“Okay. I can help, but I can’t stay for long. I’ve got to pick up my son from his uncle’s place in an hour.”
“We’ll be quick as a flash.”
“Alright...I’ll follow you.”
“Too easy.”
We finally part ways, each of us slipping into our own cars. I wait until she’s settled in behind the wheel and starts the engine before starting mine. Minutes later, we’re out of the carpark and onto the road, my eyes flicking to the rear-view mirror every now and then, just to make sure I haven’t lost sight of her.
As I lead us back to my apartment, I can’t stop the smile spreading across my face. It’s been a long time since I’ve felt this kind of excitement, and all we did was go plant shopping. I don’t know what it is about Hope that makes me feel so grounded, but one thing’s for sure: I’m not about to mess this up.
A yellow-gold Jeep pulls into the guest parking of my apartment complex six minutes after parking my car in the basement. Hope climbs out of the driver’s seat a moment later, adjusting the belt at the waist of her long grey coat. Her silky auburn hair lifts slightly in the early spring air as she hooks her tote over the crook of her elbow and locks the car door.
She doesn’t meet my gaze at first,even though I’m standing directly across from her. Instead, her eyes drifts to the four-storey building with quiet curiosity, then sweeps over the surrounding gardens and the street beyond. Only then does she finally look at me.
“Welcome to my neighbourhood,” I say, tucking my hands into the pockets of my jeans, suddenly unsure of what to do with them.
I don’t know why I seem to turn into a nervous idiot around her. I’m never usually like this. I’ve always been confident around women—sometimes a little too confident, but Hope has a way of making me feel shy without even trying.
“It’s really nice,” she states, glancing around once again. “Quieter than I expected for a street filled with nothing but apartment buildings.”
“Where I’m located is right on the cusp of this suburb and the next, so we’re a little further away from the main roads and shopping centre. It’s why I chose this particular building, for the peace and quiet.”
“You chose well, Mr. Grant.”
I scrunch my nose at the formality of my name, earning a small laugh from her. “It feels like I’m being praised by my therapist when you call me that. Kaden will do just fine.”
“I’m just teasing you.”
“Oh, I know.” I chuckle, shaking my head.
Our eyes hold, lingering a beat too long, and if I’m not mistaken, she flashes me what I think might be a flirty grin. Something inside me instantly heats up at the sight of her gorgeous smile.
I clear my throat, needing to redirect my thoughts elsewhere. “We’ll grab the plants from the truck and head up.”
“Good idea.”
We walk into the basement parking in easy silence, then unload the plants from the back of the truck, taking the elevator up to the fourth floor. Our arms are laden with pots of all sizes, and even though I’m carrying the larger, heavier ones, I keep my eyes on her the entire time, ready to step in if it becomes too much for her.
She manages to make it to my door without any assistance, and judging by the expression on her face, she doesn’t seem the least bit bothered about the short trip.
I set one of the pots down at my feet, then reach into my back pocket for my keys and unlock the door.
“I should apologise in advance for the slight mess,” I quickly warn her. “I’ve been working on a few projects, so the place might look like a construction zone at the moment.”
“I’m sure it’s not half as bad as the current state of my son’s room,” she quips.
I chuckle, giving a brief nod before opening the door and gesturing her inside.
“Ladies first.”
After she steps inside, I grab the pot from the floor and follow her in, nudging the door shut with my foot.
Setting the plants on the ground by the door, I watch as she slowly surveys the open living space, her gaze roaming from one corner to the next as she quietly takes it all in.
Then, without any prompting from me, she carefully sets the plants and her bag down on the kitchen island and wanders over to the dining table, her movements unrushed and curious.
“Wow,” she whispers, her fingers gliding over the smooth surface.
