A Week for Love to Bloom Read online

  A Week for Love

  to Bloom

  Scarlet Wolfe

  Contents

  Dedication

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chapter Nineteen

  Chapter Twenty

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  Chapter Thirty

  Chapter Thirty-One

  Chapter Thirty-Two

  Chapter Thirty-Three

  Chapter Thirty-Four

  Chapter Thirty-Five

  Chapter Thirty-Six

  Chapter Thirty-Seven

  Chapter Thirty-Eight

  Chapter Thirty-Nine

  Chapter Forty

  Chapter Forty-One

  Epilogue

  End Notes

  An excerpt from Brett and Hannah

  (Soul Mates 101 series, Book 2)

  Acknowledgements

  Copyright © 2013 Scarlet Wolfe Books

  All rights reserved.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means including information storage and retrieval systems, without permission in writing from the author. The only exception is by a reviewer, who may quote short excerpts in a review.

  ISBN-13: 978-1483962146

  ISBN-10: 1483962148

  Dedication

  To my husband, Patrick, who has repeatedly pulled me up from the darkness and believed in me when I couldn’t. You’ve shown me that unwavering love and passion do exist.

  Chapter One

  Lauren noticed how bright the moon was as she rolled down the windows and felt the rush of the cool, late May air. She was wearing her work t-shirt, jeans, and her long, dark hair was pulled back into a ponytail. On the drive back from her father’s house, she became flustered and confused over the conversations with him. He tried to persuade her to sell the family gardening and nursery business he walked away from and move near him a few hours from where she lived with her mother in Masonville, Tennessee.

  She wanted to feel in control, but since her parents’ separation one-year prior, Lauren felt powerless. She found it irritating that at the age of twenty-one, her parents continued to fight over her. She once believed that this was something only young children experienced in divorcing parents.

  Lauren snapped out of her trance a mile and a half from her home when she spotted someone walking on the side of the road. Passing by the hitchhiker, she impulsively brought her pick-up to a screeching halt. Her anger toward her parents caused a desire to be defiant, and it was overruling her concern for her personal safety.

  Lauren looked in her rearview mirror and saw the man hesitate before he approached her truck. She was surprised by his appearance as he peered at her from the passenger side. She quickly took in his attractive features from his dark hair and the distinct outline of his muscles being hugged by his t-shirt, to the profound depth of his rich, blue eyes. She guessed he was a little older than she.

  Lauren gave him a shy smile. “Get in if you want a ride.”

  Before climbing in, he threw his backpack into the bed of the truck. The thud echoed around them. Lauren looked straight ahead after pulling back out onto the road. Her decision to allow a stranger in her vehicle started to sink in, making her heart pound in her chest.

  She looked over at him. “You’re not a serial killer or axe murderer are you?”

  “What gave it away?” he asked as he looked straight ahead.

  Lauren’s eyes darted nervously a few times between him and the road.

  He could be one of those hauntingly handsome serial killers I see in movies.

  “Seriously, tell me you’re not.”

  “Isn’t it a little late for that? I mean, I’m already in your truck.” He finally looked her way and smirked.

  “What’s that supposed to mean?” Lauren asked.

  The guy hung his head and shook it. “I’m just saying, you should’ve thought that through before you picked up a total stranger.”

  Panicking from her reckless behavior, she slammed on her brakes. “Get out! Get—out—now!”

  He jumped out hastily and slammed the door before he grabbed his backpack from the bed of the truck. He looked back into the passenger window. “I was joking. You know, I was perfectly content walking. It appears I might’ve been safer!”

  Her face flushed. As she drove away, Lauren was bewildered by her attraction to the man. His words had her mind filling with self-doubt over kicking him out. She slammed on her brakes, bringing her truck to a stop again.

  Lauren jumped out and walked back to meet up with him in the road. The darkness had her questioning her decision once again. “Listen, I’m sorry. I got spooked. Please let me give you a ride.”

  The man furrowed his brow. “No thanks. I’m good.”

  Lauren grasped her hips and lightly stomped her boot at an angle in front of her. “Just let me give you the damn ride. I feel bad about yelling at you and throwing you out.” She observed him trying to conceal a smile and figured he found her change of heart amusing.

  “Fine. If you’re sure,” he said.

  They both walked back to her truck.

  “Sorry, I’ve never picked up a hitchhiker before. I’ll admit I’m questioning my sanity.”

  “If it makes you feel better, I’m not a hitchhiker. I chose to walk, and murder is not a pastime of mine, either.”

  Lauren took a glimpse at him. She felt safer once she saw a grin on his face. “Are you headed somewhere close?” she asked.

  “I’m staying just a couple of miles down the road. So … what are you doing out this way so late on a Friday night? And I couldn’t help but notice your work boots. What are those all about?”

