material. It’d set her back a pretty penny, but it’d be worth it to see the look of awe on Colton’s face. She had the perfect pair of three-inch heel boots to go with it too.
“I think you’re right, Charlotte.” Avalyn took the dress from her hands. “I’m going to try it on.”
One hundred dollars later, they were on their way home from the mall, and Avalyn wasn’t certain if sending Colton packing a second time would be so easy.
Chapter Thirteen
The parking lot of the Botanical Gardens was barren, save for Colton’s black truck. It made her jittery. Where was everyone? What did Colton have planned? Her footsteps seemed to echo through the empty space as she made her way to the Butterfly House. She saw a few of the lights were on in the building, but not all. She hesitated at the door, knocking.
“Come on in!”
Colton’s voice called from somewhere toward the center of the building. She pulled the door open and stepped inside. The low lighting was enough to see the pathway had been covered by pink rose petals. Her jaw dropped, and she covered her mouth with her hands. I can’t believe he did this! As she followed the rose-colored trail, she saw a square table covered by an elegant cream linen table cloth. It was surrounded by bouquets of pink oriental lilies arranged on three-tiered plant stands. It created a spot of exotic beauty. The table itself had two white candles in crystal holders. Two silver domes covered the plates set on pink linen placemats that sat on either side of the table. The tantalizing scent filling the air was heavenly and familiar, though she couldn’t quite place it.
“Do you like it?” His voice came from behind her, and as she turned to him, her stomach flipped. He was clad in a tailored charcoal suit with a white shirt and a skinny black tie. The fine material emphasized his lean build. Damn, he’s pulling out all the stops.
“It’s lovely.”
“It doesn’t hold a candle to you.”
His eyes were filled with admiration and what she suspected was hope. Focus, Avalyn, don’t forget why you’re here. She cleared her throat when he walked over to pull out her chair.
“I know we need to talk, but I thought this way would be a lot more pleasant.”
She took her seat and allowed him to push her in. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
When he was positioned in the chair across from her, she spoke, “I appreciate all the trouble you went through, but it’s going to take a lot more than flowers and candles to make things right.”
“Trust me, I know.”
She opened her mouth to respond, but he held up a hand. “Please, give me a chance to talk, okay?”
She nodded her agreement and placed her hands in her lap to hide her anxiety.
“I know you thought I was mocking you behind your back, but I was telling Randy how ridiculous he sounded. I’d never say anything like that about you or to you. I respect you too much. You know, I’ve never said “I love you” to any other woman. Hell, I never wanted to. I saw you, and it was like lightning struck. You were so beautiful, and then I heard you talk, and you had this killer personality and wicked sense of humor. My first instinct was a desire to take you right there on the floor. But then you spoke, and I actually enjoyed our conversation, and I genuinely wanted to learn more. You were fascinating. I was intrigued and maybe even a bit smitten. It was something that’d never really happened to me before, that longing to get closer to someone for more than the need to scratch an itch. I know that sounds bad, but you have to understand, for me the curse was a major inhibitor. I could go through the motions of a relationship and caring for another woman, but I could not experience it firsthand.”
The description painted the picture of a very hollow and unfulfilled existence. She almost felt bad for him…almost.
“When I started to feel things for you, I was torn between my duty to my brothers and what I felt
“I think you’re right, Charlotte.” Avalyn took the dress from her hands. “I’m going to try it on.”
One hundred dollars later, they were on their way home from the mall, and Avalyn wasn’t certain if sending Colton packing a second time would be so easy.
Chapter Thirteen
The parking lot of the Botanical Gardens was barren, save for Colton’s black truck. It made her jittery. Where was everyone? What did Colton have planned? Her footsteps seemed to echo through the empty space as she made her way to the Butterfly House. She saw a few of the lights were on in the building, but not all. She hesitated at the door, knocking.
“Come on in!”
Colton’s voice called from somewhere toward the center of the building. She pulled the door open and stepped inside. The low lighting was enough to see the pathway had been covered by pink rose petals. Her jaw dropped, and she covered her mouth with her hands. I can’t believe he did this! As she followed the rose-colored trail, she saw a square table covered by an elegant cream linen table cloth. It was surrounded by bouquets of pink oriental lilies arranged on three-tiered plant stands. It created a spot of exotic beauty. The table itself had two white candles in crystal holders. Two silver domes covered the plates set on pink linen placemats that sat on either side of the table. The tantalizing scent filling the air was heavenly and familiar, though she couldn’t quite place it.
“Do you like it?” His voice came from behind her, and as she turned to him, her stomach flipped. He was clad in a tailored charcoal suit with a white shirt and a skinny black tie. The fine material emphasized his lean build. Damn, he’s pulling out all the stops.
“It’s lovely.”
“It doesn’t hold a candle to you.”
His eyes were filled with admiration and what she suspected was hope. Focus, Avalyn, don’t forget why you’re here. She cleared her throat when he walked over to pull out her chair.
“I know we need to talk, but I thought this way would be a lot more pleasant.”
She took her seat and allowed him to push her in. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
When he was positioned in the chair across from her, she spoke, “I appreciate all the trouble you went through, but it’s going to take a lot more than flowers and candles to make things right.”
“Trust me, I know.”
She opened her mouth to respond, but he held up a hand. “Please, give me a chance to talk, okay?”
She nodded her agreement and placed her hands in her lap to hide her anxiety.
“I know you thought I was mocking you behind your back, but I was telling Randy how ridiculous he sounded. I’d never say anything like that about you or to you. I respect you too much. You know, I’ve never said “I love you” to any other woman. Hell, I never wanted to. I saw you, and it was like lightning struck. You were so beautiful, and then I heard you talk, and you had this killer personality and wicked sense of humor. My first instinct was a desire to take you right there on the floor. But then you spoke, and I actually enjoyed our conversation, and I genuinely wanted to learn more. You were fascinating. I was intrigued and maybe even a bit smitten. It was something that’d never really happened to me before, that longing to get closer to someone for more than the need to scratch an itch. I know that sounds bad, but you have to understand, for me the curse was a major inhibitor. I could go through the motions of a relationship and caring for another woman, but I could not experience it firsthand.”
The description painted the picture of a very hollow and unfulfilled existence. She almost felt bad for him…almost.
“When I started to feel things for you, I was torn between my duty to my brothers and what I felt
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