. I missed out on the obvious things.” He met my eyes. “Thank you for reminding me to appreciate the simple things.” He stared at the dandelion puff for a moment. “I’ll never look at a dandelion the same way again.”

“You’re welcome. I took you out of your headspace again.” I beamed. “You’re literally holding the moon in your hand. Blow at it and make a wish. Let the seeds take your wish into the sky and give them to the Cosmic Dandelion Goddess.”

“You just made that up.” He blew at the seeds, scattering them into the night.

Something magical occurred tonight. I felt it in the air stirring between us. It was as though the seeds that floated around us symbolized our relationship and its potential. Whatwere we planting? How would we grow from this moment forward?

“There’s power to creating your own magic.”

“You’re absolutely right.”

I didn’t know why, but I felt the urge to share a part of my childhood with him. My previous boyfriends were never interested in my dandelion story. They thought it was too weird and hated the dandelion tea. Orion appreciated it all. For that, he deserved a reward: a sliver of me.

“When I was little, my grandmother told me the dandelion story because I enjoyed looking at the stars. It was how I started drinking dandelion tea. It made me believe I was drinking in the magic of the sun, moon, and stars.” I turned to see his gray eyes had grown darker, more intense.

In the dark night with just the lights from the deck casting a soft glow around us, his eyes looked like they belonged to a mysterious wolf, watching and waiting.

“That’s what I’ll be thinking from now on. Drinking in the cosmos.”

“My grandmother and my mom got me into eating dandelion leaves too. I’ll make some for you to try one day. Grandma was from Peru and into holistic medicine. She said plants hold the key to great health, and the cures for all diseases can be found in nature.” I placed the pot down on the wooden table. “I believe she’s right. But I think the world isn’t ready to acknowledge it yet. People are too caught up on convenience, or how to make more money.” A mosquito flew around his face, and I swatted it away.

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