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Her mom was right—she could spend some time getting to know Trenton a little better. After all, she was dating his son. Was she walking the fine line between a fling and a relationship? Perhaps, but her feet were firmly on the fling side, at least she hoped they were.

Kelly opened the door and walked out in the Texas sunshine. The heat and humidity slammed into her, but she didn’t let it bother her. Nor would she let the thought of the shift in her and Tate’s relationship dull her shine. Happiness swelled in her in a way it hadn’t done in a long time.

*

Tate’s fingers flexedover the steering wheel as he pulled into the parking spot in front of the rehab center. On the drive over, he and Kelly had talked about their trip to Houston. He promised he’d forward her the hotel reservation so that she could check in.

“Are you nervous about me seeing your dad?” Kelly’s softly spoken question washed over him.

He swiveled in his seat, noticing her white knuckled grip around the vase, and chuckled. “No, but I can see you are.”

“What?” She glanced down and immediately relaxed her fingers. “Uh, no, not really. I just wanted to make sure nothing happened to the bouquet.”

If he wanted, he could push her to admit her nervousness, but he wouldn’t. She had nothing to be concerned about. Dad might have had a stroke, but he still could read between the lines.

His walking in with Kelly would surprise Dad, but it wouldn’t shock him so much that he’d have a relapse.

Tate unclipped his seat belt and opened his door. “Ready?” he asked.

“Yep.”

“Okay, stay there and let me come and open your door. Don’t argue—you’ve got a vase plus your purse, so opening the door is going to take some effort.”

“Fine.” The word huffed out and he bit back a grin.

Every opportunity he’d get, he’d open Kelly’s door for her. It didn’t diminish her independence in his eyes at all. His parents had instilled the importance of being a gentleman while still treating a woman as his equal and respecting her. Opening the door was the least he could do.

Once Kelly stepped out of the car, he placed his hand at the small of her back, just the lightest of touches, but enough to let her know he was there.

They made their way into the facility, and he welcomed the cool rush of the air-conditioning washing over his body. It acted to cool him from the heat and humidity of a Texas summer but also from walking closely beside Kelly.

“Hi, Tate. It’s great news that your dad is being released tomorrow.”

“Hi, Angela,” he responded to one of the newer employees who manned the reception desk. “Yeah, I’m glad Dad will be home soon. The house has been very quiet without him.”

“Trust me when I say today he’s been itching for your visit. I think if he could, he’d try and talk his way into leaving today.”

Tate laughed. “Sounds about right. He was pretty excited when he called me earlier.”

“I love today’s arrangement, and I know ju—” Angela abruptly shut her mouth.

Beside him, Kelly shifted and he flattened the hand he still held at the base of her back. A slight pressure to let her know he hadn’t forgotten about her. “Angela, this is Kelly. Kelly, Angela. Kelly’s the person responsible for these arrangements. She owns This Bud’s For You in town. If you ever want flowers, you need to go see her. She also knows the purpose behind the flowers.”

“Oh, hi, Kelly. I’m new to the area, but I’ve driven past your shop a couple of times. I’ve always loved the displays Tate brings in for the residents.”

“Nice to meet you, Angela. Thanks, and next time you’re in town, come in and say hi. Fresh flowers always brighten up a house or room. I’m happy to help Tate.”

Kelly’s sales pitch was sleek but not pushy. Making a person think they needed something without them realizing it.

“Oh, for sure, when we were kids, my mom always had a pitcher of wildflowers or other flowers we picked on the kitchen table. She said they made her smile when we were at school and feeling lonely. I definitely need to get some for my place.”

“Yep, flowers are the universal spreader of happiness and cure all for loneliness.” There was a wistfulness in Kelly’s voice he hadn’t heard before as she placed the vase on the reception desk.

How often had someone sent her flowers?

Did she take flowers home at the end of the day to brighten her place? Tate didn’t know the answer to those questions, but he was going to find out. And he was going to send an arrangement to be waiting for her in the hotel room in Houston. He would order them from her store, but that would kind of spoil the surprise.

“I’ll make sure these flowers are delivered, and I know the patient we’ve picked out is going to love them. Your dad’s waiting in his usual spot.”