Page 85 of Beside Golden Irish Fields
He led her around the side of the house. All these years of being neighbors, and she’d never once been back here. His yard had a beautiful view of the beach, but what stopped her was the utter glory of his garden. He hadn’t lied! It was filled with a gorgeous collection of tropical plants: palm trees, Australian tree ferns, wine-colored cordyline, hakonechloa, and silver, spiky-leaved astelias.
“Did Margaret get you into this?” she asked, glad for the cool breeze on her flushed cheeks. His very presence made her feel like she was standing inside a boiler room.
He snorted. “No, I love them, and my youngest daughter, Leila, does as well.”
Her boys had grown up with his girls, but this was news to her. “It’s gorgeous, Donal. I don’t think I’ve seen a finer grouping.”
They walked down the windy path of Japanese hardy bananas and False Castor Oil plants, their hands naturally finding each other. Holding hands with him wasn’t a bother. In fact, she liked feeling his large hand curl around hers as much as the way his scent enveloped her.
She stopped short when she saw the largest greenhouse she’d ever set eyes on. Pots of white jasmine and black bamboo were visible through the open front door as well as birds of paradise in full bloom. “My God! It’s huge.”
He snorted. “I believe you discovered that the first day of your art classes, but I’m glad you finally remembered.”
That memory rose up, and this time she did pull her hand away to fan herself. “Don’t distract me.”
“It’s a cool night,” he said, waiting for her to precede him inside. “Seems you’re already distracted.”
Was she ever. Suddenly all she could think about was his gorgeous naked body. She made a beeline for theYucca gloriosa. “Everything is so healthy.”
“I keep my eyes on things,” he said, plucking a spent flowerhead from a tall succulent. “After a long day, this is one of my favorite places. I bring out a cold beer and do what needs doing. Sometimes I simply read a new crime thriller or listen to some music.”
She pointed to a cozy corner beside a potted palm. The nook held two outdoor chairs with plush pillows, one in sage green and the other in a bright red. A round table held a few candles and a Moroccan lantern. “Seems you entertain here too.”
He put his hands on her shoulders. “I got that chair for you, Bets. I know how you love red.”
Her diaphragm clenched again. “Donal, seriously! This is way too much.”And way too fast. Her heart was racing from it. He’d been open to going to Paris next week!
“Are we back to that?” He tipped up her chin. “Bets—”
“This is all really nice, Donal,” she said as she stepped back. “But it’s not real. We can’t have some crazy fling where we go to Paris or sit in your glass house in the evenings and read and listen to music. That’s the kind of thing that only happens in the movies. This is real life. We’re sixty, for Pete’s sake. And you’re a farmer.”
“Soon to be retired, remember?”
“Farmers don’t retire.”
He blew out an aggrieved breath. “Bets, go out with me again and let me show you it can be real between us.”
She wanted to. This was staged. It had to be. “I told you I’d give you one date. We’ve had it.”
Resting his hands on his hips, he gave her a look he might give his errant sheep. “I can be patient. Take your time. Your eyes—and your heart—will tell you what they need to know. Will you let me kiss you?”
She sputtered at the unexpected question. “Since this is our last date, you might as well. We can call it a goodbye kiss.”
He was in front of her before she could mentally slap herself for her logic. His mouth commanded her attention, and she went weak in the knees as his lips moved over hers. This was no goodbye kiss. This was ayou’ll want morekiss.
His large hands cupped her hips and drew her against him. She was glad for her heels, but he still had to pull her off her toes to kiss her. And he did kiss her. And kiss her. And kiss her some more.
When he finally released her, he pressed her face into his chest. His heart was thundering. The greenhouse. It had to be the greenhouse. It was too humid for her to breathe in here.
“Donal, I—”
“Stop.” He kissed her on the top of her head and then led her out to her car.
Confusion warred inside her, especially when she realized he was smiling at her. She’d just told him she wouldn’t go out with him again.
“I have something for you,” he said, stepping away and heading off.
When he returned, he was carrying a potted bird of paradise. Her breath caught. This was the second plant he’d given her, and this one was from the greenhouse withherred chair. That confirmed it. He was way too good to be real. She’d made the right decision.
