“Did you know my mom was an artist?” Wren asks, positioning her flowers at different heights.
I hand her some greenery to fill it in. “I did. Have you ever seen her work?”
No one says anything, but whether I like it or not, Kristie is in my life. She’s Wren’s mother, and although I didn’t care for the woman, I’m going to make sure her daughter knows she can talk to me about her.
“In the basement. Daddy has it down there.”
No one says anything.
“It makes him sad to look at it, I think.”
I catch Lottie glancing at her mom, but I can’t see Darla’s reaction.
“It’s hard to lose someone. I’m sorry you never got to know her.” I put my arm around Wren and kiss the top of her head. “Maybe you should ask your daddy to tell you some more stories about her.”
The back door opens, but this time, there’s no bell. Just the faint creak of wood and the weight of a presence that hits me before I even turn around.
Bennett.
The air shifts, as if everyone in the room took a breath and forgot to exhale.
He doesn’t say anything right away. Just stands there, taking in the scene. He’s wearing jeans and a soft, worn T-shirt that clings to his shoulders. His hair is messy, and he looks sexy as hell.
His eyes aren’t on me though. They’re on Wren and Leia. On the way they’re sandwiching me. His jaw clenches as though he’s trying to bite back a thought that’s already halfway out.
“Hey,” I say softly.
He clears his throat. “Hey.”
Wren runs over to him. “Dad! Look what I made! Delaney helped me.”
He looks at her bouquet, a bright mess of marigolds and snapdragons and one big sunflower. “It’s beautiful.”
Leia walks over, slower, holding her bouquet as if it will fall apart if she moves too fast. “Look at mine.”
Bennett’s voice gentles. “Beautiful as well.” He looks between them. “You two are going to put me out of a job.”
They giggle and come back to the table, filling in pieces and adjusting the heights.
All the women concentrate on their own bouquets, except for Darla.
“We’ve got two natural designers on our hands.” I close my eyes when the words repeat in my head.
We.
Our.
As if we’re a couple.
God, Delaney.
He nods, and I meet his gaze. Something behind his eyes softens, but the hesitation, the flicker of pain or memory or maybe just plain fear, also lingers there. The part of him that still hasn’t forgiven me.
“Delaney, you good if I leave them here? I need Bennett’s help with something.” Darla abruptly stands.
“Now?” Bennett asks, his tone suggesting he does not want to go with her. “I just got back, and it was a long day in the sun.”
“Sorry, yes, it has to be now. Come on. Lottie, we’re taking the UTV.”
