Beaming, Cole laughed. “I know. I just wanted you to hold my hand.”
Sophie’s mouth went dry.
“But I think you should show me again because I’m a really slow learner.”
16
Cole
THEY HARVESTED NINE buckets of flowers in the span of an hour and a half. Once they had finished with the zinnias, they moved on to the bachelor’s buttons and gomphrena. Sophie carefully instructed how to cut each one. Cole loved the passion in her tone, her eyes, and her movements when she was in the garden. Without question, this was her happy place. The thought of it being sold off left a sick taste in Cole’s mouth.
He hadn’t outright asked Kelly if they were going to sell, but he didn’t need to. The collection of realtor business cards on the kitchen island was all the confirmation he needed.
He would tell Sophie, when the time was right.
For now, he wanted to savor each moment in her flower field with her.
“How many more do you need for tonight’s market?”
“This should be enough. I’m planning to just sell single stems since I don’t have time to make arrangements.”
“I can help you make some if you want.”
“There you go again, always offering to help.”
Cole cocked his head to the side. “Would you rather I didn’t help you?”
“No. Not at all. I really do appreciate it. And the company is nice.”
“That, I can agree with.”
Cole couldn’t help it. He was falling for this woman. Sure, she was feisty and at times even combative, but Cole knew it was only out of need to protect herself. Didn’t she realize he wanted to be the one to protect her?
“Plus, bouquet making is a whole different skillset,” Sophie added.
Cole grinned. “Why don’t you let me try?”
“To make a bouquet?”
“Yeah? Why not? You got an empty vase around here somewhere?”
Sophie nodded toward a white shed at the back of the plot. “There should be a few Mason jars stored in there. You can go ahead and grab one if you like.”
Cole jogged over to the structure. It was small, probably only four by six feet or so. He tugged on the handle and opened the door. The smell of damp earth hit him. Shovels and rakes lined the walls and a paint-chipped garden stool sat in the corner. There were bags of potting soil and a crate with open seed packets, their corners ripped off and tops folded, left over from a previous planting. Just to the right, Cole spotted two empty Mason jars on the ground. He hurried back toward Sophie and held one out for her.
“How about you make one and I’ll make one and we’ll see whose is best?”
“You certainly have a competitive streak, don’t you, Cole?”
“Considering I grew up playing nothing but sports—and the entire reason I came out to California was to participate in a competition—I would say this shouldn’t come as much of a surprise.”
“I’m not surprised.” She laughed and reached out for a garden hose at her feet. “Hold out your jar and I’ll fill it up.”
Grabbing the nozzle, Sophie squeezed. Water shot from the spout with the force of a fire hose. Cole’s jar clattered to the ground, breaking at his feet. The hose handle stuck and blasts of freezing water sprayed into the air as Sophie attempted to wrangle the line.
Through the deluge, Cole couldn’t see through his glasses and had to feel his way about. Inadvertently, he smacked the hose from Sophie’s hands, but it continued writhing along the ground, like a maniacal snake chasing after its prey.
“Grab it!” Sophie squealed. Water showered down over them with the intensity of a desert monsoon. “Grab it, Cole!”
“I’m trying!” he said, but the rush of water hindered everything, including his vision. “What the heck is wrong with this hose?”
“It’s done this before,” Sophie shouted over the commotion. “It’s like it has a mind of its own!”
Cole bent down, sweeping his hands along the ground as water sprayed onto his face. Suddenly, he felt an object and wrapped his hand around it, but the sharp sting that came along with it indicated he’d grabbed the wrong thing. His palm burned and warm liquid ran over his skin.
“Shoot.”
“What happened?”
“Nothing,” Cole lied. “I’m fine.”
Then, finally, he stepped on the defiant hose, temporarily cutting off the water supply. The nozzle fell to the ground like a popped balloon dropping out of the sky.
Sophie retrieved it and twisted the nozzle off. She blew out a breath of relief, but then a look of shock flashed across her face. “Cole! You’re bleeding!”
“What?” He looked down at his hand, at the scarlet red that painted his palm. “Oh, I guess I am. I must’ve cut it on the jar when I was trying to get hold of that possessed garden hose.”
“That looks really bad.” Rushing forward, Sophie pulled his hand into hers. Water droplets clung to her eyelashes and beaded on her skin. Her shirt was just as soaked as Cole’s, like she had jumped into a pool fully clothed. “You might need stitches.”
“I don’t need stitches.” He wasn’t certain about that, but that was always the answer when someone suggested stitches. Needles were not his friend. He pulled his glasses from his face and wiped them with his shirt before settling them back onto his nose. “I’m fine.”
“It looks really deep.”
It did. The cut was long and clean, causing his skin to separate straight across the center of his hand, like he had been filleted.
“Here, this might help.” Reaching up, Sophie pulled the blue bandana from her hair. She held Cole’s hand face-up, and wound the fabric around twice before securing it tightly in a knot across his palm. She curled his fingers protectively over it. “This is only temporary. You’re going to need to go to a doctor.”
“I think this will be just fine, Nurse Sophie.”
“Cole, I’m being serious. That’s a really deep flesh wound. I could almost see muscle.”
