Page 11 of One Hot Texas Summer (The Prentice Brothers of Sweet Ridge #1)

“D ammit,” Kelly muttered as she tossed away another bloom she’d cut too short. The day hadn’t been going well at all. Every time she looked at a flower all she could see was Tate’s face as he bent to kiss her.

Oh God, what had she been thinking to let him kiss her like that? Of their own volition her fingers crept up and touched her mouth. If she closed her eyes, she could remember the feel of Tate’s touch. The way his lips moved over hers. The sweetness of his embrace.

“Kelly, are you okay?”

Her eyes flashed open and she spied Mom looking at her intently. “Yeah, I’m fine, just a little frustrated. This arrangement isn’t working out the way I wanted it to.”

“I can see that,” her mom responded drily. “Do you want to tell me what’s going on?”

No way was she going to tell her mom she’d kissed Tate Prentice.

What had she been thinking? She needed to nip her wayward thoughts in the bud, no pun intended.

They had to work together on the logistics for the festival.

The last thing they needed was to muddy that arrangement with a relationship of some sort.

A snort erupted out of her. A relationship with Tate. Yeah, that was as likely as Betty Lou changing her hairstyle and eyeglasses on the same day.

“Well, clearly you don’t want to answer my question, so I’m going to assume that maybe it has something to do with your dinner with Tate Prentice.”

That was another reason not to even consider doing anything with Tate—the whole town would know.

It had been three days since their dinner at the diner and still people looked at her and asked how Tate was.

After the third time of being questioned within the space of fifteen minutes, she wanted to lock herself away from everyone.

Of course, she didn’t—that wasn’t her. She faced everything head-on.

Something new would board the gossip truck and she and Tate would be forgotten.

She just had to hang in there a little longer.

At least it wasn’t as bad as when she was a teenager.

Back then, she’d thought her life was over.

“Mom, as I told you when you called me at seven in the morning after our dinner, there’s nothing going on. We were working on the Founders’ Day festival stuff. I’d had a meeting at his place that afternoon. We were just recapping everything and discussing some new ideas.”

Her mom picked up the discarded flower stems from the worktable, studied them for a moment before tossing them in the trash can.

“You keep telling yourself it was a working dinner, Kelly, but that’s not what everyone who was in the diner told me.

” Her mom leaned a little closer. “Every single person said sparks were flying between the two of you.”

Kelly rolled her eyes and snatched up another bloom, this time cutting it the right length. “Those people see things they want to see. Trust me, Mom, there were no sparks.”

“Okay, dear, but I’m just saying, he’s a good-looking man. You could do worse.”

“Mom!” A flush of heat warmed the back of her neck and she wished that a customer would walk in. “Stop it. He’s too young.”

“Oh, honey, age is relative these days. It doesn’t matter if he’s younger than you. I bet if he were older, you’d be giving him a second look.”

Kelly didn’t want to examine too closely how accurate Mom’s comment was. She didn’t want to think she’d treat Tate differently if he was older than her, but she couldn’t deny she probably would.

Society always seemed to accept the older man-younger woman scenario without much issue. However, when the roles were reversed, more gossip surrounded older woman.

“I don’t know. As I said, we’re working together on making sure the festival is a success. Any sort of relationship between us could cause more issues with the planning than we already have.”

“Aha. So you are attracted to him. I knew it.” Mom smiled smugly and Kelly rolled her eyes again.

The more she denied what she was feeling toward Tate, the more Mom would keep at her until she admitted the truth.

“Fine, you win. Yes, I find him attractive, but nothing more can happen between us, Mom. It just wouldn’t work.”

“Nothing more? What more is there to happen? And why wouldn’t it work?”

Of course, Mom would pick up on her slip of the tongue. “Not what you’re thinking, that’s for sure. But we kissed the other night. He walked me back to my car, and I don’t know, it just happened. And it wouldn’t work because it just wouldn’t.”

“Honey, I know your ex really hurt you. He’s a loser, and if I could get my hands on him, well, let’s just say he would be looking down the barrel of your father’s shotgun.”

“Mom, that’s a little extreme.” She had no idea Mom still had Dad’s guns.

“Is it? That man had the morals of a snake, and he was going to add you to his harem.”

She burst out laughing. “Geez, Mom, he wasn’t going to add me to his harem. I wouldn’t let him. You know there are more polyamorous relationships happening now than ever before.”

“People are free to live their own lives the way they want to. The difference in those relationships you’re talking about is that all parties are aware of what’s going on when they enter it.

You didn’t. As far as you knew you were both in a monogamous relationship.

He was being deliberately dishonest with you, and not to mention a married man.

So, yes, if he sets one foot in this town, I’d chase him out again. ”

Kelly dropped the tools she was working with and wrapped her mom in a hug. “I love you, Mom. Thank you.”

