The little Toyota pickup at the curb was nothing like the Charger she normally saw him drive. It was a faded red, dented, and had a hubcap missing on the back tire. It was the kind of truck landscapers drove, sure, but would it make it around the block?
He held the door open for her, eyebrow raised. What, did he think she was too good to ride around with him? Head held high, she marched down the flagstone sidewalk and climbed into the truck without a word.
He snorted when he closed the door, and only then did it dawn on her-he'd held it open for her. Heat flooded her face, all the way to the roots of her hair. "Thanks for opening my door."
The grin he gave her sent goose bumps racing up her arms. "I pull out all the stops when I'm aiding and abetting a revenge-seeking ex-girlfriend."
That wasn't exactly the vibe she was getting, and she couldn't decide whether to be concerned or intrigued. Was he trying to seduce her for real? Or was he simply a great actor?
Not knowing was part of the fun.
"So, Little Red here." She patted the dashboard as the engine sputtered to life. "Does the Charger get jealous when you drive another car?"
"What, you don't like her?" Kyle tsked and shook his head. "We can't be friends, then."
"Are we?" Faith blurted out. "Friends?"
She wanted to eat the words as soon as they came out of her mouth, but the look Kyle leveled at her was thoughtful, and way too serious. "That's up to you."
She nodded slowly. "Okay, friends, then. But that means you have to tell me a secret."
"Will you tell me one?" he asked, glancing at her as they drove out of the neighborhood and onto the main street into town.
"You already know one," she said. "Our deal is my secret."
"It's mine, too, then." The corner of his mouth twitched. "Unless you're willing to give me something new."
She slumped in her seat, marveling at how quickly Kyle outmaneuvered her. "Fine. What do you want to know?"
"Something really weird," he said, that stupid half smirk still on his face.
"Do you really want to know, or are you pushing my buttons?"
"Both."
"I believe it." Faith racked her brain for something weird, but not weird. Nothing came to mind, except that she ate peanut butter on her pancakes instead of syrup. God, she was so boring.
"Nothing?" He shot her this incredulous look. "Seriously, nobody is that normal."
His teasing expression caught her off guard. He had such a nice smile for a delinquent. Her brain took over, and next thing she knew, "I can eat with my feet … using a fork," came flying out of her mouth.
Oh, for the love of Bob Fosse, she did not just admit that.
"That sounds … .uncomfortable." Amusement colored his tone. "What would make you want to try that?"
Her shoulders rounded and she wrapped her arms around her middle. Stupid, stupid, stupid. "I was testing to see how flexible I was."
His mouth dropped open slightly. He snapped it closed.
"I know it's weird, but I didn't expect you to laugh at me." She turned to stare out the window. "I'm not sure I like this game."
He sighed. "I wasn't laughing."
"Forget I said it, okay? It's my stupid human trick, nothing else."
"I wasn't laughing," he said again, his voice soft. "I wouldn't do that to you." They turned into the parking lot at the nursery, and gravel crunched under the Toyota's tires, kicking up rocks and making enough noise that she didn't have to say anything else right away. When they parked, Kyle turned off the ignition and sat with one hand on the steering wheel. A muscle ticked in his jaw.
"I'm not very good at this," he said.
"At what?"
He stared straight ahead. "Being friends. With girls."
"Yeah, right." Faith reached for the door handle, but he put a hand on her arm.
"That's my secret. You told me one, so I told you one." His smile was tight, and fainter than the ones before. "I'm not what you'd consider a conversationalist."
Was he kidding?
She met his gaze, eyes narrowed. "So, what, you're just good at picking the right girl to hook up with and she runs off with you as soon as you jerk your chin at her?"
He shook his head, eyes rolled toward the sky. "Not exactly. And just so you know, you might have to help me decipher some signs inside. I'm dyslexic." He flung his door open and climbed out. Faith scurried after him. "That's not a secret, but it's not something I talk about, either. Good enough?"
A pit of embarrassment opened up in her stomach. She hadn't meant to force him to tell her that. "Sure."
