Page 5 of Forget me Knot
Eventually, he rolls off me and collapses onto the bed beside me. We lie there in comfortable silence for a few minutes before I sit up and turn my back to him, sitting on the edge of the bed. Pulling my long hair over my shoulder, I jump slightly when he traces a finger down my spine.
“So beautiful,” he murmurs.
I freeze. This is one of those times when I should ask him if he wants more, but I fail to work up the courage. The spell breaks when he climbs off the bed and starts to get dressed.
“Those bushes won’t prune themselves,” he jokes.
“And those flowers won’t sell themselves either,” I joke back, and just like that, we are friends again and nothing more.
Chapter 3
Jack
Iwatch Lily out of the corner of my eye as I pull on my shorts. There’s a part of me that wants to stay in this moment forever, but I know it’s not fair to her. She deserves better than some alpha who can’t even admit his feelings.
“See you after work?” she asks, her voice light and casual, like we didn’t just have the kind of sex that leaves you questioning your entire existence.
“Yeah. It’s not like I’ll be far away,” I reply, forcing a smile.
She giggles, and it fires up my lust engines again. I could go again with her right now. All day, every day, it seems.
As we head downstairs, Lily goes back to her shop and me back to the garden. I’m struck by how peaceful it is here. It is one of those towns where everyone knows each other, and there’s a sense of community that’s rare these days.
Picking up my pruning shears, I get to work, spending way more time than I should be in Lily’s garden. It’s perfectly tended because I always linger for longer than necessary just so I can be close to her. I have a dozen other jobs this week, but I’m in no haste to go right now. They’ll get done, but I can’t drag myself away. Not yet. Her slick is still coating my cock. I can smell it, and it’s driving me wild. If I were able to suck my own dick, I’dhave my head between my legs right now just so I could taste her again.
“Fuck, Jack,” I grumble, shaking my head.
I shrug off the thoughts and focus on trimming the hydrangeas. I can hear Lily moving around the shop, her occasional laugh or snatch of a song she’s humming. It’s moments like these that make me think maybe there’s more to us than just fuck buddies. Or there could be if I spoke up.
We’ve known each other since we were children. I know her inside and out. I know her secrets, even the one that haunts her. I’m here for her, and she doesn’t even really know it. We never talk about it. But I’m here. Protecting her. Always. I’ve had so many opportunities to take my business into the Lake District’s bigger towns and cities, but I stay for her. Every time for her.
I sigh, but the sound is cut off by a shrill sound blaring through the air, making me look up urgently.
It’s not coming from Lily’s shop, but I move quickly through the back door, crashing into her as she is on her way out. Grabbing her upper arms, I steady her, having nearly mowed her over, and she laughs, taking it in her stride.
“What is that?” I ask, looking over her shoulder.
“I was about to ask you the same thing!” she exclaims, and we both look back into the shop when the fire engine sirens add to the din.
“Shit!” Lily cries, and taking her hand, I lead her through the shop onto the street outside, where a crowd is gathering outside Fred’s bakery.
Flames lick at the windows of Fred’s bakery, and thick smoke billows into the summer sky. The air smells acrid, and there’s a buzz of panic in the crowd. People are murmuring, trying to figure out if anyone is still inside.
My heart twists at the thought—Fred’s in his sixties and not exactly spry. He likes the taste of his own goods, and it’s notsurprising, really. I don’t see him outside with everyone else. Lily’s grip on my hand tightens as we push through the crowd to get a better look.
“Where’s Fred?” she asks, eyes wide with worry.
“Over here!” someone calls out, and I spot Sam waving urgently from beside the fire engine, already suited up and looking every bit the hero he is. “He’s still inside!”
“Fuck,” I mutter under my breath, feeling a rush of adrenaline as Sam Knightley races inside the burning building.
We wait with bated breath as he returns moments later with Fred, coughing and choking on the smoke.
“Oh, thank God,” Lily murmurs, her relief evident as she tightens her grip on my hand. I can feel her whole body trembling, and instinctively, I pull her closer, offering some semblance of comfort.
Fred is doubled over coughing violently, but otherwise looking like he’ll be fine. The crowd lets out a collective sigh of relief, and the tension in the air begins to dissipate.
“Sam Knightly is a hero,” Lily says softly, admiration clear in her voice. I can’t help the twinge of jealousy that flares up. Sam’s always been the one to rush in and save the day while I... well, I prune bushes and pine for a woman I can’t admit my feelings to.
