Page 15 of Where We Bloom (The Blackwells of Montana #3)

Chapter Seven

BILLIE

I ’ve never been nervous about spending the day at my family’s property before. At the place where I grew up. My home. My safe place, where no matter what, I’m welcome and loved.

Until today.

Even before, on days when I knew Connor would be here, I wasn’t exactly nervous. Annoyed and maybe slightly uncomfortable but never nervous because this is my turf.

But today, my nerves are all over the place after everything that happened last weekend, then he showed up at my shop on Friday with this ridiculously expensive trinket .

I thought he was still messing with me. All week, I couldn’t figure him out.

He looked so torn when he left me at my house on Sunday, and he sent flowers on Monday.

And then nothing for the rest of the week.

Until Friday, when he turned up in person and gifted me with a little trinket from Ireland. Because apparently, he’d been thinking of me while he traveled. And I’d be lying if I said that didn’t make me feel good.

But a text would have sufficed. I don’t need expensive gifts.

I just want to talk to him.

I shake my head and pull my sunglasses off as I park in front of the family farmhouse. I’m here fairly early in the afternoon, but to my surprise, Bridger, Dani, and Birdie are already here.

This makes me happy because I’d like to talk to my girls before Connor arrives.

And I don’t have to go far to find them.

On the deep porch that wraps around the entire house, Dani and Skyla are curled up in what looks like new furniture, with a pitcher of something on ice and several glasses on a table next to them.

“You’re here,” Dani says with a bright smile. “And just in time. We made strawberry lemonade.”

“With no liquor, right?” Just the thought of drinking alcohol makes me sick to my stomach.

“No liquor,” Skyla confirms, and her eyes sober. “I’m so sorry, Bee.”

“Stop.” I wave her off and admire the furniture.

It looks … cozy. Like you’d want to curl up and take a nap out here.

“You guys already came and checked on me every day last week. You have nothing to be sorry for. I’m an adult, and we didn’t know a creep was at the bar that night.

Now, tell me about this fabulous new furniture. ”

I sit and draw my legs up under me, getting comfy as Dani pours me a cold drink .

Summer has its claws into Montana, and it’s hot. But here, in the shade of the porch, with a light breeze blowing through, is lovely.

“I want to nap out here,” Skyla says, passing me a glass. “The second I first saw this porch, I knew it would be perfect for naps in the summertime, and this couch will be ideal for that.”

“I might join you,” I reply with a wink. “We can both fit.”

“You’re welcome anytime.” She grins.

Skyla’s been with my brother for several months and lives here on the farm with him. She has the prettiest red hair I’ve ever seen, with green eyes just like her brother’s, and she looks amazing today in a simple blue sundress.

Dani’s in black capri pants and a white T-shirt that shows off her curves, her dark hair up in a bun, and she’s watching me with those shrewd blue eyes.

Dani and I have sat on this porch together most of our lives. When we were kids, it was usually because she was running away from her abusive father, and we’d sit here, eating ice cream together.

I love that she’s married to Bridger. There was always magic between them and knowing they finally made their way to each other makes me so happy.

And the fact that my two best friends are with my brothers means I get to see them all the time, which is the best bonus ever.

“You’re quiet.” Dani interrupts my thoughts.

“I need advice,” I admit with a sigh, just as Skyla’s gaze falls to the necklace I’m wearing .

“Well, that’s lovely,” she says with a knowing smile. “Where did you get that new necklace, Bee?”

I bite my lip as Dani looks back and forth between us. “What am I missing?” she asks.

“That’s a very nice Van Cleef & Arpels piece,” Skyla explains.

“I still don’t know what that means.” Dani shrugs.

“It’s a luxury jewelry brand.” I swallow hard. “It was a gift.”

Skyla’s already grinning.

“From who?” Dani wants to know, tipping up her eyebrow.

“Connor.” I frown down into my glass. “He came to the bookstore on Friday and said he got me this trinket in Ireland.”

“Wow,” Dani breathes.

“It’s so beautiful,” Skyla says at the same time.

“This isn’t a trinket .” I set my glass down in frustration. “It’s a several thousand-dollar piece of jewelry, you guys. It’s not a keychain, or a postcard, or whatever you buy at cheap tourist shops.”

“My brother is never going to buy something from a cheap tourist shop.” Skyla shakes her head. “And to him, that is an inexpensive gift.”

My mouth opens, and I scowl and lay my head back against the new outdoor sofa.

“That’s insane.”

“No.” Dani reaches over to take my hand and give it a squeeze. “He’s rich, Bee. It’s not insane because the money is insignificant.”

