I'm Not Charlotte Lucas(22)

“I moved it upstairs,” Vera explained, handing Liam a water glass before sipping from her own. “I haven’t decided yet what I want to put in the hallway, but I will take any recommendations you’d like to give me.”

“You want to acquire something new?” My ears perked up. This was my favorite part about Vera. “Didn’t you just get back from France?”

“Nothing caught my eye.”

“Shame.”

“Why do I feel so lost?” Liam’s question shoved me back down to earth, away from imagining the artist boutiques and museums that littered our little wine-country town. There would be time for chatting later. Right now I needed to get moving on planting those tulip bulbs if I was going to have time to shower and prep before my date.

“I’ll leave you two to chat,” I said, ignoring the way Liam’s eyes rested on me. “Is everything in the shed?”

“Yes.” Vera nodded. “Liam knows where everything is. He can show you.”

I knew where everything was too. This was not the first time I’d done this.

“Oh, that’s okay,” I sing-songed, inching my way closer to the back door. The poor man was being thrust my direction so hard he was sure to get whiplash. I knew Vera loved me, but come on. I was not about to become her granddaughter-in-law. Anyone with eyes could clearly see that Liam and I were not of the same league.

Last night he’d kissed me on the cheek, remember? “I don’t want to interrupt anything,” I said, shooting them a smile before letting myself into the backyard. I closed the door behind me and breathed again. Something about just being in the same room as Liam turned my body temperature up a few notches. I couldn’t look at the man in his light-blue shirt and plain jeans without my heart beginning to pump just a little harder.

The garden shed was nestled between bushes and trees in the back corner of the yard, and I located the gloves, garden shovel, and enormous container of bulbs. I stepped back, surveying the colossal bin. What was Vera hoping to achieve with this many tulips? Create a mini Holland in her backyard?

Well, even if just half of these bulbs sprouted, the effect would be brilliant. But holy cow, this was going to take my entire day. Maybe I should have accepted payment when Vera offered.

Setting the tools and gloves on the workbench, I got a firm grip on the handles of the tote box containing thousands of bulbs—not really, but it looked that way—and hefted. I think I maybe lifted the box an inch off the workbench before plopping it down again with a solid thud.

“Need help?”

Liam’s voice snaked through the open doorway, slipping over my skin like a soft breeze and chasing goosebumps down my arms. What. The. Heck? Why did this guy have such an effect on me? I really needed him gone so I could focus on the flowers and not the way his voice sounded like melted dark chocolate. Or at least what I imagined melted dark chocolate would sound like if it had a voice.

A giggle-chuckle escaped my lips. “No, thanks. I’ve got this handled.”

I used to go to Zumba. I’d worked out a few times. I could lift a box.

Maybe if I pep-talked myself enough, it would help.

He leaned in through the doorway. “Okay.” Why did he have to sound like he was enjoying this? I glanced over my shoulder and caught his eye. Ugh. And why did he have to look so handsome?

I called upon the powers that be and counted silently before lifting the box again with all the strength I could muster. It came up off the workbench, and I pivoted. A box this heavy needed to be set down quickly or it would put my back out. The last thing I needed right now was to cancel my date tonight because of a back injury. What a sure-fire way to feel old and decrepit.

Liam’s eyes widened as I barreled toward him like a freight train.

“Whoa, Charlie.” He stepped out of my way.

“Heavy,” I muttered, passing him. My arms were pulling from my sockets.

Liam ran around in front of me with the precision of a quarterback, forcing me to pull back and halt.

“Heavy!” Apparently, I could only force out one word at a time. All of my efforts involved holding up this ridiculous box of bulbs.

Who knew flowers could weigh so much? It felt more like a box of books. Or maybe I just needed to get my butt back into Zumba class, and this pathetic box was showing me how weak I’d become.

That was a lowering thought.

Liam reached for the box, taking it from my hands and holding it like it was full of actual cut tulips, instead of the bulbs.

My mouth fell open. How did he make it look so effortless?

He grinned like he could read my mind. “Where do you want this?”

I gestured to the garden plot on the right side of the back porch. “I’ll start over there.”

He carried the box over, and I went to the shed for the rest of my supplies.

“Do you have another shovel?” he asked.

He really was not letting this go. I broke into a smile, wishing I hadn’t donned such an old, ratty T-shirt. I was pleased to find out he was a gentleman last night, but now he was taking things too far. Vera wanted to shove us together, fine. But we were both adults and didn’t need to do everything Vera asked us to. Like if she straight-up asked Liam to date me, he would need to answer: “Sorry, Grandma, I can’t because she is nothing like Naomi Price.”

“Listen, Liam, you are so sweet to offer to help, but I’ve got this handled. Vera asked me weeks ago, and I promised I would do this for her.”