“Organized?” The corner of his mouth tipped up.
“Okay, semi-organized. Fine—it’s chaos. But I know where everything is.”
“Right,” he said. “And I’m the Queen of England.”
Zoe shoved the bucket into his hands. “If you’re so desperate for order, Sergeant Tidy, make yourself useful.”
He chuckled. “Good thing I’m finished at the farm. The llamas have been fed, the barn’s clean, and I’ll take Xavier out for a ride later.”
“Meanwhile, I’m over here begging the flower gods for twenty extra minutes.”
“Guess it’s lucky you’ve got backup,” Jackson said, with the quiet confidence that seemed to roll off of him. Zoe forced herself to focus as they worked side by side, and they finished just in time.
Mayor Bloomfield and Edith returned, cheeks flushed, and Zoe walked them through her vision.
Edith clasped her hands. “Zoe, they’re beautiful.”
Zoe exhaled, her knees weak with relief. “Thank you. I’d be honored to do this for your wedding.”
After they left, she let out a deep sigh and met Jackson in the back room once more. “Well,” she said breathlessly, “that went better than expected! I’m hired. And get this, they want me to find and include this long-lost legendary bloom!”
She gestured wildly, almost knocking over her now cooled tea. Whiskers bolted for safety under a chair.
“I mean, can you imagine?” Zoe went on. “A lost flower! Blue with a soft white center—like this.” She cupped her hands in the air. “I bet it’s gorgeous, Jackson. Come on, you can’t tell me you’re not at least a little curious?”
He shook his head, almost smiling.
Rain was falling steadily outside, making the hour feel later than it was. The streetlamps flickered on, golden light pooling through the window. Zoe walked over to the front door and flicked the lock before switching the shop sign toClosed.
She turned back to find Jackson in the shop, watching her. His shirt sleeves were rolled up, revealing the bottom of a tattoo Zoe had never seen before, and the corded muscles below.
Zoe didn’t know what came over her. Before she could second-guess herself, she crossed the room and wrapped her arms around him. She was considerably shorter, but somehow they fit together.
“Thank you,” she said quietly against his strong chest.
For a heartbeat, he tensed. Then he relaxed against her, his arms wrapping around her shoulders.
“You’re welcome.” His voice rumbled in his chest, and Zoe felt it move right to her core.
She could’ve stayed like that forever, in the arms of her perfect man, her real-life hero, and the star of her fantasies.
But out of the corner of her eye, she thought she saw someone watching them through the window.
Before she could turn around or pull away, she looked up at Jackson.
Big mistake.
His dark gray eyes held a fierceness, a protectiveness, that Zoe could feel down to her bones.
The whole world narrowed to the scent of rain and roses and the warmth of his gaze. All thoughts of anyone watching were forgotten.
And for one suspended moment, she wondered what it would be like if he were there to protect her, to hold her, every day for the rest of their lives.
But to Jackson, she was just Zoe, his oldest friend. As that thought hit, she wondered how she was supposed to keep working beside him every day, building their dream. Could she ever tell him how she felt?
TWO
JACKSON
