Wildflower Road by Janine Rosche

Author:Janine Rosche [Rosche, Janine]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Penguin Publishing Group
Published: 2020-10-13T00:00:00+00:00

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* * *

The next evening, the soft knock on Ryann’s door came early, stirring her nerves into a frenzy. Looking at her reflection, she plucked at her blouse, then ran her sweaty palms down her jeans.

It’s just Shane.

However, when she opened the door, Anabelle’s big green eyes peered up at her.

“Hi, sweetheart.”

Anabelle glanced behind her.

Ryann followed her gaze.

Down on the gravel, Shane wore a pair of sharp black pants and matching suit coat over a crisp white button-down shirt that opened casually at the neck. His clean-shaven face made him nearly unrecognizable.

She took care not to let her jaw drop any farther, or it would thunk Anabelle on the head.

Between his newly visible—and quite chiseled—jaw and fresh haircut, he looked like a movie star. As if he could read her thoughts, he tucked his hand into his pocket and struck a pose. Very Theodorian.

She filled the depths of her lungs with pure mountain air, and she felt fully alive, finally.

Shane’s smolder cracked into a warm, silly smile. “Give her the flowers, Anabelle.”

Her niece nodded and handed Ryann the bouquet of wildflowers, before running back to Shane.

“Thank you,” Ryann called.

Shane opened his hand to Anabelle. She grabbed it and twirled herself beneath his arm, while he turned back to Ryann. “I’ll be back after I take her to your mom.”

Ryann watched them walk a dozen yards before she shut the door and returned to the mirror. He was dressed to the nines. She wore an ensemble he’d seen a half dozen times already.

It’s just Shane. She could trust him. She retrieved the only dress she owned from the closet. After stepping into it, she shimmied it up her body. It was white and more fitted than any other outfit in her wardrobe. She snipped off the price tag and appraised herself in the mirror. At least it still fit, two years after she’d first bought it.

Out of the drawer, she pulled a bottle of perfume Jessi had given her for Christmas. In six months, she’d never had a reason to wear it. She dabbed a touch on her neck and wrists.

A few minutes later, heavy footsteps climbed the steps to her porch. Ten seconds went by, then twenty.

What if he’s changed his mind?

The question had only just begun to dig into her when a rat-ta-tat-tat reverberated through the door, across the planked floor, and into the kitten heels she’d borrowed from Jessi. It was now or never. She turned and tugged the door handle. His delectable presence filled the doorframe like the finest art. Longing swirled beneath her ribs.

His eyes flitted down for the briefest moment, before he wrangled them back to her face. “A dress?”

Heat filled her cheeks. “It’s old, but I’ve never worn it. A suit?”

“It’s new, and I can’t afford it.” He stepped over the threshold, slid his arm around her waist, and pulled her against him. His breath trickled past her ear, weaving between her sleek strands of hair. “You’re radiant.”

“Thank you.” She curled her hand over his shoulder but fought the urge to mold herself to him entirely.

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