Page 62 of From Grumpy to Forever
“Lilacs?”
“For the inn.” Lauren looked at me as if I’d missed the point of the entire festival.
Which, maybe I had because my mind was not on plants.
“Right. The inn.”
Lauren laughed and looped her arm through mine. “Okay, okay. I know you’re love-struck. But you do still have a grand opening to get ready for, don’t you?”
“I do.”
“Then let me help you,” she said. “I love plants and gardening. I’m sure Reid’s handy with a shovel, but you’ll need a woman’s touch when it comes to figuring out what to plant.”
I didn’t bother telling her about Reid’s plans for daisies and peonies and how cute he looked when he was playing gardener.
Lauren’s energy was infectious, and I enjoyed being around her. It wouldn’t hurt to get another perspective and make a friend in the process. Happily, I let her lead me around the tables again and distract me from the confusion that continued to build in my heart.
Chapter Thirty
Reid
The Sprout n’ Shout was only just getting started, with a full evening of activities planned, but I’d already had enough. All I really wanted to do was take my wife back to the privacy of our inn, take her to bed, and tell her that I was falling in love with her.
For real.
The only problem was that Avery looked like she was having a great time. The last few days had been stressful, to say the least. With Jacob hovering around and constantly poking at her about the inheritance, never mind the near-constant calls she’d been making to her lawyers, trying to figure everything out, Avery needed the opportunity to relax.
And it looked as if that was exactly what was happening. Together, she and Lauren were moving from table to table, their arms full of various plants that I knew I’d be planting in the next few days.
The smile on her face lit her up. She was gorgeous. Even more so when she laughed. I wished I could bring that kind of lightness to her all the time. I’d do anything for her.
Especially if it meant making her happy.
I leaned against one of the tall wooden tables my brothers and I had commandeered in the corner of the beer gardens, the designated drinking area of the festival, my beer in hand, only half listening to Ethan discussing the finer points of the drink and why his own brew would be so much better.
“I don’t know,” I said after a moment, tired of discussing the nuances of beer and why one was better than the other. “As long as it’s cold, I’m happy.” I lifted my plastic cup to my lips and drained half of it.
“You don’t know what you’re talking about.” Ethan rolled his eyes. “Wait until you taste the brew I’m working on right now. It’ll change your life.”
“If a beer can change my life, I guess I’ll be impressed.”
“Reid doesn’t need his life changed,” Brody interrupted. “From where I stand, it looks pretty damn good to me. A brand-new wood shop, a big job to work on, and a pretty wife? Looks like you’re winning at life, brother.”
Internally I winced, but I couldn’t let my brothers see. I hated lying to them. Even if it didn’t feel like a lie anymore, it still was. But hopefully not for long.
“How is married life treating you, Reid?” Grayson asked, a glimmer of mischief in his eyes.
I still didn’t know exactly what my twin thought he knew, and it wasn’t the right time or place to get into it. But what I did know was that he needed to keep his mouth shut. At least for a little bit longer.
I’d clear it all up with him. Soon. In the meantime…I shot him a glare. “We’re not talking about it.”
“What aren’t we talking about?” Preston joined us, a fresh round of drinks in his hands.
“Reid isn’t talking about married life,” Ethan supplied.
“He doesn’t have to.” Preston set the cups down on the table. “From what I hear, it’s pretty damn wild.”
My head snapped around. “Excuse me?”
