Page 92 of Wallflower in Bloom

“Let’s get you settled, then.”

She’d put Gerald in the small guest room since Jack didn’t have time to move everything out of his room. She discreetly closed the door and hoped Gerald wouldn’t notice as they passed by.

“You sure I’m not puttin’ you out?” Gerald asked, grabbing his carry-on.

“Absolutely not.” Violet would have loved to open a bed and breakfast in another lifetime. She wanted to make Gerald’s stay as comfortable and convincing as possible.

Caring for others helped her feel more solid, more loved. She’d make sure everyone felt like they belonged since it had been so hard to feel like she ever belonged anywhere at all.

Chapter

Nineteen

VIOLET

After settling Gerald in his room, Violet puttered around the house that evening to keep her mind distracted. She could feel the ticking clock toward bedtime.

Where she and Jack would sleep in the same bed.

Don’t be ridiculous, Violet.

She shook her head at herself as she scrubbed the kitchen. It’s not like this was even the first time. They’d accidentally slept in the same bed a few times, but not since lines had become blurry.

Her body was having a hard time remembering this was all pretend.

Jack was picking up the living room but had stopped to scratch Todd’s chin, cooing at him. His hair was disheveled, and he was in a simple t-shirt and shorts, but the fabric on him strained at all her favorite places. The picture of him perfectly at home was too much for her to ignore.

Oh god, she was in love with him.

Didn’t it take months to fall in love with someone? But no—it had only taken her four measly weeks to fall head over heels for the intoxicating combination that was Jack Grant. The kind man who helped without complaint, cared without fuss, gave without expectation.

She loved his soul as if it were an extension of herself. The magic ingredient that brightened her life and made it come into focus.

They’d gotten into a rhythm she’d miss when he left. She’d poured a glass of water for him without thinking and handed it to him. He put his hand around her waist and squeezed as he passed her to get to the cabinet. His hand lingered, and she adored that he was always touching her. He did it likely without thinking, but it was still a preview of living life with the person she loved.

“You did a great job today. You seem more confident in front of everyone.” His eyes beamed with pride.

“It helped to have a safety net beside me.” She had felt more confident this time. It was hard to accept herself, but it was worth it.

She’d been so in the moment she’d forgotten people were watching while they filmed. If she could concentrate on helping people, the worries about what they thought of her and what she looked like all disappeared.

“Hopefully, the next few will cement your confidence, and you can keep going when I’m gone,” he said.

She gulped water and forced a smile. “It won’t be the same, but I’ll try to make you proud.”

“You already make me proud,” he said, a slow smile spreading on his lips. “Ready for bed?”

“I’ll meet you up there.”

She needed a minute to remember what this felt like, winding down for the night with her guy. It felt like the first bloom of spring, hopeful.

And when she had Jack, she had hope.

She trudged upstairs, and he brushed his teeth in her en suite bathroom.

Piles of his stuff were haphazardly tossed onto her chair. She opened one of her dresser drawers and made room, neatly folding his t-shirts and tucking them in snugly next to hers.

“I’m sorry my dad ambushed us,” he said from the bathroom.

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