Cole staggered forward. A black haze blurred the edges of his vision, like the static on a television screen.
Sophie caught him by his shoulders. “Whoa there, Cole. You look really pale. You need to sit down.”
He tried to take a step forward, but everything swayed around him. The buzzing of a thousand bees filled his ears.
Sophie grabbed a bucket filled with just-picked flowers, dumped them onto the sodden ground, and flipped it over. “Sit,” she commanded.
Cole dropped down onto the bucket. His stomach lurched and he swallowed hard.
“Breathe, Cole. In through your nose, out through your mouth.” Sophie demonstrated the forced, intentional breaths. Inhale, exhale. Inhale, exhale.
Cole followed her instructions, pinching his eyes shut.
Crouching down between his feet, Sophie placed her hands on Cole’s knees and looked up at him with pleading eyes. “Put your head between your knees and relax, Cole. You’re going to be just fine.”
He did so and slowly the buzzing began to subside. When he lifted back up and pried his eyes open, the black edges were gone. Everything snapped into focus.
He was humiliated.
“I’m so sorry.”
Sophie’s eyebrows scrunched together. “Why on earth are you apologizing?”
“Because I almost passed out.”
“That doesn’t require an apology, Cole. Lots of people get squeamish at the sight of blood.”
Cole clamped his eyes shut again and breathed in sharply through his nose. “I know. I just feel stupid.”
“The only reason you should feel stupid is because you look absolutely ridiculous. Like you dove into an ocean.”
“You look just the same,” Cole retorted. “But I wouldn’t say you look ridiculous at all. You always look beautiful to me.”
Sophie’s mouth fell open. “Cole…” She started, but her words trailed off. Her hands were still on his knees, and despite the chill from his wet cl
othes, he felt warmth where her palms rested. “Cole, I…”
“What?” Cole’s voice cracked with the syllable.
His gaze stayed fixed on her mouth, hoping he could draw the words from her. Her tongue swept across her bottom lip.
“I…”
Cole leaned forward. Sophie pushed up onto her knees.
Reaching out, Cole placed his good hand on the back of Sophie’s head and drew her closer. Her eyes flitted back and forth between his. He could feel her breath on his skin and his pulse spiked. When her hand lifted to his jaw, he exhaled, dizzied once again, but for an entirely different reason.
His heart caught in his throat. “I really want to kiss you right now, Sophie.”
She pressed her lips to his. They were sudden and soft and insistent all at once. Cole wove his arm around her waist and held her to his body as their mouths met. The heartbeat that had buzzed so loudly earlier now thrummed in his neck, his chest, his ears. He played with her hair, weaving the damp strands between his fingers. A sigh escaped her as she drew back, and then Sophie pressed in, her hands moving across his shoulders to his back as she tugged him closer.
“This flower field is part of the property,” a muffled woman’s voice said in the distance. “I think we should include it in the overall asking price, but it can be parceled off easily, as well.”
Sophie shot back on her haunches, her eyes wild. Cole dropped his hands from her hair.
“This would be the perfect spot for a pool. Many buyers are specifically looking for homes with pools, especially with our hot California summers. Do you happen to know how big this space is?”
“Just shy of two acres, I believe.”
Gulping, Sophie leaned in and whispered, “Is that Kelly?”
“I think so,” Cole murmured back. He pushed up a little to look over the tops of the flowers. Sophie yanked him back down.
“Don’t let her see you,” she hissed. “Who is she talking to?”
“My best guess would be a realtor.” At those words, Sophie’s face paled. “Sophie.” He reached out.
“No. It’s fine, Cole.”
“It’s not.”
The voices of the two women trailed off as they made their way back into the house. Sophie tossed her head. “It is what it is.”
“I’m going to figure out a way this land can be yours.”
“It’s not your responsibility to do that, Cole. I’m a big girl. I can take care of myself.”
“But I want to take care of you.”
Her eyes went wide. “Cole—”
“Let me take care of you, Sophie.”
Leaning close, Cole pressed his mouth to Sophie’s again. Cole cupped her jaw and kissed her with everything he had. It was sweet yet desperate, this mix of emotion that seemed to sum up their entire relationship.
As they stayed hidden among the flowers, their lips confessing every unspoken feeling and thought, Cole knew without a doubt he’d never be able to go back to Nashville. Not now.
There was no way he could leave this woman.
If he did, he would be leaving his entire heart behind.
* * *
THE MARKET THAT night was even busier than the last. Cole noticed several new vendors and how the tents were set even closer together, leaving very little space to move around between them. Everywhere he looked, he saw mounds of colorful fruits and vegetables, displays of housewares, and racks of homemade creations. It was a visual feast.
Sophie was remarkable. Her ability to organize something so integral to the community made Cole swell with pride. He loved this about her the most: her determined spirit and go-getter attitude. It made him wonder if he had misspoken when he said he’d wanted to take care of her. She was self-sufficient; that was a quality he greatly admired in her. But even the most independent people needed someone to care for them. Love and independence weren’t mutually exclusive.