The nursery was a large greenhouse set on an acreage that offered baby trees and paving stones. It smelled delicious. Like spring had exploded into bloom all around her. Her eyes stung for a moment, remembering the ride to Violet's a few days ago. Cameron always thought she was being "a girl" and sentimental about this stuff, but she'd been thinking about rebirth then, and it had happened. Now she could move forward and think about growth. Change.
Moving forward.
"You okay?"
Faith jumped. She'd really lost the thread there, hadn't she? "What? Sorry."
Kyle had stopped his march to the greenhouse door, and he watched her with his eyebrows drawn together. "You seemed sad just now. I'm really not laughing about the fork thing, if you're thinking that. I hate it when people laugh at other people's expense."
The worry in his voice was another thing that reminded her of Cameron-because Cameron had never worried about pissing her off. Kyle obviously did. "It wasn't that at all. I was just thinking … I really love spring. I know that's stupid."
"It's not stupid. If you love watching things grow, it's the best time of year." He held the door open for her. "You coming?"
Warmth rushed through her. "Yeah. Definitely."
Chapter Fifteen
Kyle
Kyle took a deep breath as soon as they entered the nursery, hoping the smell of green things growing would relax the knot in his shoulders. Why had he told Faith the truth about talking to girls? What was she thinking out there, staring out at the trees? She'd looked so torn, but hopeful, and sad, too. What did he say?
Admitting the dyslexia was the only thing he could think of to change the subject. Way to go, jerk-making her feel guilty for your mistake.
"This place is awesome!" Faith breezed past him, heading straight for the flowers. She didn't look upset anymore, wearing a bright smile. She glided toward the rows of annuals. "These pink ones are so pretty!"
He came alongside her, relieved he hadn't done any lasting damage. "Those are vinca. I'm planning to get some-they bloom early and keep going until late fall. Something an ex-governor's wife might like, right?"
"Definitely." She bounced over to the next table, running her fingers along a gray-green leaf. The little plant swayed at her touch. "What's this?"
"Dusty miller. Good ground cover. It can get out of control, but you have a good lawn guy. He'll make sure it behaves."
She laughed behind her hand. She always did that, like his jokes were a surprise, and it put a smile back on his face. Faith found joy in the simplest things. She seemed a little fragile to him, but that could be the hurt from the last few days. Maybe if he could make her laugh enough she'd forget about Cameron all together.
He followed her up the aisle, pointing out plants that would go well in their backyard, taking care to listen when she had a doubt. If she didn't approve of it, her mom probably wouldn't, either.
"I like this one," Faith murmured. Her fingers skimmed the tiny pink flowers dotting the plant's thin branches.
Kyle reached out and brushed his hand along hers as he grasped a section of leaves. Faith stiffened for a second, but didn't move her hand. He was standing behind her, and something made him take a step forward so that his chest was almost touching her back. His knees trembled a little, but his voice was level when he said, "Azalea. They're beautiful, and while they look delicate, they're strong if they're taken care of the right way. They're perfect for you."
She held very still. "You think?"
He swallowed hard. Praying she didn't notice that his hand was shaking now, too, he brushed his lips against her ear, saying. "Absolutely."
"Are we still talking about plants?"
There was something coy to her tone, and it unnerved him, which was stupid, since he knew she could flirt. "I'm not sure."
She ducked out from under his arm, smiling. "Trouble talking to girls, he says. Uh-huh. Sure."
Kyle flushed and took a step back. "We're still, uh, buying the azaleas, right?"
"Yep."
She wandered up another aisle, and he let out a slow breath. She'd never believe him if he told her the truth, would she? He'd told her he wasn't good at talking to girls and she didn't believe it. How would she react if she knew the truth about the "real" Kyle Sawyer?
Probably twirl over and kick him in the nuts.
Besides, if the plan with Cameron was going to work, she didn't need to know any more than she already did. It was enough that he had to act a part. He couldn't be sure she'd be able to keep it up if she knew.