Page 24 of A Montana Secret Admirer
“It’s true. She said she wasn’t interested in anything serious. So, I’m listening.”
The way Noah’s eyes narrowed made it clear he didn’t believe a word Reese had said. At least he wasn’t tearing into him with some long-winded lecture. But then Noah murmured, “And if she decided she was ready for it?”
Reese stilled. What did Noah expect him to say? That he fully intended on tearing Serenity’s heart into pieces? Fat chance of that happening.
Noah dragged a hand down his face. “Just… don’t break her heart, okay? Jane’s worried about her. So am I.” He gave Reese one final warning look before stalking off to probably tattle to his wife about Reese’s intentions.
Well, that was a step forward in a way. One of the bigger roadblocks to dating Serenity would have been getting Jane’s approval.
Maybe Reese had a shot after all.
CHAPTER EIGHT
Serenity letout a moan of pleasure. Then her shoulders shrank, and she covered her mouth with an embarrassed laugh at the look Reese gave her. The way he was staring made it obvious what exactly she’d sounded like, and it was not how normal people sounded when they ate black forest brownies.
She probably looked the exact shade of red that the cherries in this brownie were.
The smile on his face only made her embarrassment intensify.
“What?” she mumbled around the remaining bite in her mouth. She swallowed. “I’ve never tasted anything this decadent.”
His smile widened. “I don’t think the people around here have experienced listening to someone enjoy that brownie as much as you just did.”
Serenity gasped and fought the urge to cover her face with her hands. His laughter sparked her own, and she plucked at the crumbs on her napkin. “So, what’s next?”
“Next?”
“For our little friend date?” She knew better than to believe when Reese had asked her out that he’d been wanting this to be labeled as such. The disappointment in his eyes when she’d reacted the way she had was more than clear.
The problem was, she hadn’t been able to psyche herself up enough to accept the invitation as anything else—no matter how much her heart wanted it deep down. She cleared her throat and forced herself to meet his eyes. “A walk through town. Brownies. Now what?”
“What makes you think there’s something more?”
She tilted her head, studying him. “Okay, then I suppose it’s time to head back.” She’d gotten good at calling Finn’s bluffs when they’d been dating. Apparently, it wasn’t a lost talent because he stiffened, and his mouth fell open slightly.
“Well, I figured we could see a movie. Or get some dinner. There’s a nice garden around city hall?—”
She wrinkled her nose. “No to the movie. Dinner could be good. And absolutely for the garden.” There might be lotuses there. She’d called the local floral shops again the day before to see if anyone had purchased any of the flowers, and still, there wasn’t any luck. If the person wasn’t getting them from the shops, then were they coming from a local pond?
The flowers would have to be home grown or found around the area.
Reese got to his feet with a nod. “Sure. Let’s go.”
They wandered through the gardens, and to her great disappointment, she didn’t see any signs of the flower she’d beengiven. Why was this flower so elusive? Or rather, why was the individual who wanted her to have them so hard to find?
Her lips were pressed firmly together, and her brows were lowered when Reese’s voice tore her from her thoughts. “You okay?”
“What? Oh, yeah. I’m fine.”
“You sure? Because you look…” He stared at her for another several seconds. “Pensive.”
She laughed. “Pensive, huh?”
“Yeah,” he murmured. “Anything I can help with?”
Biting on her lip, she considered his offer—really considered it. He’d made it clear he didn’t know anything about the flower when she’d hinted at it. And how would he feel if he found out someone was sending her secret notes? He could get jealous, and that wasn’t something she wanted to bring into their current… friendship.
Serenity shook her head. “No, nothing you can help with. I’m just thinking.”