“Exactly,” Skyla agrees. “I know it’s not easy to get used to.”

“No, you don’t.” I laugh with the comment, and the others laugh as well because it’s true. Skyla would have no idea what that’s like. She was born into massive wealth.

“That’s fair,” she says. “I don’t know. But I can empathize and understand that it would be overwhelming.”

“I don’t want gifts from him,” I admit, chewing on my bottom lip.

“Are you sleeping with him again?” Dani asks, and I shake my head.

“No, there’s been no sex and no kissing. Like I told you guys on Monday, he was amazing after the incident but never crossed a line. He was … great, actually.”

We’re quiet for a moment as another breeze blows through, and we enjoy the quiet around us. I can hear cows mooing in the distance. Riley, Skyla’s big dog, is curled up on a bed of his own nearby, snoring away. Suddenly, it occurs to me that the men and Birdie are nowhere to be seen.

“Where are the others? Bridger, Birdie, and Beckett?”

“Out at the horse barn,” Dani replies. “Riding for a few hours. Blake’s out there with them, too. Brooks should be here soon.”

I nod, tucking a stray piece of hair that fell out of my topknot behind my ear.

“I can sleep when I’m with him,” I finally admit, looking their way.

Dani’s eyebrow climbs.

Skyla frowns.

“I thought you said you’re not having sex,” Skyla says.

“We’re not, but when I’m with him, I can sleep. And I’ve been an insomniac since I was a teenager. I don’t sleep well. But with Connor, it’s like my body just lets go, and I sleep like the dead, and it’s so good. I don’t need expensive necklaces. I just want a nap date.”

Dani snorts. “A nap date?”

“Yes. I want him to invite me over and let me curl up around him and sleep. You have no idea how good that sounds, you guys.”

“With no … sex ?” Skyla asks.

“Okay, fine. Yes, I’m so fucking attracted to him that I can hardly breathe when he’s nearby. All he has to do is touch me. No, strike that. All he has to do is look at me with those amazing green eyes, and my body is on fire for him. I want the sexy time, but I don’t just want that.”

“And you’ve told him that?” Dani asks.

“Yeah. I told him that I want more than to be used for sex. And then I didn’t hear from him for a while, so that’s my answer.”

“Wait.” Skyla holds up a hand and pulls her eyebrows together.

“It’s not that simple, Bee. You need to understand that Connor doesn’t open up to people.

He’s quite guarded, and that’s the truth of it.

I’m not going to betray any of his confidences even though I want to because I love you and think you’re good for each other.

Just know that what you’ve asked of him isn’t easy. ”

I tilt my head, watching her, but before I can reply, I hear voices coming from the direction of the barn, so we table this discussion for now.

Have I even considered that? That it could be difficult for Connor to open up to me?

My brothers are not all exactly talkative, but I don’t think they’ve had trouble talking about life.

Was I only thinking of my own feelings and needs?

That would be a big, fat yes, Bee. I didn’t consider him at all.

And when I think back to how he cared for me last weekend, how worried he looked, and then what Blake said later that night, I can see that Connor cares.

I finger the green shamrock at my throat and sigh just as Birdie hurries up the porch steps and launches herself into my lap.

My six-year-old niece is the apple of my eye, and I love her more than just about anything.

“Hello, baby bird,” I say as I kiss her head.

“I’m happy to see you,” she replies and lays her cheek against mine. She’s done that since she was a tiny baby, and it squeezes my heart.

“I’m happy to see you, too. Did you go for a ride on one of the horses?”

A car door slams, then the rumble of a motorcycle engine comes to a stop, but I don’t look up. I’m enjoying these cuddles from my sweet girl and soaking her in.

“Yeah, we took a ride. Next time, you should come, too.”

I hate just about everything about farm life, except for the horses. I love being near and on the big animals.

“Next time,” I agree softly and hug her closer. I didn’t realize until just this minute how much I needed to be snuggled.

It doesn’t happen very often.

“Are you okay?” Birdie whispers in my ear, making me smile.

“I’m so much better now that you’re cuddling me,” I reply with a whisper of my own. My girl sighs happily and settles in against me, so I kiss her some more.

“How are you feeling?”

I open my eyes and look up to find all four of my brothers—that was Brooks’s motorcycle that pulled in—watching me with concerned eyes.

“I’m great,” I reply, offering them all a smile. “Really. All is well.”

“Yeah, that’s why you’re clinging to my daughter like she’s a lifeline,” Bridger says, and I notice movement out of the corner of my eye when Connor sits next to Skyla.

That must have been the car door I heard.