“The fact that your heart was in the right place. After I heard your explanation and talked to Rina, I understood it better. It also helped that you have a little nervousness, anxiety if you will, that comes out sometimes and it made me realize I made you nervous. You didn’t intentionally want to hurt me, you just panicked.” She shrugs.
“Yeah, but that doesn’t excuse my actions.”
“Forgiving you might be the best thing I’ve done in my very lackluster life so far,” she murmurs.
I slide down the headboard and readjust us so we’re side by side in bed.
“I’m very thankful you saw fit to give me another chance,” I whisper as I press a kiss to her cheek, her forehead, and finally her lips. Feeling her melt into me and slide her hands under my shirt sends shivers down my spine.
Subtle touches and kisses last well into the night. A lot has happened in the last day, and I think both of us opening up to each other made us closer than ever. But we’re still fragile, still figuring out things as we go. And it’s going to take time.
I know that I’ll do anything in my power to make sure she always feels like she can open up to me. That she can have the life she never thought she could have.
Chapter 31
Ledger
The past couple of weeks since Ainsley was sick have been amazing. We’re closer than ever, and I’ve been brainstorming how to restructure the company to give her an actual place within it, not just as a virtual assistant. I’ve had to consult a lawyer in a neighboring town so I can make sure the paperwork is correct, but at least it’s in progress. Ainsley doesn’t know about it yet, but I plan to surprise her with it when it’s closer to completion.
We still haven’t gone out in town and been openly together, but I understand her reasoning for the secrecy a lot more now and it bothers me a lot less. All I need to give her is time, and I’m willing to do that for as long as she needs.
Today, I’m working at the nursery while Ainsley holds down the fort with all the landscaping projects we’ve got in progress. I’m rearranging some trees in the back when I hear a voice call out.
“Hello?”
“I’ll be right there!” I yell out.
Finishing up this row of trees, I head out front when I’m done.
“How can I he—” I stop dead in my tracks when the woman turns around.“Long time no see.” She smiles softly.
Jenna.
“Umm…” I’m speechless and haveno idea how to react to this.
“Sorry to barge in unannounced. I heard your name through the grapevine after you did a presentation and wanted to come and see you.” She still has a small smile on her face, but I’m at a loss. Why is Jenna here? Why now? Right when things are finally going well with Ainsley.
She must see the sheer confusion on my face because she continues talking like I’m not gobsmacked she’s here.
“Do you have a few minutes to talk?”
I nod slowly and then finally find some words. “We can head back to my office.” My blunt tone doesn’t get missed, but there is no reason for her to be here right now.
“That sounds perfect. Lead the way.”
It’s surreal having Jenna in my space again, and I can’t say I’m not curious about why she’s here. The thing that’s hitting me hard is how much Idon’tfeel for her. I haven’t seen her since I left college to come back here, and it’s not that I expected lingering feelings if I ever saw her again, but I thought I would feelsomething.Instead, it feels like I’m walking a stranger back to my office for a meeting. I may be shocked, but that’s all it is. There’s zero attraction, no what-ifs,and the only thing on my mind is Ainsley.
We both sit down at the little table I have here, and I wait patiently for her to talk.
She doesn’t look all that different from over a decade ago, but what is different is the giant rock on her ring finger.
“You’ve become quite the talk of my neighborhood. Apparently, the landscaper who does a lot of work in the area was talking up your sustainable approach after he heard you present at a conference. I took a business card, not thinking anything of it until I looked up the company and saw yourname.”
“And you decided the best plan was to come all the way out here? I don’t even know where you live,” I muse out loud, realizing how snarky I’m being. None of this makes sense.
“I actually live in Vegas now,” she says, undeterred by my attitude.
“So, you flew all the way out here for what, exactly?”
