“I’m out.” I walk away from my cousins and down the path toward the dance floor, finishing my beer and dropping the bottle in the recycling.
I ignore the familiar tug that’s been pulling my mind back to Delaney for years. Because seven years ago, another girl came into my life, and she owns my heart.
Wren is everything. She comes first. Starting anything with Delaney would be reckless and selfish and probably end up hurting Wren if the truth came out.
I tap Wren on the shoulder. “Dance with your dad?”
Her face lights up, and for a second, I catch a flicker of Kristie in her smile. It hits like it always does—like a punch to the gut. A reminder of the past, of the promises I need to keep.
But I’d never trade what I have now. Being Wren’s dad is one thing I’ll never regret. It’s the most important role I’ll ever have.
Chapter Seven
Delaney
I walk into The Perfect Petal on Monday, prepared to tell Poppy that I made a mistake, and I can’t work here.
The shop is cozy and inviting. A spot labeled The Stem Bar is nestled between two big picture windows, spilling golden light onto the stained concrete floor. Wooden crates overflow with zinnias, cosmos, dahlias, and of course, daisies. The chalkboard above the main table reads, Pick 3, Blend 5, and Make it Yours. Mason jars line the bottom of the table, waiting to be filled.
At the back, a long farm table invites people to sit, talk, and make a bouquet. The shop isn’t just about flowers, it’s about coming together, which has always been Plain Daisy Ranch’s thing.
The sweet scent of the peony display stops me cold. An array of Nebraska-grown flowers in every color sits in tall, galvanized metal tins. Needing a moment, I bend down and inhale.
“You did always love the peonies.”
That voice.
Bennett.
For all of Poppy’s promises that he’s never around, it seems like he’s always around.
I straighten slowly, glancing over. He’s wearing jeans, cowboy boots, and a plaid button-down. His hair is styled instead of tucked beneath a hat, but he still carries that rugged ease that California never quite rubbed off him.
“They’re like the wedding gown of the flower world.”
He chuckles, resting a hip against a table filled with vases and candles, then casually crosses his arms. That’s when I see the sign in the back corner.
Plant & Petal Landscape Design hangs above a door.
He follows my gaze and returns it with a smile. “I finally went out on my own.”
“You always wanted to. Congratulations.” I give him a small smile.
“My expenses lessened when we moved back. Seemed easier to take the risk.”
We.
The word slices through me.
“Poppy said she was going to be here. I?—”
“She had a bee emergency.” He chuckles and straightens, arms falling to his sides.
A red-haired woman steps out from a back area, pausing when she sees us. She watches for a moment before smiling. “Good morning. Sorry, Bennett, I was just looking at an order we need to fill.”
“It’s okay, Summer. This is Delaney Ric…er…” He waits for me to correct him.
“Moore. I…” I stop myself. No need to unpack all my baggage in front of a stranger.