At Sophie’s urging, Cole had gone to Urgent Care after he left the McAllister’s. She had been right. He did need stitches. He’d turned green and nearly became sick in the wastebasket, but he toughed it out. The doctor had wrapped a bandage around his hand and instructed him to leave it on for the next couple of days. Luckily, it had been Cole’s left hand, so it didn’t inhibit him too much, but there was an obvious inconvenience associated with it. Even still, despite the pain and the nausea, this day had been one of his best.
Cole had wanted to kiss Sophie for over a month. It wasn’t at all how he’d pictured it taking place, and that was what made it so wonderful. In that moment in the flowers with her, he couldn’t think of anything he would rather do, or anyone he would rather be with.
And the kiss itself. It was fair to say Sophie had ruined him for all others.
Cole was on cloud nine as he strolled the market rows. Jerry Potters was the musical talent for the night, and that helped to shave off a bit of the jealousy Cole would have experienced had Sophie hired other talent. Plus, it was fun to listen to her dad jam on his guitar. He had said before that it had been years since he’d held one in his hands, but that was hard to believe. Jerry was a musician through and through and the crowd that gathered around to appreciate his music evidenced that.
Just like previous markets, this was a town celebration.
“Hey, lover boy.” Jolting, Cole turned around and locked eyes with Veronica. She wore a long bohemian dress and had her hair done in a single black braid that trailed down her back. “Looking for Sophie?”
“No. I mean, it’s not that I’m not looking for her, I just…” Cole’s words tangled. “Do you know where she is?”
“That’s what I thought. Man, you two are sure hot and cold, aren’t you, sweets?”
“I wouldn’t say that. I think things are just complicated at the moment.”
“Well, that sounds incredibly tongue twisted,” Veronica said. “Speaking of, I hear you two did the same. Locked lips, didn’t you?”
Cole’s stomach warmed. “Did she tell you?”
“Nope.” Bopping her finger on Cole’s nose like he was a child, Veronica said, “But you just did.”
Veronica practically skated back to her flower tent. That’s when Cole spotted Sophie. She wore cut off denim shorts and a white linen shirt tied at the waist and her hair was pulled up into a ponytail at the back of her head. She looked like summer and sunshine.
Catching his eye, her lips lifted into a smile. “Hi,” she mouthed.
“Hi,” Cole mouthed right back.
Crowds swarmed between them, but their gazes remained locked. Cole hadn’t felt this lovesick since he was a teenager. He had missed the nervous excitement that went hand in hand with falling for someone. It was exhilarating and thrilling, with equal amounts of anxiety sprinkled in.
He made his way over to her.
“Hi,” he said again, this time audibly. He leaned in for a kiss, but Sophie pulled back.
“Not here,” she whispered, her eyes darting side to side like she’d been caught cheating on a test. “Not that I don’t want to.”
“It was pretty amazing, right?”
Cole noticed the rosy glow that spread onto Sophie’s cheeks. “It was.”
“Actually, I think I’m starting to forget just how amazing it was. I need a refresher.”
“Later,” Sophie said. She placed a palm on Cole’s chest and pushed him back. Then, looking down at his hand, she shouted, “You did listen to me!”
“Of course I did.”
“And what did the doctor say? Did you get stitches?”
Cole’s mouth flipped into a frown. “I did. Seven, to be exact.”
“Ouch. I’m so sorry, Cole. What a complete mess this morning turned out to be.”
“I wouldn’t say that at all. I think it was perfect.”
Sophie shrugged. “It’s too bad about your hand because my dad was asking if you might want to accompany him tonight. I told him about your accident and that you probably wouldn’t be able to play.”
“My h
and might be busted, but my voice isn’t. I can join him for backup vocals for few songs if he wants. I’d be happy to.” Then, smirking, Cole added, “And my lips are working just fine, too, I’ll have you know.”
Sophie shoved Cole playfully. “Don’t tempt me. I’m technically working here.”
“Rain check, then?”
“Deal.” Sophie said, offering the sweetest grin.
17
Sophie
THAT KISS HAD rocked Sophie’s world. She had a feeling it would, which was probably the reason why she’d held off so long in making that move. But in that moment, there was nothing she could think to do but to kiss Cole. It was as though all of the earth’s magnetic force was fixed on them, drawing them toward one another. In her twenty-seven years, Sophie had kissed several men, but nothing even remotely compared to that kiss with Cole.
So why did he have to be from Tennessee while Sophie was a California girl through and through? While they were so drawn toward one another, their lives would eventually pull them apart. Was it wise to give her heart over to someone who would end up taking it across the country with them? Sophie would never leave California. This was her home. Her roots were deep and established here. But Cole’s business and his future were in Nashville. That was the truth of it all. They both knew it.
Sophie honestly didn’t know what to do.
“What’s up, buttercup?” Veronica elbowed her friend. “You seem distant today.”
“Do I?” Sophie snapped from her wandering thoughts. “I’ve just got a lot on my mind, I suppose.”
From the other side of the table, a woman holding a baby on her hip pointed to a bucket of Benary’s Giant zinnias. “How much?”
“Fifty cents a stem or a dozen for five dollars,” Sophie answered, then turned back to Veronica. She lowered her voice to barely above a whisper. “Cole and I kissed.”
In the Market for Love Page 14