Read No Other Love (A Walker Island Romance, Book 2) for Free Online Page B

several weeks...
    Working to push that thought aside, Morgan pulled on her own gardening gloves and got to work. Honestly, it was good being outside, doing something physical in the sun, rather than being in a studio for hours to film what would end up being just a few minutes after editing.
    After a while, Morgan moved to work with Tad on a section that needed two people to dig away at it. She appreciated that he wasn't at all afraid of working hard.
    “Ms. Walker?”
    “Why don't you call me Morgan?” she said with a smile.
    “Okay, um, Morgan...you know how you liked the flowers Coach Russell brought you? Do all girls like getting flowers?”
    Morgan couldn’t hold back her smile. She suspected that if Tad had a defensive line charging toward him, he wouldn’t flinch, but just the thought of trying to find a way to woo Natalie obviously had him tied in knots.
    “It depends on the girl, but if I had to guess, I'd say that most do.”
    Under any other circumstances, Morgan might have given Tad a little advice about actually asking Natalie out. Yet for as much as Tad obviously liked Natalie, Morgan simply couldn't see how things could work out for the two of them in the long run. Not when Tad was an island boy through and through, and Natalie was clearly going to have a big future ahead of her off the island. Probably a long way off.
    No, Morgan told herself as she yanked at a weed with all her might, it was better that Natalie and Tad remained just friends. That way, neither of them would have to know how bad it hurt when it came time to say good-bye.

CHAPTER SEVEN
     
    Brian had never much enjoyed pulling weeds, but today digging deep into the worst of the tangles was the perfect way to work out his frustrations.
    Lord knew there were plenty of frustrations for him to choose from right then. How did Morgan always manage to look so incredibly beautiful, even while cutting through brambles? How was he going to be able to keep from staring at her for too long and wanting her so much that he could actually feel the ache in the center of his chest from it? And how could he have ever been so stupid as to let her leave without a fight all those years ago?
    Every instinct told him he should go over to Morgan and kiss her. Just take her in his arms and make her his again. Especially when he knew that she was still attracted to him from the way her skin flushed and her breathing sped up whenever he was near. Their physical connection was obvious. It had always been obvious. What they felt for one another had never been in doubt, so why not take that to its logical conclusion? Why not take back what they’d once had?
    But he knew why, knew all the reasons he couldn't just grab her in the middle of the garden and kiss her. He couldn’t risk scaring her off. Not when he had blown his chance with her once before by letting her walk away and didn’t want to blow it again now by moving too fast. The hug he'd given her the night before, along with today's bouquet of flowers, were enough of a starting point. Small gestures, but ones that showed Morgan he was serious about wanting to make things work this time.
    “What do you think we should work on next, Mr. Russell?” Natalie asked.
    Grateful for the break from the questions that kept circling over and over inside his head, Brian looked over what Natalie had done so far. “Why don’t you tell me what you think needs our attention?”
    “We could probably do a little more clearing of these heavier vines between the bushes, but I think it will be good if we leave the blueberries and the raspberries in together since the soil seems to be more acidic at this end of the plot.”
    “That’s a good analysis, Natalie. You're really enjoying this project already, aren't you?”
    “Oh yes! Getting to work with Ms. Walker like this is such an amazing opportunity.”
    “It really is, isn't it?” Just getting to be near Morgan had always been amazing for him. So amazing that even