Mom returned her hug. “I love you, too, baby girl. I’d do anything to see you happy.”

Kelly disentangled herself from the embrace. “I am happy, Mom. I’m doing what I love. I live close to you again. I’ve got good friends. Life is good.”

Her mom reached out and touched her cheek softly. “But you’re lonely, honey. You weren’t meant to be alone. You’ve closed yourself off from living. From seeing the possibilities that surround you. Don’t ignore Santa’s sleigh.”

“What are you talking about, Mom? Santa’s sleigh? It’s June, not December.”

“I’m talking about the signs that are put in front of you. Signs that if you ignore, you miss the best part of your life. So don’t ignore them. More importantly, don’t be afraid to grab them.”

Had she missed a lot of signs in her life? She wasn’t sure. “How do you know what the signs are, Mom? I’m sure they’re not labeled, hey, I’m a sign—you need to pay attention to me.”

Mom laughed. “No, that would be too easy. Honey, if you open yourself up to all possibilities life has to offer, the signs will make sense. Take Tate, for instance.”

No. She needed to put a stop to Mom and her philosophies right now. “What are you talking about? Tate is in no way part of my future.”

Except her subconscious mind seemed to think that maybe he was part of it.

“See, you’re still being closed off. Listen to me, Kelly. Out of the blue, Tate started coming into the shop and buying arrangements on a regular basis.”

“You know his reputation, Mom. Those flowers were probably more thanks for a good time than I got you these because I like you .” She really wanted this conversation over and done with.

Why couldn’t a customer walk in right now?

Surely, if the universe was sending signals out to her, she could send her own signals asking for intervention.

“Stop interrupting. Yes, I’m aware of his so-called reputation.

You, more than anyone else, knows how everyone loves to gossip in this town.

Who’s to say that half of what the townspeople think about Tate is just exaggeration and speculation?

That boy is a hard worker and you know it.

He stepped up to take over all the workings of the farm when Trenton had his stroke.

Do you think a man who is so busy putting notches in his bedpost would step up to the plate like that?

There’s more to that man than what you see on the surface. ”

A beat of silence passed between them. “Oh, I’m supposed to answer that? I thought you told me to stop interrupting.” She softened her words with a big grin.

“I guess I left myself open for that.” Mom laughed and tapped Kelly on the nose with one of the discarded roses.

“You kinda did, but yes, I have to agree that maybe his reputation is all talk now, but there have been many a time I’ve seen him at Silver Spurs with a different girl on his arm each time.”

“I’m not condoning it, but he’s young. He should be playing the field.”

“See!” Kelly exclaimed. “You agree that he’s young.”

Mom shook her head. “You really need to let go of the age issue. I don’t think it’s that big of a deal. You’re well aware that I was older than your father.”

Kelly hadn’t forgotten that, but the age difference between Mom and Dad was one year, not five, like it was between her and Tate. She wisely kept her mouth shut, though.

“Anyway, back to the signs,” Mom continued.

“So, one, he’s been coming into the store more than ever before.

Two, Macy asks you to get more involved with Founders’ Day and the event is being held at Tate’s place and you have to work closely with him.

Three, you kissed him and you find him attractive.

If they aren’t all signs, then my favorite flower isn’t the calla lily.

” Mom crossed her arms over her chest, and nodded her head once.

Kelly recognized that sign—her lecture was over. Did she want to believe what Mom was saying? That the universe was giving her some big arrows pointing her in the direction of Tate?

If she did follow the path, how would it end? In glitter and rainbows? Or would it be dark clouds and endless rain? Taking that next step, the step into the dating pool again, scared the crap out of her.

Out of the blue, anger consumed her. How could she let one man ruin her future?

Why would she do that? Kelly had no doubt that Edwin hadn’t given her another thought when she broke it off.

In fact, he’d probably replaced her three weeks after she’d kicked him to the curb.

So why was she still letting Edwin stop her from experiencing the joys of love?

Not that she was in love with Tate or believed that she would fall in love with him.

But she didn’t have to deny to herself that she liked the guy.

Enjoyed spending time with him. Their dinner had been fun and relaxed and one of the best times she’d had in a long time.

She wanted more of that. How many times had she looked at Macy and Gavin or Charlotte and Gage and wished for what they had?

Someone to share the ups and downs of their day with.

Someone to share the burden when things got too hard.

Kelly was never going to get that if she continued to hide behind her flowers and her shop. Her business was profitable. She had a ton of online orders and her reputation was spreading for her fine floral arrangements.

Why shouldn’t she enjoy the other parts of her life?

Just like Mom had done moments ago, Kelly nodded firmly. “You know what, Mom? You’re right. I have hidden away too long. Not anymore. From now on, I’m going to be open to the signs and grasp them with both hands.”

Mom’s arms came around her and she relaxed into the embrace. “You go, girl.”