Page 28 of Someone to Hold
I don’t take compliments well and tend to brush off the praise I get from both vendors and customers. Growing flowers is work, but it comes naturally to me. So while I appreciate the positive feedback, it doesn’t feel like I’m doing anything mind-blowing or special. It’s not like I’m climbing onto the back of an angry, two-ton animal intent on throwing me to the ground
“Do you need anything else before I head out?”
His voice startles me. I whirl around, nearly jumping out of my skin, and instinctively launch the small hand rake I’d been gripping in his direction. It clatters to the ground at his feet.
Chase arches a brow and bends to pick it up, a slow smile curving his mouth. “I take it that’s a no?”
“I need you to not sneak up on me.” I press a hand to my chest where my heart is still hammering.
He chuckles. “Not sure walking over here from the barn counts as sneaking.”
“Yeah, well.” I shrug, trying to shake off the embarrassment. “Part of what I love about this work is that I can get lost in it. I didn’t hear you. Sorry I freaked out. As usual, I’m the problem.”
Chase tilts his head and studies me in that quiet, unnerving way he has. The one that makes me feel like he sees too much.
“Who hurt you?” he asks softly. And he means it. Not like he’s handing me a line, but like he’s a man who genuinely wants to know. It undoes me in ways I can’t begin to explain.
“No one,” I whisper. “Why would you?—”
“Who made you doubt everything good about yourself?” His voice is steady but laced with heat. “Was it Teddy or?—”
“I’m not hurt,” I say quickly. “I’m just…me.”
He nods slowly, taking in more than just my words. “It’s time to see yourself differently.”
My lips roll together as my entire body goes taut with awareness. Oh, no. Helpful Chase is one thing. Perceptive Chase? I cannot deal with that right now. Or maybe ever.
“I’m fine,” I say quickly, looking down at my watch when it becomes too much to keep meeting his gaze. “A friend is picking me up in a few minutes. She’s getting married, and we’re going wedding dress shopping.”
He draws in a slow breath. I know he has more to say, but my self-doubt is the last thing I want to discuss with Chase.
“Who’s getting married?” he asks.
“Avah Harris. You probably remember her. Blonde, gorgeous, and beyond confident.” The opposite of me, I don’t add.
Chase shakes his head. “Sort of.” He pauses. “I don’t remember her being especially cordial to anyone outside her inner circle, if you know what I mean.”
“She’s the best friend I’ve ever had, so Ireckonshe’s plentycordial.” I roll my eyes. “I haven’t heard anyone use that term since my granddad died.”
Okay, now I’m being snippy for no reason. Avah is a flat-out bitch and proud of it. She’d tell you the same thing. She’s like a queen in a castle. Only a few people make it to the drawbridge, even fewer across the moat and into the courtyard. And as far as the throne room, she guards access to that like her life depends on it.
I love her like the sister I never had, so I’m not going to let a guy who doesn’t know anything about her or her past talk shit about her. Come to think of it, I don’t know a lot about her past other than she’s an only child and, by her own account, grew up spoiled rotten.
“Cordial is an old-timey word,” Chase says, ignoring my sarcasm. “Got it. I’m sure your friend is great. I wasn’t trying tooffend you. I’m glad you have a bestie and a squad, or whatever they call it.”
My mood does a quick one-eighty thanks to his fumbling attempt at girl-speak. I press my lips together to hold back a grin. “A squad?”
I see the tips of his ears turn pink, which is adorable even as it causes certain parts of my body to tingle. Oh, lord. I’m in big trouble if a blush has that effect on me.
He takes a step back and tips his ball cap toward me. “I should be back in about an hour. If there’s anything you need?—”
“Where do you go every day at this time?”
Chase blinks like he doesn’t quite understand the question.
I roll my shoulders and command my mouth to remain shut, but the words burst from my lips like a tidal wave. “Are you showering at your girlfriend’s house after…the sex?
He huffs out a laugh, and I clasp my hands over my eyes.
