“I had an apple, but then I started working and got lost in all things data entry.”Actually, she’d surprised herself at how she’d been able to focus on her to-do list.After Zach had left and she’d spent ten minutes staring at her door, she’d convinced herself that work would be impossible.However, bills needed to be paid and quotas needed to be met, so she’d managed to drag herself to the shower and get ready.
Food had been the last thing on her mind until she’d gotten into the car and the aroma of Flo’s fried chicken hit her.Her stomach had then taken it upon itself to remind her, and let Zach know, that she hadn’t eaten anything of substance.
“You need to look after yourself.Not eating isn’t good for you.”
“I know,” she huffed out.“Let’s just say my mind was on other things before I started working.”
Zach’s grin grew wider.She knew he understood exactly where her mind had been.“If it’s any consolation, I stood staring at my bathroom door for thirty minutes before I actually got in there.”
“It does, actually.”Tilly quite liked the idea that she was as distracting to him as he was to her.
Conversation halted as they pulled into the large parking area that had been added in front of the newly painted workshop/retail space that Chrissy and Ryder had created.Every second weekend, the farm was open to the public, who could come to buy flowers they picked from one of the greenhouses.It had been another successful initiative Chrissy and Ryder had come up with after they’d gotten together.
“I would ask for a tour, but I think it might be safer to do that after you’ve eaten.I wouldn’t want the noise from your stomach to scare the flowers from growing.”
Tilly reached into her purse, pulled out a clean tissue, wadded it up, and threw it at him.Zach deftly batted it away.She loved seeing this lighthearted side of him, and she liked to think that she was partly responsible for his happiness.“That’s rude.I might just take all the drumsticks and leave you with nothing but the small wings.”
Zach’s favorite part of a chicken was the drumsticks, another thing she’d learned about him during their text chats.“Oh, that’s cold, even for you, Tulip.”
She gave him a shrug and got out of the car.Zach followed, and once he’d collected the food from behind the seat of his pickup, he held out his hand.She slipped hers into his and they walked up to the house, hand in hand.The door opened the second they hit the top step.
“Hey, you two,” Chrissy said, a big smile on her face.
“Hey, Chrissy.Where’s Ryder?”Tilly asked, extracting herself from Zach’s hold to give her sister a hug.
“He’s checking on one of the cows.He’ll be back in a few minutes.”She lowered her voice and whispered in Tilly’s ear.“You look so happy, Tilly-Pilly.”
“I am,” she whispered back, pleased that Chrissy accepted the change in her and Zach’s relationship from event coordinators to more.Although Chrissy had probably heard about it through the town’s gossip vine.
“Good to see you, Zach.Just put the food on the kitchen table.”
The kitchen had been one of the first rooms to be remodeled and looked fresh and clean, but still had all the aspects of a working kitchen.The farmhouse sink was tucked beneath the window.The upper cabinets were a soft-green color and the bottoms were a bright white.The countertop was white quartz with delicate flecks of gold.
“I always get blown away by how beautiful you made Mom’s kitchen,” Tilly said as she pulled some plates out of the cupboard.The outside may have changed, but the contents and location of all the plates, cups, glasses, and silverware remained the same.
“Yeah, it came out so well.Mom does love it, but she also loves the kitchen in her new place.”
“I can’t believe she’s talking about going to Disney.I never would’ve thought that was a place she wanted to go.”Tilly shook her head, aware that Zach had taken a seat at the table in the attached dining area and was watching as she and Chrissy got everything out.He hadn’t sat with the expectation that they would do everything.He’d done it because he knew the sisters needed to talk.Another thing she loved about him.
Another thing she loved about him.
The thought slammed into her, and she almost dropped the plates she was holding.She quickly placed them down and prayed that neither Chrissy nor Zach had seen her almost fumble.
Was she in love with Zach?
The answer was immediate and loud in her mind, and with the way her heart fluttered in her chest and bubbles of excitement swirled in her belly, there was no doubt.
She was in love with Zachary Langley.
Oh God.I love him.
“You good, Tulip?”Zach’s deep baritone filled the silence in their conversation.
She pasted a smile on her face and pushed her revelation to the back of her mind to deal with later on.“Yep.”
“Tulip?”Chrissy asked at the same time.
The back door opening saved Tilly from explaining why she was okay with Zach calling her the name she’d disliked being called for most of her life.And not having to explain what had her almost creating a calamity with smashed plates all over the floor.