  Lauren kept her eyes on the road as a chuckle escaped her.

  “I didn’t see that question coming. I was out of town today visiting someone, so I had a long trip back, and as far as the work boots ... I work outside every day. Do you make it a habit of admiring women’s shoes?”

  “Masonville may be in the country, but I don’t recall seeing many women in work boots when I lived here, especially any that were attractive. I was just curious.”

  Lauren blushed. She passed the road she lived on and made a mental note that where he was staying was only a half-mile from her home.

  After driving a little further, the silence made her uncomfortable. “Did you grow up in Masonville?” she asked. She glanced his way as the cool breeze whisked through his tousled hair. Lauren thought the length was just right, long enough to run her fingers through. She was unaware of how long she stared at him until he grinned and pointed to the road in front of them.

  Lauren swiftly looked straight ahead as her face turned crimson.

  “I’m from here, but I’ve lived out
of state a long time. The house is right up there on the left,” he said, pointing to a spacious home that Lauren always admired whenever she passed it. She pulled up into the driveway.

  The man got out of the truck and grabbed his bag before he leaned back into the passenger side and smirked. “You know, you really shouldn’t pick up men on the side of the road. They might be serial killers or even worse—axe murderers.” He ran a hand through his wind-blown hair.

  Lauren flashed a grin. “I guess I got lucky this time.”

  “Can I get your name in case I take up stalking instead of murder?” he asked.

  Lauren seldom flirted with men, but she found herself very attracted to his charm and great looks, so she couldn’t resist. “I’ll give you a few clues—you know, to better your stalking abilities. My last name is Evans, and ... dirt and the work boots are your other clues,” she said, letting out a giggle.

  Oh my God, Lauren. You’re acting like a flirty teenager. Stop it!

  “That sounds like a challenge, Ms. Evans. I mean, it is Ms., right? I can’t imagine a husband being happy with you picking up strange men.”

  Lauren realized how personal the conversation was becoming, and her rebellious side was wearing off fast, so she felt it was time to leave. “It’s Ms. Have a good night stranger.”

  He called out to her as she started to pull away. “All right woman. I bet I figure it out!”

  ***

  He watched her pull out onto the country road.

  Damn, she’s beautiful. This town isn’t that big. I'll find her.

  Justin Garrison felt an invading force pulling him toward her. He recalled how he found her green eyes striking from how brilliant they appeared in the night. He thought it was interesting that along with her having soft, feminine features, there was dried mud on the toned, thigh area of her jeans. Her appearance piqued his curiosity about what she did for a living.

  “It might be a good summer after all,” he said in the darkness.

  He didn’t expect to be offered a ride when he decided to walk the couple of miles from the bus stop to his brother’s home. Not in a hurry to get to his hometown, he forewent a plane ticket and took a tediously, long bus ride from California to Masonville. He was exhausted and questioned his logic with that decision.

  His father owned one of only two law offices in Masonville. His older brother Jonathan, who worked in his father’s office, would soon take over the business when their dad retired. The family wanted Justin to follow in their footsteps, but he was always interested in science and knew, since becoming a teenager, that he didn’t want to be an attorney. His family never accepted his decision and believed they could get him on board if he was home long enough.

  He walked up to the large two-story home and stared at the front door. Letting out a deep breath, he hesitated before he grabbed the key from under the mat. He didn’t want to admit it, but he was ready to crash on a comfy bed, even if it belonged to his wealthy, successful brother.

  ***

  Lauren made it home safely and tried to slip up to her room without her mother hearing. After the long day and embarrassing encounter with the mysterious young man, she wanted to bury her face into her pillow and pray for a better tomorrow.

  “Lauren, honey is that you?” her mother Claire called from the living room.

  “Yes, Mom.”

  “I’m glad you’re home. Did you have a good visit with your father?”

  Lauren rolled her eyes. “It was tolerable. I’m just dead tired from the drive. I’ll talk to you in the morning. Goodnight.”

  She went up the stairs to her room and undressed in front of her mirror. It appalled her that someone she was attracted to saw her looking disheveled. She looked closely in the mirror and pulled the skin down below her eyes. In addition to Lauren believing they were too big, she now found them puffy and dark underneath.

  Lauren curled up in bed and fell asleep recalling the handsome features of the hitchhiker.

  Chapter Two

  Justin awoke from a pillow being shoved down on his head. “Jonathan, cut it out already. I’m up dammit!”

  Jonathan lifted the pillow and laughed. “You didn’t call me last night to pick you up. I was worried. What did you do, walk?”

  Not wanting to answer his question, Justin stayed on his stomach with his face buried in his pillow. They were always close, but since Justin dropped out of college after his junior year, four years prior, their relationship had been strained.

