Page 36 of In Full Bloom

But like all of my memories of my time in Kauri Creek, Toby and therefore Max, are woven so tightly into it, it’s hard to remember the joy.

“It’s quite a dress.”

I snort. “It was quite the discussion piece. I don’t think this town had ever seen so much skin.”

He chuckles. “I get the feeling sixteen-year-old you would have shaken this town up quite a bit.”

I laugh, but it feels hollow. I sure did shake the place up, just not in a good way.

I place the picture back on the shelf, then collapse onto the couch. “Sorry I don’t have a drink to offer you,” I say.

“It’s okay, Katie. I’m a solo dad. It doesn’t really go with heavy drinker.”

I sigh and tip my head back against the cushions, closing my eyes when they suddenly feel hot. “I’m also sorry I ruined your night out. You didn’t have to be a single dad tonight, you weresupposed to have a good time. You could always go back. I’m fine here.”

The couch dips and I can instantly feel the heat from Dallas’s body as he sits beside me. I want to lean into him. I want to feel his arms around me again, his palm pressed against my skin.

As much as I know I shouldn’t be, I keep replaying all our near-misses tonight. The dancing, me dragging him into that hallway and how close I was to having his mouth on mine.

Choosing to wait for him in the same place as I did the first night we met was no accident. It sent a little thrill through me when he found me there and commented on it.

I so desperately wanted him to bring me home and wipe all the stress and anxiety of today away with his body.

But, I should have known he’d never go for it, regardless of how good the first time was. It shouldn’t have come as a surprise for him to say he’s not a one-night type of guy. And once he said that, it all clicked into place.

He has a child in his care. He’s all she has. He’s not interested in random flings. He wants to settle down. He wants a family for Sadie. Stability, security, a home.

“You could head back to the farm, be with Sadie. You haven’t drunk much.”

“Are you trying to get rid of me?” Dallas asks. There’s a thread of something in his voice that makes me think he might be offended.

“No,” I say with a sigh.

“Do youwant to be alone?”

I tilt my head to the side and crack my eyes open. He’s right there beside me, blue eyes gazing softly down at me.

“Not really, no,” I say. “I’m really tired of being alone.” My eyes burn again at my confession.

It’s the raw truth though, one I’ve been desperately trying to avoid. But since Toby died, and even before he did, I’ve been alone. It’s part of the reason I came back to Kauri Creek.

I knew it wouldn’t all be roses, but I thought being with Olivia again, my best friend in the world, would help.

And it does. Being with Olivia and Violet, Dallas and Sadie, and now with Flynn’s return, it’s like being part of a family again.

If I could spend all my time at the farm, with the only people I truly care about in the world, I’d be happy. But the farm is here, in this tiny town where seeing people I don’t want to see is unavoidable.

Maybe I could handle Max if it was just Max hating me for some unknown reason.

But it isn’t just Max’s hatred I have to deal with. I’ve seen him three times since I’ve been home and every time it’s like my heart is shattering over and over.

He’s too much like Toby. The way his hair falls over his forehead, the dark eyes I always found utterly sexy, even the tone of his voice is too similar to the guy I once thought was the love of my life.

Until he left me heartbroken, then took whatever was left of me and completely shattered it.

I can’t stay in this town. I can’t live here, surrounded by the pain of the past, seeing Max all the time and remembering theheartbreak and devastation his brother left in his wake, all while enduring Max’s wrath.

So as much as I want to tell Dallas I can stay, as much as I want to tell him we can have a shot at something more, I can’t.

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