Page 22 of One Hot Texas Summer (The Prentice Brothers of Sweet Ridge #1)

“Oh, that’s such a sweet gesture. I’m sure if he doesn’t want to take them home, he could let someone else enjoy them.”

“Exactly,” Kelly interjected as she passed the glass vase closer to Tate. “I hope your dad enjoys them.”

He hesitated a second, before wrapping his hands around the vase. “Would you like to come with me, Kelly?”

“What?” Surely she hadn’t heard him correctly.

He didn’t just ask her to go with him to see his dad, did he? Although it wasn’t like Trenton Prentice was a stranger to her. She knew him well enough to say hello. Like she knew almost everyone in town.

“Kelly, don’t be rude. I know you heard what Tate asked. I think it would be a good idea. I’m sure Trenton would love to see you. See, there was a reason I came in early.”

Mom’s matchmaking attempts were far from subtle, but she spoke the truth—it was a good thing she’d come in early. Arguing the point would make Kelly look petty.

“Thanks, Mom, you’re the best.” Kelly whipped her apron over her head before folding it and laying it on the shelf beneath the counter. “There are a couple of internet orders you can work on, and if you could go over the inventory so I know what to order, that will be great.”

“Sure thing, honey. Now you go have some fun.” She waved at the two of them, as if shooing them out the door.

Kelly rolled her eyes at her mother’s antics. “Let me get my purse. Do you want to go together or separately?”

“Together.” Tate picked up the vase and held it carefully, as though it was so precious that the slightest pressure would cause the glass to shatter beyond repair. She only hoped he would hold her heart as carefully.

As much as she tried to deny it, her feelings for Tate were growing day-by-day. The intensity, and how rapidly she was falling, was completely different to what she’d felt during her relationship with Edwin. The sensation scared and excited her.

Was this what Mom had felt toward Dad? Or even what Macy felt for Gavin? Could Kelly even trust her feelings? Her track record wasn’t the best.

“Are you going to stand there daydreaming, Kelly, or are you going to get your purse? Time’s a wasting.”

“I’m going. I’ll be right back.”

Trust her mother to bring her back to earth. Actually, she was grateful that Mom had interrupted her ramblings. Getting lost in her head was never a good thing. Unless it was working with flowers.

Grabbing her purse, she glanced at her reflection in the mirror by the door as she exited the office.

Her hair was in her usual messy bun, strands brushed her cheeks and her lips were plump and red.

There was a slight pink hue to her skin.

She looked like she’d been well kissed, and she wasn’t ashamed of the look. In fact, she embraced it.

Smiling, she breezed into the shop area, noticing that only her mom remained in the space and the arrangement she’d made was back on the center of the counter.

“Where’s Tate?”

Surely he hadn’t gone without her and left the flowers behind.

“He had another call and took it outside.” She pointed to the arrangement with the scissors in her hand. “Why don’t you grab those and go?”

Kelly scooped them up, holding them so that none of the delicate blooms were crushed. “Thanks again, Mom.”

“Always, honey.” She’d reached the door when her mom called out to her. “Kelly?”

She glanced over her shoulder, her heart cramping at the love shining out of her mom’s face. “I like Tate, and I think your dad would too. I’m happy for you.”

Kelly swallowed against the sudden lump in her throat. “Thanks, Mom. I shouldn’t be too long, maybe a couple of hours.”

“Take your time, honey. I’ve got it all under control.”

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 flexed over 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.”

“Thanks, Angela. You ready to go?” Tate asked as he slipped his arm around Kelly this time, tucking her close to his side. He had no idea how she was going to react to this public display. For all intents and purposes, he’d claimed her as his own to those looking at the two of them.

She stiffened for a second and he expected her to pull away. Instead, she relaxed into his hold and he breathed easy. She was okay with his declaration. Then again, the facility was far enough away from Sweet Ridge that the town gossips wouldn’t see them.

“Sure, let’s go see your dad.”

With Kelly firmly by his side, he led her to the large common room where he and Dad always met.

He paused outside of the large open double doors.

After a couple of months, Tate was used to the residents and their various levels of physical and mental abilities; however, Kelly wasn’t.

Tate shifted so he was standing in front of her and her attention was all on him.

“Before we walk in, I want to prepare you for what you might see.”

Kelly reached up and laid a hand on his face with a gentle smile. His heart clenched at the compassion in her eyes.

“Tate, you don’t need to do that. Dad was in a nursing home.

I’m sure what’s beyond the doorway we’re blocking isn’t anything I haven’t already seen.

” He stood still when she went up on tiptoes and pressed her lips against his in the briefest of touches.

“But thank you for your concern. How about we go see your dad?”