She nodded and he looked away for a moment.
"I just got home from my shift a few minutes ago."
He lifted his hands and she saw that he was holding a bunch of flowers.
She smiled at the sight. "Daisies and carnations."
He looked a little uncomfortable.
She saw him swallow and then he lifted the flowers. "They're for you."
"Oh."
She knew she sounded a few IQ points south of stupid, but her mind wasn't connected to her mouth at the moment.
"For me?"
He lowered his chin and she saw him smile. A moment later, he looked back up and his smile was still in place. "It's a thank you for the cookies." He looked a little unsettled. "I had meant to bring you back your container but I haven't had a chance to move the cookies to another container in my kitchen. I'll bring it by another day, unless..."
Unless?
She lifted a curious brow at his words.
"You want me to bring it back today. I parked my truck and came straight here."
She didn't like how uncomfortable he seemed. She didn't bring him the cookies to leave him feeling off kilter around her.
Seaton just wanted to get to know her neighbors.
The entire time that she'd been married to Daryl, she'd only had a few glimpses of her neighbors and didn't even know them by name. The isolation that had created left her feeling empty and incomplete.
Now that she'd separated from Daryl and moved out on her own, she wanted to fix the things that had been wrong during her time with him.
She didn't want to be isolated anymore.
"You don't have to bring it back." She stepped back, creating space for him to walk past her. "Do you want to come inside?"
She wasn't looking directly at him. Eye contact was something she was working on. But even with her gaze slightly off to the side, she saw him smile and nod. "Thank you."
When Sam walked past her, Seaton thought she smelled a cologne.
"You smell good."
The words were out before she registered them in her head.
Seaton knew she was blushing and lowered her head so he wouldn't see. "I didn't mean it like that."
He nodded, but she didn't see his expression.
Which, she reasoned, was a good thing.
She was already feeling embarrassed, she didn't need to see how awkward she'd made him feel.
She turned and closed her door, bracing herself for the moment she turned around.
Stop acting like an idiot, Seaton, she chastised herself.This is a neighborly visit. One thatyoustarted.
She nodded and turned back around with what she hoped was a smile that looked like nothing was amiss.
