Read Online Romance: Dedication - A Workplace Romance (Dedication Series, Romance, Contemporary Romance Book 1) by Nancy Adams - Free Book Online

When he walked away, she kept looking around before she picked up her cup of water and wandered through the house. She could tell that he had worked on some of the rooms in the house to make them bigger, especially the bathroom that could fit three of her bathrooms inside of it. There was a library filled with books that ranged from mysteries and thrillers, to bestsellers and biographies. Jane let her fingers travel over the smooth spines of them. Two walls were dedicated to them: She could appreciate that.
                  Once she stepped out of the library, she decided to take a peek at the garden. Sliding open double glass doors, Jane was hit with the fresh scent of flowers. Before her eyes were rows and rows of vegetables. Some were only budding, but some looked as though they would be ready to be picked soon. She walked past rows of tomatoes, cabbage, cucumbers, beans. There were even small mounds of dirt that held little white tags identifying them as basil, and parsley, and rosemary.
                  “What do you think?”
                  Franklin stepped out of the house in a short sleeved, navy t-shirt, khaki shorts and white and blue sneakers. He ran a hand through his hair as he walked over to her casually, hands slipped inside  of his pockets. Jane’s heart thudded against her chest. How was it possible that he looked just as good in casual clothes as he did in a suit. She knew one thing for sure, the short sleeved shirt showed off a world of muscle that she wasn’t used to seeing on him day to day.
                  Her eyes traveled down his body, taking him in, appreciating him in a way that, mere hours before, wouldn’t have happened.
                  “Hmm? Oh, the garden. Yes, I think it’s beautiful,” she forced her attention back to the plot of fruits and vegetables. “My grandma used to have an absolutely beautiful garden when we were children. I used to love to help her with it.”
                  “What happened to it?”
                  “We had to put her in a home last year. She’s as spry as ever, but no one could afford to take care of her at home. We were too afraid to leave her in her own house, with the memory loss you know?” She dusted the dirt off of her shorts as she stood from the patch of ground marked, strawberries. “I haven’t had the time or place to be able to grow my own. I always wanted to get a little coop, you know, for chickens. Then I could have fresh eggs with my fresh food in the morning. Now, I eat processed donuts and consume my body weight in coffee,” She gave a little laugh as she looked over at Franklin.
                  He had a look on his face that she couldn’t put a word to. When he walked over to her, he wrapped his arms around her waist, rested his lips against her neck. He held her tightly. The feeling of being safe washed over her again, making a smile form on her lips.
                  “I’m sorry, about your grandmother,” Franklin finally said.
                  “That’s alright. We all get older, I suppose. I’m actually seeing her Sunday night, so we’ll have to part ways early I’m afraid.”
                  “I can pack her up some vegetables, if you like.”
                  Jane turned slightly in his arms to smile up at him. “I would love that. Thank you.”
                  They strolled around outside for a while longer as Franklin pointed out the newer things he’d planted as well as his plans for the rest of the space. Somewhere along the walk, his hand found hers and held it tightly. He showed her the in ground pool on the other side of the yard,  a hot tub off to the side. A lone little shed stood by the back gate, the paint badly in need of a touch up.
                  “I’ve been meaning to get to it,” he said sheepishly, “but by the time I come home