He kicked at a piece of gravel. “Hell.”
“Icareabout her.” That word seemed so lacking, but it was the best I had right now.
Shep’s shoulders slumped. “You’ve both been through so much. I don’t want either of you to get hurt.”
I saw it then. His genuine care for us both. His worry. Shep carrying the world on his shoulders yet again. “The fact that we’ve been through so much is what bonded us. I told her. Everything.”
And, God, such a weight had been lifted by doing that. Giving Rho my greatest shame and knowing that she accepted me anyway…. That sheunderstoodme.
Shep’s eyes widened. “You told her about Greta?”
I nodded. Hearing Greta’s name aloud wasn’t as painful this time. It was almost…good. I needed to pull her out of the dark and bring her back into my life. Remember her. Not just the guilt that surrounded her death but also the amazing life she’d lived.
Shep’s gaze flicked to the truck and then back to me. “Then I’m glad for you. You needed to let someone in.”
He extended a hand, and I took it in a shake. “Thanks, Shep. For everything.”
“I’ll always have your back.” His grip on my hand tightened, and he jerked me forward. “But if you hurt her, I’ll bury your body under one of my construction sites, and no one will ever know.”
“Shit,” I muttered, trying to extricate my hand from his grasp.
The passenger door opened. “If you two are done having a pissing contest over my virtue or whatever this is, can we go? I’m going to be late for work.”
Shep released my hand. “Be careful today. And take it easy. Trace said he’ll have deputies hanging around the nursery.” Shep glanced at me. “He wants to talk to you at some point, too.”
That familiar weight settled in. Of course, he did. I was sure Trace wanted to know why I’d hidden my past, and if I had any insights on what was happening. I wouldn’t have any choice in the matter because I’d do whatever it took to keep Rho safe.
“Yeah,” I muttered. “I’ll talk to him.”
Shep slapped me on the back. “Then get your ass back here because we’ve got work.”
Rho watched me as I rounded the truck and climbed inside. She didn’t say anything as I backed out and headed toward town. It wasonly when I was pulling into the nursery that she finally spoke. “You don’t have to help Trace.”
I turned off the engine and looked over at her. “I’m not helping Trace. I’m helpingyou.”
Rho shook her head, her hair swishing around her shoulders. “I don’t want you to cause yourself pain to do it.”
I reached over, sliding a hand across her jaw. “I’d go to hell and back for you.” I already was. Because diving back into the world that had destroyed me before would be like walking through fire. But I’d always do that for Rho.
“I don’t want you to have to,” she mumbled.
My thumb stroked her cheek. “We’re going to find who’s doing this. Whatever it takes.”
Rho leaned forward, resting her forehead against mine. “Promise you’ll let me be there for you while you do this. I don’t want you to be alone in it.”
“I’m not. Not anymore.” Rho had given me that. It had been so long that the feeling was foreign. But, damn, it was good, too.
She quickly pressed her lips to mine. “Good.”
And with that, she hopped out of my truck.
I followed behind, helping Biscuit out and handing Rho his leash. The nursery was quiet; no one else seemed to be around yet. “When does everyone else get here?” I asked.
“It’ll explode in about fifteen minutes,” Rho said, pulling keys out of her pocket. “We get lots of early morning traffic.”
I’d stick around until then.
As we approached the main greenhouse, Rho’s steps slowed. “That’s weird. We don’t carry cut flowers here.”
