Page 53 of Forget-Me-Nots and Apricots

“And this is usually Theo’s hidwaaway. You can usually find him here or in his room.” My breath caught as Gabriel pushed open the french doors, revealing a library that seemed plucked straight from a fairytale. Two stories of bookshelves stretched toward a coffered ceiling, with a spiral staircase connecting to a wraparound balcony lined with even more books. Comfortable leather chairs were arranged in cozy reading nooks, and tall windows filtered sunlight through sheer curtains, casting a warm glow over everything.

"This is magnificent," I whispered, stepping inside and turning in a slow circle to take it all in. The rich scent of leather bindings and old paper enveloped me, instantly soothing in its timelessness.

Gabriel watched me, something like pleasure warming his expression. "Another of my mother's legacies. She collected rare botanical texts, first editions, anything that caught her interest." He gestured to a section near one of the windows. "Those shelves house her botanical collection. First editions of some of the most important texts in the field, hand-illustrated manuscripts from the eighteenth century, journals from her own research."

I moved toward the shelves he indicated, drawn to a large leather-bound volume with delicate gold lettering on the spine. "May I?" I asked, my fingers hovering near the book.

"Of course," Gabriel nodded, watching as I carefully slid the volume from its place. "My mother believed books were meant to be read, not just displayed."

The book opened with a satisfying crackle to reveal exquisite hand-painted illustrations of flowers—each petal rendered with such precision and care that they seemed almost real enough to touch. I gasped softly, turning pages with reverent fingers.

"This is incredible," I murmured, tracing the outline of a lily with my fingertip, not quite touching the delicate page. "These are Viktor's Botanical Magazine illustrations from the early 1800s," Gabriel explained, moving closer to look over my shoulder. "Each plant was documented as it was discovered and introduced to the world. My mother treasured this collection."

The intimacy of the moment struck me—standing beside Gabriel in this sanctuary of knowledge, sharing something that clearly meant so much to him. This glimpse into his past, his family's legacy, felt like a gift more precious than he might realize.

"You must have grown up surrounded by extraordinary beauty," I said softly, carefully closing the book and returning it to its place.

"I did," Gabriel acknowledged, his voice quiet with memory. "Though I didn't always appreciate it at the time. Children rarely do."

I nodded, understanding. "It's only when we're older that we recognize the value of what shaped us."

Our eyes met, and something shifted in the air between us—something warm and understanding that made my heart beat a little faster. For a moment, we simply stood there, surrounded by books and history and the weight of shared confidences.

I looked away first, suddenly self-conscious about how close we were standing, about the intimacy of the moment. "I should probably let you get back to work," I said, taking a small step back. "I've already taken up too much of your morning."

"You haven't," Gabriel replied, his voice deeper than usual. "But I do have some calls to make about the case." He gestured toward the comfortable reading chairs. "Please, feel free to stay and explore. The library is yours to use whenever you like."

"Thank you," I said, genuinely touched by his generosity. "I might take you up on that offer. It's been a while since I've had time to just... read."

Gabriel nodded, moving to the door, “Enjoy. One of us will come and check on you later. If you get hungry feel free to raid the kitchen it is usually stocked with snacks to grab.”

I nodded, he gave me one last smile before leaving me alone in the library…and leaving with my heartbeat feeling like it was going to beat out of my chest. This was definitely not a good thing.

I can’t catch feelings…no matter how attractive these men are. I let myself move to one of the chairs, and was going to distract myself from these thoughts

Chapter Twenty-Three

Ididn’tknowhowlongI was immersed in the books, until someone cleared their throughs. Lucas stood there, a smile on his face holding a plate of food, a sandwich and some fruit.

"Theo mentioned you hadn't eaten lunch yet," he said, setting the plate down on a side table next to me. "I volunteered for delivery duty."

I glanced at my watch, surprised to discover it was already past two in the afternoon. I'd been so absorbed in Eleanor's botanical collection that time had slipped away completely.

"Thank you," I said, marking my place in the book with a thin leather bookmark. "I didn't realize how late it had gotten."

Lucas settled into the chair opposite mine, his usual playful demeanor softened by the quiet atmosphere of the library. "Easy to lose track of time in here. Happens to Theo all the time—we've found him asleep surrounded by books more than once."

I smiled at the image, picking up half of the sandwich—turkey and avocado on whole grain, with a hint of something spicy in the mayo. "Who made it?”

Lucas laughed, “Dakota did actually. He can make things simple like this. He made it when he was making his own food. He hopes ya don’t mind the small hit of spice. I can get you something else if it isn’t something you like.”

I shook my head, “No it is good. Thank him for me…and thank you for delivering it to me.”

Lucas nodded a smile on his face, as he glanced at the book in my lap, “Finding anything interesting?"

I nodded, gently stroking the cover of the antique volume. "These botanical illustrations are incredible. The detail, the artistry... you don't see this kind of craftsmanship anymore."

I carefully turned the page of the book I'd been absorbed in, revealing another exquisite illustration of a rare orchid. "This one shows a species that's practically extinct now. The artist captured every detail so perfectly you can almost smell it."

---