Kirk didn’t let himself follow that thought too far. Instead, he focused on the coffee in his hand and the two people in front of him.
“Can we go see your chili farm today?” Percy asked suddenly, looking up at Kirk with hopeful eyes. “You said we could.”
“I did.” Kirk glanced at Isla. “Whenever you want. My day’s flexible.”
Isla nodded. “Maybe late morning?”
Kirk’s heart gave a little leap. “Absolutely. It’s not far from here. I can give you the address if you’d like to come by around eleven.”
“Perfect,” Isla said, taking another sip of her coffee. “We’ll be there.”
They finished their coffee and pastries, with Percy carrying most of the conversation, peppering Kirk with dinosaur facts and questions about the mountains. When Kirk finally stood to leave, he felt oddly reluctant to go.
“I should get back and make sure everything’s ready,” he said, though his greenhouse was always immaculate.
“Of course,” Isla said, walking him to the door. “Thank you again for bringing Percy’s dinosaur. And the pastries.”
“Anytime,” Kirk replied, and meant it more deeply than she could know.
As he stepped onto the porch, Percy called out, “See you later, chili man!”
Kirk chuckled, raising his hand in farewell before heading back to his truck. Once inside, he let out a long breath, his bear practically dancing with satisfaction.
She’s coming to visit us,his bear said.Soon.
I know,Kirk murmured, starting the engine.
He wanted everything to be perfect for Isla and Percy’s visit. His greenhouse was his sanctuary, the place where he felt most himself. And today, for the first time, he would share it with his mate.
Chapter Seven – Isla
Why was she so nervous? Isla wondered as she pulled on her boots. She felt as excited as Percy on a trip to the toy store. When she caught herself smiling in the mirror, she almost laughed. The thought of seeing Kirk’s greenhouse made her oddly happy.
Perhaps it was simply the novelty of it all. How often did a city food critic get to see where specialty chilies were grown?
But she knew it wasn’t just that.
Kirk himself intrigued her. The way he used his hands as he explained the chocolate-making process. The gentle way he’d spoken to Percy, never talking down to him. The pride in his eyes when he described his family’s restaurant.
Isla hadn’t met many men who seemed so comfortable in their own skin, with nothing to prove to anyone.
“Mom!” Percy burst from his bedroom, a whirlwind of mismatched clothes and boundless energy. His blue T-shirt clashed spectacularly with his orange shorts, but at least his socks matched.
“Spike and I are ready to go!” Percy announced proudly.
Isla bit back a suggestion to change into something more coordinated. What did it matter if his clothes matched? They were going to a greenhouse, not a fashion show. She was sure the chilies would not mind.
“Let’s get your shoes on.” She leaned down and picked up a suitable pair of sneakers. “That was nice of Kirk to bring Spike back this morning, wasn’t it?”
“Uh-huh,” Percy agreed, as he flopped down on the floor and dragged his sneakers on. “Do you think he has a favorite dinosaur, too?”
“I don’t know,” Isla admitted. “You can ask him when we see him.”
She grabbed her purse from the counter and checked that she had everything they might need. Her phone buzzed as she picked it up, and she saw another missed message from her agent. The third one this morning.
Isla hesitated, her thumb hovering over the notification. The newspaper offer. It was everything she’d been working toward for years.
And yet...
