Page 49 of His Prince

I cock my head at him as Casey scoffs. “What do you mean?”

“Can you repeat that?”

“What do you mean?” I ask.

“Oh. Um, something happened here. Something bad. Death. But I can feel the place is coming alive again.”

He doesn’t elaborate on this, just moves toward the greenhouse, and I follow, not sure what to do with that odd information. He does seem in tune with the plants and his work experience really is quite impressive. But what does he mean by death?

Did something die here?

Someone?

I put that into the back of my mind as Jake leans down and breathes in the plants, touching them gingerly, sinking fingers into the soil oncemore.

“This place has good energy,” he comments accidentally smearing some dirt on his chin as he signs the word forgood.

“Thank you. I’m looking forward to things starting to grow.”

He grins at me and then he starts to speak and sign rapidly, missing some English words as he goes, replacing them with signs instead. I can still understand him though. His comments about weather patterns, growth points, and parasitic pests make him seem not only in tune with the plants but knowledgeable about them as well.

I want him to work with me.

I have a great feeling about this guy.

“You’re hired,” I say when he finally stops speaking, his hands falling to his sides.

“Really?” he asks, his eyebrows raised, his finger scrunching up and down before him.

“Yes,” I reply, nodding, and his grin widens, showing off slightly crooked teeth.

I like him even more.

“Thank you. I’m excited.”

And he is. I can feel it.

“I hope it’s okay that we’ll be paying you under the table.”

“Of course.”

He nods and pulls me in for a hug, smelling like patchouli and grass.

“Thank you. When can I start?”

“Now?” I ask, and he nods.

I lead him to the small shed where the tools are kept and he gets to work, Casey eyeing him suspiciously.

“I don’t trust him,” he says, and I glance at him with a raised eyebrow. “That thing with the soil was weird as fuck.”

“He seems nice.”

“He seems too hippie for this place.”

“But that’s the best kind of person to take care of the garden, Casey.”

He runs a hand across his jaw and then sighs. “I’ll keep an eye on him. Make sure he doesn’t do anything weird.”

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