He wanted us, but his fear was winning.
Stella nudged me, her voice low. “Hey, are you okay?”
I blinked, realizing I’d been staring. “Yeah, I’m fine. Just tired, I guess.”
Stella studied me for a moment, her expression skeptical, but she didn’t push. Instead, she looped her arm through mine and gave me a gentle squeeze. “Come on, let’s go grab some lunch. I’m in the mood for a burger and fries. You?”
“Yeah, that sounds good.” I let her lead me away, grateful for the distraction. As we made our way through the crowd, I tried to push thoughts of Marc to the back of my mind. I laughed and chatted with Stella and the others, but my skin tingled with awareness of Marc nearby, an invisible pull I couldn’t resist, like a moth to a flame.
And deep down, I knew that no matter how hard I tried to resist, I was already in too deep to walk away unscathed.
Chapter Eight
Marc
The house was quiet except for the sound of water splashing in the bathroom where Mia played in the tub with her bubbles and toys. I sat at my desk, an old wooden piece that had seen better days, and pulled out a notebook from the bottom drawer. It was worn and battered, with pages curled and frayed at the edges. I ran my fingers over the cover, the embossed texture beneath my fingertips.
Flipping through the pages, I found sketches of gardens, lists of plants, and detailed plans for a landscaping business I’d once dreamed of starting.
Back when I was married, and we lived in Dallas, those dreams felt tangible. One day soon, Jacob would tell me. One day, we’d focus on my dreams and not his.
That day never happened.
Being with the kids today at the Spring Fling, digging my fingers into the soil and planting seedlings, had awakened something in me. A long-buried passion. The smell of fresh earth, blooming flowers, and the laughter of the kids brought back memories of my childhood. My dad’s garage was where I spent most of my time growing up, but it was in my mother’sgarden where I came alive. She taught me how to plant seeds and nurture them until they blossomed. That’s where I learned that sun and water and patience and love—those were the keys to life.
Reconnecting with Hector Cruz had been good, too.
The older man had been nothing but helpful when Mia and I arrived in Blanco Springs earlier this year. I had gone over to Sunshine Gardens to pick up some plants for the rental house, to make it feel more like a home. Hector had seen me walking around and introduced himself. He took me on a comprehensive tour of his expansive nursery, pointing out various plants and sharing tips on how to care for them. We’d become friends, and now he’d give me a heads-up whenever new trays filled with vegetable and flower seedlings were ready for sale. His patience and knowledge were invaluable, making our transition to this new town a little smoother.
Hector’s weathered face had lit up when I mentioned the idea. “A landscaping business? That’s exactly what this town needs.” His calloused hands gestured expansively as he spoke, painting a picture of possibility. “With all these new houses popping up like weeds, there’s plenty of work to go around.”
I scribbled furiously in my notebook, jotting down business ideas as Hector’s words washed over me. The old man’s enthusiasm was contagious, rekindling a spark I thought had long since died.
“You’ve got the skills, Marc. And the eye for beauty. I’ve seen what you can do with a patch of dirt and a handful of seeds.” Hector’s eyes twinkled. “I’d be more than happy to work with your business, supply you with whatever you need, once you get it off the ground.”
My pen hovered over the page as I started coming up with business names. “Mendez Landscapes” sounded too plain. “Green Dreams”? Too cheesy. “Tierra y Cielo”? Maybe…
I closed the notebook, my mind still racing with possibilities. As I headed to the bathroom, I couldn’t shake the idea that something was taking root, something with the potential to grow into something beautiful.
That dream had seemed distant, but not impossible.
Was it time to turn that passion into a business here in Blanco Springs?
Running my own business would mean more control over my schedule. More time with Mia. I’d be there for her when she needed me most, especially with her health issues. Plus, the thought of creating beautiful spaces for others brought a warmth to my chest, something that had been missing for a long time.
And then there was Ken… and that kiss today.
I couldn’t stop smiling when I thought about him and what happened in his classroom this morning. The way he stepped close to me, pulling my head down to him, kissing me with this hunger that surprised me., stirring up emotions that I'd locked away after the divorce.
The last thing I wanted when we moved here was to fall for someone. Blanco Springs was supposed to be a fresh start, a place to focus on Mia and rebuild our lives. But Ken... he'd snuck past my defenses without even trying.
I closed my eyes, remembering feeling his lips on mine, the warmth of his hand on my back. It wasn't just physical attraction, though God knows that was there in spades. It was the way he looked at me, like he saw past all my bullshit and liked what he found underneath.
When I was with Ken, I felt... lighter. The weight of my past, the constant worry about Mia's health, the struggle to make ends meet—it all seemed more manageable when I was around him. His calm presence soothed something inside me that had been raw and aching since the divorce.
But was that enough? Was feeling better about myself reason enough to risk my heart again?
I knocked on the bathroom door. "Mia," I called out, hearing the water splashing in the bathroom. "You ready to get out soon?"
