“What?”I screeched, pressing a hand to my cheek.“I don’t have anywhere to put it.”
“We’ll find a place.”He signaled for a staff member, who he instructed to add the plant to our tab.I gasped again as the staff member carried it away.“There.Now it’s yours.”
My mouth opened and closed as I struggled to find the appropriate response.“Just like that?”
A small smile played at his perfect lips.“Just like that.”
We wandered around the garden grounds, Nash scooping up any plant I expressed the faintest interest in.As we admired a stunning display of native plants and listened to a groundskeeper talk about pollinators, Nash pulled out his phone to address something.While I listened to the information about the necessity of different types of bees, I noticed Nash stiffen.His jaw tightened as he read, and I could tell something serious had shifted for him.He was glued to his phone, scowling, for so long that I had to say something.
“Is everything okay?”
He jolted, as though coming back to earth.He slid his phone into his pocket.“Yeah.Just fine.”
But his voice was devoid of emotion.His usual spark was missing, and it worried me.
I pulled him away from the presentation, heading for the nearest empty table.When we were side by side at the pink-topped table, I leaned against him.“What’s wrong?”
He looked tired as he shook his head.“It’s just work stuff.I don’t want to bore you.”
“Bore me?I’m not some capricious teenager here.I can withstand some work drama.”
A smile hinted at his lips.“I don’t think you’re capricious.It’s just complicated and…I don’t know if it’s worth getting into it all.”
I nodded, running my finger over invisible patterns on the table cover.“Okay.You don’t want to talk about it.That’s fine.”I paused, slowly dragging my gaze up to find his.“But I want you to know, I’m here if you ever need an ear.Or an extra perspective.I can tell it’s bothering you.And sometimes things are shouldered more easily together.”
Nash held my gaze, but it was like he was seeing straight into my heart.The connection was so intense I wanted to look away.
“Besides, your girlfriend can help with things, you know,” I added with a wink.
A real smile blossomed on his lips.The kind that roused the butterflies in my belly.
“How do you do this?”he asked in a low voice while his thumb went back and forth over my knuckles.
“Do what?”
“Make me feel like I can breathe again.”
My heart squeezed.Did he realize what a high compliment that was?“Well, I…I don’t know, honestly.Isn’t that what partners do?”
“Yeah.”His throat bobbed, and after a pause, he added, “Archer and I have been struggling with a permit revocation.It’s for one of our biggest projects of the year.The city granted it to us…then they took it away.”
“That’s not typical,” I mused.
“Exactly.I’ve been in contact with the planning department, and they’re sending me running in circles.I just got another email that rejected our newest application for the project.They’re fucking ruining this project, and I can’t figure out why.The city wantsthis project, too.It’s a benefit for the upper class, for a change, and they’re still squashing it.”
He rubbed his forehead, and I could feel the weight of his worry.
“What’s the rejection based on?”I asked.
Nash let out a bitter laugh."Environmental impact concerns.Which is ironic because we've already completed the environmental assessment, and it passed with flying colors.”
"That doesn't make sense.If you've already done the assessment—"
"Exactly.Nothing about this makes sense.It’s a fucking puzzle, and I’ve lost half the pieces.”
Silence settled between us again as I thought back to my brief time in the city planning department.Even four years ago, Nash had been a thorn in their side.I’d known him by name and reputation only, until that single night.
“I remember what my manager at the planning department said about you,” I blurted as the memory returned to me.Nash’s electric gaze slid my way.“He talked about how he had to leave certain applications of yours on his desk.Kick them around until a certain amount of time had gone by.”
