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“It’s the world’s largest Victorian glasshouse,” she said to Melody as they marveled at the expansive, glass structure. The spiral staircase, vibrant green plants, and white pillars holding up the domed structure gleamed as clean as the glass walls and roofing. “They house plants that are under the threat of extinction, as well as some that are already extinct in the wild.”

Melody, who had humored Claire going on and on and on about every single plant they had seen that day, continued to listen as they moved through the glass structure, observing as many of the fifteen hundred species of plants they could manage.

“This is the yellow fatu, or the abutilon pitcairnense.” Claire read the words aloud to Melody, describing the yellow, bell-shaped flower. “It’s extinct in the wild now, but they’re doing their best to make it thrive again.” She stopped, shaking her head in amazement. “I just can’t get over how incredible this is.”

She swept her eyes around the sunshine-filled space and the vibrant green plants overhanging the walkways, the rushing sound of the small waterfall nearby carrying joy straight to her spirits. However, her mood plummeted when she caught sight of Liam a few paces behind her and Melody. Instead of marveling at the glorious work happening around them, his eyes were trained solely on his phone.

Well, that settled it. If she’d had any hope before of finding a sole redeemable quality in Liam Everhart, that well had most definitely dried up now. Where did he get off criticizing her for being on her phone at the airport when he was doing the very same thing himself right now? And how could he be so clearly uninterested in one of her greatest passions?

Yep, that definitely settled it. She could never see the value of a guy who could not see the value of a flower.

* * *

Liam moved his fingers apart against his phone screen, zooming in on the Cayman sage he’d just taken a photo of, ensuring the quality was high enough to post. The plant’s light purple flowers opened out like the mouth of a pitcher of water, the edges of the blossoms crisp and neat against the green-leafed backdrop.

This would be perfect. Kew Gardens was ripe for the picking, and his photography feed was going to benefit marvelously because of it. He usually didn’t post photos unless they were taken with his mirrorless Canon camera, but today, his phone would have to do the trick.

He moved on to the next plant, maintaining a healthy distance from Melody and her friend as he focused more on reading the descriptions of the flowers instead of Claire’s swaying ponytail.

It really was an impressive thing what they were doing at Kew Gardens, preserving and reviving long lost flowers. What a fulfilling and rewarding job. If only he could say the same about his own work.

“So.”

Liam glanced up at the sound of his mum’s voice. She stopped beside him, her eyes trained on him instead of the plants.

“So, what?” he asked when she didn’t say anything more.

“Are you ever going to tell me what really happened with your work to make you come home for Christmas?”

The phone call Liam had taken in France moments before he had decided to leave flashed through his mind. His boss, Garrett, had shared with him the disappointing news about the promotion, and without thinking, Liam had instantly asked for time off for Christmas, put the associate producer in charge of the shoot, and booked a flight back home.

“Nothing happened,” Liam lied. “Hannah took over flawlessly, so there was no problem there. And Garrett was more than happy to approve my time off since I’d worked the two Christmases before.”

His mum studied him with skeptical eyes before looking away. “I suppose that’s one redeeming quality the man possesses.”

Liam nodded, pulling in his lips to remind himself to say nothing more. Garrett had been stringing Liam along for years with the promises of that promotion. Allowing Liam some time off was his one way of trying to give something back for the first time in years.

“And you’re sure that’s all that occurred?” Mum continued.

Liam hesitated. He didn’t like lying, especially to his mum. But he couldn’t handle the compassion and words of encouragement he’d inevitably receive from her if he told her the truth. He didn’t want to be talked down off his ledge. Right now, all he wanted to do was teeter over it with unresolved anger.

Laughter sounded farther down the aisle, gratefully distracting him from the conversation as his eyes pulled to Melody and Claire. Claire said something Liam couldn’t make out, pointing to one of the white statues, and Melody burst out laughing again.

What had she said that was apparently so hilarious? Liam found it hard to believe such a bitter woman as Claire could make anyone laugh.

He grimaced at his own bitterness. He was obviously sensitive around the woman since she’d gotten the better of him on the way there that morning. In truth, he envied her. She had a career she loved, and he didn’t. She’d used her college degree, and he hadn’t. She radiated happiness with her bright smile and charming freckles, and he, well, clearly didn’t.

He continued observing her, but when their eyes connected, her smile instantly faded, and she turned away with her nose pointed in the air.

“They seem to be enjoying themselves,” Mum said.

Liam nodded, then pulled his attention back to the flowers. He didn’t want to look at Claire any more than she wanted him to look at her.

Mum cleared her throat. “Are you ever going to apologize to her for shouting at her at the airport?”

He started. “How…” He glanced back at Claire with a scowl. He should’ve expected the woman to rat him out to his own mother. “She told you.”

“No, she didn’t. But it was easy enough to figure out what happened between the two of you after the exchange in the car.”