  He dropped out after his longtime friend Max convinced him to move to California to work on an oilrig. Max got that job through his uncle after he graduated high school and tried to get Justin to join him. Justin finally quit college and moved to California after the pressure to go to law school became too much for him to handle. His parents and brother were outraged when they heard the news, so he only returned home twice a year since he moved.

  “Come get some breakfast. Emily is waiting to see you and so is Jack. He hardly knows you’re his uncle, so get your ass out there and entertain him. Toddlers are a handful.”

  When Justin entered the kitchen, his sister-in-law, Emily, greeted him with a hug.

  “Good morning, Justin. I’m glad you found your way home. We’ve missed you.” Emily was always pleasant to Justin. He noticed she was still very pretty with her thick, chestnut hair and dark brown eyes. She was a few years older than he and always seemed wiser than her years. Her father owned a factory in a neighboring city, but she never cared about money or status. Justin liked that about her.

  He approached his young nephew, Jack, who was wobbly as he walked around the kitchen dropping Cheerios on the floor. He smiled up at Justin and reached out his hand, offering him a Cheerio between his two tiny fingers. Justin’s heart felt something it hadn’t felt before.

  “So, Justin, what do you have in mind for the weekend?” Jonathan asked.

  “I didn’t make any plans. I just want to see the family and relax. Working on the rig is strenuous, and I’m ready for some down-time.”

  “Don’t get too comfortable yet, Jonathan promised to go to the local nursery and pick up the plants I purchased yesterday. Right, honey?” Emily asked.

  “Yes, and I’m sure Justin wouldn’t mind going with me to help. Would you, baby bro?”

  “I don’t mind. It’s the least I can do for my sister-in-law who was super kind to make me breakfast this morning.” He gave Emily a massive grin, turning on the charm.

  Emily returned a smile before she gave her attention to Jonathan.

  “Your mother said she’ll watch Jack, so I can work on the landscaping. I thought you and Justin could spend the day together, and then we’ll go to your parents’ house for dinner.”

  “Sounds great to me. What about you, Justin?”

  “Sounds good.”

  ***

  Six o’clock in the morning came too early for Lauren. She dressed in her usual clothes of jeans and an Evans Garden and Nursery t-shirt. Her hair was always pulled back, and at the end of the day, dirt was her usual make-up. Lauren grabbed a bite to eat and headed outside for a long day of work. The property came to life with customers on the weekends.

  The land was picturesque with a white two-story home her grandpa had built. Five greenhouses stood to the right of the home, vertical toward the back of the fifteen-acre property. Lauren was very close to her grandparents who signed over the business and land to her parents when they became too frail to work. Both died within the last five years.

  When her mom and dad separated, he left the business with her and her mother to care for alone. Her parents’ divorce was pending, and although her father caused the divorce by having an affair with a woman he met over the Internet, she was surprised he wasn’t trying to get half of the assets.

  Brett, a part-time employee, arrived to work at nine o’clock. Lauren hired him the last spring season. Seventeen at the time, she thought he’d be a tremendous help with all the duties that were cumbersome for her and h
er mother, such as stacking mulch and loading orders.

  She couldn’t deny that he was hot. She occasionally found herself admiring his fit body and his short blonde hair that twisted messy in the front, but he was a minor and an employee - a double no, no. But this season he was legal and making his attraction to her evident.

  Brett approached her. “Good morning. What do you want me to start on today?”

  “I guess work on some of the displays out front for now until the truck arrives with our mulch and soil order.”

  Brett continued staring at her in silence.

  “Is there something else you need, Brett?”

  “Um … Lauren, would you want to go out tonight? I thought it would be cool to hang out outside of work.”

  “Do you mean like a date?”

  “Um, yeah.”

  “It’s sweet of you to ask, but I don’t think it’s a good idea since you work for me.”

  “Oh, OK. I see your point. Maybe we can just hang out as friends some time.” Brett gave her a sly grin.

  “Maybe. We’ll see. We probably should get to work now. I think we’re going to be busy today.” She quickly walked away. It was becoming increasingly uncomfortable for her to work around Brett.

  Chapter Three

  The nursery was only half a mile away from Jonathan’s home. Justin found the property appealing as they entered the long driveway. He saw a sign when they were pulling in.

  Evans Garden and Nursery ... Evans—No way—it couldn’t be that easy for me to see her again.

  “I remember this place now. Mom and Dad dragged me here as a kid. I never paid attention to the name,” Justin said.

  “They did the same to me, and I hated it, so I’ve avoided coming here as much as possible. Emily loves the place. She likes to shop through the week when they’re not busy, and then I go pick it all up on the weekends,” Jonathan said. He pulled around next to the greenhouses where he normally picked up Emily’s orders. They both got out of the truck and waited for someone to help them.

  Lauren walked out of the greenhouse and stared at the hitchhiker, speechless and red faced before her hand-held radio slipped out of her hand.