“Let’s go inside.” She stepped around him and into the greenhouse, then froze.
Jesse had transformed the space from farm to fairyland. Flowers bloomed among the herbs and spilled from a crystal vase on a table set for two. Soft music played. Twinkle lights blinked overhead, and paper hearts fluttered in the gentle breeze from the ventilator fans. The whole scene was so romantic…
Holy cats, is he going to propose?Her knees locked. Her vision swam.
Jesse gripped her shoulders. His brows contracted. “Help me understand. Today is your birthday?”
“Yeah.” Her chuckle sounded phony even to her own ears. “The big three-four.”
“And you didn’t tell me?”
“I, uh, don’t like to make a fuss. It’s just another day, right?”
“Bullshit.” His harsh tone jerked her backwards.
“Your birthday is important to me, Gemma. After all we’ve shared, you should have told me.” His wounded stare bored into her, turning her knees to water. Then he turned away.
That’s when she spotted the gauzy cloth hung from the rear of the greenhouse, draped like a canopy over—oh goddess—an air mattress, piled high with pillows and a fake fur throw. He’d arranged a whole romantic scene, just for her.
She clutched his arm. “Jesse, if you didn’t know about my birthday, what is this?”
She didn’t like the deep crease between his brows, not one tiny bit.
He closed his eyes and massaged his temples with one hand. “It’s for Valentine’s Day.”
“Oh.” Her stomach bottomed out. Of course she knew about that mushy holiday. She’d decorated the shop in pink, red, and purple. She’d arranged a display of love potions and charms, books about attracting love and finding your perfect soulmate, pink crystals and red glass roses and all manner of lovey-dovey merchandise. But she hadn’t figured Jesse for the type to make a big romantic gesture.
She swallowed a huge, spiky ball of regret that threatened to choke her. “Valentine’s Day isn’t until tomorrow, right?”
“I wanted to surprise you.” His voice rasped, dry as the Sahara. “I’m trying to give you what you want, Gemma. New experiences. A change of scene. And you like the greenhouse so much, I thought you’d appreciate this.”
Outside, one of the girls leaned on the horn.
His sigh twisted her heart. “Looks like you’re not staying.”
She clutched his arms. She had to make him understand. “Jesse, I’m so sorry. I hate making a fuss about my birthday, but my friends drove up from Eugene to surprise me. They’ve arranged a whole night out in Portland. Back in Oregon, whenever one of us was down, we’d go out dancing to cheer her up. They helped me through my breakup with Caleb, and—”
From his blank expression, she might as well be talking to a wall.
She grasped his hand. It lay lifeless in hers. “If I’d known, I would’ve told them to come another time. They meant well.”
His expression hardened. “And you never thought I’d want to do something special with you on the day set aside for lovers?”
“Damn it, that’s not fair, Jesse. If you’d told me, this never would’ve happened.” She sank onto her haunches and pressed a fist to her mouth. Tears blurred her vision. “Now, no matter what I do, I hurt someone I love.”
“Love?” He snorted. “Really, Gemma? This is how you tell me?” He pitched his voice in a mocking falsetto. “Thanks for all the trouble, but I’ve gotta go clubbing. By the way, I love you. Byeee.”
She’d never seen his temper before. It had teeth. How to fix this?
“I’ll tell them to come back later. You and I can celebrate, then they can pick me in a few hours.”
His only response, a dead-eyed stare.
She sidled closer and toyed with his collar. “Really, they can wait. We could enjoy this beautiful scene, maybe fool around a little—”
“With you impatient to leave? No thanks. Go on. Be with your friends.” He gave her his back, muttering, “Should’ve known this would never work.”
“Jesse, be fair.” She tugged on his sleeve. “These women are like sisters to me, and I haven’t seen them in ages. They’d love to meet you. Come with us? It’ll be fun.”
