The Bad Boy Bargain (Suttonville Sentinels #1)(21)

His teasing expression caught her off guard. He had such a nice smile for a delinquent. Her brain took over, and next thing she knew, “I can eat with my feet…using a fork,” came flying out of her mouth.

Oh, for the love of Bob Fosse, she did not just admit that.

“That sounds….uncomfortable.” Amusement colored his tone. “What would make you want to try that?”

Her shoulders rounded and she wrapped her arms around her middle. Stupid, stupid, stupid. “I was testing to see how flexible I was.”

His mouth dropped open slightly. He snapped it closed.

“I know it’s weird, but I didn’t expect you to laugh at me.” She turned to stare out the window. “I’m not sure I like this game.”

He sighed. “I wasn’t laughing.”

“Forget I said it, okay? It’s my stupid human trick, nothing else.”

“I wasn’t laughing,” he said again, his voice soft. “I wouldn’t do that to you.” They turned into the parking lot at the nursery, and gravel crunched under the Toyota’s tires, kicking up rocks and making enough noise that she didn’t have to say anything else right away. When they parked, Kyle turned off the ignition and sat with one hand on the steering wheel. A muscle ticked in his jaw.

“I’m not very good at this,” he said.

“At what?”

He stared straight ahead. “Being friends. With girls.”

“Yeah, right.” Faith reached for the door handle, but he put a hand on her arm.

“That’s my secret. You told me one, so I told you one.” His smile was tight, and fainter than the ones before. “I’m not what you’d consider a conversationalist.”

Was he kidding?

She met his gaze, eyes narrowed. “So, what, you’re just good at picking the right girl to hook up with and she runs off with you as soon as you jerk your chin at her?”

He shook his head, eyes rolled toward the sky. “Not exactly. And just so you know, you might have to help me decipher some signs inside. I’m dyslexic.” He flung his door open and climbed out. Faith scurried after him. “That’s not a secret, but it’s not something I talk about, either. Good enough?”

A pit of embarrassment opened up in her stomach. She hadn’t meant to force him to tell her that. “Sure.”

The nursery was a large greenhouse set on an acreage that offered baby trees and paving stones. It smelled delicious. Like spring had exploded into bloom all around her. Her eyes stung for a moment, remembering the ride to Violet’s a few days ago. Cameron always thought she was being “a girl” and sentimental about this stuff, but she’d been thinking about rebirth then, and it had happened. Now she could move forward and think about growth. Change.

Moving forward.

“You okay?”

Faith jumped. She’d really lost the thread there, hadn’t she? “What? Sorry.”

Kyle had stopped his march to the greenhouse door, and he watched her with his eyebrows drawn together. “You seemed sad just now. I’m really not laughing about the fork thing, if you’re thinking that. I hate it when people laugh at other people’s expense.”

The worry in his voice was another thing that reminded her of Cameron—because Cameron had never worried about pissing her off. Kyle obviously did. “It wasn’t that at all. I was just thinking…I really love spring. I know that’s stupid.”

“It’s not stupid. If you love watching things grow, it’s the best time of year.” He held the door open for her. “You coming?”

Warmth rushed through her. “Yeah. Definitely.”





Chapter Fifteen


Kyle


Kyle took a deep breath as soon as they entered the nursery, hoping the smell of green things growing would relax the knot in his shoulders. Why had he told Faith the truth about talking to girls? What was she thinking out there, staring out at the trees? She’d looked so torn, but hopeful, and sad, too. What did he say?

Admitting the dyslexia was the only thing he could think of to change the subject. Way to go, jerk—making her feel guilty for your mistake.

“This place is awesome!” Faith breezed past him, heading straight for the flowers. She didn’t look upset anymore, wearing a bright smile. She glided toward the rows of annuals. “These pink ones are so pretty!”

He came alongside her, relieved he hadn’t done any lasting damage. “Those are vinca. I’m planning to get some—they bloom early and keep going until late fall. Something an ex-governor’s wife might like, right?”

“Definitely.” She bounced over to the next table, running her fingers along a gray-green leaf. The little plant swayed at her touch. “What’s this?”

“Dusty miller. Good ground cover. It can get out of control, but you have a good lawn guy. He’ll make sure it behaves.”

She laughed behind her hand. She always did that, like his jokes were a surprise, and it put a smile back on his face. Faith found joy in the simplest things. She seemed a little fragile to him, but that could be the hurt from the last few days. Maybe if he could make her laugh enough she’d forget about Cameron all together.

He followed her up the aisle, pointing out plants that would go well in their backyard, taking care to listen when she had a doubt. If she didn’t approve of it, her mom probably wouldn’t, either.