Page 44 of Unworthy Ties
“I’ll get back to you,” I said, slamming the door shut as I walked out.
Chapter 22
Gabriella
Had I ever had any interest in gardening? No. That was, until I discovered the greenhouse a few weeks ago. Since then, I had been gardening (poorly) with a fervor I never knew existed within me. Each morning, I would wander into the warm, inviting space, greeted by the sweet scent of damp earth and blooming flowers. My fingers, once accustomed to the icy touch of a camera lens, now reveled in the rich soil, delighting in the earthy texture as I dug and planted.
Admittedly, most of the plants were store-bought from a garden store. My attempts at planting seeds had been a haphazard affair—seeds scattered like confetti into the pot, with little regard for spacing or sunlight.
A few days later, I couldn’t resist checking on the little patch where I’d tossed the seeds. Kneeling on the ground, I brushed my fingers against the dirt, half expecting nothing to have survived my chaotic planting.
Then I saw it—a tiny green shoot pushing its way up through the earth, fragile but determined. My heart did a little flip. “Oh my gosh…” I whispered, leaning closer. The sight of that single sprout felt like a small miracle, proof that even my messy attempts could yield something alive, something growing.
I crouched there for a few moments, marveling at the tiny green warrior, already imagining what the rest of the garden would look like when it followed suit. My excitement bubbled over, a quiet thrill that made the hard work of planting suddenly feel worthwhile.
“Yes!” I said, jumping up into the air. “Yes, yes, yes!”
Within seconds, Rocco’s burst into the greenhouse. “Are you okay?!” he asked, panic on his face. “I heard you screaming.”
“Look at my children! Well… child.”
Rocco’s brows furrowed in confusion as he followed my enthusiastic pointing. His eyes widened at the sight of the delicate sprout. “You did that?” he asked incredulously, a smile creeping across his face.
“I know, right?” I beamed, my heart dancing with pride.
He knelt down, reaching out with gentle fingers to touch the fragile green shoot. “Just look at how resilient it is,” he said. “You might have a green thumb after all!”
“Probably just beginner’s luck,” I teased, though I couldn’t hide the pride in my voice.
Rocco looked up at me, his eyes sparkling with mischief. “You know, if you keep this little one alive, we should celebrate. Tea in the garden, maybe?”
I laughed, shaking my head. “Tea in the garden? Are we trying to be proper Brits now, or is this your attempt at convincing me to drink something weak and fancy?”
Rocco grinned, leaning a little closer, with a mischievous spark in his eyes. “Maybe a bit of both. But don’t worry; I’ll make sure it’s strong enough to survive your beginner’s luck.”
My chest warmed at the teasing, and I couldn’t help but smile. “Deal,” I said, feeling the excitement bubble up again.
He reached out, brushing a stray strand of hair from my face. “Then it’s a date,” he murmured, voice low, the quiet promise in it making my heart skip.
His fingers lingered a moment longer, and then he paused, frowning slightly. “You have a bit of dirt in your hair. A lot of dirt, actually.”
“Gardening is messy business,” I replied, trying to shake the soil out of my hair.
“Messy, huh? Well… I think a shower might be the only way to get all of that off properly.”
“You’re right,” I responded, not catching on to his suggestion at first.
He stepped closer, voice low, just above a whisper. “It’ll be quicker if we do it together. And… maybe a little more enjoyable.”
“Together…?” I repeated, a flush creeping up my face.
Yes, Rocco and I had been intimate, but he had never seen me naked outside of sex before. My heart raced, a mixture of surprise and something deeper igniting within me.
Rocco’s jaw tightened slightly, his gaze never leaving mine. “Yes. You. Me. Quick, efficient… and I’ll make sure you don’t get a single strand of dirt left behind.”
I subconsciously rubbed my thighs together as the warmth of his gaze settled over me, exhilaration coursing through my veins.
I stepped closer to him, my mouth watering slightly at the thought of his mouth on mine, my desires for the two of them meeting once again raging through my body like a wildfire.“Alright,” I whispered, my voice hoarse with need. “Let’s do that.”
