“Never,” I promise him.
Walker’s mouth returns to my own, and he kisses me as I go over the edge, ecstasy blinding me the moment he pulses inside me, coming with my name on his lips.
—
“You ready yet?” Walker calls into the bathroom, where I’m just straightening out my dress. After our mind-blowing sex, we both fell asleep and I woke up with Walker still inside me. A shower was necessary after that.
I smile at my reflection as my heart pounds in my chest, wondering what the hell else this man has up his sleeve for today.
“Breathe, Tally,” my dad reminds me.
That’s a lot easier to do now that I’ve admitted what I really want in life. I can’t wait to meet with Rayna this week to discuss the lease on the bakery. I’ve got dozens of emails with requests for cakes, too. At this rate, I’ll be booked through the year.
When I leave the bathroom, Walker is there, wearing a pair of Wranglers, a white T-shirt, and his cowboy hat.
“Aw, you didn’t have to play dress-up for me.”
He chuckles and smacks my ass as I pass him. “Brat.”
I stick out my tongue and take off at a jog toward his truck.
I’m standing at the driver’s-side door when Walker finally catches up to me. “Not a chance,” he says with a grunt.
I put out my hand.
“Tally, I love you, but no.”
“Please.” I pout.
“No, woman. And stop distracting me. We have somewhere to be.” I stomp a stubborn foot in the ground, and dirt blooms up around us.
“You done before you make more of a mess?” Walker chuckles as he follows me to the passenger side, making sure to open the door and help me up. “I promise it’s better this way.”
The moment Walker gets in, he settles his palm on my bare thigh and squeezes. “Remember when you first got here and kept questioning why I had the tulips covered?”
I nod. “How could anyone forget the great deflowering?”
He snorts. “Anyway, like I was saying,” he points to the fields as we pass them. As far as the eye can see is a mass of color: magentas and purples, yellows and baby pinks. “One of the reasons I had them covered is because science tells us that the dark, cold winter will bring the most beautiful flowers. And I think it’s kind of beautiful in a way that the flowers are Mother Nature’s promise that even when things get dark, on the other side of that there’s beauty waiting for us.” He glances over at me and his eyes soften. “That’s what you are to me, Tally. My life was so dark before I met you. But I think I needed to weather all of that so I could come out on the other side to this beautiful life you’ve helped me create.”
My heart pinches, and I lean across to kiss Walker’s cheek.
“But want to know a secret?”
My brows raise.
“Wildflowers don’t need that. They don’t need darkness or sun; they don’t need extra rain or more seeds to bloom; they don’t need anything but the stalks themselves, and they somehow figure out a way to multiply across fields, season after season.”
I bite my lip. “You got a point here?”
“You, Tally Darling, don’t need another day of training ina kitchen, or schooling unless you want it. You’ve got this, all on your own.”
I shake my head as tears prick my eyes. Sucking in a steadying breath, I stare out at the crystalline harbor that winks at me as the sun hits the water’s surface. As we turn onto Maple Street, it’s clear that the whole town is out and ready to enjoy the beautiful day.
I laugh as I spot the group of men sitting on the corner, drinking their coffees and gossiping. About what, one only knows. Probably something Rayna said. As we continue down the street, I smile as we pass every store, each decked out with more flowers than ever before. Hope Harbor is certainly ready for the Spring Fling and the start of summer.
Right as we pass my sister’s store, Rayna steps out into the street.
“Stop, you’re going to hit Rayna!” I shout.
